As a driver I have a bad  habit.  I don’t usually buckle up right away but a few minutes after I start driving and the car’s warning signal gets louder and more annoying. I finally listen and  with an attitude of a teenager I reluctantly buckle up.

I myself am puzzled by this. What  brings on the teenager like attitude within me? Why  do I  take the chances and believe falsely that accidents are less likely to happen in the first kilometer or two of the trip?  There is something in most of us that makes as do things that are thrilling and dangerous, no matter how much it doesn’t make sense.

In the 90’s, I worked in a vet clinic in Whistler, British Columbia, a beautiful mountain resort full of thrill seeking folks, who hurl themselves down the double black diamonds  runs  that are steeper than this letter A.

Before the local bylaws tightened up, Whistlerites were also infamous for letting their dogs roam freely around town especially on powder days. Dogs can walk themselves, especially with 3 feet of fresh powder waiting, right?

Unfortunately many dogs couldn’t and I remember hating the “hit by car” emergency calls.

Neither were cats spared of the thrill seeking attitude of their owners. One of them  refused to put  his cat in a carrier when driving and they hurled down a ravine. During the ride to the clinic his freaked out cat decided to latch onto my clients face. It was a miracle  that neither of them were hurt except the car was a total write off.

My memory also takes me back to Cass a beautiful German Shepherd who was adopted by my friend Pat. The previous owner tied her to the track canopy with rope attached to her collar. It took one sharp turn, Cass flew of the truck and was dragged behind for a while before he noticed. She miraculously survived but  the  owner could not pay the vet bills and gave her up.

The good news is that Cass has a better home now. Unfortunately, the consequences of this nasty accident will be with Cass for  the rest  of her life.

The person who finally inspired me to write this  blog is Anna,  a great friend and a dog lover who would throw  herself of a cliff if her dog was in trouble.  However, Anna too, as most of us, has a dangerous habit. She leaves her dog Sam sit on the front  seat because “ he is so  cute”  and he is too hot in the back of the car.

First, I wanted to tell Anna right there that her  dog’s nose is a few inches from the airbag. Then my voice budged  in: “Peter, it is not your business!”  “Well it is and it isn’t.” I argued, “A dog can’t speak for himself and what if there was an  accident?  The airbag’s release  would break Sam’s neck and…. Anna would never forgive herself.”

After this heated argument of me with me, I settled for posting a line on my facebook. Anna did find it and replied with a kind and  funny comment: “Busted!”

I hope that reading the above lines will either freak you out or inspire you enough to want to read the following lines to make your animal friend safer when traveling. Here is what  you can do…

1. Do not let your pet roam the car  freely when driving. Your animal friend doesn’t  have a driving license and has no concept of what would happen if it wedges under the break pedal or prevents you from steering.
2. A safely fastened pet carrier is a great option for cats and some dogs. It is a excellent way to prevent your car hurling down the ravine because your freaked out cat latched onto your face.
3. Dog owners – buy a car for you pet. I am not kidding! Get a car with a built in safety cargo net. It doesn’t  need to be brand spanking new. Just safe. Your dog will have both  the comfort and safety when contained in the  back of your car. Some people  think that driving BMW is an unnecessary excess. I bought it because it has the best built in cargo netting on the market. I can also fold the rear seats down and move the cargo net right behind the front seats if I want Skai to be closer.
   
   I  remember, one time,  a work crew was repairing the road. My  lane was open and as  I was slowly driving ahead. Suddenly, I saw a huge truck speeding in the opposite directions, going way too fast. In order for the truck driver to not  hit the crew, he  swerved the truck into my lane. In slow motion, I saw the truck hurling towards me, breaks screeching, tires  smoking… I stepped on the breaks with full force  and closed my eyes. The truck stopped 10 meters away. If  Skai was not safely contained behind the cargo net, he would have flown through the vehicle, possibly getting injured or killed. I will never regret spending the extra money for a car from a manufacturer who cares about pet safety.

4. If you can’t help it and love seeing Fido stick his head out the  window to watch the world whiz  by, get a dog seatbelt harness that can buckle in.
5. If you  want to give  your dog an even greater  degree of freedom,  you can use a nylon cargo strap or climbing rope and loop it  around the rear seat. Make sure that it is securely fastened.  Use a climbing karabiner to clip your dog to. This will allow him to move freely from  side to side.
6. If you are the one who loves to have your  best  friend on your  lap when driving or on the passenger seat, stop and think. Is it worth taking the risk that your best friend could be killed  instantly by  the airbag or by being catapulted out of the vehicle?
7. If you have a truck and  like to keep your dog in the cargo area, do this only  in the warm months. You dog should wear a proper seat belt harness  attached  to both sides of the canopy. The rope  must be short enough to prevent  your dog from  falling out.
8. Never leave your dog running freely in the canopy, attach the collar to the rope or tie him to only one side. Remember Cass. It only takes one sharp turn and  Fido will fall out,  to be dragged and likely killed or seriously injured..

