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Quiz: Are You Ready For A Dog?

C A N I N E S   O N L I N E ™
Copyright 2001 Canines Online ™
Issue No.3, Vol.2, August 3, 2001

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CONTENTS:
=>Health:
   -- Vision Problems -- 7 Coping Strategies
=>Tidbits:
   -- Chubby Canines
   -- Work Like A Dog
=>News Briefs:
   -- Seized dogs face death if not adopted quickly
   -- Flea treatments can poison pets
=>Featured Site:
   -- Dog Watch
=>Featured Breed:
   -- Basset Hound
=>Product News, Reviews, and Coupons:
   -- Choosing the Right Food for Your Dog
=>The Tail End
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HEALTH
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Vision Problems -- 7 Coping Strategies
A Rodale Press contribution

Your pet has always been a sure-footed beast, but lately (ever since you
rearranged the house) she's been bumping into things and looking lost.
And when you go on walks, she has trouble finding you.

For some reason your pet's sharp vision has faded. Some dogs and cats
suffer from progressive retinal atrophy, which makes it hard for them to
see in dim light. Others can get cataracts, glaucoma or other eye
diseases that cause their sight to dim. Fortunately, there are a number
of treatments as well.

"Some of the treatments available for pets are as sophisticated as
people's," says Mary B. Glaze, D.V.M., professor of ophthalmology at the
Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge
and co-author of The Atlas of Feline Ophthalmology.

Even if your pet never regains her 20/20, there are many things you can
do to make her life easier. Try these tips from the eye experts.

For Dogs and Cats
Don't play musical chairs. Moving furniture can confuse dim-sighted pets
and even cause injuries -- if your pooch barrels into a table leg, for
example, says Art J. Quinn, D.V.M., professor of ophthalmology at the
Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Stillwater.
"If you don't have to, don't move your furniture," he says.

Show her around. If you do shuffle the furniture or your pet's vision
has suddenly faded, lead her around on a leash for a day or two to help
her find her way, says Dr. Glaze.
It's also a good idea to confine her to one or two rooms until she knows
them well. Once she's familiar with the layout, you can introduce her to
new territory. Most pets want to be around people, so you can keep her
in rooms you frequent so she won't be all alone.

Be predictable. Stability is important for poorly sighted pets, says Dr.
Glaze. "Leaving their food and water in the same place will help give
them a sense of order and security," she says. The same goes for litter
boxes and beds: The less you move them around, the better, she says.

Give her a leash on life. If your pet has even the slightest trouble
seeing, don't let her wander outside unless she's on a leash or in a
fenced area where she can't escape, warns Dr. Quinn.

Guard the pool. Swimming pools can be deadly for pets that can't see
where they're going. "I've had blind pet patients that have fallen into
pools and drowned," says Dr. Quinn.

Bring in a friend. Sometimes a pet with vision will help one without it.
In many cases, "they're willing to be very giving to the pet that can't
see," helping to guide her around, says Dr. Glaze. Even if they aren't
good friends, having two pets in the family still can help. For example,
attaching a bell to the collar of the sharp-sighted pet will make it
easier for her companion to follow her around and stay out of danger,
says David C. Smith, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in
Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Try a new hairdo. If your pet has vision problems and her bangs are
hanging in front of her eyes, trim them away, says Dr. Smith. "I've seen
dogs, like Old English sheepdogs, that have so much hair in their eyes
that it can further impair vision that's already questionable," he says.

When to See the Vet
It's tough for humans to lose their sight, but animals are more
adaptable. Because of their fine-tuned senses, "visually impaired cats
and dogs have an uncanny ability to get around," says Mary B. Glaze,
D.V.M., professor of ophthalmology at the Louisiana State University
School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge.

Some pets can actually hear whether a door is open or closed and then
walk through (or stop) without hesitation. "It's as if they can see,"
says Dr. Glaze.

Take your pet into new territory, however, and her vision problems may
become more evident -- and more dangerous. Blind pets can bump into
furniture or bash into walls. If they get outside unattended, they could
walk into traffic.

Any pet with vision problems needs to be seen by a vet. How can you tell
if your pet is going blind? She may have trouble finding you when you
call. Blind dogs are often reluctant to go up or down stairs. Blind cats
may not jump up on furniture as much as they used to.

