Have You Used Flea and Tick Protection On Your Dog?

Spring is here, summer is coming, and my owner treated me for the first time for fleas and ticks yesterday.  It should have been done as soon as the weather got warm, but we've had a cold spring this year, so we waited a bit.  I haven't had any bites.  Some of you live in climates that are warm all the time, so please, be sure to keep those itchy little pests away from your pets...it's miserable when they bite, I know!

I get terrible allergic reactions to flea bites, just one little bite is enough to cause a rash over almost all of my body, so I was really happy when she read the article listed in the "pages" section to the right.  Or, to make it easier for you, just click this link. 

Updated 2/27/17

Bloody Diarrhea in Yorkies and Small Dogs

This isn't a pleasant post, but maybe it will help you if you have a Yorkie or other small dog that gets diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea.  It might help you if you have a big dog, too, but it's more of an emergency with small dogs like Yorkshire Terriers because we lose our fluids quickly and can become dehydrated and go into shock...now don't get scared if you're reading this and your dog is sick right now, read on, most of the time things will be okay.  First I'll tell my story, and what the vet did, then I'll give some tips to help until you can get to the vet....but get to the vet you must, if you're having symptoms like I did.

This happened a few years ago.  I didn't feel good, and had bloody diarrhea...I've had it before just a little bit, but never have been real sick with it.  My owners didn't know what to do because it was time to go to bed when I got really sick, but I settled down a little bit.  Then they got up with me at about 1:30 in the morning, and I was sick again.  Then by morning, I was panting, and trembling, and passing blood, bright red blood, more than we had seen before.  Of course they called the vet right away, and took me in to get checked.

The vet took a stool specimen, and it is getting sent in to see if I have parasites or other things that might have caused this.  She took my temperature rectally, then she felt all around my abdomen, I guess to see if there were any swellings or lumps.  Then they took me and injected a water-electrolyte solution under my skin that made kind of a big soft mushy bump on me, so my body would be able to absorb some fluids.  Since my intestines were so inflamed, even when I drank water,  and it was good that I was, it is hard to know how well he body can absorb the fluids.  Then she told us to buy, the following:

• An antibiotic - Metronidazole 100 mg suspension, and said I had to take 1/2 ml. 2x a day....we bought that from the vet.


• Pepcid AC 10 mg....have to take 1/4 a tablet once a day...we got that at the store


• id canned cat food, yes, I said CAT food, esp. good for intestinal problems....bought that from the vet, and guess what, I loved it.


• Gerber Baby Rice flakes or boiled white rice (not quick rice), we got the flakes, and mix them in with the food.


• Pedialite - we kind of think that might have been a waste of money, but we are mixing a little bit in with the food and rice...I won't drink it alone....that's to help replace fluids and electrolytes lost.

It wasn't long after I got the antibiotic, and ate some of that yummy food that I started to feel much better, and by evening, I felt good enough to beg all evening for my snack...the owners wouldn't give me my favorite snack tonight, because they can only give me boiled chicken, which they did, and the food from the vet...but I begged anyway, worth a try, right?  And I felt good enough to beg for my old stuffed bunny to be thrown a few times. So unless we hear something different from the vet when they get the results of my fecal tests, I think we're all set.

(NOTE: - After you read this post, you may want to click here and read the post just before it as it gives more detailed description of the remedy above.  At that time, which was a year later, I was diagnosed with Pancreatitis, and we now are quite sure that was my weakness all along, as we've had no trouble with this since we started being careful about what I eat.)

Oh, I forgot to mention that my owner is going to sprinkle just a little acidophilus in my food to help get good bacteria into my system between times that she gives me the antibiotics, and after.

The Pepcid AC will be a good thing to have around in case this happens again and we can't get to the vet on time.  And we've read that Pepto Bismol can help, but my owner feels funny about that one because she thinks it has aspirin in it, which thins blood and increases bleeding.  We have to ask the vet about that one.  Now, if you missed the post before this one, please go read it.  It describes what happened a year after the above.

Updated 2/28/17 

This Yorkshire Terrier had Pancreatitis

As a Yorkie, I can tell you having Pancreatitis is not fun...it hurts...I had a bad case of it in 2010.  This can be a condition that seems like other health problems, and requires a visit to your Veterinarian and a careful description of the symptoms.  I recovered, and didn't have any recurrences in the 3 years since. 

