Dogs and Cows ~ Is it Safe to Walk Through Fields of Cows With Your Dog?

Is it safe to walk your dog through fields of cows?

Recently there have been some dreadful reports in the news about dog walkers being attacked by cows.
One incident was of a vet walking her dog, and was trampled to death by a herd of cows.

The key thing to look for is : Are there CALVES in the field? If so, do NOT walk your dog through the field.
Personally, I avoid any fields that have cows. I NEVER go in with my dogs if there are calves present.
It is possible that the cows are out of sight, so I always look for signs like cowpats and hoof prints, or ask anybody that I see.
A cow can weigh upto 1 ton - that's a big animal, and so can inflict a lot of damage.


Farming Today, early morning on Radio 4, have recently discussed the problem, and have given some excellent advice.

KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEAD AT ALL TIMES - do not let dogs run loose where there are cows present.

If you are approached by cows:

• STAY CALM
• DO NOT SHOUT OR SCREAM - this will make things a lot worse
• DO NOT RUN - THIS COULD TRIGGER AN ATTACK
• WALK AWAY CALMLY & QUIETLY TO AN EXIT OR TO THE EDGE OF THE FIELD

Cows initally are inquisitive , so stay calm if they approach you and quietly and calmly make your escape.
Once they have smelt you and your dog they will realise that you are strangers and so a potential threat to their calves. Stay quiet and calm.

What if you are surrounded by cows or hemmed in at a field boundary?
STAND STILL and let them sniff you. They will go away, but it can take time (up to 30 minutes!)

The key things are : Don't run, don't scream or shout. Keep calm. Keep your dog on a lead.

If there is bull in the field there is a legal requirement for a notice "BULL IN FIELD". Never go in!

Rams can also be a problem - avoid.

Credit Crunch Dogs - Vet Bills Go Up, So Does Dog Food!

The Credit Crunch hits everyone - including our pets!

My vet bills keep going up. This is largely due to the constant price increases of medication for my old girl - now costing about £150 each month! (But she is worth every penny, of course).



The price of dog food keeps going up as well.


So what can we do? The obvious answer is "shop around"!


That is what I did for dog food.

I was buying a 15Kg bag of Arden Grange Lamb & Rice. At a large national chain of petstores I was paying around £35. At my small local pet shop I am now paying £25.50! I use a bag every 3 weeks, so a useful saving.


The same was true for Winalot Shapes (small dog biscuits). My local pet shop is nearly half the price of the nationwide store!


You could make your own dog treats (and know excactly what has gone into them!).

For some FREE no obligation recipes you can download them from this site:
http://doglinks.synthasite.com/ (It is safe site and no personal information is collected.)


What about Vet Bills?

You could compare charges of the vets in your area. (ask other pet owners). But you do need to consider travel costs, and the vet's reputation.


It is possible to buy dog medication online.

Choose a good supplier like VetUK. (I have used them - it was set up by a vet so they do know their stuff). There are others of course.

Non-prescription medication & treatments, e.g. joint supplements, wormers, flea treatments, will probably be cheaper online.


Prescription medicines (marked POM) can be purchased online BUT you must have a prescription from your vet. This used to be free, but vets are now allowed to charge up to £15 for this 'service'. Ask your vet what they charge and check online prices. You could still save money.



If anyone has any good ideas please leave a comment. Thanks.

On a sadder and more serious note, many pet owners are abandoning their animals.
Some act responsibly and find a new owner, or find a place at a rescue centre.
But there are a lot who are just dumped on the streets.
Rescue centres do their best, but are being overwhelmed with unwanted animals.

One Of My Dogs Kept Biting At His Rear End ~ A Gland Problem!

A couple of weeks ago my male dog kept nibbling his skin near his backside. This can be a sign of a gland problem in the back passage.

There are two sacs which can become full. It causes discomfort and irritation to your dog. If left infection can set in.

Signs of the problem can be biting or nibbling around the rear end or rubbing on a hard surface. There will also be a bad smell around his rear end.

Sometimes the glands will empty themselves, but it often requires human intervention!

Unless you have been trained to do this, it is a job best left to the vet - especially if infection has set in.

