Volume 11 Issue 4 NOVEMBER 2017

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1 LAKE EUSTIS PAW PRINTS KENNEL CLUB Volume 11 Issue 4 NOVEMBER 2017 GINGER, CGCA, CGCU,THAD,RATS HAPPY THANKSGIVING GINGER CGCA, CGCU, THD, RATS LAKE EUSTIS KENNEL CLUB IN THIS ISSUE OFFICERS AND BOARD BRAGS: Pg. 2 DOG ALLERGIES Pg. 3 President: Carolyn Hoppe TICKET TO RIDE Pg. 3 Vice President: Marie Zaman IF A DOG IS SHORT-NOSED Pg. 7 Treasurer: Kathy Pearce ARE RAWHIDE CHEWS Secretary: Sharon Everson DANGEROUS? Pg. 8 Corresponding Secretary: Sharon Everson DOG TOOTHPASTE Pg. 9 Ellen Beris, Sharie Davis, Sally Hensen, Susan Pricket, Mary Ellen Holdreith, Sharie Coleman LEKC meets the 4 th Wednesday of each The Lady Lake Library, W. Guava Street. Board Meets 6 p.m. General meeting 7:15 p.m. Website: HOLIDAY MEETING NOTICE: Wednesday November 15 th, Lady Lake Library Board 6pm, General 7:15 Wednesday December 13 th, Christmas Party Wednesday January 17 th, Lady Lake Library Board 6pm, General 7:15 ~ 1 ~

2 BRAGS: WE VE GOT LOTS N LOTS OF BRAGS Another, great day for our LEKC group, at the ASCA Rally and Obedience Trial, Oct. 21 st. Teddy earned his rally advanced title, Johnny (6 1/2 months old) earned his 1st leg in Rally Novice with a 196, Shamus earned his first leg in Rally advanced. Ginger, first leg in Beginner Novice with a 195. A big thank you to FASA for hosting a great 2 days at CCDTC in Crystal River, Fl. Thank you judge Melanie Magamoll, stewards and all the supporting workers for all the hard work in putting these trials together. TEDDY TEDDY, JOHNNY, SHAMUS LITTLE JONATHAN ROY, DANIEL, TEDDY, GINGER, KATIE ~ 2 ~

3 NANCY & KATIE DANIEL Dog Allergies: Symptoms and Treatment Anna Burke Have you heard someone tell you that her dog has allergies? Has your veterinarian suggested that allergies could be a problem for your dog? Do you suspect that your dog has allergies? If so, then you ve probably realized that allergies in dogs are not quite as simple as we might wish. For starters, there are several different types of allergies that could be causing your dog's symptoms. Types of Allergies in Dogs Allergies are a misguided reaction to foreign substances by the body's immune system, which, of course, people and pets can suffer from. There are quite a few different types of allergies in dogs. Skin allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergens all pose challenges for dogs and their owners, and to make things more complicated, the symptoms of all these different types of allergies can overlap. Skin Allergies Skin allergies, called allergic dermatitis, are the most common type of allergic reactions in dogs. There are three main causes of skin allergies in dogs: 1. Flea allergy dermatitis 2. Food allergies 3. Environmental allergens Flea allergy dermatitis is an allergic reaction to fleabites. Some dogs are allergic to flea saliva. This makes affected dogs extremely itchy, especially at the base of the tail, and their skin may ~ 3 ~

4 become red, inflamed, and scabbed. You may also notice signs of fleas, such as flea dirt, or even see the fleas themselves. Food allergies and sensitivities can cause itchy skin, as well. The most common places dogs with food allergies itch are their ears and their paws, and this may be accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms. Environmental allergens, such as dust, pollen, and mold, can cause an atopic allergic reactions or atopic dermatitis. In most cases, these allergies are seasonal, so you may only notice your dog itching during certain times of the year. As with food allergies, the most commonly affected areas are the paws and ears (but also include the wrists, ankles, muzzle, underarms, groin, around the eyes, and in between the toes). All skin allergies pose the risk of secondary infection. As your dog scratches, bites, and licks at his skin, he risks opening up his skin to yeast and bacterial infections that may require treatment. Food Allergies True food allergies may not be as common as people think, according to AKC Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Jerry Klein. True food allergies result in an immune response, which can range in symptoms from skin conditions ( hives, facial swelling, itchiness), gastrointestinal signs (vomiting and/or diarrhea) or a combination of both. In some rare cases, a severe reaction resulting in anaphylaxis can occur similar to severe peanut allergies in humans But what about all of those dogs that are on special hypoallergenic diets? What most people mean when they say that their dog has a food allergy is that their dog has a food sensitivity, also known as a food intolerance. Food sensitivities, unlike true allergies, do not involve an immune response and are instead a gradual reaction to an offending ingredient in your dog s food, for example to beef, chicken, eggs, corn, wheat, soy, or milk. Dogs with food sensitivities can present with several symptoms, including gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and diarrhea, or dermatologic signs like itchiness, poor skin and coat, and chronic ear or foot infections. The best way to diagnose and treat a food allergy is to work with your veterinarian to manage your dog s symptoms and discover the ingredient causing the reaction. Acute Allergic Reactions Perhaps the most alarming of all the types of allergies in dogs is an acute allergic reaction. Dogs, like people, can go into anaphylactic shock if they have a severe reaction to an allergen. This can be fatal if not treated. Bee stings and vaccine reactions, among other things, can cause an anaphylactic response in some dogs, which is why it is always a good idea to keep a close eye on your dog following the administration of any new vaccine, drug, or food item. Luckily, anaphylactic reactions are rare in dogs. ~ 4 ~

