10 common dog medical concerns

Image and article: Kathleen Riley-Daniels

An ear infection, stomach ache or cough can prompt a visit to your doctor and the same holds true for your dogs. While the majority of these conditions are curable, they can become chronic and expensive to treat. Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI) policyholders spent more than $46 million in 2011 treating the 10 most common medical conditions afflicting their dogs. VPI, the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, recently sorted its database of more than 485,000 insured pets to determine the top 10 pet medical conditions in 2011. Below are the top ten results for dogs:

1. Ear infection
2. Skin allergy
3. Skin infection
4. Non-cancerous skin growth
5. Upset stomach
6. Intestinal upset / diarrhea
7. Arthritis
8. Bladder infection
9. Bruise or contusion
10. Underactive thyroid

“The large number of claims received for these medical conditions attests to their common, often repetitive, and sometimes chronic nature,” said Dr. Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “While many pet owners fear major accidents and illnesses, which can cost thousands of dollars to treat for a single incident, repetitive and chronic conditions can be just as detrimental to a pet’s quality of life and financially burdensome to the pet owner.”

In 2011, VPI received more than 62,000 canine claims for ear infections, the most common cause for taking a dog to see a veterinarian. The average claim fee was $98 per office visit. The most expensive canine condition on the list (non-cancerous skin growth) cost an average of $220 per visit.

Knowing you pets daily routines will help to identify abnormal behaviors that might indicate an injury or illness. In addition, regular physical examinations by a veterinarian may help prevent and identify certain conditions before they become serious or costly.

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Dog breed spotlight Chinook

By: Kathleen Riley-Daniels and Chris Nelson

The Chinook is a northern breed (sled dog) developed to pull heavy loads over long distances at a quick pace. The Chinook breed stems from Arthur Treadwell Walden’s famed lead dog, “Chinook” that was born in Wonalancet, New Hampshire on 17 January 1917. Chinook was a tawny dog with a black mask that was produced from breeding his dam (mother) a Greenland Husky to his sire (father) a Mastiff-type dog, Chinook himself was then bred to German and Belgian shepherds.

Walden, an experienced sled dog driver as well as an outstanding publicist, succeeded in creating an American breed of sled dog with power, endurance and trainability, which also had a friendly, gentle nature. The breed historically comes in several colors, but Walden liked to showcase the breed’s rich tawny color.

After Walden, breeding stock passed to Mrs. Julia Lombard and then to Perry and Honey Greene. Greene controlled the Chinook population until his death in 1963 at which point the breed’s population had dropped dramatically. By 1981 there were only eleven potentially breedable Chinooks left, but today thanks to dedicated breeders and fanciers the breed has made a remarkable comeback from the brink of extinction.

Minnow – Chinook Dog

Photo credit: Kathleen Riley-Daniels

Chinooks are comfortable running a sled team or snuggling on the couch with a beloved family member, the Chinook is the ideal all-purpose canine companion.

Chinook facts, books and links:

• Chinooks accompanied Admiral Richard Byrd’sfirst expedition to Antarctica in 1927 you may learn more about this in the book Little America.
• Chinook means “warm winter winds” in Inuit.
• The Chinook is one of a few dog breeds created in America.
• A Chinook sled dog team was the first team of dogs to the summit of Mt. Washington, NH in 1925.
• In 1966, Boeing Helicopters-Vetrol division obtained a Chinook named Charger as a mascot, and sent Charger to the 228th base at An Khe, South Viet Nam. Charger never made it back.
• Chinook became the official State Dog of New Hampshirein 2009.
• Arthur Walden| Cow Hampshire History Blog.
• The Guinness Book of World Records recorded the Chinook as the rarest dog in the world starting in 1965.
• The First Chinookby David Pagel.
• Leading a Dog’s Lifeby Arthur Treadwell Walden.
• A Dog Puncher on the Yukonby Arthur T. Walden.
• Gone to the Dogsby Susan Conant.
• Chinook Owners Association
• United Kennel Club– The Chinook was recognized in March 1991.
• American Kennel Club– The Chinook was recognized in January 2013.

This rare breed spotlight was created with the assistance of Chris Nelson, aka, “The Dog Expert.” He is one of the leading experts in dog breed history with a special focus on rare breeds. From Enumclaw Washington, Chris handled dogs for 10-years in his local 4-H club and now shows in both the AKC and UKC. In addition to contributing on this column, he is currently writing a column for the Icelandic Sheepdog Association of America’s newsletter and contributing to a book on Icelandic Sheepdogs.

