PET TALES: Veteran Navy Dog receives full military honors at funeral
June 1st, 2007[Editor] This article has a few dog tales. I really like the story about the Navy dog. The article does have a section about a poor Italian Greyhound.
A neighbor of mine was walking her Italian greyhound on the beach at Mickler’s Landing when the dog was attacked by a much larger dog that escaped from its owner, who was seated on the beach. Sophie was hurt so badly she required care from the University of Florida’s veterinary school. She seems to be recovering well, although it’s taken longer than expected and has been a heartbreaking experience as well as extremely expensive.
You can read the article here.
Latest Internet scam - free puppies
May 29th, 2007Puppy scams are popping up in Arizona online and print classified ads, where the seller appears to be local and offers free English bulldogs or Yorkshire terriers. But when contacted by email, the seller says he or she is in Africa on a religious mission and promises to ship the dog overnight for a few hundred dollars.
A similar scenario is playing out in other states and countries, prompting consumer warnings Tuesday from the Better Business Bureau and the American Kennel Club. Consumer officials say the scam targets unsuspecting puppy buyers who never receive the promised puppies or recover their money.
You can read the article here.
The symptoms of the tick-borne disease aren’t easy to spot.
May 26th, 2007When Marita Barrett saw a tick crawling on her dog, Shadow, back in September, she didn’t think much about it.
Barrett, who lives on Rolling Hills golf course in west Wichita, was holding the 8-year-old Italian greyhound on her lap on her home’s deck when she noticed the tick.
“It wasn’t filled with blood; it was just flat,” said Barrett, who flicked the tick off.
Shadow didn’t spend that much time outdoors, Barrett said, “and we didn’t walk much on the course because of the mosquitoes.”
About a month and a half later, when Shadow refused to eat one evening, Barrett had pretty much forgotten about the tick. But because Shadow had an autoimmune disorder, she decided to take her to the veterinarian the next day.
Later that night, Barrett was awakened by the sound of Shadow in obvious pain.
“In the middle of the night she started groaning,” Barrett said. “I sat on the divan with her until I could call the vet.”
When they got to the veterinarian the next day, he ran some tests and started Shadow on antibiotics right away. But the dog was so sick, she had to be euthanized by the end of the week.
A blood test revealed that Shadow had Lyme disease, caused by bacteria transmitted by the bite of infected deer ticks and western black-legged ticks.
You can read the rest of the article here.
Family seeks help with expenses after dog hit by car
May 25th, 2007SARANAC - Luigi wasn’t accustomed to running loose outside his home on Summit Street in Saranac, but on Wednesday, May 9, he had snuck past owners Robert and Jennifer Belt - and made his way into the roadway.
That’s when the 2-year-old Italian Greyhound was struck and dragged by a truck, causing extensive injuries to his front legs, including one that was completely torn bare of skin.
Luigi was rushed to Sterner’s Veterinarian office in Ionia, which referred the Belt family to the Michigan State University Small Animal Clinic. There, veterinarians were able to treat Luigi’s wounds and initiate the skin grafting process. Since Luigi did not have internal injuries or broken bones, Jennifer Belt said the family could not bear to put the dog down or amputate the leg.
You can read the article here.
Cesar came, saw and conquered
May 21st, 2007It was a toe-to-toe battle for the title of Ultimate South Florida pack leader: Cesar ”The Dog Whisperer” Millan vs. Sunny Jim Santiago, my petite Italian greyhound.
After an hour of much canine defiance, which included barking, snipping, whining and even urinating in my living room, Millan, the internationally acclaimed dog behaviorist and trainer, emerged victorious.
The loser? Me: first-time dog owner Roberto Santiago — as Millan uncovered that my inability to relax — was the cause of my little greyhound’s naughty behavior.
You can read the article here.
Dealing With Devil Dogs And Crazy Cats
May 17th, 2007With some breeds, particularly toy dogs, house-training is a big issue. When a breeder tells you that, don’t assume that your dog will be the exception.
