Australian Shephoarder

Anger Flares

Yesterday's post was all about what we can do to keep our dogs healthy. But yesterday afternoon, I saw this:
I was on an errand when I saw this guy fly through an intersection with this poor, frightened animal barely hanging on in the back of his pickup. The dog slid all around & kept trying to lean over the edge to make contact with the driver.
I could not believe this...moron. Do you think he wants to kill his dog or have it killed by another driver intentionally? Why else would he allow the poor creature to ride in the pickup bed?

Granted, this is just another "stupid owner trick," and I have to wonder if he is stupid, irresponsible, ignorant, negligent or what? What on earth can a person be thinking to drive down a busy, crowded city street with a huge animal continually trying to jump out of his car? Plus, he was an erratic driver & whenever he proceeded from a stop he had to floorboard the gas pedal thus flinging the animal to the back:   I felt so sorry for this dog.

Most Important Post. Ever.

Recently released was some very disturbing information about animal toxins from the Environmental Working Group.
After last year's pet food scare, I think more pet owners are paying attention to the ingredients in their pet food.
However, what about the PET FOOD BAG?
According to the EWG, the way your pet's food is packaged may very well be one of the sources of cancer-causing toxic chemicals that make them sick. The EWG site section on Pet Health released yesterday a frighteningly detailed report.
Here's just the small summary from the EWG website:

Detailed findings

Dogs: The 20 dogs tested included 5 mutts or mixes and 15 dogs of 7 different breeds, including a Pug, Great Dane, Dachshund, Great Pyrenees, and others. In the group, 12 dogs were female and 8 male; ages ranged between 6 months and 12 years (average age 6.3 years). The laboratory analyzed composite blood and urine samples collected from the animals. The dogs’ blood and urine was contaminated with 35 chemicals altogether. These included 7 chemicals (20%) with average levels at least 5 times higher than typical levels in people, and another 7 chemicals with average levels up to 5 times amounts found in people. Relative to people, dogs showed high levels of stain- and grease-proof chemicals (perfluorochemicals in the Teflon family), plastics chemicals called phthalates, and fire retardants called PBDEs:

• Teflon chemicals - Highest levels. Tests showed 6 of 13 perfluorochemicals present in dog blood, with five at levels higher than those in more than 80 percent of people tested nationally, including 2 at levels more than 5 times higher than average amounts in people. Dogs were polluted with 2 chemicals in the Teflon family of stain- and grease-proof coatings (perfluorochemicals) at higher levels than any detected in people in national studies by EWG and CDC (perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorohexanoic sulfonate (PFHxS)). Only PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), known as the “Teflon chemical” because it has been used to make Teflon and other non-stick pans, was detected at levels in the range of what is typically found in people (45th percentile) as opposed to far in excess. For dogs likely sources of exposure include food contaminated with PFCs leaching from dog food bag coatings, as well as house dust, and stain-proofed furniture, dog beds, and carpets.


• Toxins in plastic toys and medicines. Dogs were contaminated with breakdown products of four plastic softeners (phthalates) at average levels higher than those in more than 80 percent of Americans tested nationally, at levels ranging between 1.1 and 4.5 times the average concentrations in people. These included breakdown products of DEHP, DBP, and DBzP, which are used in veterinary medicines, plastic containers and toys, shampoos, and a huge range of other consumer products. Six of 7 phthalate breakdown products were found in dogs altogether. These chemicals pose risks for reproductive damage, birth defects, and cancer.


• Fire retardants in bedding, house dust, and food. Dog samples contained 19 different fire retardant chemicals known as PBDEs, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers, of 46 chemicals tested. Compared to people, levels were very elevated for highly brominated forms of these chemicals, with 5 compounds that are octaBDEs, nonaBDEs, and decaBDE found at levels higher than between 97 and 99 percent of people tested nationally, ranging up to 17 times the average amounts in people. PBDEs disrupt the normal functioning of thyroid hormones and pose risks to the brain during development. For dogs, potential sources of exposure include foam furniture and bedding manufactured before 2005, contaminated air and house dust, and food contaminated with PBDEs that pollute the environment, especially seafood.

I don't like to "copy and paste" from another website, but the report is so full of alarming information, it's almost overwhelming. It covers dogs, cats, birds & all the chemicals they come in contact with.
More importantly, it thoroughly explains why pet product manufacturers basically do not have to follow any of the guidelines manufacturers of human products.

To stay on top of these issues, people can sign up for alerts. Another very great part of the EWG is a blog called Pets for the Environment, which has lot of information on the toxicity of our animals. You can sign up to get involved, send e-card (ready-made or create your own), and read Eddie's Blog -- a friendly environmental activist dog.

Shear Madness

Animal Planet has a new "reality" show called "Groomer Has It," which premiers April 12. It features 12 dog groomers, both amateur and professional--who will compete for "Groomer of the Year." The Animal Planet website is featuring a sneak preview on its home page. Very amusing idea. It will be interesting to see how "real" it is.

He's Gone

It's been a tough week.
Last Monday we had to make the call.
Chalk one up for having a close relationship with the veterinarian.
She was able to come to our home (on her day off) and help.

Winston probably was suffering & we probably should have made the call sooner. He'd try to catch a tennis ball but would stiffen and was unable to hold it in his mouth. It's so hard to let go.

This photo was taken in 2001, when he still fit in the center console of the car!