A sign of infection is passing blood when defecating (this may be just a few drops of dark liqiud) , blood on bedding, or blood around the back passage. Lift your dog's tail to have a look!

Anyway, back to my lad. His glands emptied themselves - you can tell by the smell!
However, a few days later he started nibbling his backend again. I was going to empty them (I've been trained to do this), but I noticed a couple of drops of dark red liquid on the grass when he went to the toilet.
That meant infection had set in and we went to the vet. There wasn't much in the glands, but one was infected. The vet prescribed a 5-day course of Antirobe - a very good anti-biotic. This cleared up the problem, but he did get a touch of diarrhoea.
I gave him light meals plus some organic live yoghurt. This quickly helped settle his system.

Problem solved!

DOGS AND COLD WEATHER - DOGS IN SNOW

Did you see the pictures of my greyhounds in the snow? (Thursday 5th March)

On one walk in the snow we went across a field covered in fresh snow. It was quite deep and hard work for my old dog. This set me thinking about problems for dogs in cold weather.

• Hidden dangers, e.g. holes, broken glass, etc.
• Slipping and Falling
• Frozen ponds, lakes, rivers
• Hypothermia (exposure to cold)
• Health problems exacerbated by cold
• Exhaustion
• Chemicals

Snow can hide all sorts of dangers.
Frozen ponds, etc. may not bear the weight of your dog.
Falling & slipping can cause soft-tissue damage or a broken bone.
Older and vulnerable dogs may suffer exposure and exhaustion. A coat is a good idea.
Arthritis can be more noticeable. Breathing problems can worsen with cold air.
The heart has to work harder. Exhaustion can set in.
Salt used to treat icy roads can irritate paws.
Anti-freeze and de-icers are toxic.

And don't forget short-legged dogs (like daschunds)who will find deep snow hard work. They can also get cold stomachs!

Keeping a towel in your vehicle is a good idea, so your dog can have a rub-down after the walk.
Washing paws if you've walked on treated roads is a good idea.
Paw wax applied before the walk can help prevent slipping and also protect the pads.
And don't forget to keeep chemicals well out of doggie reach!

So that's a few ideas on dogs and cold weather and some problems for dogs in snow.
It's all common sense really - you will probably think of other things to add to the list!

Its getting warmer now and will soon be time to put the clocks forward - but my local weather forecast is for frost overnight!

DOG TREAT RECIPES ~ Healthy & Tasty Recipes for Free

I've created a site that has some very good dog treat recipes. They are free for you to use. Just copy and paste into Word.

There is an appeal on the site - Olive, our old dog, is now costing us over £200 a month for medication. We are struggling to pay the bills.

What I'm hoping is that, in return for the recipes, you will make a VOLUNTARY donation towards Olive's medical fund. There is a 'Donate' button which takes you to Paypal secure payments.

I feel unsure and a bit ashamed about doing this and still feel that I am begging. But you are getting something worth having. I could create a booklet and try to sell it cheaply on eBay, but the fees would eat-up the money! So I thought that I would give this open and honest appeal a try.

There are no catches and nothing to sign up to. The dog treat recipes are free and without obligation. So go and get them! But please do consider the appeal.

The cost of dog medication has gone up several times in the last year.

Just go to this site : http://doglinks.synthasite.com

Thank you.

PS. The website I created was free for me to create. The hosting is also free!

Crufts Is Still In Disgrace!

Today (Sunday 8th march) is the last day of Crufts 2009 and Crufts is still in disgrace!

I didn't go to Crufts this year.

Do you remember the BBC documentary "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" directed by Jemima Harrison? (See my archive 26/8/08 and 29/10/08)
It revealed the health problems caused by the inbreeding of pedigree dogs.

There was an uproar about it. And quite right too! How can a pekingese who couldn't breathe properly win Best In Show?

Since the showing of Pedigree Dogs Exposed on BBC1 there has been outrage, protests, loss of sponsorship and withdrawals of support.

• Pedigree Foods withdrew their sponsorship of Crufts
• The BBC are not broadcasting the Show
• Dog's Trust (a major dog welfare charity) have withdrawn their support
• The PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals) have withdrawn
• The RSPCA have withdrawn their support

I believe that other organisations have also withdrawn.

