The Dangers of Insect Bites: What You Need To Know – Part 1

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of having dinner with Steve Dale who is a pet expert and certified dog and cat behaviorist, journalist, radio host, and frequent speaker at national veterinary and animal welfare conferences. Steve was in New York City to promote a book he helped edit called Decoding Your Dog, written by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Though he was kind enough to give me (and sign) 2 books (one for Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue’s recent online auction), what he was really there to talk to me about was insect bites. I know what you’re thinking: Who cares about insect bites? Read on.

Steve Dale with his furry wiggle butts

As dog owners, we’ve all heard about the importance of flea and tick prevention. Depending on where you live in the world, the dangers of these insects are more (or less) pronounced but, when is the last time you heard about the dangers of mosquito bites for dogs? More importantly, did you know that mosquitoes are the pesky bugs that spread heartworm and that heartworm can be deadly?

Photo credit: Tobyotter / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

As a resident of New York City, I know that a lot of dog owners here only use flea and tick prevention on their dogs during the warm months and I’ve actually never heard of mosquito bite prevention for dogs. I also know plenty of dog owners who just don’t like the idea of putting a chemical or pesticide on their dog, myself included. That said, it’s a necessarily evil if you want to protect your dog and quite simply, a few months of protection out of the year just isn’t enough, regardless of your location. Steve told me that veterinarians have been seeing a huge spike in vector-borne diseases among dogs in metropolitan areas across the country, including New York City and his hometown of Chicago. I’m guessing the increase may be due to the fact that most city dwellers don’t believe they need to put their dogs on preventative all year long. After all, we’re surrounded by concrete – not trees!

But… then I remembered that time I took Frenchy for a walk in my Queens neighborhood only to find a tick embedded in her fur upon our return…  and then I confessed to Steve that for years, my husband and I have thought we might have a mosquito infestation behind our apartment building because every summer, we go crazy killing about 30 or so in our bedroom.

So, it’s time for us to get some scary facts out in the open:

FLEAS

• In just one day, a single flea can bite your dog more than 400 times.
• Blood consumption by fleas can produce iron deficiency anemia and even death in heavy infestations.
• Flea bites can cause flea allergy dermatitis – an allergic reaction to proteins in flea saliva.

TICKS

• Ticks can consume 100x their body weight in blood. (Ick)!
• Ticks spread Lyme Disease which dogs are 50% more likely to contract than humans.
• Studies show that topical products containing permethrin (which kills on contact) can prevent Lyme transmission to dogs.

MOSQUITOES

• It only takes one mosquito to transfer heartworm from one dog to another.
• Heartworm occurs in all 50 states.
• The American Heartworm Society recommends year-round prevention, even in seasonal areas.
• Heartworms may live for 5-7 years and each mosquito season can lead to an increasing number of worms in dogs.
• There is no natural prevention for heartworms.
• More than 70 species of mosquitos can transmit heartworm disease.
• Humans can get heartworm but only by the bite of a mosquito carrying the disease. Petting or licking by a dog with heartworm cannot transmit the disease.

For now, I ask that you mull over these facts. In Part 2 (coming soon),  I’ll tell you more about what you can do to prevent vector-borne illnesses in your dog.

Disclaimer: This post is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for any medical advice provided by your veterinarian. You should not use information contained in this post to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or prescribe any medication. If you suspect that your pet has a medical problem, contact your veterinarian. 

Were any of these insect danger facts new to you? Please let me know by leaving a comment below.

 

What You Need To Know About IMTP and IMHA

As many of my loyal readers already know, I lost my seven year old baby girl, Frenchy, in October of 2012. Since I started this blog, I’ve alluded to the illness that she ultimately died of (IMTP which developed into IMHA) but have not had the strength to write about the disease in depth until now.

This photo was taken just a few days before Frenchy became sick.

