Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Happy Earth Day Dog Lovers! LCD did a special posting today on planet friendly products for the pooch. In case you missed them here's a recap. True Blue grooming products are natural, detergent free & bio-degradable. http://twitpic.com/3rn8k Get it here: http://is.gd/tSjo The super strong Hurley dog toy is made from 100% recycled material. http://twitpic.com/3roye Get locally @ Palmetto Paws: http://is.gd/tSIL Ecollargy collars R made from recycled billboards. No 2 are alike. http://twitpic.com/3rzof Available @ Dolittle's http://www.dolittles.com/ NuHemp holistic all natural dog treats R packaged in 100% recycled packaging. http://twitpic.com/3s50n Get them @ Lucia's: http://is.gd/tVvU Eliminate pet odors w/ FreshWave biodegradable, non-toxic odor remover http://twitpic.com/3s6c9. Get it @ Hairy Winston: http://is.gd/tVGj

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Canine gum disease linked to heart problems
By: Rachael Whitcomb

Gum disease, which can occur in up to 75 percent of dogs by middle age, has been linked in a new study to the occurrence of canine heart disease.
The study, conducted by Dr. Larry Glickman at Purdue, examined the records of nearly 60,000 dogs with some stage of periodontal disease and about 60,000 without, and revealed a correlation between gum and heart maladies.

"Our data show a clear statistical link between gum disease and heart disease in dogs," says Glickman.

Each dog was followed on average for 2.5 years, and some as long as five, Glickman says. Of the dogs that had no signs of periodontal disease at the onset of the study, about 0.43 percent were diagnosed with congestive heart failure by the end of the study. On the other hand, 0.49 percent of the Stage 1 periodontal disease subjects, 1.09 percent of the Stage 2 subjects and 1.90 percent of the Stage 3 subjects were diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

The correlation was even stronger when it came to endocarditis, or inflammation of the heart valves, Glickman says. In the dogs with no periodontal disease, about 0.01 percent were diagnosed with endocarditis, compared to 0.15 percent of the Stage 3 periodontal disease dogs.

"For many candidates for heart disease, you're not talking about a single cause," says Glickman. "But it clearly speaks to more emphasis on dental care."

Glickman's full study was published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. He was assisted in his research by George Moore, a veterinarian at Purdue University's Small Animal Hospital, Gary Goldstein, a veterinary dentist at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota at St. Paul, Minn., and Elizabeth Lund at the Banfield Pet Hospital in Portland, Ore.

Moving forward, Glickman says he would like to study exactly how gum and heart diseases are related in hopes that his research could help pet owners understand the risks and get pet-food companies to develop more foods that could prevent gum disease.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachael Whitcomb
Associate Editor
rwhitcomb@advanstar.com
Rachael Whitcomb joined the DVM Newsmagazine staff in May 2008 as associate editor. Prior to joining DVM, she worked as an associate editor at an environmental trade publication and in newspapers. Her experience includes reporting on government, education, crime and feature news, as well as graphic design and Web site management.
Since joining DVM Newsmagazine, Rachael has taken on the news coverage in the western and southern states, including: Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Louisiana, Georgia, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Mississippi, South Carolina, Oregon, California, Colorado, Texas, Alabama and Florida. She also maintains the DVM Web site, www.dvm360.com, and handles new product listings.
Rachael has a bachelors degree in journalism from Point Park University in Pittsburgh. She resides in a suburb of Cleveland with her fiance, Doug. They'll be married in July 2009. They also live with Rachael's dog, Emma; Doug's dog, Roxi; and Rachael's two cats, Fiona and Zoe.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Fly the Pooch Friendly Skies

Pet Airways, (www.petairways.com) today announced that it will launch the first pet-only airline specifically designed for the safe and comfortable transportation of pets, with the first pet flights scheduled for July 14, . On Pet Airways, all pets travel in the main cabin not in the cargo hold.

Serving five cities to start - New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles - Pet Airways plans to expand nationwide with easily accessible pet check-in lounges to serve its “pawsengers” in major metropolitan areas.

A proprietary web-enabled reservation system will allow customers to book pet travel on the web. Owners will be able to track their pet’s travel progress online at http://www.petairways.com.

According to Dan Wiesel, president/CEO of Pet Airways: “Currently, most pets traveling by air are transported in the cargo hold and are handled as baggage. The experience is frightening to the pets, and can cause severe emotional and physical harm, even death. This is not what most pet owners want to subject their pets to, but they have had no other choice, until now.”