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Pet friendly destination Destin Florida

Image: Kathleen Riley-Daniels

Unlike most tourist destinations, Destin, Florida can be a great place to bring the family dog on vacation. Travel website TripShock offers pet friendly accommodations in the area, and they also sell pet friendly activities as well. Here are some reasons why Fido should come along this trip.

1) Destin “Bark” Park is a beautiful “off-leash” park is a great place for your well-socialized pooch to take a run. Located in the heart of Destin behind the Destin City Hall Annex (4100 Indian Bayou Trail), this park offers two separate fenced-in areas for dogs to run, jump play and meet other canines. There are benches, water fountains, bag stations, and trash cans available throughout the park. The park is open 7 days a week from dusk to dawn. The park offers grass, trees and coming soon, a giant sandy area to dig and play in, what more can a dog dream of.

2) Pet Friendly Pontoon Rentals – This popular activity is usually an all-day event and pets enjoy being out on the water with the family. Book pet friendly pontoon rentals on TripShock.com.

3) Take a Stroll on Scenic 98, a long stretch of quiet road that runs parallel to the beaches in Destin. It’s perfect for walking or even biking with a dog. There is public parking along the scenic highway if the traveler is not within walking distance. Keep in mind that pets are not allowed on the beaches unless the pet is owned by a resident with a permit.

4) Get a Family Picture – Although pets are not allowed on the beach, a professional photographer can recommend a place that is legal and can include the family pet in the photo.

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Image: Auburn University

By: Kathleen Riley-Daniels

Auburn University sent EcoDogs, Jake and Ivy, into the Everglades to sniff out and capture Burmese Pythons, a non-native invasive species. The university was contacted by the Army Corps of Engineers to see if dogs could be trained to track pythons as a control and management method.

The Labrador retrievers are able to detect pythons from quite a distance, and never get within fifteen-feet of the snakes. When the dogs find a python, they stop and crouch. This system works well with pythons since their first reaction to being discovered is to curl up and hide rather than strike.

National Geographic shares, “Burmese pythons are native to the jungles and grassy marshes of Southeast Asia, and are among the largest snakes on Earth. They are capable of reaching 23 feet (7 meters) or more in length and weighing up to 200 pounds (90 kilograms) with a girth as big as a telephone pole. When young, they will spend much of their time in the trees. However, as they mature and their size and weight make tree climbing unwieldy, they transition to mainly ground-dwelling. They are also excellent swimmers, and can stay submerged for up to 30 minutes before surfacing for air.”

These snakes are a threat to the ecosystem in the Everglades because they are a generalist species. This means they are opportunistic and adaptable to the environment and the food sources that are available. The pythons have almost completely wiped out native marsh rabbits, opossums, raccoons and native birds in the southern areas of Everglades National Park.

Auburn University EcoDogs is a collaborative partnership among the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, the Canine and Detection Research Institute, the Animal Health and Performance Program, the Veterinary Sports Medicine Program, and the College of Veterinary Medicine, all at Auburn University. The purpose of the project is to train detection dogs to find plant and animal species, or their sign, in the field for the benefit of ecological research, management, or conservation.

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How to haze coyotes

Badlands Coyote  Credits: Mikki Ottomoeller

Coyotes are usually reclusive, but have been colonizing communities and becoming more acclimated to living near people. Hazing helps send a clear message to coyotes that they should not be complacent living around people.

Edina, Minnesota Animal Control Officer, Tim Hunter, has given seminars on hazing urban coyotes and has created a coyote tip sheet to help you know what to do. Hazing makes use of deterrents to move a coyote out of an area while discouraging undesirable behavior and activity. Hazing also helps to maintain a coyote’s natural fear of humans and encourages them to avoid backyards and play areas.

The following guidelines are adapted from the presentation by Tim Hunter, hazing guidelines found in The Cook County, Illinois, Coyote Project and Project Coyote. These techniques have proven very successful at correcting problem coyote behavior, both short and long term.