I know, I know, we all love to seek  thrills once every while. We all break the rules.  How about finding other ways to get the “fix;” a ride on rollercoaster,  watching a scary movie  or sky diving.

Just  promise one think that you keep your animal friend out of it and safe…

With gratitude,

Dr. Peter  Dobias.

PS:  Save animal lives share this blog with others.

A friend of mine  called me recently and was very upset.  This was the second time his dog Barkley had eaten a mango pit.  The first time, he threw it up, but  this time,  it stayed down for more than a week.
The local vet recommended  surgery and my  friend was not  really happy about slicing Barkley’s stomach open. He called  me to see if there was anything else we could do.

The pit was large and flat and it was unlikely to go further than the stomach.  I thought  if  we made Barkley throw up, it could get stuck in the esophagus.  We had to find a way  that would  make the mango pit slippery enough  to make it slip out without complications.

I suggested  my friend  cook 2 cups of  squash  to make a puree and   add 1/3  cup  of  flaxseed steeped in the same amount of hot  water. The flax seed made the whole  mixture  slimy and slippery which was perfect to make  the pit  slide out.

To make Barkley throw up, we added ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide (to be  mixed in just before feeding).  When peroxide reacts with stomach juices it is know to   bubble up  which  makes most  dogs  throw  up.

My friend  and I  agreed that  he would call me if there was any news and that  he would  also be ready to see the local vet in the unlikely case of the pit  getting stuck. Finally,  an  hour later, I received a text message  from Elan:  “Peter, call me! “

“Oh no,”I thought, “Barkley may be in trouble!” I  called right  away, anxiously waiting for an answer. “Peter, we got the pit! ” my friend proclaimed victoriously.

We were both ecstatic .  Barkley didn’t  need to go under the knife plus 1 squash, flax seed and a little bit of peroxide are definitely  much less expensive than  abdominal surgery!

This whole  story  prompted me to write a little more on foreign body ingestion because this was not  the first time I have seen dogs eating strange things including  a fine china plate with the dinner, 10 golf balls or  corn cob.

The purpose of this blog is to give you an insight about what to do when  your dog  eats  non-toxic, indigestible objects.

If  your  dog  ingested a toxic substance or a poisonous  plant or you are not  sure what  exactly went  down Fido’s stomach, contact  your  local  emergency care  provider.  Otherwise,  read  on.

FIRST AID – FOREIGN BODY INGESTION

Ask the following questions:

1. Do you know what your dog ate ?

If the answer  is no and your dog has been repeatedly vomiting or having diarrhea for more than 1 day   or appears to behave strange,  contact  your vet immediately.

IF the answer  is  YES,  and  you  know what   your dog  ate, go to STEP 2

2. Is your dog drooling?

If your dog is hyper-salivating,  the object  may be stuck in the esophagus or your dog ate a toxin.  You should  see  your vet immediately.

3. The size of the object is more then 1.5 inches in diameter

it is unlikely that it would pass further in the small  intestine. If your dog  appears to be fine, is  calm. You can  prepare the following mixture

• 2 cups of cooked squash puree
• 1/3  cup of whole flax  seed steeped by the same volume of hot water
• ½  cup of hydrogen peroxide
• small  amount of smoked  fish or cooked  liver for flavor  only

Feed this mixture to your dog.  You should  see vomiting within 30 minutes and hopefully you will be the lucky winner.

If your  dog  doesn’t  throw  up and  appears  fine,  go to step 4.

4. The foreign body is  smaller  than 1.5 inches

If your dog is not vomiting and appears to be fine,  feed  him the following mixture

• 50% of meat of your choice ( raw or cooked depending on your preference
• 40% cooked squash puree
• 10%  flax seed steeped with  enough  hot  water to make the whole mixture slimy.

Feed this  meal for 2 – 3  days.  Many  foreign  bodies  pass with no problem

5. If your dog is restless,  or vomiting more than once or  having diarrhea for more than 24 hours, see your veterinarian.

If the foreign body is in the stomach,  your dog may have normal appetite with occasional vomiting. Intestinal  obstructions usually  cause lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of discomfort

6. If you know that your  puppy or adult dog  likes to  chew  on things, keep it  confined  in a dog pen when  away or in a  room  free of  hazardous objects.

Please  note that  the above information  is  not  intended to replace the care of experienced healthcare provider.

If you are put in  a situation where surgery may be needed, never go for an exploratory surgery unless the foreign body was confirmed.

Barium radiographs,  ultrasound or endoscopy are the first diagnostic steps that need to be taken first.    Foreign bodies in the stomach can  often be removed endoscopically to avoid the surgical trauma and risks.

If you find that your veterinarian is suggesting surgery while your dog appears fine or  a foreign body was not confirmed, seek a second  opinion.

My original plan was to write about vaccines for adult dogs but because this is the last day of 2009, I felt like writing about something more fun. In the previous two blogs, I wrote about avoiding puppy mills and catteries and how to make sure that we do not over-vaccinate our animal friends.  Your dogs happiness =  health =  big savings  on vet bills

The holiday season made me think even more about  how important social life is for people but  also our dogs. Perhaps, you just went through the Christmas all relieved that the relatives are gone. But honestly, how would you feel if friends and family never stopped by? I am sure you would miss them.

