by: Richard Delgado



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In this issue:



1) "I Want to Choose a Dog, But I am Worried About My Dog"

Getting Hip Dysplasia



2) "In the Event of Another Heat Wave, Here is a Tip From

One of Our Sitters"



3) "Finicky Feline? Here Are Some Feeding Tips"



4) "Are You a Camper With Dogs? Here is a Camping Tip From

One of Our Clients"



5) "Tell Us What You Think!"



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1) "I Want to Choose a Dog, But I am Worried About My Dog"

Getting Hip Dysplasia



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I have had many people, clients and non-clients, ask me about

dogs that get hip dysplasia. They want to get a dog, but are

afraid that they may have problems in the future with this

degenerative disease. After all, it is pretty commonly talked

about, and it is a genuine concern.



I tell them that there are many factors that contribute to a dog

getting or not getting hip dysplasia. While there are certain

breeds that are more susceptible to getting the disease, I give

them my advice to help prevent their dog getting the disease in

the first place. I do give them a short list of those breeds that

may be more susceptible to getting it, but I also warn that any dog

can get this disease, and I don't want them to instantly rule out

getting a particular breed if they really have their hearts set

on it. There are ways to help prevent hip dysplasia.



The short list of breeds that I give them is:



Dalmations

Dobermans

Spaniels

German Shepherds

Golden Retrievers

Labrador Retrievers

Pembroke Welsh Corgis

Standard Poodles

Siberian Huskies

Rottweilers



There are others as well, but these are some of the more common. Large

and giant breeds tend to be more susceptible, but again, any dog can

get it. Hip Dysplasia is a genetic disease, so make sure that any dog

you get is from a reputable breeder, and the dog comes from a good

breeding background.



Some of the best preventative tips for keeping the disease from

developing are easy to do, but you need to be dedicated to doing them.



Choose a dog from a good, healthy genetic stock

Keep the weight off! Overweight dogs will be more likely to develop

the disease

Moderate exercise is the key. Not only will this keep the weight off,

but the exercise will keep a healthy blood flow going to the hips, it

will strengthen the muscles, and keep the joints strong. Do not have

the dog perform exercises or activities that will put a lot of stress

on the joints.

Give your dog low-mineral meals

Do not give calcium supplements, especially during growth

Give your dog a soft place to lay and sleep. Hard floors and concrete

are bad for the hips. I know dogs love to lay on these surfaces becuase

it is cooler.

Do not let your dog jump in and out of your vehicle. Lift them or use a

ramp. I have been using my ramp for my dog Storm for 7 years.

Warm up your dog's muscles before work, play, or competition. Walk your

dog for about 15 minutes prior to these activities, and stretch their

muscles.

Did I say moderate exercise already? Walking your dog daily is so

important that I cannot stress this enough.



These are all very important tips, and they really are not hard to do. The

little bit of extra work should result in a healthy dog well into their

senior years. Of course, there are many factors that play a part in your

dog's health over the years, but if you follow these tips, you can at least

rule out any problems that may be caused by the above mentioned items.



Your dog is your best freind. Treat them like you want them around for a

long time, and it just may happen.



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2) "In the Event of Another Heat Wave, Here is a Tip From

One of Our Sitters"



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During our last heat wave, there were a lot of people who were

genuinely concerned about their pet's health, and rightfully so. Heat

stroke is a real threat for our pets. If you have an air conditioned

home, this is great. But, in the Bay Area, most homes do not. And,

if the power goes out, there is no A/C, and you need to be prepared.



Some ways to keep your pets cool is to direct a fan at them so there

is air movement over their body, and across their tongue and feet.

Also, you may wet some towels and place them over your pet's body.

Cover their head, chest, neck, feet, and abdomen.



Here is another great tip from one of our sitters. She told me this

idea and I had to let you know about it.



One of our sitters, Karen Paulos, told me of a trick to keep small

animals cool when it is so hot. What she suggested was to take a

1-liter, or a 2-liter empty soda bottle, fill it with water, and

freeze it. This can be placed in a small animal's cage, next to a

cat, or next to a small dog. Heck, I think even a large dog would

appreciate a large 2 liter bottle of frozen water to help keep cool.

This allows the animals to curl up next to the frozen bottle and keep

cool.



This is such an easy, low tech solution to help keep animals cool, and

it works. So you may think of keeping a bottle, or three, of water in

your freezer to have in case of another heat wave. Then, the next time

your house is unbearably hot, grab one or two of the bottles and use it

on them.



When the first bottle thaws out and warms up, you can switch to a new

frozen bottle and re-freeze the now thawed out one.



Great idea Karen!



Try it out. I think it will work wonders for your pets.



 

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3) "Finicky Feline? Here Are Some Feeding Tips"



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Is your cat a finicky eater? Here are some tips to help get their

appetite back, and to keep them at a healthy weight.



