Harvest-time is here and the pumpkin pies are about ready and there’s gravy for the mashed potatoes. And there’s plenty of football games or a cliff-hanging episode of NCIS (come back Ziva. Tony isn’t the only one who misses you) on the telly to keep us couch-bound. It’s not an easy time if weight gain is an issue in your house for either 2-legged or 4-legged family members.

Are you part of the problem? Here’s an interesting fact I read in an article by Eve Adamson in Dog Fancy magazine – according to a recent Pfixer Animal Health study, many pet owners are in denial, veterinarians consider 47 percent of their pet patients to be overweight or obese, but only 17 percent of dog owners thought their own pets were overweight or obese.

“We are killing our pets with kindness,” says Cailin Heinze, VMD, MS diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition and assistant professor of nutrition at the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, MA, the home of the nation’s first obesity clinic just for pets, according to the university. “Pet owners need to realize we have very good evidence from clinical studies that show chronic diseases associated with (being) over weight and (obese),” Heinze says. “One study showed that obese lab retrievers lived fewer years than their thinner siblings. Cancer, respiratory disease, pancreatitis and dermatological conditions have all been linked to obesity in pets.”

As a Golden owner, I know that Golden Retrievers have a tendency to grow sideways as they get older and this is not good for their legs, their heart, their backs, or for the owners of these big dogs. Nicholas never had a weight problem but still I injured my back his final 2 years when he no longer was able to get in the truck or go up and down stairs. It would have been worse if he was overweight. Willy knew right where the treat jar was in every neighborhood store that we went in to and I had to watch him more closely. Treats are a major stumbling block to cutting the weight. Morgan, unfortunately, injured his rear legs and requires serious monitoring now so that we can delay problems later on.

Firstly, it doesn’t matter to me whether you think your dog is overweight or not. The most important thing right now for any dog is to get him or her moving.  For most of the country there’s still a few weeks to get out of the house. If you aren’t physically able to walk your dog yourself ask someone else to do it. My experience is that the neighbors or an in-law would love to have the chance to walk a dog on occasion. People always volunteered to walk my dogs. Lots of people can’t have dogs and would jump at the chance to walk an animal around the block. Ask about this at your vet. You’d be surprised. It’s worth the effort.

I know first-hand how difficult this is. I am always being told that it’s best if Morgan dropped a few more pounds.  When I put him on the scale at the vet and the arrow still goes to 75 I get so discouraged.

Second, check the food intake. Maybe he is getting too many calories. Or maybe too many all at once. Especially later on when there’s a foot of snow on the ground or a mean wind off the Lake. Check the package. Even the big chains carry lower calorie food now a days. Most sales clerks at these shops will be willing to help you choose one. We’ve already made the switch to low-calorie food. Then I’ve also cut half a cup of kibble out of his normal amount and augmented it with frozen string beans or broccoli.  At first he looked at me like “what the hell is this!”  But over time I’ve learned to heat it or mix it up good by adding a little tuna juice or a little non-fat cottage cheese and he’s gotten to like it. This lowers the calorie count and still fills his belly so he doesn’t feel hungry.

Another suggestion is to spread the meal across the day so it’s not sitting there in his belly fermenting into fat. Morgan gets a cup in the morning when we eat and another cup at lunch. Then he gets his normal dinner at supper time.

As I mentioned above, treats are a tough thing to monitor. Everyone wants to give your dog a bribe and treats can modify behavior. But be strong and limit them. According to this article in Dog Fancy treats should only make up 10% of our companion’s total calorie count. Let me suggest that you carry some low calorie fresh veggie treats like baby carrots or broccoli florets with you and let people give him those.

This may seem like a lot of work but my hope is that it will prevent hardship later on and give all of us more quality-of-life time when our dogs are seniors.

 

As the country debates our health care system it made me think about two friends who are struggling with the health care decisions of a different kind. This summer these friends had to cancel a lunch because they discovered a tumor in their 10 year old Golden’s mouth and they were too distraught to meet. Luckily, they’ve got the financial resources to do whatever is necessary for Buddy, medically. Since then there’s been some improvement as the tumor has shrunk but they shared that it was only a temporary reprieve. They’ve decided that with such little time left with Buddy they would take him to his favorite lake in the Rocky Mountains.