Since Frenchy’s untimely death, I’ve heard of several other cases of Cocker Spaniels falling ill to the same thing mainly through Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue‘s Facebook community. I’ve also since learned that IMTP and IMHA are prevalent in Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, German Shepherds, and Old English Sheepdogs. For this reason, I feel like it’s very important I write about the facts.

What is IMTP?

IMTP is short for Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia or low platelets. When there aren’t enough platelets in the body, blood will not clot and the dog will show bruising. One of the first symptoms I noticed in Frenchy was the presence of pink/ brownish spots all over her body which was apparently the bruising. Low platelets can also result in abnormal bleeding. This may occur in a dog’s gastrointestinal track in which case blood will appear in the stool. (If blood is in your dog’s stool, it will appear bloody or just very black). In Frenchy’s case, she had severe tartar around her teeth and was due for a professional dental cleaning so she began to bleed severely around her gums. She was also panting a lot, much more than normal. She was also having accidents in the apartment and her stool was completely black.

IMTP can turn into IMHA.

Low platelets can result in anemia or IMHA which stands for Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (low red blood cells). When a dog is anemic, they become weak and extremely lethargic. The gums will also appear white or yellowish instead of the usual pink. My vet taught me that a good test was to poke the gums with your finger to see if the blood would return to a bright pink. When IMTP and IMHA are both present, it may be called Evan’s Syndrome.

This photo was taken just a few days before Frenchy became ill.

Causes

The cause of this illness varies. Most vets believe there is an underlying factor – such as cancer, insect stings,tick-borne diseases, or an infection elsewhere in the body but it is often difficult to fully determine what that might be. I’ve also read that a dog can fall ill to this after ingesting onions or garlic. More importantly, however, it is believed that IMTP/IMHA may be caused by vaccinations, though this is controversial. In Frenchy’s case, I do recall that she had a rabies shot a few months prior to her becoming sick but I haven’t confirmed this yet in her vet records.

Treatment

IMTP and IMHA can appear to be gradual or may have a rapid onset. In Frenchy’s case, it was only six days between the day we first noticed that she was sick to the day we had to say goodbye to her. Way too short. Unbelievably short, in fact.

Immediate steroid treatment is a must. When I first brought Frenchy to the vet, I had no idea what was wrong with her. I saw only slight bruising on her body at the time but a lot of blood around her gums. Our vet thought she might have fallen down at some point without us noticing. She did sometimes fall when she stormed up our building’s stairs after a walk, so I figured it was possible that she hit her mouth. He sent us home without any medication and I later learned that was a huge mistake. Since she was a seven year old  Cocker Spaniel (this disease attacks middle-aged dogs) and had signs of bruising on her body, the vet should have diagnosed her right away with IMTP and put her on steroids. After all the research I’ve done, I believe this mistake is what ultimately cost Frenchy her life. Had she started treatment with steroids then, she might still be with us today.

In several cases of immune-mediated illnesses, dogs may require one or more blood transfusions. There is a risk, however, that the dog may reject the transfusion. I don’t fully understand all of the details around this topic so it’s definitely best to consult your vet if you face this scenario. In Frenchy’s case, she did have 2 transfusions but they were unsuccessful in helping her.

Frenchy enjoying a fall day.

Frenchy’s Story

That first night I took Frenchy home from the vet was horrible. By the next morning, our entire white, bed comforter was completely covered in her blood which was now dripping profusely from her mouth. She also wailed several times in the morning. I had never heard her wail like that in the five years that she had lived with us and I will never EVER forget the sound. My husband had left for work in the wee early morning hours so when I awoke to the blood and the wailing, I threw on my clothes and ran to get the car. Frenchy had been lying on the floor when I left but when I returned to pick her up, she was waiting for me at the door.

The ride to the emergency hospital was a nightmare I will never forget. I knew something was dreadfully wrong and I was beyond frightened. By the time I got there, Frenchy was even more sick. I picked her up out of the car and when I put her down for a moment to close the car door, she collapsed on the pavement.