Here is what happened to me, I am hoping that it will help other Yorkie friends out there.

I started getting (sorry, this is yucky) diarrhea a lot easier than I used to, and we thought it was triggered by certain foods.  My owner did all kinds of things to take things out of my diet, and carefully add new things, very gradually, that's what you have to do when you're changing foods with a Yorkie, or any dog.

One day, I got really bad symptoms, and we went to the Vet.  We've done that before, but this time, they did a blood test for Pancreatitis, and I came up as having it.  There are really no medications for this, but they did treat it in almost the same way as they did when I had bloody diarrhea in 2009...since that post was lost during a transfer of this blog, we are going to update and re-post it for you tomorrow.

Here's some things my owner did wrong (I forgive her) and what the doctor had us do:

• My owner gave me Chicken Livers the night before, you would think that wouldn't bother me as liver is a very popular treat, but it's very rich and high in cholesterol.  When I was younger, I could handle more foods than I can now or could when this happened.


• The next day I had VERY yellow diarrhea, and was throwing up, also yellow, and walked around with my back kind of hunched and head down because it hurt inside. So we made an appointment with the Veterinarian...so important if you think something serious is wrong.


• The vet gave me subcutaneous (I think that's the word) fluids, they put a lot of water just under my skin with a needle to help with dehydration since....


• I wasn't allowed to drink or eat anything for 24 hours!!!  But it wasn't that bad, I wasn't feeling well at all so not very hungry, and if I did eat was in pain.


• I was given 1/4 of a 10mg Pepcid A/C tablet on an empty stomach in the afternoon a 1/2-1 hours before when I would have had my dinner, then every 24 hours for a week before my evening meal. The veterinarian had us add another week on because I still wasn't quite right after a week. After finding that to be a battle (I hate taking pills), and after I had started eating again, my owner added it to just a tiny bit of chicken breast so I wouldn't notice it, or so she thought, and that made it easier for me to swallow.  Then I got the rest of my meal a little bit later.


• I had to eat several small meals a day of white rice (or Gerber's baby flaked rice...just about a tablespoon mixed in with the cut up chicken with a little water added) and chicken breast, morning, mid morning, noon, mid afternoon, and dinner time, about 2 tablespoons of food each time until I got better.

I finally did get better, then there was the quest to find the right food for me, which we did by trial and error.  I seem to do best with chicken and rice foods, beef doesn't agree with me at all.

If you are dealing with Pancreatitis with your dog, we wish your dog a speedy recovery. 

Updated 2/28/17

Irritated Pink or Red Eyes and Dry Eye in Dogs

For the past few years, I, Aspen the Yorkie, have been dealing with red eyes, dry eye, irritated eyes, all kinds of eye problems.  Now that I'm an older dog, I am losing my eyesight, but still get around pretty well.

We have done several posts about eye care, and some were lost during a transfer of this blog, but we have the information and are combining all of it in this single post, that we hope will be helpful to you.

First we start with a post we did when my Veterinarian decided the condition I was suffering was allergies.  My owner carefully treated my eyes as described for almost a year before we learned there was more to my problem...here is that post:

This was originally posted about 2 years ago - Lately we've had a hard time keeping my tear ducts clear and eyes clear of the mucous or whatever that "goo" is that forms in the eye. We went to the vet, and were told that it was allergies.

My owner was trying the home-made drops that she uses for my infections that she makes with a Golden Seal tea, an herb that kills infection, but the Vet didn't think they were infected. He said that it was more likely to be allergy related. Because of the allergies, my eyes make more goo, which dries in my tear ducts, so my owner has to clean them, which I hate, but it feels good when it's done.

The vet suggested saline solution, and when we went to the pharmacy to get some, they told us to buy a large bottle of "Sensitive Eyes" Saline Solution by Bausch & Lomb or similar company that makes the same thing rather than waste our money on those little bottles of eye drops. It cost under $4.00 at the time we bought the big bottle and lasts a LONG time. The bottle has a dropper type top with a little cap, so is handy to use right from the big bottle.