This is an issue that most anyone who has ever had a pet knows only too well. I’m not even talking about the financial issues.  Even if we had all the money in the world to buy our pets the best care possible, or had the best pet insurance available, at some point, we all come to that same difficult decision. When do we determine that our little loved ones are not going to get better and are suffering unnecessarily?

As a person with a chronic illness I know only too well the toll that needles and medications and trips to the doctor can cause.

This isn’t an article to say what is right. It’s such an individual decision and everyone has a different opinion. I had one dear friend with a Cocker Spaniel who I thought euthanized her dog too soon, though I didn’t share my thoughts with her. She was adamant that she wasn’t going to let her dog suffer. With tears we both dug his grave.

Twice I’ve faced this difficult situation with my Goldens. Nicholas got to the point where he couldn’t walk anymore and Willy was just too sick. Both times I wanted them to keep battling and stay alive as long as possible.

My very opinionated mother will still tell you that I let Nicholas live for too long, that he was suffering too much. But to me, his mind was still sharp and alert. His white face glowed at night and his eyes still beamed with life.  I couldn’t do it. I’d already been carrying him up and down our many hillside stairs for over two years. But it was a labor of love. He’d given me so much. Finally, his legs gave out completely. After consulting with a local dog whisperer I knew it was time.

When Willy got sick a friend told me I was a good and kind owner to help my boy pass on when I did and not let it drag on with him suffering.

As I said before this is a highly personal decision. But I do have one suggestion that the dog whisperer recommended to me. Don’t let the last night be just a sad occasion. Don’t spend it crying alone in your bed. Celebrate the time that you’ve both had together. I bought Nicholas ground beef and pumpkin pie and went down to the river’s side, a place he loved, and had a picnic with him.  For Willy I took him to a friend’s swimming pool. It’s a place where we cooled off on many warm days. Though he was unable to go in the pool now, I made a comfortable bed for him to lie on. These last moments with my dear friends I will hold in my memory forever.

Palm Springs has had a new dog shelter for about two years now. The old one was built in the 60’s and it was long overdue. I had visited the old shelter once when I was asked to write a column for the local newspaper about a fundraising event for a new shelter. It broke my heart just for its deplorable condition. The new shelter is state for the art and a tribute to our love for animal-kind. Right now there’s an ongoing matching fund campaign and I’d been wanting to make a donation to honor my three life companions.  A friend of mine who works for the shelter offered to meet me there and take my check. I’d been there once before for their grand opening and it broke my heart again to see so many dogs in the pens. On this day I refused to see the dogs, I just couldn’t take it. This time I was heartbroken by the number of cats at the shelter. By chance I happened to walk by the canine section and there were the dogs, mostly pit bulls, staring up at me. Now I know why a friend of mine adopted his second pit bull. How could he not?  Their big sad eyes looking out. Photo found on the Facebook site from Army of the Kind by j. j. woof ‘n’ paws.

I found this on the web and wanted to share it. I’ve been just as guilty about these risky behaviors as anyone else.  I always left Nicholas outside of a business store front. He waited for me while I worked out at the gym. In fact, my friends would come by and say “we saw Nicholas outside and knew you were here.”  It sounds down-home and neighborly. As though we were in a small village. But the truth is, I was careless and mighty lucky. It always made me nervous and I spent a lot of time looking out the window to make sure he was all right. But it takes only a few seconds for someone to swipe a dog off the street or from a yard and into a van.

Once Willy was tagged as my service hearing dog I was able to bring him inside and this situation was someone averted. But a dog can be stolen from your home, too. Read this and take precaution.

 Top Five High Risk Pet Theft Scenarios

#1 Dogs in Autos:

In the blink of an eye, a partially opened window is forced down or the window is smashed and the dog can be removed from the vehicle. It takes 20 seconds or less to abduct a dog and by the time the pet guardian returns to the car, their dog is long gone. The American Kennel Club reports a 70% rise in dog theft in 2012 and a 40% rise the year before. A weak economy is fueling financially motivated dog-napping and a dog in a car is quite simply a sitting duck.

#2 Highly Prized Breeds or Dogs With Special Abilities:

A purebred dog or a dog with special skills is a bit like a gold watch. Thieves see dollar signs and that’s more than enough temptation. Any dog left unattended under any circumstances can be taken, but there is far greater motivation for criminals to walk off with a dog who can bring in a large sum of cash.

#3 Pets Left in Fenced Backyards:

Everyone loves the convenience of a doggy door, especially criminals. Homeowners who let their pet explore the fenced yard without supervision have the illusion of safety, but police departments across the country will tell you that the theft of these dogs is climbing.

In broad daylight on a single Saturday in November, Corning (California) Animal Shelter Manager Debbie Eaglebarger documented the theft of four Dobermans, four Australian shepherds and two Rottweilers. There were actually other dogs taken that same day but the first few calls were not recorded as the shelter had not yet realized that the town was in the midst of a widespread crime wave. One neighbor saw a man and a woman driving a green pick up truck lure one of the dogs out of a backyard and into their vehicle. All dogs taken that day were purebred, but that is not always the case.

#4 Pets Left Tied in Front of Businesses:

This one may sound like a no-brainer, but particularly in urban areas where people take their pets on their errands on foot, it’s not uncommon to find dogs tied up in front of a bank or grocery store. Typically, these are dogs with a gentle demeanor making them highly susceptible to the commands of a would-be thief.

“Leaving your dog tied up in front of a store is about as ludicrous as leaving your child out front and saying, ‘Wait right there, I’ll be back in 10 minutes,” explains Howard Simpson of Integrated Security and Communications in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. “Do yourself a favor and realize that there are security risks in even the safest of neighborhoods. Being naive makes you a target.”

#5 Strangers in the Neighborhood:

Any strangers on the property can be a risk to your pets. Whether they are invited contractors, deliverymen or activists with a petition in hand, visitors could easily grab a pet during a moment when the homeowner is distracted. In some cases, they are making a mental note of homes with valuable breeds or easy-to-subvert home security that will facilitate a quick dog-napping at a later time. It bears mentioning that it’s not uncommon for cats to jump into the back of truck beds for a snooze and to be unwittingly carried off at the end of the day.

Which Breeds Are Most Likely to Be Stolen?

According to the American Kennel Club, the most-stolen dog of 2011 was the Yorkshire Terrier, followed by the Pomeranian, Maltese and Boston Terrier. Small breeds are targeted by thieves because of their size but also because of their value on the market as a single dog can fetch well over $1,000. Among the large breeds, Labrador Retrievers are a frequent target and Pit Bull Terriers and Pit Bull mixes are frequently coming up stolen for perhaps a much more sinister purpose.

Dog Thieves: Why They’ll Steal Your Pet

1. Bait Dogs & Laboratory Dogs:

This is every dog guardian’s worst nightmare. Indeed people involved in dog fighting will gather “bait” dogs to be used as training tools for fighting dogs. It happens in both urban and rural areas and there has been no measurable decline in dog fighting in recent years despite attempts to police against it. And, despite some legislation intended to stop the sale of undocumented dogs to research laboratories, under-the-table purchase of dogs continues and, in some countries, these exchanges are not considered a crime.

2. Financially Motivated Theft:

For the first time ever we’ve seen a trend now where shelters are being broken into and purebred and mixed breed dogs are being stolen,” said Lisa Peterson, spokesperson for the American Kennel Club. In fact, any pure bred dog, particularly puppies, are considered a high-value commodity. Even with a microchip, it’s often too late by the time a pet buyer discovers that they have purchased a stolen dog.  By then, the thief is long gone.

3. Emotionally Driven Theft:

What’s often overlooked are the emotionally motivated crimes that rob dogs of their families. This can happen because the perpetrator feels that a dog is not being properly cared for. Some animal lovers will feel justified in stealing a dog that is tied in front of a store or who gets on the loose one day. Other times it’s an act of revenge, and there are many reports of dogs being taken where a former romantic partner is considered the prime suspect.

One very risky move…

Whatever the scenario or the motivation, dog guardians can best protect their dogs with watchfulness. Never leave a dog unattended. Secure your home, including all doors and windows, to the best of your ability and budget. And be wary of strangers in your neighborhood at all times.

Brought to you by the Harmony Fund international animal rescue charity.

Read more at: http://www.care2.com/causes/5-ways-thieves-could-steal-your-dog.html#ixzz2ccmQoxlg