It is extremely painful to write about Frenchy’s last days because quite frankly, they were traumatizing.She remained in the hospital for five days while my husband and I tried desperately to raise money for her vet bills from family and friends. Between the two of us, we did not have enough funds or space on our credit cards and we felt beyond helpless. We don’t have children. Frenchy was our world, our everything. She was the first pet we owned as adults and we were not prepared to let her go so soon. To make matters worse, I had only been at my new job for two months at the time and it was difficult to explain to my boss (who didn’t understand my extreme love for a dog) that I needed time off to transport Frenchy to the vet and later the hospital.

After the doctors at the hospital told us Frenchy was improving, my husband and I visited her. Upon entering the room to see us, she became so excited wagging her tail that she threw a clot from her heart and collapsed unconscious right in front of us, her bladder releasing urine. The doctors had to bring her back to life with CPR. It was devastating, to say the least.

The remaining days were a blur and moments that I’d rather keep to myself because they are too personal and painful. That said, it’s very important to me that I help spread the word and educate  other dog owners about IMTP and IMHA because I knew absolutely nothing about the illnesses prior to Frenchy’s sickness. The lack of knowledge exasperated my feeling of helplessness. If your dog shows one or more of any of the symptoms I’ve mentioned in this post, PLEASE consult with your veterinarian right away and demand steroids if you think either of these illnesses might be possibilities. Remember that time is of the essence, so don’t wait before making a vet appointment.

Disclaimer: This post is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for any medical advice provided by your veterinarian. You should not use information contained in this post to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or prescribe any medication. If you suspect that your pet has a medical problem, contact your veterinarian. 

 

 

 

Drink Wine, Give Back – It’s Corks for Cockers!

Love wine? So do I! That’s why I’m saying, “CHEERS TO COCKERS!”

Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue just launched their very own wine collection called “CORKS FOR COCKERS” which is now available for purchase through Benefit Wines. Each bottle features a photo of a former Abandoned Angel on labels that were beautifully designed by Impeckable Creations. I am incredibly honored to have my baby girl, Frenchy, on the bottle of Merlot. As I’ve mentioned on this blog before, my husband and I lost Frenchy at the young age of 7 in October of 2012 and our hearts are still broken over her passing. I love that Frenchy is on this bottle and I hope you’ll join me in purchasing one or more as a way to give back.

You can choose from 1 bottle for $19.99, a sampler package of 4 bottles for $78.96, or purchase the whole set for $117.94. Each purchase sparks a donation directly to the rescue. This is a wonderful way to honor rescue organizations and rescue dogs in general. Plus, I think these bottles of wine would make great gifts for any dog lovers! You can order your wine today at http://www.benefitwines.com/aacsr. Please share this post with any wine connoisseurs you may know, thank you!

Tell me what your favorite fundraising idea is by leaving a comment below!

Watching People With My Wiggle Butts

When you live in New York City, you find odd things to do with your dog and people watching is something I used to do a lot with Frenchy. She loved to sit on a bench across from a church here in Sunnyside, Queens and bask in the sunlight, one paw dangling off. We sat together like this for hours every weekend and sometimes during week nights. She was perfectly content just watching city folks walk by and would occasionally growl and jump off to chase a dog and show them who’s boss. This was a special time for us to bond and I really miss those moments more than anybody knows.

Frenchy sitting on a bench with mama to people watch.

Our current wiggle butt, Shelby, has a completely different personality and hasn’t shown much interest in sitting still enough to watch people walk by us. Her uber sensitivity is due to fear (I believe) and she’s always on alert for other dogs that she’d like to bark at and attack to protect me. She’s a very goofy little thing! I’ve tried sitting at that same bench that Frenchy and I used to visit but Shelby doesn’t seem to understand what I make all the fuss about. All she seems to want to do there is sniff other dogs’ pee.