Hazing:Use a variety of different hazing tools so the coyotes don’t get acclimated to the devices, sounds, and actions. Here are some simple hazing techniques:

• Yelling and waving your arms while approaching the coyote. The video link shows how effectively this method is for moving coyotes away from your area.
• Noisemakers: Voice, whistles, air horns, bells, “shaker”cans full of marbles or pennies, pots, lids, or pie pans banged together.
• Projectiles: sticks, small rocks, cans, tennis balls, rubber balls. Throw them toward the coyote, not directly at the coyote.
• Other: hoses, water guns with vinegar water, spray bottles with vinegar water.

Go Away! – This is the simplest method.

• Stand tall, wave your arms, and yell at the coyote, approaching him if necessary, until he runs away as demonstrated in this coyote hazing video.
• Coyotes that haven’t been hazed may not immediately run away. If this happens, you may need to walk towards the coyote and intensify your hazing.
• The coyote may run away, but then stop after a distance and look at you. This is the time to continue going after the coyote until he completely leaves the area. You may need to use additional tactics, like noisemakers, stomping your feet or even spraying the coyote with a hose. The key is to get him moving out of your space.

Dog Walking Safety – Here are several hazing tools you may carry with you while walking your dog:

• Homemade noisemakers
• Whistleor small air horn necklace
• Squirt guns
• Pepper spray
• Sticks or other objects to throw towards (but not at) the coyote

In your own backyard– Keeping pets and pet food inside is the best way to keep coyotes out of your yard. If coyotes still wander into your yard, use all of the hazing methods mentioned and remember the coyote needs to see you – hazing is not effective from inside your living room yelling out a window. Start with “Go away coyote!” method with you yelling and waving your arms as you approach the coyote.

Important common sense precautions

• Never run away from a coyote. Running may make the coyote think you are prey.
• Do not feed coyotes or any other wild animal. Providing food makes them dependent and they can lose their natural fear of humans. People who provide them with food run the risk of being bitten and increase the chance of their neighbors having a coyote issue.
• Don’t corner the animal, such as in a garage. Give it plenty of opportunity to escape. Do not let your pets harass them, they are very capable fighters.
• Keep pet food out of their reach and secure garbage cans. Coyotes are opportunistic and will make a meal of pet food or table scraps that are left in unsecured containers. If a dog or cat is fed outside, bring uneaten food inside as soon as the pet has finished eating. Place trash in a secure container so that it is unavailable to coyotes.
• Avoid letting dogs and cats roam freely. Coyotes are able to kill and eat small dogs and house cats.
• Work with your neighbors on making your neighborhood undesirable to coyotes. If you see coyotes in your neighborhood, you know they are being fed or are finding food. Working with your neighbors to eliminate food sources that are bringing the animals into the neighborhood.
• Be supportive of animal control and wildlife agencies that are working with coyotes and other wildlife and domestic animals.

To learn more about coexisting with coyotes, please visit Project Coyote.

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Do you know where your pet food comes from?

By Kathleen Riley-Daniels

Do you know where your pet food comes from? The pet food industry is big business, and four of the top five companies are based in the United States. The following list shows the top five highest grossing pet food manufacturers based on data from 2009 and 2010. These top companies are grossing about $35 billion dollars per year in pet-related sales.

1. Mars Inc. (USA Headquarters)

Founded in 1911, Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned company (#5 on Forbes list of top American companies) that is one of the world’s largest food companies. Mars has six business segments: Chocolate, Petcare, Wrigley Gum and Confections, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience. The world headquarters is located in McLean, Virginia, USA and Mars Petcare is based in Franklin, Tennessee, USA

• Approximate 2009 global retail pet sales in the United States was $13.3 billion
• Top pet brands: Advance, Cesar, Dentabone, Dentastix, Exelpet, Greenies, Jumbone, Natural Choice, Nutro, Pedigree, Royal Canin, Sheba, Temptations, The Goodlife Recipe, Ultra, Whiskas
• Mars Petcare launched the Power of Pets Program in 2010, a new community-focused health initiative. The company is collaborating with YMCAs in cities across the USA bringing pet-friendly health, education and programming to communities.

2. Nestlé SA / NestléPurina PetCare(Switzerland Headquarters)

Founded in 1905 when the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé merged. The company grew significantly during the First World War and again following the Second World War. World headquarters: Vevey, Switzerland and Nestlé Purina PetCare headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

• Approximate 2009 global retail sales: US $12.9 billion
• Top brands: Alpo, Beneful, Cat Chow, Dog Chow, Fancy Feast, Felix, Friskies, Gourmet, One, Pro Plan, Waggin’ Train

3. Colgate-Palmolive Co. / Hill’s Pet Nutrition (USA Headquarters)

Colgate-Palmolive Companywas founded in 1806. The small soap and candle business that William Colgate began in New York City has become a truly global company serving hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide. World headquarters: New York, New York, USA and Hill’s Pet Nutrition is headquartered in Topeka, Kansas, USA.