When Marsha Pugh of Hughesville, Md., brought home her first Italian greyhound puppy Expo, his first act was to jump onto her coffee table, up onto the back of her sofa and lift his leg on her curtains. It took months of praise and treats for outdoor elimination before she considered him even marginally house-trained.
You can read the article here.
2007 Big Iggy Auction
May 15th, 2007I should have posted this before, but the annual BIA is going on now. This auction supports IGRF, IGCA Health Fund and the IG Safehouse. The money from the BIA goes to support the Italian Greyhounds that need help. You can bid on the items by visiting this site:
http://igrescue.tripod.com/BIA2007index.html
Fever with purple haze
May 14th, 2007Lisa Reilly didn’t plan on dressing up her dog like Jimi Hendrix.
She was planning Remington the Italian greyhound’s wardrobe for Saturday’s disco-themed Animal Night Fever gala, and her intitial vision was generic ’70s hippie. So she planted a thick Afro wig on Remy.
“When I first put it on him he looked like a lion. So I cut it down,” she said. “He just looks so adorable now.”
And when she added the wide headband and red tie-dyed shirt, adorable met psychodelic. Lo and behold, there stood Hendrix - on four legs.
You can read the article here.
Canine Summer Safety Tips
May 1st, 2007 Health Tips
We may know our canine companions better than anyone else, but it is important to remember most of us are not medical professionals. If you are uncertain how to treat your dog’s medical needs or if you have any questions, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. It is important to keep the following information in mind with the arrival of summer:
- Have your dog’s vaccinations updated if necessary. Diseases such as rabies, distemper and parvo are ever-present dangers and necessary precautions should be taken.
- Talk with your veterinarian about flea and tick prevention medications.
- Heartworm is a common problem for dogs. Take your dog to a vet for a heartworm check every spring and follow your vet’s advice for heartworm precautions.
- Most lawn and garden products may be hazardous. Make sure that plants and fertilizers within the dog’s reach are not toxic.
- The outdoors exposes dogs to the elements. Dogs may need extra brushing and bathing to stay clean and healthy.
- No matter how careful and responsible you may be, accidents can happen. Make sure your vet’s phone number is close at hand and available to all family members.
Beware of insect bites. If your dog is bitten or stung, remove the stinger and watch the site for an allergic reaction. If a reaction occurs or there have been multiple wasp, bee or mosquito bites, take the animal to the vet.
General Summer Safety Concerns
Hot weather can make anyone feel uncomfortable, and your dog is no exception. Here are some safety concerns for responsible dog owners:
- Never leave your dog unattended in direct sunlight or in a closed vehicle. Heatstroke can occur and lead to brain damage or death. Signs of heatstroke are panting, drooling, rapid pulse and fever. Immediately immerse the dog in cool water and seek emergency veterinary assistance.
- Never leave your dog unattended in a hot, parked car. When it’s only 80 degrees outside, the inside of a car can heat up to more than 120 degrees in just minutes. Leaving the windows partially rolled down will not help. Your dog is susceptible to heat stroke and possible death in these conditions.
- Always make sure your dog has access to fresh water.
- All dogs should have proper identification at all times. The AKC suggests a collar with an ID tag, along with a tattoo or a microchip.
- Keep your dog on a leash when he is outdoors to prevent accidents and injuries.
- Try to avoid strenuous exercise with your dog on extremely hot days and refrain from physical activity when the sun’s heat is most intense.
You visit the AKC site to learn more safety tips at http://www.akc.org/public_education/summer.cfm
Pets Blog: Hanging out at Delaware Dog Fest
April 24th, 2007There couldn’t have been a better place to be Sunday than hanging out with hundreds of dogs and their human companions at Delaware Dog Fest. Great weather, great dogs, great people.
The throng included Michael Clevens and 22-month-old Rachel Clevens, both of Middletown, who got a kiss from Taco at Delaware Puppy Rescue’s booth. Kisses were going for $1 each.
You can read the article here.