The Poodle (and Dog) Blog

How to exercise a large dog—very expensively

Dr. V. is a local obstetrician. He and his wife have always lived fairly simply because that was their way. But when Dr. V. had his Midlife Crisis, he made two expensive purchases that he had always wanted. He bought a completely restored vintage Porsche convertible and a champion sired Great Dane.

His wife started calling the dog Crisis, which is something Great Dane owners might understand, and the name stuck.

Every evening he loads Crisis into the passenger seat of the convertible and they drive off to a deserted road. Then he lets Crisis out on a long lead to run beside the Porsche.

We often wonder if he bought the Porsche to exercise the Great Dane or bought the Great Dane as an excuse to buy the Porsche.

What dogs should not eat

Most mature dogs are fairly selective about what they eat, but some dogs and many puppies seem to think that the world exists for their dining pleasure. But some food and plants can make the dog sick or poison its system.

Dogs have different digestive systems from humans and some of our foods should not be fed to them (like high fat, high sugar ice cream).

Here is a quiz about the foods and plants that should be kept away from dogs.Some of the answers might surprise you.

Pet owners who find their pets ill may choose hills vet diet from vet medic which offers a broad range of clinically proven therapeutic nutrition prescribed by vets and specially trained retailers. The range includes a number of tasty dry and canned foods to help against a range of illnesses and diseases.

Doggie orthodontics—a cure for painful problems

Some dogs are born with serious teeth problems.

Canine orthodontics is becoming more common. Yes, there are dog dentists, but the purpose is not to give the dog a winning smile. Instead of being used for cosmetic purposes the procedures are used to eliminate painful conditions.

If the teeth don’t line up properly, chewing and picking up objects could be a lifetime problem. Sometimes simply pulling certain teeth will correct the condition, but sometimes braces are necessary.

Another painful condition occurs when the lower fangs press against or even penetrate the roof of the mouth. Correcting the condition can be done by removing part of the gum or changing the shape of the tooth.

I had an email from Jody whose “mixed breed Bulldog” had to have a series of orthodontic procedures done because the teeth were out of alignment. Without the procedures the dog would have been condemned to a life of pain and baby food. Some of her relatives have been very critical of her spending so much money on a dog.

These procedures can cost from $500 to $1500 or more. Very expensive, but it is a recurring theme on this blog that people are entitled to spend their money the way they want to. Giving their dog a good quality of life for its 12 to 15+ year life expectancy is not foolish.

Telling people how much you spent on a dog may be inviting criticism, however.

Sugar substitutes could be deadly to dogs

Researchers have found evidence that a commonly used sweetener in sugar-free products can be dangerous, even deadly, to dogs.

Xylitol is found in many sugar-free gums, toothpastes, candies, and baked products. Their report appeared this week in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

This is something to be aware of, especially if you have a puppy or an older dog who enjoys munching anything not bolted down. Even a discriminating eater might find a pack of sugar free gum or frosted muffins to be haute doggy cuisine.

The story.

Neuticles—artificial testicles for neutered animals

This seems to be the way a dog owner can reassure his male dog that absolutely nothing happened while he was asleep at the veterinarian’s. I use the masculine pronoun for the owner here because this seems to be more of a “guy thing.”

Surveys of men who own dogs show that they are often reluctant to take their dogs in for neutering since this involves the removal of the dog’s testicles.

A vasectomy is rarely performed on dogs since it is expensive and simply means the dog can’t sire puppies without causing any other behavioral changes.

For people who believe neutering will leave the animal looking maimed or “unwhole,” an answer may be Neuticles, an internal prosthetic for animal testicles.

According to their website, over 100,000 animals all over the world have been implanted with Neuticles since 1995 without a single complication. Each pet is insured for up to $2 million against any complication. Neuticles use solid silicone technology so there is no danger of leakage in the body of the dog.

Neuticles are available in three models of firmness, in sizes to fit any size dog. They should be implanted when the dog is neutered in a short two or three minute procedure, but in most cases Neuticles can be implanted years later.

About 30 days after neutering (removing the testicles) the testosterone in the dog’s system is depleted. The dog will normally become calmer and less aggressive. He will be less likely to roam or to mark his territory. Neuticles do not affect this change of behavior.

Prices for Neuticles start at $159, including handling (giggle…sorry…), delivery, and related charges.

For more information: U.S. or Canada call toll-free 1-888-638-8425.
International customers dial 1-816-690-8337.
E-mail Neuticles@aol.com

Why do dogs eat grass?

The short answer is that no one knows.

A lot of people want to attribute human cognitive functions to doggie behavior, but the truth is they are dogs. They don’t do things for logical reasons, as we humans like to pretend we do.

One theory is that dogs eat grass to make up for a deficiency in their diet. Carnivores in the wild ate the intestines of animals that ate various grasses. But is the diet of the modern dog also deficient in cookie crumbs, pizza crust and cat poo? Dogs will also eat chicken bones and chocolate which can be deadly for them.