Despite most dogs thriving on social interaction, many new puppy owners are being told by their health care providers that their puppy should not see any other dogs for the first 3 – 4 months of their life. I find such an approach unnecessary and often the reason for poor social skills and behavioral problems.

Not allowing your puppy to meet any other dogs can be compared to prohibiting children from any socialization until the school age!

Socialization is a way of learning the ropes of pack hierarchy, recognizing a friendly dog or the one that is better to avoid.

How to make your dog’s life fun?

1. As soon as you get your dog, try to connect with either the littermate owners or connect with a network of likeminded people through puppy classes, interest groups and so on.

2. If possible make more than one friend and if you trust your friends, allow sleepovers and walks without your presence. There may be time when you may need dog sitting and having a few friends who are willing to help can be very handy.

3. Exchange of dog sitting services will  give you the peace of mind when you are on holidays.

4. Young dogs are always tolerated by the adults and it is the best opportunity to learn canine language. If an exchange of opinions happens, between and adult and a young dog, it is usually harmless but a very useful lesson.

5. Try not to leave your dog alone for extended periods of time. Even dogs can get bored and depressed. If you work full time and can’t come and see your dog over the lunch break, try to create connections with other dog people who are on a different schedule and can take your dog out for some fun. I recommend going on a few dogs walks with your friend to ensure that your dog is familiar with his new buddies.

6. Interaction with children is wonderful if your puppy is not scared or doesn’t have a tendency to bite. I love watching children and dogs play because they are so alike in many ways.

7. Take your dog along whenever you can. Some shops and even restaurants in more progressive countries allow dogs. Many hotels also allow dogs and majority of my friends  and families welcome dogs. We have a rule in our house, if you want  us to come for a visit,  our dog comes along.

8.  When it comes to flying join and visit www.flyindogclub.com to learn how we can make safe flying with dogs come true

9. As it is a good time for new year resolutions, one of them may be to spending more quality  with your dog. It may be playing, combing, giving a massage, playing hide and seek, teaching the names of toys or once in a while, a luxurious snooze on the bed together

Remember that happy pets need no vets.

Next: How to play safe and prevent injuries

Previous blog posts on How to Save on Vet Bills

I never realized, how many people talk about their vet bills on Twitter.

While I sometimes joke that vets are still cheaper than most kitchen or bathroom reno’s or lawyer visits, vet bills can get out of control and seem never ending..

If you have ever complained about the cost of vet care, keep on reading, it may save you thousands of dollars.
In next few  weeks  and months, I would like to share with you a simple to follow plan of keeping your animal friends healthy and happy.

If you are one of those people who has a heart of gold but can’t seem to walk by the pet store window without “rescuing” yet another puppy mill puppy or cattery kitty, think twice.

Problem:

Many of these puppies and kittens have been affected by

• poor nutrition
• crowded environment
• heavy parasite burden.

Your puppy mill purchase may  drain your pocket but also fuel the vicious circle of

factory style pet production.

If no one bought from puppy mills, they would cease to exist.

Physical abuse and concentration camp like conditions are common. Unscrupulous breeding practices lead to serious genetically predisposed health problems. This includes breeding closely related animals such as brother and sister or parents and their off springs.

• Most animals are fed inferior food that has a lifetime negative effect
  
• on their health such as bone and skeletal deformities.
• Parasite burden may be a source of serious organ damage and poor digestion.
• Animals from puppy mills and catteries are often less socially adjusted.
• Over-vaccination is common and can lead to more disease including cancer later on.

Solutions:

1. Be strong and resist the urge to save the puppy or kitten behind the shop window.  By making your purchase you are in fact putting more animals “through the mill”.
2. Adopt an animal from a shelter
3. If you have your eye set on a special breed that is not available at shelters , inquire at the local societies and clubs or contact a small scale family oriented breeder
4. Always request to see the mother of the kittens or puppies if dealing with a breeder. If you are not allowed, this should raise a warning flag
5. Choose puppies and kittens that are loved and well socialized or those who have been abandoned and are in need of a good home.
6. Do not have your puppy shipped or flown without visiting its original home.
7. Observe your ego.  Do you really need “the expensive dog or cat?”
8. A living being should not be a fashion statement. Look for a best match , the best friend.
9. Never get a pet for your young children or as a gift. Choosing an animal friend is a big decision. You would not adopt a child for anyone else either.
10. Ensure that you can spare at least 2 hours of your time for walks or interaction with your new family member.Never leave your new animal outside and alone for days and weeks. Pets are social and they need to be included.
11. Be responsible, don’t be stupid and go with your gut feeling.

Have a great weekend and don’t forget to forward this message to others. Together, we can make a difference!

Dr .Peter Dobias

Next topic – What  vaccines  companies  do not  advertise about vaccination

.