Pet Adoption? Yup, there's an app for that.

I know the title of this blog says it's to help keep you pet healthy at home, but I thought this was such a great use of technology I just had to share. There are so many sweet, cute, funny, adoptable pets at local shelters in cities across America that need a home and this Iphone App is helping the cause.



They're still fine tuning some of the details, but if you love to look at pictures of dogs and cats and were thinking about adopting, this is a great little tool.

Download the App from the iTunes store:

Hot, Hot, Hot!

Sultry summertime is in full swing. The forecast is for consistent 90 degree days for the next week here in Denver. As you apply your sunscreen and head out for some fun take a few minutes to assess how you'll care for your sweet dog that's going along on the adventure.

A dog's temperature can be considered normal in the range of 100 to 102.5 degrees. Temperatures above that range are leading into dangerous territory. Dogs don't sweat so helping your pet stay cool is important.

Suggestions for keeping your canine cool:

1. Shade – a 90 degree day can feel very different if you're spending it in the shade instead of the sun. Make sure the shade doesn't change to sunny as the sun moves toward the west.
2. Ice cubes in the water dish – Everyone likes an ice cold drink of water. Your dogs do as well, plus it will be very fun to watch him try to get the cubes in his mouth. Or, if you’re planning a hike, freeze an extra water bottle for "Lucky".
3. Kiddie pool – fill a hard sided kiddie pool with water and let your big dogs frolic. Of course the little ones may have a hard time getting in and out so you'll need a size appropriate pool. Change the water once a day to keep it clean.
4. Get out the hose – some dogs go nuts when you turn on the hose, snapping and barking at the stream of water, it's pretty fun to watch. Just be sure to get out of the way of the spray when it's time to shake.
5. AM or PM – plan your active play or walks for the cooler parts of the day. Early morning and evening are much better times for engaging "Lucky" in a game of Frisbee or taking him on a long walk. Plus it's easier on his paws – the pavement and gravel gets very hot. And avoid places like the dog park between noon and 4 pm when the temperatures are high.

Know the Signs of Overheating:

    Symptoms your pet is overheated include:

        * Excessive panting
        * Difficulty breathing
        * Elevated body temperature (over 104 degrees)
        * Increased heart rate and respiration
        * Drooling
        * Weakness or collapse
        * Seizures
        * Diarrhea and vomiting

If you have an older pet, one that is overweight or obese, an animal with a heart or lung condition, or a dog or cat with a flat face, the very best thing you can do during hot summer days is keep your pet inside in the air conditioning, with plenty of cool, fresh water to drink

The moral of the story...if you're feeling hot, hot, hot, so is your dog, so get him cooled down.

Mmmm...Grass!!

Have you ever watched your dog or cat nibbling on grass and wondered what it meant?  You are certainly  not alone in your curiosity.  There have been many theories and olde wives tales about the reasons for the behavior.  There are two theories that are the most common, the first is that the animal is sick and eats the grass to make himself vomit.  The second is that the animal must have something missing from his diet and needs the grass as a supplement to his food.  But according to research conducted by Benjamin Hart, DVM, PhD, both theories are false. 

The University of California-Davis vet students took part in the study and found that their pets, like the other 1500 dogs, were predominately eating grass simply for pleasure.  Only 9% of the pet owners reported that their dog appeared to be feeling ill before eating grass. And less than one in four vomited afterward.  The results of the study also showed that lack of fiber or poor diet had no impact on the dogs' desire to eat more grass.

So then, why do dogs eat grass?  Dr. Hart concluded that ancestry was the clue.  Wild dogs, wolves, foxes all eat grass either by purposely grazing or inadvertently ingesting the grass in the stomach or intestine of their prey.  And, similar to wild canine, young animals seemed to eat grass more often than older animals.


So rest assured that your grass eating pet is fairly normal and the behavior should not cause undue alarm.  However, there are a couple precautions.  We actually had a dog come in for a food bloat because of eating too much grass.  They can still get too much of a good thing.  Be alert to whether the grass being ingested may have been treated with insecticides or chemicals that could be toxic.  Also, be aware of the poisonous plants in your house or yard.  Be sure to get your pet to a veterinary hospital right away if you witness a potential toxic ingestion.  Otherwise, bon apetite!

Big Dog vs. Little Dog

There seems to be an epidemic of large egos in the dog world lately.  We've seen a lot of big dog vs. little dog staking territory conflicts.  Most of the time the big dog wins, but occasionally a particularly feisty little dog inflicts great damage to a larger canine.

Several types of wounds can be inflicted in a dog fight which is why a trip to your family veterinarian is prudent to check for injuries.

Bite wounds, lacerations, and skin tears to or on the surface are easier to see and most likely easier to repair.  The other injuries are those that are not as readily apparent like head trauma, fractured ribs, internal hemorrhage, internal organ damage, or wounds that extend into the chest or abdominal cavity.  Unfortunately, we have seen all of these types of injuries, but fortunately, not all on the same dog. 

All of these injuries can be life threatening and require veterinary care.  So even if there doesn't seem to be a serious wound on the outside that requires immediate attention you should watch your animal for the following signs.

• Differences in pupil size
• Rigid limbs
• Uncoordinated movement
• Unusual eye movement
• Bleeding from the nostrils
• Bleeding from the ear canal
• Seizures
• Head tilt
• Difficulty breathing
• Pale gums
• Hard belly
• Collapse
• Vomiting

Blood tests, x-rays, ultrasound, neurological exams, abdominocentesis (a needle in inserted into the abdomen to see if fluid can be withdrawn) and many other diagnostic tests may be needed to determine the type and severity of injury your animal may have received.  From these diagnostic tests a treatment plan is established to support your animal and provide the care necessary for healing.  Pain medication and IV fluids will be administered as necessary to keep your animal comfortable and help aid the healing process.

If you are witness to the dog fight do not place yourself between the fighting animals.  Avoid getting bit by learning how to break up a dog fight. Here are a couple websites with some good ideas.
http://tinyurl.com/m2d4mz;
http://leerburg.com/pdf/howtobreakupdogfight.pdf (kind of lengthy);
http://www.howtoguides365.com/how-to/dog-fight/

The moral of the story...the bite is always way worse than the bark.