I had a look at the Trade Stands list on the Crufts 2009 website. Some names that I have seen at previous shows were not in the list.

Crufts have had a shock and I hope that they sit up and take notice and ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING POSITIVE!!!

Jemima Harrison was not allowed to film at Crufts this year. However she has gone as a paying visitor and reports that nothing has changed. A Sunday Times headline of March 8th says : "Nothing’s breedin’ changed at Crufts, mate"

Protesters have planned to be at Crufts this year.

Let us hope that something good comes out of all this for the sake of the dogs.

Crufts could change and become a showcase of all that is good in the dog world.

Dogs Like Snow ! Greyhounds In The Snow

My greyhounds in the recent snow.

Greyhounds need coats in cold weather. They have thin-skins and short fur. If you need a coat then so do they!

The coats the dogs are wearing are water-repellant and fleece lined. They also have yellow reflective strips.

The white one is old and has TWO coats on! They keep her nice and warm.

Video about Dog Food ~ Dog Food Secrets

Watch this video about dog food - it's quite shocking!

To visit their website for more information please CLICK HERE

Happy Christmas

Pictures of vintage cards courtesy of : vintageholidaycrafts.com

Credit Crunch - Times Are Hard & Money is Tight - BUT The Vet Bills Keep Rolling In !!!

Firstly an apology!

I am sorry that I haven't written an entry since the beginning of November.
I like to write something of use or of interest at least once a week.

Well, I make a small living from selling used (and some new) stuff. Collectibles, Books, DVDs, CDs, etc. I do this mostly on eBay, eBid, and Amazon Marketplace. You can see from the right hand side of my blog that I promote my efforts! (And why not - you have to let people know what you do!)
This is all good recycling - first you re-use, then keep re-using until you HAVE to recycle. Much better than sticking it in a hole in the ground!

Times are hard and we are all being careful what we do with our money. My sales have dropped off, so I've had to focus hard on making a living. All my time and effort has been spent on doing just that!

End of apology and explanation!

The Vet Bills

Dogs get sick and have to see the vet - and the large bills have to be paid there and then.
Vets consulting fees can be expensive and so can the medication!

I am spending around £125 each month on prescription medicines and joint supplements for my lass Olive. She's over 12 and has arthritis and an enlarged heart. I also take her to the vet regularly for a check - another £30 or so.

This month she developed a deep ear infection, that was another £50.
Her ears were very clean in the upper parts, but there was a build up deep inside (where you can't see or access).
The vet said that this was unusual.
Olive was prescribed anti-biotics (a 5 day course of Noroclav tablets), plus Surolan drops (a steroid). I also had to clean her ears with Epi-optic ear cleaner.

The poor lass really squealed when I used the epi-optic. I think that it is a bit harsh.
Fortunately the treatment has worked.

Usually you know when a dog has an ear problem.
They will shake there heads a lot in an effort to dislodge stuff.
You will also see them hanging there head to one side.
Also the infected ear(s) may be held at an unusual angle.
Your dog might want its ears rubbed more than is normal.

I didn't see any of this until the day before I took Olive to the vet! Usually you will see signs of possible ear infection earlier.

I regularly clean the upper parts of my dogs ears. I do this with a large piece of cotton wool (NOT a cotton bud) which I wet (not soak) with warm water. Just gently wipe the easily accessible areas inside the upper ear.
If there is a lot of discharge this could mean the start of a problem.
Please NEVER put anything deep inside your dog's ears - this includes cotton buds! You can do serious damage to a delicate organ.
As my doctor once joked - never put anything larger than your elbow inside your ear!

So back to vet bills!

You can do one of three things - take out pet insurance, put money to one side, or pay as required (not good if the bills run into thousands)
Olive isn't insured, and I don't begrudge the girl anything. I've even sold some of my precious book collection to pay for her treatment.
When Spot, our old much-loved male greyhound, developed a spinal problem we spent over £3,000 in one month trying to save him. We would have remortgaged the house if we had to.