5 Your dog may also develop hives or facial swelling in response to an allergen. Swelling of the face, throat, lips, eyelids, or earflaps may look serious, but is rarely fatal, and your veterinarian can treat it with an antihistamine. Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs The symptoms of allergies in dogs may vary depending on the cause. A dog that goes into anaphylactic shock, for instance, will have a drop in blood sugar followed by shock, which is very different from a skin condition. In general, however, the following symptoms could be a sign of an allergic reaction. Itchiness Hives Swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps Red, inflamed skin Diarrhea Vomiting Sneezing Itchy ears Chronic ear infections Itchy, runny eyes Constant licking Some of these symptoms could also be a sign of another condition. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to get an accurate diagnosis and to help your dog start feeling better. Diagnosing Allergies in Dogs If you have ever undergone allergy testing, then you know that diagnosing allergies is often complicated. The first thing your veterinarian may choose to do is rule out any other condition that could be causing your dog s symptoms. If your veterinarian feels that an allergy is a likely cause, he or she may propose allergy testing to try and determine the cause of the allergen that is causing the reaction. However, keep in mind it may not always be possible to determine the cause of an allergy with testing. Food allergies are often diagnosed using an elimination diet. A food trial consists of feeding a dog a novel (i.e. one) source of protein and carbohydrate for 12 weeks. Flea allergy dermatitis is typically the easiest allergy to diagnose. It is usually diagnosed by identifying fleas on your dog s body and applying a product that kills fleas before they can bite to see if that solves the issues. Treating Allergies in Dogs The best way to treat an allergy is avoidance of the cause and allergen. This may or may not always be possible. But, in terms of treatment, it depends on your dog's type of allergy. For example, the best way to treat flea allergy dermatitis is to kill the fleas, whereas the best way to treat a food allergy or food intolerance is a change in diet. ~ 5 ~

6 In addition to any lifestyle changes that might be necessary, your veterinarian may also prescribe a medication for your dog that will help control the signs associated with the allergic reaction, such as itching and any secondary skin infections that might have developed as a result of the irritant. If your dog has a severe allergic reaction, your best course of action is to get him to an emergency veterinary hospital as quickly as possible. Ticket to Ride Your Dog Magazine Yes, you can ship a dog by air. But before your pet becomes cargo, there s a lot to consider. Sometimes, there s simply is no choice but to put a dog in the belly of a plane to get her from point A to point B. Either the dog is too big to ride in the passenger cabin, or the dog s owner is not going where the dog is going, so the dog has to be shipped by herself. So the dog has to be shipped by herself. Those exigencies aside, the Humane Society of the United States says that we strongly discourage having your pet travel by air n the cargo hold of a plane. It can be dangerous and stressful. The society recommends that people who have to get their dogs from one place to another consider all alternatives to flying. Why? If there s a delay and the dog is stuck in the belly of the plane on the tarmac or some other holding area, the temperature may become too hot or too cold for her well-being. Keep in mind that a plane s temperature and air pressure controls are often powered down while it is on the ground. Lots more time passing than originally thought before a dog reaches her destination also increases her risk of becoming extremely thirsty or hungry. And for some dogs, the emotional stress can be overwhelming. Dogs don t have a clue what is going on. They don t know they are flying as there are no windows in the cargo hold. All they know is that they are being put in a container and handled by strangers and that at some point it kind of feels as though they are moving and, during any turbulence, shaking about. That s why the Humane Society of the United States, advises vacationers, in particular, to leave their dogs at home with a dog sitter rather than take them along. But okay, sometimes there is no choice but to put a dog on a plane. In such cases, what do you need to know? Should a flying dog be tranquilized? What else needs to be considered. To sedate or not, and other decisions. It might seem like sedating a dog being shipped with the rest of a plane s cargo is a great idea. It would take the edge off any anxiety and sort of keep the pet drowsy throughout the ordeal. But the American Veterinary Medical Association strongly recommends against it. Tranquilizers can potentially increase the risk of heart and respiratory around in flight, say, during a bout of turbulence. Indeed, some airliners may require a signed statement that your dog has not been tranquilized prior to flying, while others will not allow the dog on the plane if she even appears sedated. Note that if an airline cannot guarantee that your dog will not be in temperatures lower than 45 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 45 minutes when she is being moved from the terminal to the ~ 6 ~