Getting the drops into my eyes can be interesting because I like to fight the process as much as possible, but by owner somehow gently but firmly holds the scruff of my neck...the same place a mother dog uses to carry her puppies, and then gently holds back my eyelid somehow with her fingers, and squeezes a few drops into my eyes...it's tricky, but she does it, then gently picks away the dried "stuff" from the corner of my eyes, and if necessary gently wipes the "goo" from my eyes with a cotton ball made damp with the same saline eye drops.

She also makes sure that the hair is trimmed around my eyes so that it doesn't get into my eyes, another thing that causes irritation.

Even though I fight the process, it feels good when it's all done!

Time went by, and it seemed that the problem never went away, was always there, so we wondered if it was something more than allergies, but kept on cleaning the eyes daily, until I had to go to the Vet for another reason.  It was then that we learned the problem was a condition called "dry eye"...my eyes don't make tears, so form the mucous or "goo" we were talking about earlier as a natural way of protecting the eyes in the absence of tears.  So in addition to the cleaning, I now have to have a drop of prescription called "Tacrolimus" made by a compounding pharmacy, and put in each eye each day.  Usually they have to be cleaned as described above first.  I have a very patient owner to do this for me every day, and don't like it, but am getting used to it.

Cruciate Ligament Tear in Two Legs

It's been about a month and a half since the Veterinarian diagnosed Aspen with a cruciate ligament tear in one of her hind legs.  In spite of all of our attentiveness and care, a little over a week ago, the other leg sustained the same injury.  She is watched over almost constantly, and this happened during a moment when she simply tried to go up a small step, it didn't take much.

Now that a week has passed, she is still limited, but moving about more than she did again due to some measure of healing, and again needs to be watched carefully so that she keeps on healing.

Thankfully, she is a dog with a good nature, and being older, tends to rest a lot anyway, but she misses the very thing she should never have been doing at her age, jumping up and down from the couch, and is learning to be content with her bed on the floor and occasional times up next to us on the couch or chair when we lift her and take her down.

We have a special harness for her now that supports her body from front to back with the hook that the leash attaches to toward the back rather than the neck are.  This helps to take some of the weight off of her back legs when walking...she it taking her time getting used to this.  Though she has hobbled about just a bit when she needs to go out and take care of business, this week we are trying to do just a little more controlled walking...nothing too active...to build and maintain her leg muscles and mobility.

She is on a anti-inflammatory pain medicine for dogs right now, but soon we hope to switch over to a Glucosamine/Chondroiton product in order to preserve what is left of the cartilage in the joints that will now rub together un-naturally due to her injury.

We will keep you updated on her progress and if you can learn anything from our experience, when your Yorkie reaches a certain age, don't allow them to jump up and down.

 

Collapsed Trachea in Small Dogs

A collapsing or collapsed trachea in a small dog is caused by a weakening in the rings of cartilage that hold the trachea open so that your dog can breath.  Some dogs are born with this weakened condition, others develop the condition with age. While the condition is not limited to small dogs, it is most common in small dogs.

The trachea in dogs, humans and most other mammals is the "tube" that runs from the nose and throat that carries air to and from the lungs...it can also be called the windpipe.  When it is collapsing or collapsed, dogs make an unusual sound caused by what some call backwards coughing...a sound like a honk.

Many dogs have this condition occasionally or chronically and live normal healthy lives.  If your dog is "honking" often and over an extended period of time, please do see your veterinarian as he or she will teach you how to manage the condition and perhaps suggest medications that will open up the breathing.  Surgery is not often needed.

If the characteristic cough is just occasional, your dog should be fine, this is up to you to determine.

Here are a couple of things we do:

When I (Aspen) cough like this, my owner gently lifts my head and strokes under my neck...she didn't read about doing this anywhere, it's just something she did one day, and it helped.  Maybe it helped me relax, maybe it helped open the trachea, we don't know, it just worked...but it's just a gentle lift and very gentle stroking, nothing more.

DO NOT walk a dog using  a regular collar with this condition, use a harness.  In fact, do this anyway with a small dog as a collar could contribute to causing the problem.

