Hot Topic: Dog Fighting

Wow, I started a blog discussion Wednesday and never got back to it! Time to slow down and let life catch up. It’s too short to be so busy! A couple topics to touch on this week, and we’ll get to the heated topic in just a minute.

First, I’ve mentioned the Animal Rescue League and other Iowa shelters in past blogs, but after hearing a recent and disturbing trend, I thought it might be a good time to talk a little more in depth. In recent media reports, Tom Colvin at the ARL has discussed a recent influx of pets into their shelter, with a majority of those dropped off being cats. Although area shelters usually have a rush this time of year(I’m not exactly sure why,) this time around seems a bit more extreme. As the ARL continues to take on more animals, they are squeezing their newly expanded space and running low on supplies! If you have extra pet food, blankets, toys, even cleaning supplies you would like to donate, please contact the ARL at 515-262-2612. Cash donations are also appreciated. You can also contact any pet shelters near you to help.

Now on to a topic that REALLY chaps my hide. How many of you ‘raised hackles’ when you heard about these jack@$$es busted in the nation’s largest(6 state) dog-fighting ring?? UNBELIEVABLE! What makes me even more sick to my stomach is to hear what these worthless piles did to some of the dogs when they were finished with them. Maybe someone should put them in a ring, let them fight to the death, and toss them into a river or worse when finished. I sure hope the 4 Iowans charged are found innocent(we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt until found guilty, because I’d like to hope one of our local teachers wasn’t involved.) Here’s the story from KCCI: http://www.kcci.com/news/19998229/detail.html#

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this outrageous topic, and I’m sure we’ll generate quite a few. Please keep in mind our moderators will not allow use of bad language, so be careful in your responses. One last thought from my soapbox…any low-life piles found guilty should rot in jail for life! Okay, off the soapbox and onto possible storms again this afternoon.

Have a wonderful and safe weekend! Until next week-  Bryan & Chase ^..^

Ear Hematomas

I was just reading over an article Marlo forwarded my way about a condition your pet may be prone to called Ear Hematomas. Now I’ve heard of hematomas in humans, but didn’t realize it also afflicts our furry friends on a fairly common basis. Have you dealt with ear hematomas in your pets? Let’s go over some of the facts, causes, and how you go about treating something that left alone could permanently disfigure your pet’s ears.

According to Utah Veterinary Clinics, an ear hematoma is defined as, “a firm, fluid-filled swollen mass that is visible on the inside of the  ear flap.”(www.uvma.org) They are blood vessels that have ruptured in the ear, and the pressure from these ruptures cause the ear to swell. This can become quite painful for your dog or cat, and as they shake their heads or scratch and dig at the pain, it can make their condition even worse.  Without immediate attention, your dog or cat could end up with a disfigurement of their ears due to scar tissue.

So what actually causes an ear hematoma? There are several factors that can lead to an ear hematoma, including the general make-up of your pet’s ears. Dogs with floppy ears are more prone than those with upright ears, and cats are the least prone. Shaking of large, floppy ears may break the delicate blood vessels in the ear, allowing for infection and ear hematoma development. Itchy skin due to allergies may cause your pet to dig in or violently shake their ears. Yet another cause could be a foreign object in the ear(s) cause a similar reaction to allergies. Ear mites and bug bites or stings can also lead to ear hematomas.

If you’ve had a pet with an ear hematoma, what caused it to form? How did you handle this potentially painful situation? Anytime you question something that has your pet shaking or constantly scratching, you should give your vet a call or bring them in for a check-up. It’s better to be safe than sorry! If your pet is diagnosed with an ear hematoma, the best treatment is to surgically drain the blood, which will allow your vet to figure out what caused the swollen mass. Future recurrences are quite possible, but with constant cleaning and checking of their ears, you may be able to keep this condition from developing, or catch it before the hematoma worsens. Check out this article for more ways to prevent ear hematomas: http://ezinearticles.com/?Ear-Hematomas-in-Pets&id=2435971

Sure hope you can get outside with your pets and take advantage of our GORGEOUS weather! We’ve got a long summer ahead of us, and it’s not often we can kick off July without heat and humidity.

Until next week- Bryan & Chase ^..^

The Comforts of Home

Hey blog friends! Wow, what a busy week weather-wise, and SO darn hot. Chase has been less active in this recent heat wave, and I don’t blame him. On our last couple of walks, we’ve made it about 20 minutes before finding a shade tree. It’s still too dangerous for pets and owners alike to be in this intense heat for too long. If they must be outside, PLEASE make sure your pets have fresh water and a shady retreat. Unless the garage is air-conditioned, it’s not a great place to leave an animal. Garages tend to hold that heat too.