"If your cat has been sleeping on your bed for years and she gradually
stops, blindness could be a reason," says Art J. Quinn, D.V.M.,
professor of ophthalmology at the Oklahoma State University College of
Veterinary Medicine in Stillwater.

Another way to tell is with the cotton ball test, advises David C.
Smith, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Stand several feet in front of your pet and drop a cotton ball. If you
do it a couple of times and your pet doesn't even glance at it, she may
be having trouble seeing. Call your vet right away, he advises.

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Panel of Advisers
Mary B. Glaze, D.V.M., is professor of ophthalmology at the Louisiana
State University School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge and
co-author of The Atlas of Feline Ophthalmology.
Art J. Quinn, D.V.M., is professor of ophthalmology at the Oklahoma
State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Stillwater.
David C. Smith, D.V.M., is a veterinarian in private practice in Tulsa,
Oklahoma.
Copyright © 1996 by Rodale Press, Inc.


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TIDBITS
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Chubby Canines
One dog in four is fat. These porky dogs fall into the same lifestyle
pitfalls as their owners can-they eat too many snacks and high-fat
foods, and don’t exercise enough. This is undoubtedly a consequence of
domestication. Obesity is unheard of in the wild. Overweight dogs are
more likely to be ill and don’t live as long as trim ones.

Work Like A Dog
Dogs need and enjoy exercise. Experts recommend that dogs get regular
exercise about three times a week, which should include waling or
running. This will increase the metabolic rate of canines just as it
does in humans, allowing then to burn more calories and maintain a
healthy weight.


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NEWS BRIEFS
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Seized dogs face death if not adopted quickly
SHELBYVILLE, TN -- The remaining 45 of the 139 dogs that were removed
from a Bedford County farm in May must be adopted next week or face
being euthanized, a humane society official said. More info:
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/01/04/07026133.shtml?Element_ID=7026133

Flea treatments can poison pets
DES MOINES, IA -- Iowa veterinarians are cautioning pet owners that
chemicals in over-the-counter flea products can be dangerous. More
info: http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c4788996/15345415.html


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FEATURED SITE
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Dog Watch
www.dogwatch.net
This page is a guide to help you strategically fight Breed Specific
Legislation (BSL) if and when it comes to your area.


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PRODUCT NEWS, REVIEWS, AND COUPONS
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Choosing the Right Food for Your Dog

Growth/Puppy Foods
Puppy foods are intended to be fed to growing puppies. For small dogs
growth usually ends by nine months of age and for giant breeds it can
last until 18-24 months of age. For this reason no single
recommendation can be made as to how long to feed your puppies a growth
diet.

Higher levels of protein, fats, vitamins and minerals characterize
growth diets. This is necessary to meet the growing puppy's higher
energy and nutrient requirements.

Pound-for-pound puppies need as much as three times more nutrients than
an adult dog. Be sure not to over feed your puppy, as too much weight
can predispose your puppy to orthopedic diseases later on in life.
Because growth diets contain extra nutrients they are also ideal for
feeding pregnant and nursing moms.

Adult Foods
Adult foods are intended to be fed to moderately active adult dogs.
They contain moderate amounts of protein, fats, vitamins and minerals.
Many adult diets come in two-piece sizes designed for smaller and larger
dogs. More sedentary adult dogs can be fed "light" formulas and older
adult dogs should be fed senior formulas.

Lite/Less Active Foods
Two types of foods fall in this category: light foods and less active or
reduced-calorie foods. The term "light", when used for pet foods, is
regulated by law and so these foods are very low in fat and calories and
much higher in fiber than adult foods. They are especially appropriate
for weight loss and can be used for more sedentary dogs that require
fewer calories. Less active or reduced-calorie foods have less calories
and fat than adult foods, but more calories than light foods. They also
have much less fiber than light foods. Because they are higher in
calories than light foods, they are better suited for weight maintenance
of more sedentary dogs than for weight loss in overweight dogs.

Senior Foods
As your dog ages he may benefit from a senior diet. While not much is
known about the nutrition of older dogs, we know: