Is it better to walk a human or to walk a dog? - read more
Tick Removal and Prevention for Dogs - read more
A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year old) - read more
Matting in dog coats - read more
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Is it better to walk a human or to walk a dog?
By Tara Parker-Pope
Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times
A dog will never try to talk you out of going for a walk.New research from the University of Missouri has found that people who walk dogs are more consistent about regular exercise and show more improvement in fitness than people who walk with a human companion. In a 12-week study of 54 older adults at an assisted living home, 35 people were assigned to a walking program for five days a week, while the remaining 19 served as a control group. Among the walkers, 23 selected a friend or spouse to serve as a regular walking partner along a trail laid out near the home. Another 12 participants took a bus daily to a local animal shelter where they were assigned a dog to walk.
To the surprise of the researchers, the dog walkers showed a big improvement in fitness, while the human walkers began making excuses to skip the workout. Walking speed among the dog walkers increased by 28 percent, compared with just a 4 percent increase among the human walkers.
“What happened was nothing short of remarkable,” said Rebecca A. Johnson, a nursing professor and director of the Research Center for Human Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “The improvement in walking speed means their confidence in their walking ability had increased and their balance had increased. To have a 28 percent improvement in walking speed is mind boggling.”
Ms. Johnson said that because some people are afraid of dogs, the participants were given the choice of walking with a human or a dog as the companion. Ms. Johnson said the dog walkers were far more consistent in sticking with the program than those who were walking with humans.
“In the human walking group, they were regularly discouraging each other from walking,” she said. “Missouri is a hot state. We would hear them saying: ‘It’s hot today. I don’t want to walk, do you?’ ”
The response from participants in the dog-walking group — and their dog companions — was very different.
“When the people came to the animal shelter, they bounced off the bus and said, ‘Where’s my dog?”’ Ms. Johnson said. “And the dogs never gave any discouragement from walking.”
Ms. Johnson said she suspects differences will show up in other areas, like depression and anxiety, although that data are still under review and the final study has not yet been published.
But there were also other subtle indicators of improvement among the dog-walking group. Many people in the dog-walking group stopped using canes and walkers. “They would say, ‘Now I’m physically fit enough to take my dog for a walk,”’ Ms. Johnson said.
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Tick Removal and Prevention for Dogs
Finding, Removing and Preventing Ticks on Dogs
By Jenna Stregowski, RVT, About.com Guide
To search for ticks on your dog, run your hands all over the body, paying close attention to the ears neck, skin folds and other crevices. You may prefer to wear latex gloves. Closely examine any raised areas closely by parting the hair, making sure you are in a very well-lit area (you can even use a flashlight). Depending on species and life stage, a tick may be as small as a pencil point or as large as a lima bean (when engorged). If you live in an area where ticks are prevalent, or your dog spends a lot of time in high grasses or wooded areas, you should check for ticks once or twice a day. If you find an embedded tick, be sure to remove it promptly. Here’s how:
There are really no shortcuts that can make a tick release itself from its host – a tick will not voluntarily detach until its meal is complete. DO NOT apply hot matches, nail polish, petroleum jelly, alcohol or other chemicals to the site. These methods are not affective and can actually be harmful to your dog.
- Wear latex gloves to protect yourself. Use a pair of tweezers or a specially-designed tick removal tool to grasp the tick at the point of attachment. This should be done as close to the skin as possible.
- Be very careful not to squeeze the body of the tick, as this may cause bacteria and disease containing materials to be injected into the site.
- Pull the tick straight out from the skin slowly and steadily (without twisting or turning). Some of your dog’s skin may come off with the tick, but this is normal. If bleeding occurs, apply light pressure to the area.
- Once removed, the tick should be handled carefully. While some people prefer to flush ticks down the toilet, saving the tick for further identification is a good idea. Place the tick in a small airtight container (like a pill vial or jar). You may wish to add some rubbing alcohol to the container. Label the container with the date and store in case future illness occurs, as identification may become necessary.
- If part of the tick’s head still appears to be embedded, use the tweezers to gently pull it out. If some of the head cannot be removed, do not become alarmed. This should fall off eventually and rarely causes complications.
- After tick removal, clean your dog’s skin at the bite area with mild soap and water. Watch this spot for several days in case of further irritation or infection. If the area does not clear up in a few days, contact your veterinarian.