Two nights ago, however, I managed to sit on the bench with her sitting quietly in front of me to… people watch. I was so impressed with her calm demeanor that I memorialized the event from every angle. Maybe there’s hope for her after all. 🙂

Shelby at every angle people watching.

Do you people watch with your dog? If not, what activity do you do with your pooch to bond?

Throwback Thursday: Frenchy

Tonight, I’m missing my baby girl. We lost her in October, 2012 at the young age of 7. We had her for 5 amazing, transformative years. At some point, I will blog about her illness (IMTP), as it is prevalent in Cocker Spaniels and Poodles and every owner of those breeds should be aware of the symptoms and warning signs. But for now, I just want to reminisce in her beauty…

This post is part of a Blog Hop, hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Ruckus the Eskie.

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Holiday Gift Guide for Dogs – Under $10

If you’re like me, you’re on a budget. So, we have to be extra creative when it comes to holiday shopping to find affordable gifts and let’s face it – time is running out! Here are my top 5 holiday gift picks under $10.00 that your furry wiggle butts are sure to love.

Candy Cane Lane Bully Sticks -$5.00 on SitStay.com

They don’t have twinkling lights, but your favorite holiday pooch will be begging for you to line them up one after the next just like the houses on Candy Cane Lane. SitStay’s all-time favorite dog chew, the bully stick, took a festive twist this season giving you an adorable and delectable candy cane chew. Snag these up, their inventory won’t last long!

Doggie Gift Set Includes:

• (6) Candy Cane Bully Sticks
• SitStay 2013 Signature Gift Bag

My 2 cents: Cute packaging and what dog doesn’t love bully sticks? Don’t leave this under the tree or your pooch will run off with them in the middle of the night!

Chuckit! Classic 26M Launcher (Colors Vary) – $7.99 on Amazon.com

The award-winning original Chuckit. Ball Launcher is a total revolution in fetch technology, designed for hands-free ball pickup without bending over, and throws the ball 3 times farther than you can with your arm.

My 2 cents: I saw this for the first time during a trip to Los Angeles when my brother-in-law was playing with his dog in the park. It’s brilliant and keeps your hands clean!

Ethical Pet Handi-Drink Regular Pet Waterer – $9.99 on Wag.com

Ethical Pet Handi-Drink Regular Pet Waterer helps quench your pet’s thirst during travelling. It provides fresh and clean water to your pet and can reduce the possibility of your pet drinking dirty water. It combines a durable custom water bottle and wrap-around waterpan in one single, compact and handy unit.

• Eliminates the risk of harmful bacteria
• Patented automatic valve
• No wastage of water
• No spills and no leakages
• 17 oz capacity

My 2 cents: I personally own one of these bottles and they have been true life savers when we’re at the dog park or on a day trip. I was afraid Shelby wouldn’t know how to drink out of it but she jumped right in for the fresh water!

Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug Dog Toy – $7.78 (small) on Chewy.com

Busy Buddy’s taking fun to a delicious new level with the Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug Dog Toy! The Tug-A-Jug has a clear base that can be filled with kibble or treats, a nubby ball perfect for chewing, and a braided rope pups can pull to lift the ball and release the treats! Pet parents can use the Tug-A-Jug to feed meals and slow down eating for pets prone to gulping, for interactive play with their pals, or as a brain-stimulating teaser to keep dogs entertained when left alone.

Key Benefits

• Allows pets to see, hear, and smell treats
• Game ideas included
• Interactive play builds bonds between people and pets
• Avaliable in multiple sizes

My 2 cents: A good friend of mine suggested I get this for Frenchy when we first adopted her in 2007. She loved it but she was mellow, in general. Toys like this are best suited for hyper active fur babies or those that like to nibble. It will definitely keep your pooch busy for hours!

 Dog Toy Starbarks Plush with Squeaker -$9.00 on Etsy.com

These plush toys were designed for small dogs. Teacup, Toy, Miniature or puppy.