7 plane, or for more than four hours when placed in a holding facility, it will not fly her. They also will not ship your pet if the temperature will go higher than 85 degrees for the same amounts of time in those situations. These considerations are not meant to scare you. Yes, there are deaths associated with airline flights. But the many hundreds of thousands of dogs who fly in the belly of a plane each year, only about 20 die a truly minuscule fraction; the odds are very much with you should you need to transport your pet by air. But we tell you this because having a pet fly as cargo puts her through a very stressful ordeal, often for many hours, during which she cannot be comforted. So if you can possibly avoid it, that s a better way to go. If a dog is short-nosed, flying her in a plane s hold may be out of the question. Your Dog Magazine In 2010 the U.S. Department of Transportation released statistics that showed brachycephalic dogs those with short noses are more likely to die on planes than dogs with normal-length muzzles. The risk of death for any dog on a plane is very, very low, but in a five-year study, about half the 122 dog deaths associated with travel involved breeds with short faces. Twentyfive of the pets were English bulldogs while 11 were pugs. Other short-nosed breeds include French bulldogs, Boston Terriers, boxers, some mastiffs, Pekingese, Lhasa apsos, and shih tzus. Short-nosed dogs are prone to problems such as smaller-than-normal nostrils, a longer-thannormal soft palate, and a narrowed trachea (or windpipe). Because of these abnormalities, they don t breathe as efficiently as dogs with normal-length snouts and can have difficulty cooling off when they re playing or exercising, or if they re stressed or overheated. And when they re stressed, their airway can actually collapse (either partially or completely) and cut off their airflow. It s like breathing through a straw if you gently suck through the straw, there s no problem getting air. But when you really try to suck hard through the straw, similar to what these dogs may do when they re stressed, the straw collapses and you don t get air. This doesn t always cause death, but it can cut off the oxygen supply temporarily and cause such dogs to collapse or overheat. Short-nosed breeds seem particularly vulnerable to changes in air quality and temperature in the cargo hold of a plane, the associations says. And there s no one there to monitor them during this vulnerable time. If you are on the fence about putting a short-nosed dog into the belly of a plane, the airlines themselves may make the decision for you. Some of the larger airlines simply do not accept brachycephalic dogs to be stowed underneath the passenger section with checked luggage. One of them is Delta, which lists 10 breeds as off-limits in the cargo section of its planes, including not just pugs and bulldogs but also Affenpinschers, boxers, chow chows, and Japanese chins. United doesn t allow short-nosed breeds in the hold from May 15 th through September 15 th. Are Rawhide Chews Dangerous for Your Dog? Katie Finlay October 04, 2017 AKC When it comes to choosing the right dog chews, the options are seemingly limitless. You ve likely heard that rawhide chews are particularly bad for dogs, filled with awful chemicals and waiting to be lodged into your pup s intestine. But is this really the case? Are rawhide chews safe ~ 7 ~