You can ask your vet for a prescription and buy the medication somewhere cheaper. VetUK is a good on-line site. It is run by a vet.
BUT I think that vets can now charge £15 for the prescription, so there may be no saving.

If you take out pet insurance do shop around and read the small print. You want a life-time policy, not one that stops paying out after a certain time.
I think that I will make another post about this topic soon.

That's all for now!

Dogs and Fireworks - One of our dogs shook with fear.

More on dogs and fireworks. See my post of Sunday October 5th on the subject.

There were fireworks going off very close to our house last night. Olive was fine, but poor Boris was terrified. He curled up in his bed and SHOOK with fear.
I gave him Bach Rescue Remedy, which helped him. He stopped shaking and his heart thumped less. We also had the TV on quite loud to drown out the noise.
He refused to eat until very late (well after the fireworks had finished).

You can help your dog with Firework phobia and other loud noise fears.
This can be done with desensitisation and management methods.
Suggestions:

• Desensitisation. CDs are available which help to deal with the your dog's fears. You can buy them from suppliers like http://www.soundsscary.com/. They are available for fireworks, thunder, and gunshots. The CDs come with instructions - it is a gradual method of increasing noise level. It is important that your dog doesn't show signs of fear during use.
• DAP -dog appeasment pheromone. This is a plug-in diffuser - it has a calming effect.
• Make a safe place for your dog
• Close windows doors, curtains. Play music.
• Do NOT reward your dog - No treats, reassurance, or petting! You ignore the noises, as if it were nothing.
• Distraction. Play with your dog. It can also help if there is a non-fearful companion animal with them.
• I find that Bach Rescue Remedy helps
• Other Herbal Remedies like Valerian (liquid or tablets) and Skullcap can help. Consult your vet if your dog is on medication.

Good luck!

Crufts - Pedigree Pull Out Of Their Sponsorship Deal !

The fallout from the Pedigree Dogs Exposed program continues !!!

Well-respected organisations like the RSPCA and Dogs Trust have already severed links with the Crufts Dog Show. Last month they announced that they were withdrawing from the dog show. It now seems that other exhibitors may also quit.

Crufts main sponsor, Pedigree Pet Foods, have withdrawn their estimated £1.5 million deal. Pedigree have been associated with Cruft's for the past 44 years.

Some dog experts are now concerned for the show's long-term future. However, the Kennel Club have said that next year's dog show will go ahead as normal.

But will the BBC , who cover the show over it's four days, be there???

On a positive note, the Kennel Club and the Dogs Trust are to review breeding standards for over 200 dog breeds.
The first breeds to be reviewed will be : Basset Hound, BloodHound, Bulldog, Clumber Spaniel, German Shepherd, Mastiff, Pekingese, and St. Bernard.

Cruft's has been running since 1891. But will it continue without major change?

A Look At Lurchers and Greyhounds

Gaze hounds, sight hounds, long dogs - whatever you want to call them - Greyhounds and Lurchers make wonderful family dogs.
At this point I must admit to being owned by two greyhounds, Olive and Boris, who are looking over my shoulder as I write - this is to make sure that I say plenty of nice things about them!
Whilst greyhounds are a well-recognised breed, a Lurcher is a crossbreed, traditionally a cross between a collie (for intelligence) and a greyhound (for speed). This, along with the varied coat (good for camouflague) , made the lurcher the ideal poacher's dog!
Nowadays a Lurcher is a cross between a sight hound and another dog, so that you can have a Saluki cross (loveable lunatics!), Whippet cross, Wolfhound cross, Borzoi cross, etc.
Lurchers come in all sizes and with a variety of coat types and colours.
If you breed two lurchers their litter of puppies can have a variety of coats and colours. It is hard to predict exactly what the progeny are going to look like.

Sight hounds are so-called because they hunt by sight rather than by scent. They have excellent eyesight and will often stare excitedly into the distance because they can see a rabbit from a mile away!

It is a common misconception that greyhounds need lots of exercise and are fierce because they wear muzzles when racing. NOT SO! They are sprinters , not marathon runners. After a good run they like nothing better than a good long sleep on your couch to get over it.
The muzzles are worn during a race in case of doggy disagreements ("turning the head"), and to protect the mechanical "hare".