We once had a dog who loved lettuce and many vegetables. We fed raw vegetables to her along with her regular dog food every day of her long life. She still tried to eat grass on occasion whenever she found some nice long blades.

Since dogs often vomit the grass back on the carpet, making a slimy green mess, the theory that their bodies need nutrition from grass seems a little weak.

Eating grass does not harm the dog.

Making him stop does not cause any damage to his psyche or digestive system but it’s a lot easier on the carpet.

See "Why (some) dogs eat poop"-

Why does my dog scoot his butt across the floor?

The dog is trying to expel the contents of the anal glands which are located at the base of its tail. Sometimes they need help to get them emptied so they scoot across the ground. Groomers take care of expelling the glands as part of the service they provide.

I don’t know how to do it. I don’t want to learn how to do it. If you want to learn, you can ask the groomer or your veterinarian to show you.

Or you can tip the groomer at your regular appointments to become a favored customer; then if your dog seems to be having a problem, you can ask to bring it in for an emergency emptying.

If this doesn’t take care of the problem, the dog may have worms. You should alert your veterinarian who will probably want you to bring in a fresh stool sample in order to identify the exact parasite so that treatment can be immediately effective.

More email questions:

Why do dogs roll in dead fish and seals along the beach.
I think they are trying to gross us out, but that is just a theory

Does drinking water out of the toilet bowl harmful to a dog?
Probably not. And the dog doesn’t seem to mind people peeing in his water dish.

If a dog licks an open cut, does that help it heal?
No, it’s dog spit, not an antiseptic.

Urinary track cancer in male dogs

Recently I had two readers contact me with basically the same story. Their male dogs were straining and having difficulty urinating (dry pee).

Although this can have several causes such as urinary infections, both dogs were diagnosed by the veterinarian with Transitional Cell Carcinoma. Cancer of the Urethra and Prostate. Male dogs can get this dreaded disease just like human males can.

Both dogs looked healthy while this silent killer was growing inside them.

Treatments are available with early detection.

Dogs are more vulnerable to heat than people

Prolonged periods of high temperatures, such as we are having now in California, can be life threatening to people and to dogs. Here are a few things to keep in mind from the Humane Society and veterinarians.

The dog’s body is built to preserve heat which is great in the winter, but they are susceptible to overheating in the summer. They have sweat glands only in their noses and the pads of their feet (That’s why dogs' feet smell like popcorn or dirty socks, depending on your point of view.)

Dogs that are normally clipped should be given summer haircuts, but don’t shave dogs with double coats (German Shepherds, Huskies, Collies, Samoyeds). Their fur provides protection from the heat. Shaving them can actually cause heat stroke.

Temperatures that are not uncomfortable for humans can be life threatening to a dog. Short nosed breeds, pugs and bulldogs, are particularly vulnerable to heat. An overheated dog can suffer brain and organ damage in 15 minutes.

Be aware of signs of heat stress in the dog: restlessness, dizziness, lack of coordination, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, labored breathing or excess panting, glazed eyes, excessive thirst, lethargy. If the dog has any of these symptoms, cool them down gradually with water on their tummy and feet. Don’t use ice which would be too much of a shock.

If the dog is unresponsive, has pale gums and a deep red or purple tongue, get it to the veterinarian.

And, of course, never leave it in a car during these days. If you see a dog in a hot car, notify the authorities.

Why (some) dogs eat poop

This is not my favorite subject, but I’ve had some emails and googles about it and it always comes up in dog forums. This is not an unusual behavior and there are several reasons for it

Why do dogs eat poop?

• Because they can. Dogs don’t have human sensibilities. They don’t know what “disgusting” means.
• They may have a nutritional or medical need. This probably isn’t the reason, but you can try new diets to see if this stops it. Your veterinarian may be able to tell if the dog has a medical problem.
• Dogs have an instinct to keep their living areas clean. A mother dog will keep the puppies and the litter box clean by consuming the fecal matter of the puppies.
• The puppy may have been kept in a cage for long periods of time and forced to soil the cage. They become bored and instinctively try to keep their surroundings clean the only way they know how.
• The puppy may have learned to do this by having their noses stuck in it while the owner was trying to housebreak the dog. They learn that their owner doesn’t want it there and they dispose of it the only way they know how.
• It might just be an immature puppy behavior. When they are housebroken, when they figure out you don’t like it, the behavior may stop.

If it has become a habit, it is not always easy to change. The best way, and it takes time and effort, is to allow the dog time for his outdoor elimination, distract him and remove it quickly as you give him a doggy treat or praise for being a good puppy.

When all else fails, the veterinarian has a product to put into the puppy food that will make the poop smell so bad that he will not want to eat it.

No, I can’t imagine what that would smell like either.