• Approximate 2009 global retail sales: US $3.4 billion
• Top brands: Hill’s Science Diet, Hill’s Prescription Diet

4. Procter & Gamble Co. (USA Headquarters)

P&G was founded in 1837 by two men who met by chance. William Procter, emigrating from England, established himself as a candle maker in Cincinnati, which was a busy center of commerce and industry in the early nineteenth century. And James Gamble, arriving from Ireland, apprenticed himself to a soap maker. The two might never have met had they not married sisters Olivia and Elizabeth Norris, whose father convinced his new sons-in-law to become business partners. As a result, in 1837, a bold new enterprise was born: Procter & Gamble.World headquarters: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA and P&G Pet Care headquarters is located in Dayton, Ohio, USA.

• Approximate 2009 global retail sales: US $3.3 billion
• Top brands: Eukanuba, Iams, Natura
• Procter & Gamble accelerated its commitment to sustainability in 2010 by unveiling a long-term environmental sustainability vision. As part of P&G’s strategy to grow responsibly, P&G Pet Care will work towards a long-term environmental vision that includes only sourcing sustainable fish for cat foods.

5. Del Monte Foods Co. (USA Headquarters)

Del Monte is founded in 1916 in San Francisco. The company was originally called Calpak and was created through a merger of four large California canning companies. In 1967, Calpak changed its name to Del Monte Corporation.

• Approximate 2009 global retail sales: US $1.8 billion
• Top brands: Meow Mix, Kibbles n’ Bits, Milk-Bone, Snausages, Nature’s Recipe (Cat and Dog)

What is your dog’s favorite food and treats? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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DNR conservation officers using dogs to detect zebra mussels

Zebra mussels on native mussel. Credits: Minnesota DNR

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be using three zebra mussel-sniffing K-9 teams for the first time this year to help combat the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). Minnesota is the second state in the country to use trained dogs to prevent the spread of AIS, and they will be used throughout the state during the open water season.

“The use of K-9s is a progressive enforcement tool that will complement and support our invasive species prevention efforts,” said Col. Jim Konrad, DNR Enforcement director. “However, they should not overshadow the fact that preventing the spread of AIS is still everyone’s personal responsibility.”

Earlier this year, Minnesota conservation officers Todd Kanieski and Travis Muyres traveled to California to learn about the country’s first program successfully utilizing mussel trained K-9’s to prevent the spread of AIS. “A K-9 can find a mussel on a boat much faster than a human inspector,” said Kanieski.

Muyres’ K-9 mussel team partner “Laina” is a Belgian Malinois, the other teams include water resource enforcement officers Lt. Julie Siems and her K-9 partner “Brady” and Lt. Larry Hanson and his K-9 partner “Digger.” Siems’ and Hanson’s dogs are Labrador retrievers provided by animal shelters and animal rescue organizations.

The mussel detecting K-9s will also be receiving training in tracking, evidence recovery, firearms detection, and wildlife detection. “Combining mussel detecting with these additional skills will add muscle to the DNR’s capabilities and efficiency in protecting the state’s natural resources,” said Kanieski.

The DNR Enforcement Division has utilized K-9s to assist in protecting our natural resources since 1995, although the DNR’s two current K-9 units are not trained in mussel detection.

According to the DNR, zebra mussels can multiply out of control and dramatically change the ecosystem of a body of water. They are often transported from lake to lake by boaters. The mussels are only about the size of a finger nail, and their larvae microscopic, making them tough to find. They have been discovered on various lakes across the state.

The Minnesota DNR would like boaters to know they are required by law to:

• Remove aquatic plants, zebra mussels and other prohibited species from boats, trailers and equipment before transporting from any water access.
• Drain all water from bilges, livewells, motors, ballast tanks and portable bait containers before leaving water accesses or shoreline property.
• Remove the drain plug, open water draining devices, and drain bilges and livewells; the drain plug must be removed or open when transporting a boat on public roads.

If you are out boating this season and have a chance to meet one of these new DNR dogs, snap a photo and share your experience.

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