Greyhounds are normally very good with children. Both of mine have been in schools for talks, and have been impeccably behaved. They should be called "GreyThounds".
Both greyhounds and lurchers love their fuss and you will often get the famous 'lurcher lean' where they put all their weight against your legs!

Sadly, both breeds can be exploited and mis-treated.

Lurchers are used for coursing and hunting - I've heard of bets up to £30,000 being placed on the outcome of a contest.
Significant numbers of Luchers come into rescue. They are often in poor condition with skin problems, sometimes mange. Quite a few will have been treated with Jeyes Fluid or oil! This doesn't cure anything - but it does burn the coat and skin.

Greyhounds start racing at 15 months and are usually finished by 4 years - sooner if injured or not good enough - and face a very uncertain future.
Thousands are destroyed every year because they no longer race and there is nowhere for them to go. The lucky dogs end up in rescue centres and find the loving homes that they deserve. Others may go to Spain or Thailand for a racing life and can sometimes endure horrible deaths if the owners no longer have any use for them.

Organisations like the Retired Greyhounds Trust (UK) and Greyhounds In Need (who do a lot of work in Spain) are doing a wonderful job. They are charities which rely on volunteers and donations from the general public.
There are also decent owners and trainers who will ensure that greyhounds who can no longer race are found a good home.
But the problem is huge!!!

Give a Gazehound a Good Home!

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass - Why Does My Dog Eat Grass

While I was out walking my dogs Olive, my female greyhound, stopped to eat grass. She is very selective and usually seeks out goose grass - a very coarse grass with sticky seed cases. ( Not much of that about at this time of year, so she ate flat coarse grass)
I'm wondering if it helps clear her insides.
Wild geese eat very coarse grass before migrating. This is to clear themselves of any worms that they may have. (Research shows that geese have no or few worms after migration flights).
My girl doesn't have worms, so it may be some other reason.

So why do dogs eat grass?

Most dogs eat grass, and there are several possible reasons :

• Your dog may be feeling unwell.
• There may be something missing from their regular diet.
• Grass may be a normal part of their diet. Wild carnivorous animals eat the intestines of their prey, and so ingest any grass and plant material that is present. Dogs are carnivores.
• They might just like it! Some dogs search for particular types of grass. (That's what my girl does; in her case, goose grass)
• Dogs are scavengers. If you are hungry you have to eat!

Do dogs eat grass because they have upset stomachs, or do their stomachs get upset because they have eaten grass?

Maybe there's something in grass that makes them throw up.The stomach will respond to what dogs eat.

Healthy dogs can eat grass without being sick. They usually chew it well first.

Dogs who are unwell don't chew grass carefully. They just swallow it. This may make them sick, and so clears their stomachs. If a dog finds that something works, it will do it again!

Be Careful What Grass Your Dog Is Eating

The grass may have been treated with chemicals. It usually states on the label if they are dangerous to pets. Keep dogs away from treated grass. The chemicals will usually break down fairly quickly, but they can be dangerous if your dog eats them while they're fresh.

On a final note, if your dog often eats grass to be sick there may be something wrong - so see your vet.

If your dog is in good health and regularly eats grass, then try adding some roughage like bran to the food bowl. (A couple of teaspoons will do).

Dogs and Fireworks Don't Mix! What to Do to Help Your Frightened Dog

Dogs and fireworks should be on different planets!

The majority of dogs are frightened, and some are absolutely terrified by fireworks.
Dogs hearing is much more sensitive than ours, so the problem is magnified.

Fireworks can be heard at Christmas , New Year, Diwali, private parties, etc. as well as on Guy Fawkes Night. November 5th is creeping up on us, so start preparing NOW to help your dog with its fear.

So what can we do?