I will be talking about free feeding vs. feeding your cats at regularly

scheduled times. Not all cats will be finicky eaters, but there are

ways to prevent this from happening.



By leaving your cat's food down all the time, this can create a finicky

cat. When food is down all the time, your cat may start to turn its nose

up at the food. Also, a food dish that is out all the time may be

considered "dirty" to your cat, which is another reason they may be

finicky. By feeding them in a clean bowl at every feeding, this prevents

this problem. A clean water dish is also very important.



Feeding a cat by leaving food down all the time (free feeding) allows

your cat to eat when they feel the need. This is sometimes a necessity

as you may be very busy and out of the house for most of the day. If

your cat is at a healthy weight, and is not a finicky eater, then you

do not need to worry. You can continue free feeding, but just keep an

eye on your cat to make sure they do not get overweight or stop eating.



Feeding your cats twice a day on a regular schedule is a healthier way to

feed them, and it will help prevent finicky eaters. When your cat

learns the schedule, they will look forward to their meal. Also, it is

easier to notice any changes in your cats eating habits if you feed them

at specific times of the day, and you have the ability to regulate the

amount of food that they eat during the day. This way, you can adjust it

accordingly if your cat's weight fluctuates. And, if you do see that your

cat has lost its appetite, then this may be a sign that they may be ill,

and you can react more quickly and get them to the vet if needed.



Of course, feeding wet food at a regular schedule, but leaving the dish

down if not eaten will create a foul smelling meal and bowl, which will

create a cat that does not want to eat. If your cat does not eat its

regular meal in a reasonable amount of time, pick it up and dispose of

it. Do the same with dry food (you may not need to dispose of dry food,

it depends on how finicky your cat is). This way, your cat will soon

learn that in order to have a regular meal, they will need to eat their

meal at feeding time.



Another thing to think about is keeping your cat's meal consistant. Changing

their food around and giving them variety actually can create a finicky cat.

Find a food that your cat likes, and stay with that food. You may want a

little food variety in your life, but your cat will be more than happy to

eat the same meal day after day.



Kittens vs. Adults



Kittens need extra protein and extra calories than adults to support

them as they grow. Your kittens need about two to three times as much food

per pound of body weight than your adult cats do. For this reason, they

should be fed at least twice per day, maybe even three times per day.



Adult cats should be fed twice daily for better health, and to create

a cat that wants to eat. If you can, and if you want to try to get your

cat on a regular schedule, remember to transition them over slowly. Even

though they will be eating the same food, a quick transition from free

feeding to a regular feeding schedule can upset your cat's system. Start

by picking up their free feed bowl for a few hours at a time, and gradually

increase the time their food is up, until you are feeding them on a

regular schedule only.



A finicky cat may not take to a new feeding schedule right away, and you

may feel the need to go back to the old free feeding when your kitty does

not eat for a few days (yes, this is a possibility). But stay strong and

your cat will come around. If your cat is really finicky, and has not been

eating by free feeding, and does not respond to a new feeding schedule

either, then your cat may be ill and you should consult your veterinarian.





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4) "Are You a Camper With Dogs? Here is a Camping Tip From One of

Our Clients"



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Do you like to camp and always take your dog(s) with you? I love to

go camping, and my dog Storm always goes with us (Storm goes virtually

everywhere with us). One of our clients wrote in with this great tip for

when you take your dogs camping with you.



Viki of Fremont has a Lab/Shepherd mix named Lacey, and a Chihuahau

named Caesar.



She writes:



"As you know, we are avid campers, always taking Caesar and Lacey. Many

years ago I came up with this idea, which we have shared with many other

campers. In my camping equipment, I keep pre-cut triangles of solid or

light print fabric and a marking pen. Upon check-in to our site, I pull

out the proper size "triangle" and write our dog's name and our campsite

number. Then I dress our babies in their new attire. Not only has it

become tradition - the dogs are always excited to get their new scarf - 

but it provides a little self assurance for me and a great way to make

acquaintences. Everyone thinks it is such a good idea that I keep various

sizes to share with newly made friends made along the way. As usual-thanks

for a great job and try to keep cool.

Viki::.."





Thanks Viki. This is a great tip for keeping your dogs safe in the event

that they wander off while camping. Anyone finding your wandering pup can

easily see what your dog's name is and where they belong, and can be

returned quickly. The scarves are not only funtional, but they look cool

too. And, as she said,it is a great way to spark conversation and to meet

new friends (two-legged and four-legged, of course).



P.S. The pre-cut triangles are scarves to fit her different sized dogs. I

just wanted to clarify this.





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5) "Tell Us What You Think!"



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We'd love to hear what you think of this issue! This is

just one issue, with much more important information

coming in future months.



Please send your comments, questions, and ideas for

upcoming issues to us at:



rdelgado@thewoofpack.com



Your feedback matters to us!





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Copyright 2006 by The Woof Pack.

All rights reserved.



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