Do more research on the condition online, there is quite a bit of information out there, and thank you for visiting, we hope we helped you learn a bit more about tracheal collapse and hope you find help with your dogs collapsed trachea.

Expressing Dog Anal Glands

We learned the hard way about impacted anal glands and how to express them.  I got sick during our own natural disaster, Hurricane Irene, and my owners were doing their best to keep up with flooding issues and me not feeling well at the same time.

I couldn't tell them that it wasn't just the Pancreatitis that I'd had before...but something more.  At first it seemed like I was doing better when they started treating me for the Pancreatitis, but then one Saturday I was miserable and in pain.  These are the things I did to try to let my owners know what was wrong, and some things that they should have picked up if they weren't so distracted by the weather, power failure, etc.:

• I scooted around dragging my bottom on the floor, they just thought it was itchy, but it was more than that


• I licked myself a lot trying to clean my anal area, which made me feel sick..and icky thing to have to do


• I didn't have an appetite.


• I skulked around the house with my head down, flopping down wherever I felt like it.


• My belly felt bloated and distended, and felt hot, I was feverish

Finally my owner looked online, and through searching for different things about dogs anal glands, she found that they can need what they call "expressing" and if they aren't cleaned, they can get impacted.  She realized I had all the symptoms she was reading about, and tried to find a video on how to express the anal glands.  There were a few, but this is one that you can see really well, and of a small dog, so it was most helpful:



BUT, my owner couldn't do this, and decided to take me to the vet (finally) after the weekend. The vet said that because I had diarrhea, maybe from stress related to the storm, he wanted to hydrate me so gave me fluids under the skin. Also told my owner to continue to treat me for the Pancreatitis, and then he expressed the glands. He said that they were very full and that what they contained was thick, so hard to express.

I came home and now it's over a week later, and I'm fine...got better almost right away after that, and now my owner will know the signs and symptoms that show the anal glands need to be expressed.

I Eat Rachael Rays Nutrish Dog Food - Do You?

I have a very sensitive doggie digestive system, and my owner used to have to make a special trip to a feed store to find food that didn't upset my tummy. Then she discovered Rachael Ray's Nutrish brand of dog food at our local supermarket, read the ingredients on the package, liked what she saw, and I've been eating it for about a year now.

11/7/13 update: Please note that this post was originally written as if Aspen were writing in first person.  In August of 2013 we said goodbye to our sweet Aspen, but her blog lives on.  She ate this food right up until the end and lived a good happy long life.

SO, when the opportunity to try a free sample (you can try it too...click the link and see if it is still available at this update) of a different variety of Nutrish called Rachael Ray Nutrish just 6 dry dog food , we jumped on the opportunity. My owner knew I liked to open presents, and that's just what I tried to do when she gave it to me all wrapped in a new dog dish and tied with a ribbon that has dog footprints on it, it was cute but when transferring this blog, lost the picture:-(

Let me tell you about the good things in Rachael Ray Nutrish just 6 dry dog food . There are 6 natural ingredients, plus vitamins and minerals that dogs like me need. There are snacks in the "just 6" line too, but we tried the dog food. The key ingredient in the package we received was lamb, there is also rice, natural chicken flavor, beet pulp, and other nutritious ingredients and vitamins. You can get other varieties as well. There isn't any corn, wheat or soy...things that more and more dog owners want to avoid. It is a completely balanced diet so you don't have to worry about your dog missing any of the nutrients he or she needs.

I should tell you that I am an older dog, and like many older dogs my size, have lost some of my teeth. So my owner adds some water to my dry food. Good dry food that isn't overly full of cereals does not swell up as much as foods with less meat...we liked how this food responded when we added water. Younger dogs and dogs with a full set of teeth won't have to worry about adding water.

When you buy Rachael Ray's Nutrish dog foods, a percentage goes to Racheal's Rescue. We're hoping you'll visit the site and maybe try a free sample. They offer coupons, too!

This post contains personal and sponsored information written by me on behalf of Nutrish. 
All opinions are 100% mine.

Strangest Items Surgically Removed from Dogs

Maybe you think that spaying or neutering your dog are the most common reasons for surgery...and maybe they are.  But dogs need surgery for some of the strangest things as well.