I initially posted photo this nearly 2 years ago when he had TPLO surgery and was confined for 8 weeks. Many people wrote in to comment. One of his favorite "jobs," was to get the newspaper, which he did every day--rain, shine, heat, snow, ice--you name it. This was taken the day he was "released." He hadn't forgotten a thing! Plus, we live on an acreage and our mailbox is far away from the house. This photo is also on my flickr page & where it still gets comments.

 

This is a photo my daughter took with her I phone. It was taken the day after Christmas, 2007, just after Winston had abdominal surgery & the biopsy was done where the lymphosarcoma was identified.

The photo is so effective because Winston is wearing an Elizabethan collar which caused the hazy, white effect.

The black oval that appears as a halo is printed on the e-collar and is part of the e-collar manufacturer's trademark.

He became an angel quietly and peacefully with his head on my husband's thigh laying, in a favorite sunny spot on the front porch, Overlooking the land he patrolled for so many years.

We will miss him terribly.

I Wish I Had All The Answers

Winston has gone down all week. His ball-chasing episodes have gone from 3 to maybe one, with very little energy. Plus, I think he has a secondary infection or that the cancer has metastasized other places within his body.
He looks so frail. Every crevice of his head has become so sunken-in. His nose has become crusty and he exhales loudly.
Amazingly, yesterday he caught more balls than the day before. They were short airballs thrown directly to him, easily. Always with HIM asking to have them thrown.
It isn't really sad. Sad was the day we had the initial diagnosis of lymphosarcoma of the GI tract. That was December 27 so we have had two full months of really quality, spoil-Winston life.
But the end is close now & how I wish he had words. Words to tell me what he's feeling and thinking. We are hoping things don't get too bad in the next 24 hours as our personal vets are unavailable--naturally. I wish I knew for sure that we are making all the best and correct decision concerning his end-of-life care.

Down

Today there is a definite downturn in Winston's demeanor. I am at my computer and he's not bringing me his ball.
I tossed it for him earlier--three times--and he went to lay down.
He's sleeping a lot; listens rather than does and has diarrhea past bad.
But I did get a wiggle butt this morning & if I go in there and bother him, I'll bet I can get more.

Goin Down?

Winston is down more. He still brings me his ball, continuously, but he brings it back slow. Kodie is hanging in there, having lost most of the vision in his left eye now. These guys are more than a handful.

7 Days and Counting

In about 7 days the Iditarod will take off. Along with it comes mucho dog controversy. I am overwhelmed now by my two invalids and also caring for the rest of the pack. I honestly CAN'T spend time writing about whether or not mushing dogs is ethical. But I do have one important thought.
Last year, Snickers, a lead dog of North Wapiti Kennels, died 7 hours into the race. Autopsy said acute hemorrhage due to a gastric ulcer.
Gastric ulcer...hmmm. Sounds VERY familiar.
I feel like I know these mushing dogs. They take off and run and will run themselves to death--ironically that's what they live for. Winston is the same way. He lives for chasing the ball and would do it until his death, I think, but whenever he gets to that point of exhaustion, we make him stop. Until that point, however, nothing can stop him from getting that ball and when he has retrieved in the thicket, he's come away with a variety of injuries. If not the tennis ball, then what? Then he'd be going nuts and I imagine the mushing dogs would too.
Mushers don't have that option to stop during a race and I don't think the dogs would want to stop. Once, Winston came back with a ball and a trail of blood. He had sliced his foot on some sharp object but was undeterred--completely. It never fazed him in the least.
Every year there has been an Iditarod, dogs have died. It's the nature of the whole scenario and the dogs love what they do; or they would not be doing it.
On the other hand, I'm sure there are some organizations who use less than quality supplies and don't keep their dogs in the best of conditions. Well, shame on them. Shame on anyone who doesn't respect man's best friend and love & appreciate them for what they are at heart.
The Animal Welfare Institute quotes a common law (at least in 38 states) where there are huge fines for "overdriving" or "overworking," animals. I think the fines should be higher for neglected dogs who are never worked or given the chances to do what they love. That must be torture for them.
I think the worst part of the Iditarod & it's relationship to dogs is much like BYBs or puppymills. It's the call of cash--the prize money--that is the goal; although it's nowhere near as morally wrong. (Mushers aren't creating & peddling lives for cash; they are just selling out to the almighty dollar.)
I'm also reminded of some veterinarians I know who are vets only so they can participate in endurance racing with their horses. Hmmm. Any colic problems there? Conflict of interest?
Medical care is available to all Iditarod dogs at the checkpoints. Forcing mushers to partake is another issue.
In conclusion, these dogs love what they do and they do what they love. For the most part, their owners are sportsmen who recognize and appreciate the beauty of these animals and they provide an environment conducive to mushing.

New Title

We are all learning now to deal with a blind dog. We are learning his new way of thinking; and assessing his needs. We are coming up with solutions to make his life fulfilling.

For instance, he is VERY comfortable in his crate. That's safety and security. But we don't want him there and missing out on stuff, so we are teaching him to lean into our legs to make safe paths.

We are comforting him and holding him continually. We are reassuring him that we are here and we will be by his side always.

Seeing-Eye Person

We are still visiting with specialists, but something new is developing with Kodie. His other eye has now lost vision & there is very little he can see. I am now keeping him with me continually during the daylight hours. 
So now the pack is faced with two challenges: 1. a dying leader and 2. second in command facing blindness.