Tick Prevention for Dogs
The best way to protect your dog from the hazards of ticks is to keep them from attaching to your dog in the first place. As stated earlier, routine checks should be done to search for ticks on your dog. Finding them before they attach is helpful, but this is not the most accurate method of prevention. To reduce the number of ticks hiding out in your yard, keep grass mowed and plants neatly trimmed. You may also choose to treat outdoor areas with pesticides, but be sure to use a substance that is safe for dogs and preferably environmentally-friendly.One of the most effective ways to keep ticks off your dog is to directly apply a tick prevention product specifically designed for dogs. Topical products like Frontline, Revolution, Advantix, and bioSpot are designed to be applied monthly to prevent ticks. Another option is a tick collar, such as the Preventic collar. Some products are available over-the-counter while others require a prescription. Though approved for use on dogs, be aware that these products contain toxic components and should ALWAYS be used according to the directions. Do not use extra amounts of a product or apply more than one at the same time. Take note that most of these products are highly toxic to cats. Talk to your veterinarian about the best options for your dog’s lifestyle. Also be aware that not all products will work for every dog, so a bit of trial and error may be in order. With the proper knowledge, you can help defeat the dreaded tick and protect your dog, your family and yourself from the dangers of tick-borne diseases.
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A Dog's Purpose
(from a 6-year old).
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolf hound named Belker.The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer.I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure.They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him.Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion.We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives..Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'
Startled, we all turned to him.What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.
He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'The Six-year-oldcontinued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
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Matting of coats is something we commonly encounter with dogs brought in for grooming. Mattes and knots however are not the same thing.
What is matting?
Matting is a serious tangle of dog fur which has become a bit like felt or carpet, or “doggy dreadlocks” right down to the skin. It can cause many problems for the dog. Not only can it be quite painful on the skin but it may lead to many skin complaints as the skin cannot breathe or properly dry when wet and dead skin cells accumulate in the matting rather than falling through and out of the coat. Dogs skin is very fine and having matting can make the skin loose due to the weight of the matting and cause sores etc.
Where does it occur?
Matting can occur anywhere on the dog – but particular spots to check; “armpits” (all 4), behind ears, tail, stomach area and around the neck and under the chin (especially if the dog uses a harness).
How does matting occur?
Matting generally occurs by failure to properly and adequately groom your dog. Most dogs should be brushed thoroughly at least every day, paying particular attention to the areas where mats most commonly occur. It can also result from the dog getting wet and drying before it is brushed. Think of what could happen with long human hair if it gets wet when knotty and then dries.
What makes it worse?
Obviously, neglecting to regularly brush makes it worse. Around here dogs are regularly enjoying a swim so it is important to brush the dog every morning – before swimming – so that any little knots are removed before they develop into mattes. If a small knot becomes wet, the drying of the hair draws more hair into the knot and it immediately becomes bigger and then can start to develop into a matte. Similarly when bathing your dog – brush well before you wash the coat and do use a quality dog coat conditioner - combing it through while wet. In between bathing, a spray on coat detangler can be used while brushing which can also be very effective.
How to get rid of little knots
In many cases dry brushing and careful combing from the hairline with a quality brush and/or a medium tooth steel comb should remove knots and small mattes. Be careful not to scratch the dog’s skin when brushing/ combing as this is likely to make the dog very difficult to manage and wary of grooming. Always, of course, also check for any little abrasions, lumps or moles so as not to knock them while brushing.
What to do if the mat cannot be brushed out?
Use a mat splitter or mat rake (a comb with sharp blades) to divide the mat into smaller parts - then try brushing and combing gently. Remember, combing and mat splitting needs to be done gently and carefully, as pulling the hair too tight will cause pain to your dog and may even tear the skin.
What to do if matting is impossible to remedy?
If the matting is too extensive, or there is too much pain to the dog, the only real remedy is to cut or shave the mat off very carefully. This can be a difficult and dangerous work for a groomer as you need to get right underneath the matting to cut it off and sometimes the skin can get caught in the cutting blades. It is always better for everyone to avoid the buildup of matting!
If you would like any more information on this topic, please call us or send an email to: petpoint@tpg.com.au