Some dogs eat just about anything, and sometimes the things they eat cannot be passed through the digestive system, and cause intestinal blockages, and need removal.

I am a small dog, and admit that I do eat some very strange things...I like licking the bottom of my owners shoes, or eating small things while out on the deck...a good reason to make sure all our dogs immunizations are up to date and making sure we're getting our heartworm pills.

Anyway, strange things removed from a dogs intestines are usually in larger dogs who have bigger mouths than mine, and can include:

• Socks - This is a big one, and if you are missing a sock and have a dog that likes playing with your socks, and your dog is vomiting, you may need to consider this possibility....you should keep dirty socks in the laundry and out of reach.


• Stones - yes, we are known to eat rocks and even sticks when we're outside, for some odd reason.  Keep an eye on us, if you can, when we're outdoors, and if you keep us penned outside, make sure there isn't anything around that we could eat when your not looking.  (And make sure we have shade and water in the summer and a warm place to go in the winter!)


• Undies - Sounds disgusting, doesn't it?  Some dogs are kind of disgusting to humans because we find smelly socks and smelly underwear is appealing. Sorry if you have a sensitive stomach, this is just something you should know if you own a dog.  Don't leave those things lying around on the floor...they belong where you put your dirty laundry.


• Dog Toys - including balls that we like to play with

There are many other things surgically removed from dogs, you can do your homework searching online....we just write this to make you aware that even though we're cute, we don't think like you, and dogs can eat strangest and sometimes the most disgusting things!

Since a dog vomiting is sometimes a symptom of blockage, we thought we'd include this video about reasons why dogs vomit.

My Dog Mouth is Cleaner than a Human's

At least I'd like to think so, as a dog. But whether a dogs mouth is cleaner than a human mouth is not something my owners can agree on...so we're going to do a little research, and use a lot of common sense.

First, we naturally clean everything you can think of from ourselves, and from everywhere...if you know what I mean...everywhere. We lick our feet after we've been outdoors to clean off whatever might be on them, we lick our private parts....because we don't know how to use toilet paper, we eat yucky things off the floor, I even knock over my owner's size 13 shoes when he gets home from work to sniff...and sometimes lick them...then we jump up and love to give you kisses...right on the lips.

I have overheard discussions that my owners have had on the subject, one says that maybe we have some super anti-bacterial properties on our tongues and in our mouths that instantly kill any bacteria on contact...no, that just isn't true. We do lick our wounds and can heal our own selves, and there may be some good things on our saliva, but our mouths and the hair around our mouths are full of bacteria. Unlike humans, we do not get sick from e-coli bacteria like you do, for obvious reasons...we're designed by God to clean ourselves and not get sick from it.

After reading all that, do you still think a dogs mouth is cleaner than a humans? Let us know!

Antifreeze Can Kill a Dog

A few weeks ago it was time to check the cars to see if they had enough antifreeze in them. This is something that people put in cars so that the liquid that circulates around the engine doesn't freeze.

It's great for cars, but terrible for dogs like me. I heard that about 3 Tablespoons could be enough to kill a 20 lb. dog, imagine what it could do to a little 7 lb. dog like me! It has a sweet taste, so we are tempted to lick it....that includes licking it off our paws if our owners don't keep us from stepping in it. Then we get very very sick and if it's too much, may become so sick that we die.

It attacks our nervous systems and kidneys, and we act like we're drunk within 1/2 hours to up to 12 hours depending upon how much we get into our systems. If we don't get treated in 3-8 hours, it may be fatal.

We just wanted to share that today since it's the time of the year, especially around here, when everyone is making sure that they have enough antifreeze in their cars, and if they put it into their cars themselves, there's just a chance of it spilling on the ground, and a dog finding it or walking in it and then licking either the puddle of it or licking it off their feet.

Why I Love Aspen

I'm writing as myself today...not for Aspen...but about her.  She has been such a wonderful companion for over 11 years now, and is beginning to show her age.  She recently seems to have difficulty seeing, and other signs that remind me that I need to give her extra loving for all that she has given to me.

She isn't as lively as she used to be, because it is hard for her to see...I just took her out for a walk, and not that far ahead of us was a cat...usually she would have gone crazy with barking and excitement, it took her a while to even notice the cat.