• Make a secure, safe place for your dog. This can be done by placing his bed behind a sofa. Being in a quiet, dark corner with familiar things is very comforting to a dog.
• Make sure he cannot escape from the house. Be vigilant and careful with doors. Dogs think that the explosions are inside the house and will want to get outside to escape them! Keep his collar on with home details attached, just in case!
• Don't be tempted to 'comfort' your dog. This can make things worse. You ignoring the noises will give reassurance.
• Close windows and curtains to reduce noise levels, and to hide flashes.
• Have the TV or radio on. Research by Dogs Trust has shown that Classical music can have a calming effect.
• Feed your dog and take him outside to empty himself BEFORE the fireworks start. Don't let him out on his own, just in case he tries to escape.
• Don't worry if your dog refuses food.
• Play with your dog - this is a good distraction.
• I've used Bach Rescue Remedy on my dogs with some success. Give just before the noise starts! Repeat as per instructions on the bottle.
• DAP - dog appeasement pheromone - can help. It calms anxious dogs.
• In very severe cases of fear, it could be worthwhile to consult your vet or a dog behavourist.
• look out for signs of stress (see list below)

Look out for Signs of Stress

The following are all symptoms of distress

• trembling or shaking
• restlessness or pacing
• panting
• whining
• barking
• hiding
• destructiveness
• attention seeking
• trying to escape
• messing or urinating in the house
• refusing food

Please DO NOT take your dog to a fireworks display. This will NOT cure his fear, it will only make matters worse!

I love firework displays, but my dogs come first.

Boris the lad is frightened and curls up into a ball in his bed. He looks tiny and he is a big greyhound! He also refuses food. Boris knows well before we do when the fireworks are going to start. I always watch him closely, so I have early warning!

Olive the girl is very laid back. She stretches out on the couch and goes off to sleep!

Good luck with your dog!

Most Popular Dog Names - Top 10 Favouites in UK , and in America

Choosing a name for a dog

This is great fun but can cause endless arguments! Everyone has their personal favourites and likes and dislikes.

A good approach is to think about your dog and its characteristics.

Here is an example. We had a very active young border collie who was constantly turning round to examine new things. 'Spin' was the name we decided on. It suited him and was ideal for a border collie.

Also consider what it will be like to call the name out loud!

If you want use the name of a friend or family member it is a good idea to ask them first - they just might object!

Top Ten Most Popular Dog Names In UK

1. Molly 2. Max 3. Charlie 4. Holly 5. Poppy

6. Ben 7. Alfie 8. Jack 9. Sam 10. Barney

American Favourite Dog Names (from the American Kennel Club)

Girls

1. Lady 2. Belle 3. Princess 4. May 5. Rose

6. Daisy 7. Grace 8. Baby 9. Molly 10. Maggie

Boys

1. Bear 2. Blue 3. Max 4. Duke 5. Buddy

6. Jack 7. Prince 8. King 9. Bailey 10. Rocky

Good luck with choosing a name for your dog!

My Dog Woke Me At 2.30 in the Morning! I Got Up and Here's The Reason Why...

Do Your Dogs Get You Up in the Night?... Mine Do!

So, you are wandering around some surreal Alice in Wonderland landscape, or even having a very pleasant dream! Then something starts to break through! You eventually surface and finally realise it's one of your dogs urgently crying. It is also some unearthly hour of the morning.
Do you ignore it or go back to sleep?
I always get up. My lass is old and it might be serious.

I've got two rescue greyhounds, Boris 6 year old male dog, and Olive 12+ year old female dog.
They stand at the bottom of the stairs and cry with increasing urgency, until I come down.
These are the various reasons why one or both dogs drag me out of bed!

Olive :

• I need to go out.
• I know I got you up not long ago, but I need to go out again!
• I want a biscuit
• I need my ears rubbed
• Can you see me back onto the couch and give me a fuss
• I'm a poor old girl

Boris :

• I need to go out
• I want a fuss
• Can you make my bed comfortable
• There's something in the garden
• I need reassurance

Both Dogs :

• We want to go out
• There's something in the garden and we have to gallantly defend our family, our house, and our territory!

Should We Get Up or Ignore Dogs?

Once you start you can have an increasing problem. So ignoring may be the better option.

Giving a biscuit (as I do!) is rewarding unwanted behaviour.

But Olive is an old dog and I don't know how much longer we will have her. 12 years is average for a greyhound, and she's on a lot of medication now. She also drinks quite a bit and so needs to go out more frequently.

