With the warm weather comes fleas and hot spots. Remember to keep your dogs updated with their vaccines as well as their flea and tick prevention. Along with those fun hikes and camping trip come fox tails (or hitch hikers) so don’t forget to check for fox tails in your dogs’ paws and fur. Make a habit to check their paws every day after an outing. Also, hydration is very important. Make sure your dog has water access during those hot days.

Have a wonderful summer! Feel free to send us a picture of your dogs on vacation to happydogs@k9safai.com!

She has been known as “The Land Manatee,” “Face,” “The Rumpler,” “Jarubble” and a million other adorable names. She would clean your face for you if you let her and always appreciate a butt rub. Tahollow introduced us to so many of our best friends and their dogs via our trips to the dog parks in SF. She has given us so much. We are so lucky to have met her.

Her absence has been almost unbearable though we know she is in a peaceful place. Please give your dogs tons of love from us and appreciate every day you have with them.

Please note, along with 4th of July comes fireworks. San Francisco Animal Care and
Control gets loads of “missing dog” reports on this weekend due to fireworks
spooking dogs. Please keep your sweet furry friends safe and away from any loud
noises.

Have a great 4th of July!

Walking, running, and playing are a big part of your dog’s quality of
life. Keeping him moving and active also promotes general health and
fitness. Injury and pain, whether caused by trauma, genetic
predisposition, or age, can make it harder for you to care for your best
friend, and be obstacles to your dog’s enjoying life in the Big City.

Dogs share many orthopedic and degenerative problems with humans. Here
are just a few of them and how they are managed by guardians and their
veterinarians.

Trauma or “Wear and Tear” (sometimes predisposed or made worse by
features of your pet’s individual anatomy)

Soft tissue injury

Like people, dogs can suffer sore, pulled, torn, or strained muscles,
tendons, and ligaments. One of the more common of these kinds of
injuries is Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) injury or tear, which is
comparable to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) often suffered by
soccer players and skiers. Veterinarians usually recommend surgery if
the tear is complete. Recovery time is about 3 months, but that varies
widely. For partial tears, rest is often the best medicine. In either
situation, work with your vet to keep your dog as comfortable as
possible by managing pain and inflammation.

Fractures

Depending on the severity and location of the fracture, your dog may
need surgery, casting, splinting, or bandaging.

Joint Luxation

You may be more familiar with the term “dislocated joint.” Joint
luxation can result from a trauma, though the individual pet’s anatomy
plays a factor in predisposition to the condition. Veterinarians can
sometimes fix this problem manually, though surgery may be required.
Dislocated joints can cause a lot of inflammation and be very painful.

Spinal disc disease

Treated with surgery or rest and medications

Osteoarthritis

Treated with pain and anti-inflammatory medications

Diseases and defects
Congenital/ developmental defects

Often these kinds of problems are breed-related and worsen as the dog
ages. Some conditions can be managed throughout life, others are treated
surgically either at the time of diagnosis or when they become a
problem. For example, German Shepherd dogs, in particular, may get
degenerative myelopathy, an autoimmune problem. Affected dogs gradually
lose control, sensation, and muscle mass in their hindquarters. There is
no cure, and the rate of progression varies. Hip and elbow dysplasia is
common in larger breed dogs.

Special Issues for Tripod Dogs

If your dog loses a limb for any reason, the chances are better than
they ever have been that he can continue to have a healthy, happy life.
Because of changes in their gait, tripods experience unusual wear on the
remaining limbs and the whole skeletal system.

How can alternative treatment help?

Conventional treatment options for all of these conditions include
mechanical correction of the problem (such as surgery or splinting),
management of pain and inflammation (usually with medications), and
supportive techniques like corrective physical therapy exercises,
wheelchairs and braces, and massage.

These treatments have limited effectiveness for many patients, and may
cause side effects or complications. For example, an older dog may
suffer pain from both degenerative myelopathy and arthritis, yet have
organ function decline that limits the use of pain killers like Rimadyl.

Acupuncture and herbs can help control pain, inflammation, and swelling.
However, holistic therapies emphasize rebalancing the individual in
addition to curing symptoms. A well-balanced pet is more resilient,
heals faster and more completely, and manages pain better. Acupuncture,
herbs, and food therapies work as preventatives as well as treatments.
For instance, managing swelling after surgery for a traumatic injury
lowers the risk of complications later.

Most of us probably grew up feeding our canine family members a combination of mass-produced dog foods purchased at the supermarket and table scraps. These kinds of meals had some deficiencies. Highly processed “commercial” foods for dogs – like those for humans – contain preservatives so they can be transported and stored on shelves as well as large amounts of sugar and salt to add flavor. Both wet food and kibble have been available for decades; cost and preference (of the dogs and the owners) were the determinants of what brands and products made it into Fido’s dish. Table scraps were often nutritious whole foods, such as chicken giblets or pieces of meat. However, we paid little attention to the optimal balance of nutrients.

As our dogs moved “from the barnyard to the backyard to the bedroom,” people became more actively concerned with feeding dogs healthier diets. The veterinary profession followed up on that concern with study into canine nutrition; new pet food companies emerged to offer pet “health foods” that promised to give our dogs shinier coats, improved health, and longer lives. In fact, advances in nutrition are probably a significant factor in the increased life expectancy of dogs: Even twenty years ago, dogs in their mid-to-late teens were rare! Commercial foods got better, and “premium” foods emerged. Made by small, independent companies and claiming to use fresher, whole food ingredients, they cost more, but many vets and consumers believe they are more nutritious than the commercial foods. Safety is a concern, too: The recent pet food scare involved many common mass-produced commercial foods that utilized imported ingredients whose manufacture was not subject to stringent oversight.