She sleeps more, and is always happy to have a belly rub, a back massage, and her treats, they are a special delight...something my husband gives her each night after we have dinner.

Here are just a few of the pleasures Aspen gives us:

Unconditional love, and devotion.

All that loving is healthy for you, yes, petting your dog, having their companionship, can help calm you...stroking their fur is good for them and good for you...Aspen loves to snuggle and loves her tummy rubs.

Aspen is great company when no one else is around...of course she likes all of us to be there...we are her "pack" after all.

Aspen listens to everything we say, as if she understands...and I think she does understand...a lot more than we may give her credit for. When everyone is out during the day, she is always there with a listening ear.

Aspen gets me outdoors to walk on days when I may want to just stay inside. I love walking, but some days just don't feel like making the effort, her companionship makes it more enjoyable. We both get some exercise when we walk.

Aspen makes me feel safe when my husband has to travel, which is rare, but happens occasionally. She will bark if she hears ANYTHING, and this brings a sense of security...no barking, all is well.

I guess I'm feeling a little sentimental today, realizing that she's an older girl now, and more delicate than she used to be. Just hope I can give her all she deserves for the joy that she has given us over the years since that March day when I watched her birth.

Love your dogs, treat them like part of the family, that's what they are.

Dog Care During Winter and Christmas

I've left my owner inside typing (lucky owner) while I'm outside barking because we hear guns going off in the woods....it's hunting season!  We feel sorry for the deer and other animals that are being hunted, which is kind of strange, because both my owner and I like eating meat. 

It made me think of pet safety...around here small dogs have to be careful not only of hunters if we decide to wander off in the woods, but also of bears in the summer, and other animals....even dogs....that are bigger than us.

We have done some posts in the past about pet safety in the winter and during the holidays, and thought we'd give you links to them to save my owner a little typing...the information is important and the same whether it was typed in 2008 or now:

Pet Safety During the Holidays

Keeping Outdoor Dogs Warm

Shopping for Dog Christmas Gifts

We'll be back to add more links, I know we have some, we just have to find them.

Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving, and wishing you a happy Christmas season!

Dogs and Separation Anxiety

My owners have finally figured out that I don't like to be left alone.  I have never liked it, but in the past few years, it affects me more than it did when I was younger.

1. I can't eat anything while they are away


2. I get sick and diarrhea for part of a day when they come home

If you think your dog is just an animal that doesn't have feelings, you are wrong, we get very attached to our families, and think of all of you as our "pack" and when someone is missing from the group, we feel it.  We love our owners, and want to be with them.

Last week was one of those times when everything just wasn't right, one of my owners got sick, so the whole "pack", except me, went with him to the hospital...police came, medics came, and so did an ambulance.  I could sense the nervousness and anxiety they were feeling, and it made me sick, too.   Usually they leave some peaceful music on for me, but they forgot.

Things have quieted down now, everyone is home, and so far everyone seems well.  I'm happy and playing again, but do want you to know that you have to remember us, too, if you can...when things are going rough...we feel it too.

Other Related Posts:

Is Your Dog Stressed Out?

Is Your Dog Afraid of Fireworks?

Is Your Dog Stressed Out?

I know I get stressed out sometimes. There are some things that really make me nervous, let me tell you about a few:

• When my owners are upset or nervous about something, I feel nervous too, because I can sense what they are feeling


• I get nervous when I go on trips in the car because I'm afraid my owner is taking me to the groomer


• Thunder...actually I get more mad at thunder than afraid of it, when it thunders, I bark a lot, and sit close to my owner to protect her because she is afraid of it.


• I hate being left all alone at the house, and even though one of my owners doesn't work, sometimes I'm alone for long periods of time, that makes me so nervous that I can't eat.

So what do you do about a nervous dog?  You can ask your veterinarian about medications that might be helpful, or if you want to try something natural, we use a couple of drops of Rescue Remedy. My owner says this is a Bach Flower homeopathic remedy that people use specially formulated for pets.

My owner likes to put on nice peaceful and soothing music just for pets, it helps a lot.

What does your owner do to help you when you're feeling stressed? Maybe you can let us know in a comment.