Each squeaker toy covering is made out of Pre-washed, non-pill fleece fabric. It is stuffed with 100% Hypo-allergenic fiber fill. All machine embroidered. Nothing glued on – all SEWN. Machine washable. Size of toy, approximately 7″ high by 4″
wide.

My 2 cents: Adorable!!! Adding this to my wish list right this very second…

What are you giving your furry wiggle butt this holiday season?

Furry Wiggle Butts was not compensated either by payment or free product, all opinions are 100% her own. 

Brusha, Brusha, Brusha…

Today, I decided to do what I’ve been putting off for weeks: brush Shelby’s teeth. This is not an activity that she enjoys, so she makes it quite a challenge for me to accomplish. Growing up, my family never brushed my dog’s teeth and I didn’t even know that people did such a thing until I adopted Frenchy in 2007. I have since learned that keeping dogs’ choppers clean is good for their overall health and actually pretty darn important too. The ASPCA says you should brush your dog’s teeth daily, but I try to do it once a week. I have admittedly fallen behind. As you can see, Shelby definitely has some tartar. #notgood

I use Petrodex Enzymatic toothpaste in poultry flavor. It smells gross but Shelby seems to like the taste of it. The kit comes with a 2.5 oz. tube of toothpaste, a large toothbrush with two different sized bristles on either end, and a small finger toothbrush.

Since it’s been a while, I wasn’t sure if Shelby remembered the drill so I tried to ease her back into things by letting her sniff the toothpaste first.

She got a quick lick and I could tell she wanted more. Yay!

Once I mustered the finger toothbrush into her mouth, however, she tried to bite me. 😦 She was showing her teeth like she was mad too, so I decided to switch to the longer toothbrush to keep it safe.

Between licks, she definitely seemed visibly annoyed that I kept sticking the toothbrush at her, trying to scrape wherever I felt teeth. I finally released the toothbrush to snap this photo which confused her beyond belief! She played tug of war with me for a bit but I eventually got that toothbrush back. I rewarded her with some Wellness treats so she begins to associate this activity with yummies.

Phew… Teeth brushed. Mission accomplished!

What methods do you employ to brush your dog’s teeth? Got any advice for how I can make this task easier?

Mr. So and So

When I was a kid, my dentist called that skinny tube he put in my mouth – you know, the one that sucked out extra saliva – Mr. Thirsty.

Photo credit: Tammy Davenport

I assume he personified the dental instrument (actually known as a saliva ejector) to make children less scared of him it. I hated Mr. Thirsty because I associated him with the uncomfortable dental cleaning and yet, I came to appreciate his assistance and prevention of me choking.

I believe my love-hate relationship with Mr. Thirsty is the reason that I have always called my dogs’ toys “Mr.” something or other. Frenchy’s toys were named things like Mr. Banana, Mr. Green Snake, and so forth. Let’s meet Shelby’s cast of characters, shall we?

Mr. Monkey

Mr. Snake (who is musically inclined)

Mr. Donkey (currently waiting for surgery)

Mr. Mallard

Mr. Orange Snake (not to be confused with Mr. Snake)

Mr. Lambchop (who is definitely getting washed tomorrow because this photo is disgusting)…

Mr. Grey Dog

(Shelby is hiding Mr. Gorilla somewhere so he was not available for my photo shoot).

I suppose I should have been a good pet parent and differentiated the toy names to properly train Shelby how to fetch them like this:

Oh, well.

What have you named your dog’s toys? Does your pooch know them by name?

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway to win a pawsome ResQThreads t-shirt! Hurry, it ends Monday, November 25th.

We’re All Ears (…and Need Cleaning)!

One of the questions Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue asks on their application to foster or adopt a dog is, “Are you aware of the fact that Cocker Spaniels are prone to ear infections and require weekly ear cleanings?” If you haven’t owned a Cocker in the past, you may not realize that this is true. Floppy-eared dogs like Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, and Poodles have ears ripe for infection and it’s important to learn how to treat and prevent them.