The greatest issue facing pet parents when they want to transport their pets, aside from the dilemma and trauma of putting their loved ones in cargo holds, is the inability to know who, if anyone, is taking care of their pet and where or how their pet is being treated. It is a very stressful experience.

Pet Airways has solved this problem completely.

Pet Airways ensures pets are in the good hands of people who love and know how to take care of pets. From the moment a pet is dropped off at a Pet Lounge, the pet is always under the care of trained Pet Attendants. Monitored by Pet Attendants, pets will fly in planes that are fully-lit, climate-controlled and have the proper level of fresh air circulation that pets require.

Pawsengers will be boarded and de-boarded from planes as quickly as possible, never left in the cold or heat, and depending on transit time, will be offered toilet facilities, food and water as necessary during stops. Pet Parents will be assured of sensitive, careful handling and the peace of mind that their pets are well looked after by people who care as much about their pets as they do.

The Pet Airways goal is to make the pet travel experience more comfortable and enjoyable for both pawsengers and their human families.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

This Weekend's Charleston Dog Events

Wild Heir Lab Rescue Meet&Greet
CAS Rabies & MicroChip Clinic
LLR Meet & Greet
LCGRR 2-day Event @ BooneHall
Noble Ones Meet & Greet
Wild Heir Lab Meet & Greet
Yappy Hour at Fuel(on Monday)

More info: http://is.gd/hoo

Monday, April 13, 2009

LOWCOUNTRY DOGS COMPETE TO BE CHARLESTON’S BEST IN SHOW
SCBT PRESENTS 6TH ANNUAL CHARLESTON DOG SHOW

CHARLESTON, SC—The Charleston Dog Show—a friendly canine competition for Lowcountry dogs and their families—presented by South Carolina Bank and Trust (SCBT), celebrates its sixth year as Charleston’s official dog show on Saturday, May 2, 2009 in Marion Square.

Welcoming dogs of all breeds and pedigrees, The Charleston Dog Show promises all of the fun and none of the fuss of a traditional dog show. Founded by Middleton Place Hounds—in partnership with Lowcountry Lab Rescue, Low Country Golden Retriever Rescue Resource and now Greyhound Pets of America/Charleston—dogs of all shapes, sizes, talents and tails are invited to show off style, form, personality and showmanship in 15 different classes. Spectators’ favorites include the Sporting Dog, Toy Dog, Heinz 57, Children’s Handling, Puppy, Senior, Costume and Trick classes. Top performers in each class will be awarded trophies and ribbons followed by the acclaimed Alpha Dog Omega Cat “Best In Show” award presented at the end of the day.

Held in conjunction with The Charleston Farmers Market at Marion Square, Charleston Dog Show highlights also include a ceremonial opening with the Blessing of the Dogs, Dog Rescue Village, Dog Vendors, Microchipping, Canine Good Citizen (CGC) testing, Kids’ Korner, Dog Photo Booth, Silent Auction (with pet artwork), Agility Trials and Obedience Demonstrations. At midday, the South Carolina Bank and Trust (SCBT) Dog Patron of the Year Award will be presented; new this year is the invitation to the general public to submit nominations for this award.


Entry fees are $10.00 per dog per class and participants can enter up to 10 minutes prior to each class. Registration begins at 8am, and the show begins at 8:30am. CGC testing will be available for $20 per dog from 9am-12pm and Agility Trials and Obedience Demonstrations will be available from 12:30pm-3pm. Charleston Dog Show judges will consist of regional dog experts and enthusiasts.

Presented by South Carolina Bank and Trust (SCBT), Charleston Dog Show proceeds support Lowcountry Lab Rescue, Low Country Golden Retriever Rescue Resource, Greyhound Pets of America-Charleston and Middleton Place Hounds. For more information, visit charlestondogshow.com.