Dog training practices have also changed dramatically over the past 25 years, with more trainers and dog lovers employing positive reinforcement methods to teach obedience. These methods make use of training treats for classical conditioning that serves as a foundation for training. Dog treats must now be worked into the calorie calculation.

Those of us who think of our dogs as our “babies” also want to feed them things that look and smell appetizing to us! This has led to trends for home-cooked meals as well as foods packaged as “Country Kitchen” or “Thanksgiving Dinner.” Veterinarians and concerned owners are also exploring the value of returning animals to a diet that proponents argue is closer to the one that non-domesticated animals eat – raw foods. Detractors have two primary arguments: first, that in the 12,000 years dogs have co-evolved with us, both species have adapted to a modern, cooked-food diet, and second, that serving raw foods introduces danger from spoilage and contamination.

Tips for ensuring optimal nutritional health for your dog:
• Consult your vet to about your dog’s proper weight, caloric needs, and any special dietary needs.
• Complementary practitioners can provide additional information. Diet evaluation and advice based on the Chinese Medicine tradition are a standard part of my acupuncture practice.
• Identify trustworthy sources and read up on the advantages and disadvantages of the available food choices for your dog, including convenience, cost, health benefits, your dog’s enjoyment, and your own beliefs and preferences.

Mark your calendar – upcoming event!
On Thursday April 24 from 12 noon-6pm, Pets Unlimited welcomes the Pet Fit tour. Pet Fit is a project of the Alliance for Healthier Pets – Obesity Awareness and Prevention Program, a collaborative effort between Hill’s Pet Nutrition and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Stop by the Pet Fit booth on the corner of Fillmore and Washington for information about how to keep your pet at an ideal weight, product samples, and coupons for Hill’s foods. While you are here, join us for light refreshments at Winnie’s Center for Holistic Medicine. Animal acupuncturist Daphne Livoni will share information about holistic approaches to weight management and wellness. To take the Pet Fit challenge, visit www.petfit.com.

Joseph Pilates said, “Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.” It’s no less true for your dog than it is for you! Do you know the components of an effective exercise plan for your dog? Applying a few basic principles can prolong his life and keep him as healthy as possible, not to mention making him easier to manage and train. The San Francisco dog community offers a plethora of resources for getting your dog fit and keeping him that way.

First, let’s look at the physical health benefits. Though dogs don’t tend to get the kind of heart disease that is most prevalent in human beings, they do develop high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity – all of which threaten health and happiness. Dogs need cardiovascular exercise, just as human beings do. Daily walks provide mild, low-intensity aerobic exercise. For higher-intensity activity, see if your dog enjoys jogging, swimming, or hiking. Dogs that like to fetch and chase get short bursts of intense training for the heart and lungs.

Regular exercise helps dogs maintain a healthy, comfortable weight. Your veterinarian can tell you the proper weight for your dog. As a guideline, you should be able to feel your dog’s ribs and hip bones with a light touch. When you rub her belly, you should not be able to grab fat. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight reduces the stress on her joints, and helps prevent injury and slow down the progress of conditions such as hip or elbow dysplasia and of “wear-and-tear” arthritis.

Tip: Most dogs have less “baggage” around food than we humans do. Feed her a good diet, and use rewards like play, cuddling, and time with other dogs as well as treats.

Then, there are the mental, emotional, and behavioral benefits of getting in a good workout most days of the week. Trainers advise, “A tired dog is a happy dog.” (It’s probably the one thing that all of the various types of trainers agree on!)

“Stress”, by definition, is a physical phenomenon. Any time your dog experiences boredom, anxiety, or fear, his chemical and energetic balance is disrupted. The body prepares for “fight or flight.” Dogs have even fewer options than we do for coping with stress. No television, glasses of red wine, or psychotherapy sessions! They do things like chewing on items in the home, barking on leash at other dogs, or – in extreme cases – acting out aggressively.

Getting some exercise addresses stress at its root. Tucker your dog out everyday, and you will have a calmer, better behaved dog. Moderate exercise before a training session can also help your dog focus. A bout of exercise may ease any stressful transition, like a trip to the vet, groomer, or boarding facility – and makes an excellent reward after the event is over.

Tips for keeping your dog fit:
• Walk her everyday and have a play session with her a few times a week. (Added bonus – you’ll get your workout in, too!)
• Feed him a high-quality diet in appropriate portions. Consider supplementing a commercial diet with whole foods.
• Schedule regular outings with dog professionals like K9 Safari.
• Explore structured dog athletic programs like dog agility [link to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_agility]. Smart, energetic breeds such as border collies, shepherds, and pit bulls especially enjoy the opportunity to test both body and mind with athletic training.
• Vary the routine – short, intense bursts; slow, steady exercise; and play that gets the muscles working and makes your dog solve problems.
• Consult your veterinarian if you see any signs of injury or changes to her energy level, appetite, or mood. Consider holistic treatments such, acupuncture, herbal therapy, and massage to strengthen your dog’s natural healing abilities.

Thank you for understanding. Your dogs’ safety is EXTREMELY important to us.