When I first adopted Frenchy (pictured above), she had a nasty ear infection and cleaning her ears was an absolutely impossible task. The infected ear was swollen and she wouldn’t let me go anywhere near it. In fact, she tried to bite me each time I attempted. It became such a problem that I had to call the rescue and ask for advice. They suggested I try muzzling her from behind (after all, I had to get in there somehow) but she wouldn’t let me do that either. I eventually had to take Frenchy to the vet for a proper cleaning but getting those prescribed drops into her ear canal was a challenge too. She had chronic ear infections for the whole first year she was in my care and it was partly due to the fact that I couldn’t clean them. I felt like the worst pet parent on the planet! At some point during another vet visit, the doctor explained that ear infections in dogs are usually due to allergies. Nobody had told me that before! She suggested that I change Frenchy’s diet to grain-free and eventually… thankfully… her ear infections stopped.

Once the inflammation was gone, my job was to get her accustomed to me touching her ears and cleaning them. Over time (and with lots of treats), she warmed up to the idea and let me clean them on a regular basis. Success!

When a first-time dog (or Cocker) owner adopts from the rescue, we usually give them an in-person demonstration on how to properly clean ears. Here’s a brief rundown:

MUST-HAVES:

Cotton Rounds – I prefer cotton rounds rather than cotton balls because there’s more surface area with which to clean. I use basic cosmetic cotton rounds like these:

Ear Wash  – I like Four Paws Ear Wash ($7.86 on Amazon.com or $5.49 on PetMountain.com)

…and Zymox ($6.99 on DrsFostersmith.com or $8.92 on Chewy.com).

I have always wanted to try Halo’s Cloud Nine Herbal Ear Wash (on sale right now for $10.99 at Chewy.com), but it always seems rather pricey.

Treats – You’ll need these nearby so you can reward your dog after the cleaning is done. The more you associate ear cleaning with treats, the better! (Shelby loves Wellness’ Pure Rewards.  Abandoned Angels’ rescue dogs recently tried Be Pawsitive dog treats and LOVED them! Use coupon code ‘AACSR2’ at checkout and you’ll get $2.00 off your next order of a Be Pawsitive monthly treat box or any bag of dog treats. Plus, with each purchase you make, they’ll send free treats to your favorite rescue or shelter too)!

CLEANING PAWSTRUCTIONS:

1. Fully saturate one large cotton round with ear wash.

2. Lift your dog’s ear flap and stick the cotton round inside. No need to push it in very far!

3. Close the ear flap and squeeze the outside of the ear so the liquid in the cotton ball seeps down into the ear canal. Then, remove the cotton.

4. Gently massage the outside of the ear and ear base with your hands. (Shelby loves this part).

5. Lift your dog’s ear flap again and using a new cotton round, wipe the ear starting from the outside and working your way in. Remove as much wax as you can and grab new cotton rounds as needed. If your dog’s ear is very irritated, try moistening the round with more ear wash for easier removal.

6. It’s treat time! Reward, reward, reward.

WAG WORTHY INFO:

If your dog has short hairs sprouting from the inside of the ear, ask your groomer to pluck them. Also, if you own a Cocker Spaniel, it’s a good idea to have the groomer completely shave down the inside of your dog’s ears because that area can be a hotbed for yeast, bacteria, and parasites. Yuck! Trust me, the ears will still look beautiful and you’re just being a responsible dog owner by helping to prevent future infections.

If you see redness, swelling, discharge, hair loss, or smell a foul odor, you’ll want to consult with your vet for a checkup. Keep in mind that very dark wax that looks like coffee grounds could be a sign of ear mites.

Remember to clean those ears at least once a week to prevent infection and please comment below if these instructions were helpful. I’d love to hear from you! Don’t forget to enter my giveaway to win a pawsome ResQThreads t-shirt! Hurry, it ends Monday, November 25th.