Not sure if we’ve talked about in-home daycare yet,  although I know we’ve discussed out-of- home daycare for your pets. I got a surprise last week when dropping Chase off at Greenbelt Kennels. Jean usually has cats staying with her, but I was welcomed by the sounds of a bird when walking in the door! Guess she’s had a bit of variety lately. I prefer Greenbelt when I’m in town, but if I have a business trip or something away from central Iowa, I’d rather have someone staying in my home with Chase. I’ve been lucky to have a great group of friends who offer to stay with him, which eases my mind, and is of some comfort to when he’s separated from me for an extended period.

Do you use in-home daycare for your pets, whether on a daily basis, or during trips away from home? If so, how do you go about screening someone you may not know before letting them stay in your house, with your pet(s)? My parents had a sitter stay with their dogs a couple years ago, someone they sort of knew at the time. Unfortunately, when they got home, some of their possessions were missing. They didn’t want to jump to conclusions or create a scene with this sitter, since only a few items were missing. Needless to say, they have not invited her back to the house, and they try and bribe my brother into staying with the pups if they need to be gone.

If you’re just joining in our discussion and didn’t participate in our daycare conversation awhile back, feel free to chime in about your experiences and how you went about choosing an out-of- home daycare as well! I heard about Greenbelt via word of mouth, and Chase has a great time when he’s playing with his daycare friends

A quick reminder, our blog postings are monitored and must be approved. If you don’t see your posting right away, check back because it will get posted at some point. Thanks!

Until next week- Bryan & Chase ^..^

My “Barker” Lounger

Before we get this week’s discussion underway, I want to pass along a thank you to those who sent me a few more blog ideas to add to the file!  As I was getting ready for bed last night, I looked over and saw Chase in his normal spot where my feet normally end up the next morning. He likes to start down at the end of the bed, then work his way back up toward the pillows next to me. It got me wondering how many of you allow your pets on the furniture. In hind site, I probably should have trained Chase to stay off some of mine. Here’s a photo from one of our recent HOT days. Chase didn’t want to get out of the lake!

Chase has free roam of almost anything in the house labeled furniture, except the kitchen and coffee tables. He takes full advantage of the couch in my living room to stare out the window, keeping me safe from those who happen to walk by out front. He sleeps on the love seat in that same room, or occasionally crashes on the corner of the couch in my family room. His dog bed sits positioned so he’s facing the window next to my front door, a great view to act as my live doorbell! Do your pets have a favorite piece of people furniture they like to claim? I’m sure Chase would be on my dining room table if I allowed it.

If you don’t allow your pets onto the furniture, how do you keep them off? I would imagine cats are harder to train, but maybe I’m wrong. I’ve heard that if you put tape or tinfoil on a surface, cats avoid it because of the feeling on their paws. Have any of you tried this before?This is a photo I shot with my Verizon phone after a walk in the pouring rain. It was a warm rain, so walking without my raincoat’s hood up felt GREAT! Now I see how Chase feels after walking in the rain…

Until next week- Bryan & Chase ^..^

ACHOO!

Not sure about you, but my allergies have been a little worse this year than in the last several years. I don’t know why, since I’ve been on the same nose spray and allergy medication(generic Claritin.) My eyes and skin have been itchy, although the nose hasn’t been too bad. Even Chase’s nose has been running a bit more this year. Marlo sent me a number of blog topic possibilities, and human allergies to pets happened to be listed. But what about pet allergies? I thought this would be a fitting topic, since we’re well into allergy season.

Do you have a pet with allergies? I mentioned Chase’s runny nose, but he also seems to have a light, skin allergy. He has bouts of flakiness, although it doesn’t seem to bother him and doesn’t get out of control. There are ways to tell if your pet has allergies. If your cat tends to overly-groom or your dog is constantly licking his paws, it might be worth asking your vet if they think your furry friend has an allergy. There are allergy medications to help take care of symptoms.

According to a report by CBS News, pet allergies fall under one of four categories: flea allergies; airborne allergies; food allergies; contact allergies(Source: CBS Interactive Inc.) Flea allergies can be quite common, although the allergy is actually to the proteins secreted by a flea’s saliva. Make  sure you’re frequently giving your dog or cat baths and use a flea medication prescribed by your vet to alleviate the problem.

Similar to their human companions, a pet can have an allergy to dust, mold, mildew and pollen. If they seem to suffer more this time of year, limit their outdoor activity and give them baths to wash any dust and pollen away. Airborne allergies can also lead to hot spots on dogs, something our thicker coated dogs would end up with when I was growing up. Hot spots are irritated areas of a dog’s body where the skin has been constantly scratched due to an allergy, a bacteria build up has irritated the skin, or an area where matted and tangled hair has created irritation. How many of you have had to deal with hot spots, and how did you treat them?