She's a very gentle old lady and we love her to bits. She gets what she wants now!

As far as Boris is concerned, its impossible to ignore him when he starts calling!

They are both very clean dogs and would hold themselves as long as they could. They would both be upset if they messed in the house. It isn't kind or fair to not let them out if they need to go out.

You just have to exercise judgement and be careful that you aren't creating a problem!

And then try to get back to sleep!

Do You Fancy a Career with Animals? Would you like to Work with Dogs? Part 1 : Have You Got What It Takes?... Find Out Here!

So you want a career with animals. Good for you!
But working with dogs (or any other animal) isn't just a nice job - it's a way of life.

Please remember that I am speaking with the voice of hands-on experience!

And this is what it takes :

• Infinite Patience
• Compassion and a caring nature
• Complete commitment
• 100% Total Dedication
• A strong sense of responsibility
• Even more dedication!
• Physical fitness and stamina
• Good powers of observation
• Attention to detail
• A willingness to learn
• The humility to realise that you are never going to know everything about animals
• Good communication skills
• People skills
• Courage (mental, physical, and emotional)
• Being prepared to do unpleasant jobs
• You may have to make difficult decisions - including life & death ones.
• Be willing to undergo further education & training

You must also :

• Know your strengths
• Even more, know your weaknesses
• Be mentally, physically and emotionally robust

The welfare of a dog comes before your needs.....If an animal's welfare is compromised you stay until it is sorted - even if you have made plans to go out!

Good observation, even of something apparently insignificant, can mean life or death to a dog!

Most work with dogs is badly paid! You won't get financially rich, but you will become rich in many better ways.

Some things like communication and people skills can be learnt, others like observation and physical fitness can be improved by practice. Other things are down to your personality.

Knowledge comes with experience and training. You may have to take one or more courses and obtain qualifications. Learning is a lifelong activity!

Think long and hard, do some voluntary work with animals. Appropiate work experience can be an eye-opener!

I will give you two real examples of what I mean.

1) On observation. A man brought a stray female dog in just as I was locking up for the night. When I got her out of his car, I noticed a tiny spot of very dark blood on the blanket he had put in for her. I checked with the finder and he said it wasn't there when he put it in. ALARM BELLS! I checked her vagina for discharge by swabbing with some damp cotton wool. The result - a dark blood-like discharge. Potential pyometra. (Serious womb infection). I took her straight to the vet and she underwent a life-saving operation. If I had not noticed or had chosen to ignore the spot of blood, I would have found a dead dog in the kennels in the morning!

2) On dedication. A dog had been locked in a house on its own for 2 days. The owner had been injured and was in hospital. The local people were unable to deal with the problem. I waited at work until gone 6pm for a phone call from the police. Then, with a colleague, drove a 40 mile round trip to collect the dog. Once it was fed and settled, I locked up and then arrived back home just gone 8.30pm. The theatre tickets for that evening went in the bin!

Look out for Part 2, where I will write about the different sorts of work with dogs. I will also discuss qualifications and training.

Our Old Dog has Health Problems - Arthritis, Enlarged Heart and Fluid on the Lungs. This is what we did. The Vet Bills mount up!

Olive, our old female greyhound is over 12 years old now. With age comes health problems, although younger dogs can suffer the same health problems!

She has had arthritis for over 3 years. It is in her hips and in all four legs. She also has it in a small area of her back - this is quite a common problem for longdogs (greyhounds, lurchers, borzois, etc.) Ex-racing greyhounds can have severe problems in paws, legs and spine. These happen because of joint strain and injuries incurred during racing. (A human athlete will tell you the same!)

Dogs with arthitis need close observation and monitoring. Dogs are very good at hiding pain, especially the stoical breeds like Rottweillers.

Some signs to look for are :

• increased stiffness
• reluctance to go for a walk
• excessive licking of joints
• difficulty in jumping in & out of the car
• slowness of movement

Changes in your dog's arthritis can be gradual and easily missed. It is only after some time that you realise that they have got worse!