Charleston Dog Show Overview

Date: Saturday, May 2nd, 2009
Time: 8:30am – 3pm (Registration begins at 8am)
Venue: Marion Square, Downtown Charleston
Information: charlestondogshow.com; Diane Williams, 849-8096; diane@charlestondogshow.com
General Admission: Free
Rain Date: Event to be held rain or shine

Entry fees: $10 per dog per class
$20 per dog for Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Testing
$30 per dog for Microchipping

SCHEDULE
Classes are expected to take 20 minutes each but may vary depending on class size.
RING 1 South Carolina Bank and Trust (SCBT) Ring
8:30 am: Blessing of the Dogs
1) Herding Dogs
2) Sporting Dogs
3) Puppies (4 months - 1 year)
4) Veterans/Seniors (7 years & up)
5) Terriers
6) Children 3-6 (Handling Class) Parents are required to accompany 3-6 year olds.
7) Children 7-11 (Handling Class)
8) Dog Tricks Talent Class
9) Costume Class: Celebrity judges will determine best dog costume or the best theme costumes for dog and owner/ handler.
10) The G.L. Buist Rivers, Jr. Memorial Hound Class
11) Working Dogs
12) The Heinz 57 (Mutts)
13) Non-Sporting Dogs
14) Toy Dogs
15) Best In Show: Individual winners from classes 1-14 will compete for the Best In Show award.

RING 2 CGC Testing, Agility Trials & Obedience Demos
9:00am-12pm Canine Good Citizen Testing
12:30pm-3pm Agility Trials & Obedience Demonstrations

Thursday, April 09, 2009

The Effects of Smoking on Your Pet

According to the American Cancer Society, second-hand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is responsible for an estimated thirty-five thousand deaths from heart disease in non-smokers who live with smokers.

It is widely known that cigarette smoke could lead to the development of fatal cancers in both smokers and non-smokers. So what about our pets? Could your second-hand smoke be killing your four-legged friend?

“There is very little known about the effects of ETS on animals,” notes Dr. Heather Wilson, an oncology specialist at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

While little may be known about the direct effects second-hand smoke has on pets, there have been several instances where it has been shown to increase the risk of certain cancers in animals.

“We do know that ETS increases a cat’s risk of Squamous cell carcinoma, a type of tumor that occurs commonly in the mouth,” says Dr. Wilson. “Laboratory studies using dogs trained to smoke cigarettes have shown that they develop typical lung pathology similar to those in humans, specifically bronchopneumonia, emphysema, fibrosis of the lungs and tumors of the lungs and bronchi.”

Even though these studies are old and certainly not condoned by Texas A&M University, these and similar studies seem to show that ETS is harmful to animals. Again, it is important to note that there exists no compelling evidence to suggest that second-hand smoke will inevitably cause cancer.

“There are potential links to other tumors in dogs and cats, but no hard evidence to support it as a problem,” comments Dr. Wilson. “It is likely one of the many factors that cause cancer, rather than producing a simple cause and effect relationship.”

As a veterinary oncology specialist, Dr. Wilson sees numerous patients every day and investigates cancers regularly. When asked if the owner’s smoking habits had any direct affect on their pets, she found that there existed no conclusive relationship between the two. However, that does not mean that smoking around pets should continue without concern.

“We almost never see anything as a direct result of second-hand smoke,” emphasizes Dr. Wilson. “Still, there are cats with asthma that cannot tolerate being around smoke, especially when smoking increases the frequency of asthma attacks. There are also other primary lung diseases that are made worse by cigarette smoking, but there are no tumors that we can specifically say are a direct result of ETS exposure.”

Knowing that ETS increases the risk of certain cancers in our furry friends, it is important to understand which animals are more susceptible to cancers.

“Siamese cats are at a greater risk of developing tumors,” says Dr. Wilson. “In dogs, the most commonly affected breeds include golden retrievers, German shepherds, rottweilers, boxers and Bernese mountain dogs. However, most pure bred dogs have an increased risk of some form of cancer.”

Because ETS could cause certain cancers in our furry companions, it is important to take the necessary precautions when lighting up. Dr. Wilson suggests several preventative measures to take around your pets.

“The best thing to do is to stop smoking. It is good for both your health and theirs,” urges Dr. Wilson. “Carcinogens are carried on your fingers and around your mouth because of all the oily toxins that are deposited there. The toxins stay in the furniture and carpets for a long time and are impossible to get rid of. These toxins are often the carcinogens of the cigarettes, so stopping smoking all together is the best way to protect yourself and your pet.”

However, if you can’t quit cold turkey, Wilson suggests “smoking outside or in areas away from your pet.”

While ETS has not been proven to be a direct cause of cancer in pets, its ability to increase the risk of cancer in our furry companions is hazardous enough. So before you light up another cigarette, think twice about the health of your loving friend and take the necessary precautions to ensure their well-being.

ABOUT PET TALK...

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at http://tamunews.tamu.edu/.