Finally, pets can also have an allergy to food. If your pet seems to be itching, suffering from a digestive disorder or is experiencing respiratory distress, they may have a food allergy. Again, consult your veterinarian on possible diagnosis and a plan to keep your pet on a healthy track.

Enjoy these comfortable days now because it won’t be long before we’re complaining about summer heat & humidity!

Until next week- Bryan & Chase ^..^

This Week’s Mish-Mosh

I’ve been on vacation all week, spending some time with my Grandparents in Quincy, IL, and the rest of my time doing odds and ends around the house. What I didn’t realize is that we passed by Wednesday so quickly, and I didn’t get a topic written up! Since I’m still on vacation, this week will be a mish-mosh of topics. You choose what you’d like to discuss, and we’ll run with it.

I was listening to talk radio on my way home from Quincy, and heard some good news for a change. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug to help treat canine cutaneous mast cell tumors(cancer.) GREAT news on the pet health front! Here’s an article with more: http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/06/03/new-drug-fights-cancer-in-dogs.html

Two topics have been bugging me this week, and one of them was touched upon just a couple weeks ago. First, if you like taking your pets in the car when you run errands, you may want to think twice. This is your annual reminder your car quickly becomes a furnace EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS CRACKED! Be wise and leave your pets at home. A friend of mine said she just encountered a dog in a hot car, panting heavily. She happened to see the owner walking out of the store and approached her, asking why she would endanger her pet. The lady quickly got in her car and took off, completely ignoring my friend. I tell you what, if I see a pet suffering in a locked car, I’ll make one attempt to find the owner. If my trip into the store is unsuccessful, I won’t hesitate to break the car window!

The second pet peeve of mine is an off-leash, roaming pet. There are at least 2 dogs along my block(and if my neighbors read our blog, they know who these dogs belong to) that freely roam the area. Not only do they dart in front of cars, but they bolt for me and Chase on our walks. Chase is well-behaved when he’s with other dogs, but a dog running at him while he is on leash unsettles him. I’m afraid these roaming dogs will either try and bite him, start a fight with him, or take a nip out of me! I’ve had to reach down and attempt to keep a couple small dogs away from Chase twice in the past month, owners no where to be found.

Please use common sense with your pets. Your annual reminders include making sure they have a cool place and plenty of water on hot days. Keep walks shorter and on really hot days, try and avoid pavement walks as they burn paw pads. Keep your eye out for those who leave their pets in cars, and turn them into the authorities(animal cruelty laws apply!)

Until next week- Bryan & Chase ^..^

Your Ears Must Be Burning

I’m sitting here in my living room after an hour long walk with Chase, realizing this rain really hasn’t let up much for the past few hours! It started out spotty and light when we began walking, and seemed to get heavier the second half hour of our stroll along Clive’s paths. Now I’m looking at a mini-lake developing in my backyard, and hoping Chase doesn’t drag in the mud that has also developed around our saturated yard.

When we got home today, I neglected to wipe out Chase’s ears, and now I see him rolling on the floor and scratching at them. Labs are prone to ear infections due to moisture build-up after swimming or bathing. With consistent cleaning, infections can be held at bay. If left alone for too long, bigger problems can arise. Other ear infections can be created by ear mites, allergies, bacteria & yeast, as well as a few other issues that can pose problems for your pet.

Have your pets had ear infections that required more than just a normal cleaning? Has your vet showed you what to look for in an ear infection, or how to properly clean your dog or cat’s ears without hurting them? We may be able to help with our discussion this week, but for more details on proper cleaning, you’ll definitely want to ask your vet.

Let’s start with some of the symptoms your pet may have ear issues. All dogs and cats scratch their ears and heads from time to time, but if they do it on a frequent basis, there may be something bugging them. Chase occasionally digs in his ears with his claws and wines, which has me thinking we may have a vet trip in our near future. Although I cannot see anything when I lift his ears and search, a vet can get in with an otoscope and have a more in-depth look. If your pet’s ears have an odor or a discharge, redness or swelling, or they frequently shake their heads, it may be a sign of infection. All of these symptoms should be checked out immediately.

I took a quick break while typing, and cleaned Chase’s ears. He isn’t shaking his head this afternoon, and the redness from his earlier scratching has gone away. We’ll watch him closely, and if he starts shaking and digging again, we’re heading to Banfield! UGH, and it’s worth mentioning, the rain is STILL really coming down!! I can’t wait to feel the 80s again by Friday!