We treated Olive with Devils Claw Root ( a natural anti-imflammatory ) and Cortaflex, a joint supplement. Cortaflex contains Glucosamine Sulphate, MSM and Chondroitin. These are substances which help lubricate the joints and promote healthy cartilage. I successfully used them to treat a lot of arthritic dogs (young and old) at the rescue.

But after a successful 2 years of using these products her arthritis became worse, and a trip to the vet was needed.

There are several drugs that a vet can prescribe for arthritis in dogs. Metacam, Rimadyl, PLT tablets. (PLT= prednoleucotropin).

Olive can't tolerate Metacam, it makes her vomit. She's fine with Rimadyl, but it wasn't effective. So the vet suggested PLTs. This is an older remedy which is an anti-imflammatory plus a small amount of steroid. She has had these for a year and they certainly help her. The vet advised us to have a blood test every 6 months to check the internal organs.

Swimming can help. This is best done in a controlled way in a purpose-built pool.
Olive likes water, but struggles to swim, so I lightly massage her legs and hips. This is NOT manipulation!

If the vet prescibes any of these drugs you cannot give devils claw because your dog will get too much anti-imflammatory. You can still give Cortaflex, but mention it to the vet.

Then a couple of months ago she started to breath harshly and really struggled to walk. Desperately worried, we took her to the vet.
She was checked for a heart murmur and had an ECG. Her breathing was carefully checked too.
Olive was found to have an enlarged heart. One of the 4 chambers of the heart has some enlargement. There was also a build-up of fluid in the lungs.
These problems increased the load on her heart and put her at risk of heart-failure. Hence the harsh breathing and reluctance to walk!
The Vet prescribed two drugs :
1) Fortekor for the heart
2) Frusemide to clear the lungs
Thankfully there was a marked improvement in a couple of days. She is continuing to do well on these drugs.

Olive decides what she wants to do for the day. If she doesn't want a walk she either feigns sleep, or puts out a pleading paw and gives you a sad look! She is very much an afternoon walk dog these days.
All the medication is maintaining her. That is PLTs, Fortekor, Frusemide and the Cortaflex (non-drug). She often dances around the room and I've seen her leap several feet through the air!
Walking her is a matter of judging how far & how slow. And remembering that you have to come back as well. Little and often is better than one big walk.
Boris, our younger greyhound, is very tolerant of Olive and slow short walks. But he also gets a longer fast walk without Olive to keep him fit & happy.

Vet Bills
All these drugs and check-ups cost money of course. We are spending over £100.00 a month on Olive's medication and Cortaflex. We don't begrudge a penny. If it would help my dogs I'd remortgage the house. We can't help but love our dogs can we!

To keep costs down you can ask your vet for a prescription and buy your dog's medication from a reputable supplier. This could save quite a bit of money. Have a look at VetUK's website. It is run by a Vet and you can get non-prescription items like wormers, as well as POM (prescription only medicine), as long as you have prescription.

If you have pet insurance you can claim for vet bills and medication. Choose your pet insurer carefully. Some have a lot of restictions or will put premiums sky-high once your dog gets older.
You also need to check the policy for ongoing problems. Some insurers will continue to pay out for life, others stop paying out after 12 months - no good if you have a dog who needs on-going treatment.
Be aware that once your dog gets to a critical age - often 7 years, but it depends on the breed - you will not be able to start a new pet insurance or change insurers.
Alternatively you could set up a high-interest account and pay in regular amounts.

When our old lad Spot had a spine problem he had MRI scans and surgery with a specialist vet. We spent over £3000 in a month. Neither Spot or Olive are insured. But I have insured Boris with PetPlan. That's a personal choice based on talking to other pet owners and on PetPlan's insurance for life. The best idea, I think, is to shop around. Use a GOOD comparison site, talk to other dog owners, and read the policy carefully!

On a final note good health to all dogs and my best wishes to owners who have sick or frail dogs.

Why Dogs Attack Their Owners! Dogs Dressed Up - This is a Humorous Dog Item!

I was sent these dog pictures -they speak for themselves!


Gremlin Dog!
Biggles Dog!

Pirate Dog
Dogs Gone Bananas!
Dog Vader!
Sir Dog!