8 for dogs, or are they delicious death traps? Many dogs love rawhides. They are great long-lasting chews that keep puppies and dogs busy, are a tasty snack, and even help clean teeth and promote oral health. The short answer to their safety however, is it depends. Well, what does it depend on? It turns out the safety of any rawhide depends on several factors, and we ll go over these below. Your Dog's Chewing Style It should be no secret that every dog is different. The safest treats and toys are highly dependent on your dog s individual chewing style. For example, a Chihuahua is likely to be a much softer chewer than a Rottweiler. The age of the dog plays a role, as well, because most young puppies and senior dogs have softer mouths than their adult counterparts. Therefore, it s safe to assume that your own dog s chewing style will change over time, and the treats considered safe for your dog will vary alongside those changes. Rawhides are meant to be long-lasting chews that break down into tiny, soft pieces over time. However, strong chewers are typically able to break off large chunks that can pose a major choking hazard or cause an intestinal blockage both are life-threatening events. You can help prevent this from happening by offering an appropriately sized rawhide, but it s best to avoid them if your dog is a very heavy chewer. For dogs that are soft chewers, rawhides are generally considered to be safe treats because these dogs don't break them down into chunks. Ingredients In recent years, many dog owners have become concerned about the ingredients in their dogs' food and treats. You may have even noticed that many rawhide chew manufacturers are promoting their "natural, digestible chews." Does that mean that rawhide chews are not all one and the same? That s exactly what it means. Rawhide chews are made from dried animal skins, which seems natural enough. What s important to consider, however, is where these rawhide chews are made. Rawhides made in the United States are few and far between, and much pricier than your average chew but the benefits are well worth the cost. Rawhide chews are made from the leather industry s leftovers. Most hides are taken directly from the kill floors at slaughterhouses and placed into high-salt brines, which helps slow their decay. Most rawhide chews are manufactured in China, and it can take weeks to months before these brined hides actually make it to the tanneries for their final manufacture. Once the hide arrives at a tannery, it is soaked and treated with lime to help separate the fat from the skin, the hair is removed by chemical and physical efforts, and the hide is rinsed again. Unfortunately, the salt brines cannot prevent decay, no matter how long they delay it. It is best to fully rinse a rawhide in water prior to giving it to your dog. Digestibility Rawhide digestibility can vary from dog to dog and from chew to chew. Generally speaking, rawhides are not easily digested, which is why large chunks broken off and swallowed pose such high obstruction risks. Any pieces your pup breaks off will have to pass through his digestive system in chunks, since they will not be broken down as well as the rest of his food. ~ 8 ~

9 It is best to manually remove the chewed up rawhide before the dog ingests it, as it can not only potentially cause an esophageal or intestinal obstruction, but it can last for months in his stomach, causing very gastrointestinal issues. That said, dogs that truly take their time chewing on rawhides and do not swallow large pieces should have no digestive problems with the treats. Some manufacturers even make rawhide chews out of more digestible ingredients, and although they do not always last as long, they are excellent alternatives for dogs that might have stomach issues. The decision about whether to offer rawhide chews is going to be yours and yours alone. Consider your dog s individual chewing habits and health, decide if you re willing to accept the extra expense of high-quality, American-made chews (since it's less likely that illegal or toxic chemicals were used in the manufacturing process), and consult with your veterinarian. Make sure you read the label carefully, and remember that the thicker the hide, the better, since it will take longer for your dog to chew. There are many great alternatives to rawhide chews, but for the right dog, these treats can be a perfectly safe option. It all comes down to your comfort level and ability to recognize the risks involved in providing them to your dog. Dog Toothpaste That Gets the Job Done Jan Reisen September 22, 2017 AKC Dog Care Grooming Did you know that keeping your dog s teeth clean is a vital part of his care? The American Veterinary Dental College estimates that a majority of dogs show signs of periodontal disease by the time they re three years old. This can lead to even more serious consequences, such as systemic infection, abscesses, and even heart disease. So, if you ve been reluctant to brush your dog s teeth, now is the time to get into the habit. By brushing his teeth often, you ll protect his health, as well as save money on expensive in-office procedures. Start by choosing toothpaste that gets the job done, and may even be tasty for your canine pal. A word of warning: Do NOT use human toothpaste on your dog. Many of them contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Even if you're pretty sure your toothpaste doesn't contain xylitol, don't take a chance. Instead, choose from these made-for-dogs products. 1) Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste Enzymes deep clean your dog s teeth and provide natural antibacterial action. This toothpaste inhibits plaque formation and helps eliminate doggy breath, too. It s safe for dogs to swallow, which they may want to do, given the enticing flavors it comes in. 2) Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Dog Toothpaste The ingredients in this toothpaste reduce tartar buildup and plaque, which can harbor bacteria. As an added bonus, the natural peanut flavor may have your dog eagerly awaiting teeth-brushing time. ~ 9 ~

10 3) Sentry Petrodex Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste This non-foaming formula comes in one of dogs favorite flavors poultry -- so your dog may look forward to getting his teeth brushed. It controls plaque and tartar buildup and leaves your dog s teeth healthy and his breath fresh. Even the vet may be surprised at his pearly whites. Made in the U.S. 4) Arm & Hammer Advanced Care Enzymatic Toothpaste for Dogs From a brand we all can trust, this enzymatic toothpaste removes and prevents plaque buildup. Baking soda deodorizes and cleans, while enzymatic action fights tartar and whitens teeth. Did You Know* The greatest gift you can give someone is your TIME. Because when you give your time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back. Pecans grow on trees and are native to North America and Mexico. These nuts have a high fat content, but they are also high in other nutrients, such as vitamin E and phosphorus. Many of us are at the metallic age gold in our teeth, silver in our hair, and lead in our pants. *Coffee News HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE ~ 10 ~