Until next week- Bryan & Chase ^..^

A WEEK OFF…

Hey fellow bloggers! Chattin’ With Chase is taking a week off to clear the mind and cleanse the sole. It’s been a hectic week of projects, and now a chance to catch our breath. If you have any future blog topics you’d like to discuss, go ahead and send them my way at: bkarrick@hearst.com. We’ll have a new topic up and running next Wednesday!

Until next week- Bryan & Chase

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda

I’m so thankful for doggie daycare, especially on those days when I absolutely need to get something done and know I won’t be able to spend much time with Chase. It’s great that he enjoys his time playing with friends and romping the grounds at Greenbelt Kennels in Clive. He gets so excited when I mention daycare, and whimpers when we get within a mile of Greenbelt. Owner Jean Brown knows when Chase arrives, not just because of the big Storm Chase truck dropping him off, but because Chase takes off for the upstairs area of Jean’s house and onto the couch! Of course, he makes his way down to the various rooms for the pups to play.

On my way to Greenbelt the other day, I had an incident that reminded me of a few regrets I have in training(or not training) Chase. I admit, he rides in my truck without a seat belt because I never got around to getting him used to having a ‘dog’ belt wrapped around him. We pulled up to a stoplight, and I happened to put on the brakes at the same time Chase was standing up. He ended up falling off the backseat, up against my seat and onto the floor! He wasn’t hurt, but it instantly made me think of my failure to seat belt train.

Have you had any regrets when it comes to your pet and his behavior, anything you’d like to go back and do over again? How about the  cliche, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” Is it still possible to train an older dog some of these behaviors you wish they would observe? I have a few more shoulda, woulda, coulda’s with Chase I’d love to go back and correct.

Besides our seat belt issue, I’d go back and teach Chase that my bed is just that, my bed. He’s a 77 pound dog who takes up most of my sleep zone! I woke up several times last night because he was either stretched out where my feet usually go, or he was on top of the blankets so I couldn’t pull them up over me. Teaching my lab to crash on his own bed ‘woulda’ been best!

Another regret was letting Chase know my food scraps are perfectly fine for him. They ’shoulda’ been off limits from the get-go. My bad! He gets pizza crust, shredded cheese from my tacos, and the occasional strawberry. I know, I know…not good!! At least I’m admitting my failures.

Finally, I wish we ‘woulda’ went to at least one more obedience class at the Animal Rescue League. We made our way through two courses, but never really mastered the sit and stay. Chase sits, but he’ll only stay for a couple seconds. Learning a few more tricks to show off during our morning show ‘woulda’ been an added bonus, and we may still be able to work on a few.

Let’s hear some of your shoulda, woulda, coulda’s!! Open up and be honest, spill your guts, and offer up some support for your fellow bloggers feeling guilty for not teaching your pets certain manners or tricks of the trade.

Until next week-  Bryan & Chase ^..^

Three’s Company, Four’s A Crowd

Where did everyone go? Last week’s blog didn’t generate much discussion, so I’m trying to figure out where to go with this week’s topic to stir up some more responses. It’s been awhile since we’ve had a hot button topic, but I’m at a loss for one this week.

Might be a good idea to start off with some big news coming from NUTRO, the makers of Greenies Dental Chews. Check out this very important(and true) article from consumeraffairs.com: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/05/nutro_greenies.html

Chase loves Greenies, although the expense has kept me from purchasing them over the past several months. I’ll stick with pizzles, since they’re cheaper and keep him busy for a much longer period. It takes him less than 5 minutes to down a Greenie, but a pizzle can last up to a half hour!

Marlo sent a few more great blog topics my way, so I thought we’d pull one from the list this week. Have you ever had company over, and although you knew they didn’t like pets, you weren’t quite sure what to do with your furry friends? Three’s company, four’s a crowd immediately comes to mind. My friends are generally tolerant of pets, although some  have different feelings depending on what kind of animal we have at home.

Chase is obedient when it comes to mingling with the group of people I have visiting from time to time. Although he gets very excited when they first arrive, he settles in and becomes comfortable, occasionally walking up to them for attention. If he becomes a bother(VERY rare,) I’ll shoo him away or let him out back. What is your quick fix for a pesky pooch or crazy cat? If your friends/ family just can’t stand your pet, are you forced to kennel or lock them in a room? Is there a happy medium, so your pet doesn’t have to be cooped up for hours on end?

I’ll download a pic or two of Chase for our blog this week, since it’s been awhile and I finally got around to snapping a few photos. Until next week-  Bryan & Chase  ^..^