Why you should always hire a licensed dog walker! August 2011
Hi Everyone!
Take a look at this article posted a few days ago in the SF Examiner.
If you hire an owner operated, licensed dog walker, you will not experience these kinds of problems because San Francisco will not issue a business license to anyone with a criminal history. Always ask the dog walking company if they will be giving your keys to an employee to enter your home and ask for proof that they have done a criminal background check. Play it safe!
San Mateo dog walker sent to the pound after pilfering jewelry from clients
By: Mike Aldax |
Examiner Staff Writer |
08/09/11 8:21 AM
This career crook may never be let out of the dog house. A San Mateo dog walker faces 60 years to life in prison under the three strikes law after stealing $5,500 worth of jewelry from clients.
Parolee Nicolas John Barbanica, 32, pleaded no contest Monday to charges that he burglarized three homes while working as a dog walker in 2009. The dog owners trusted him with the keys to their homes so he could walk the pooches.
Prior to the thefts, Barbanica already carried four residential burglary convictions, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.
On multiple occasions Barbanica stole jewelry from pet owners, Wagstaffe said. He gave some jewelry to his girlfriend, and pawned the rest at Millbrae jewelry dealer Numis International.
Barbanica is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 7. He remains in custody on $500,000 bail.
maldax@sfexaminer.com
Some summer problems to look out for! - August 2011
It is very common at this time of the year that dogs will have swollen faces with eyes that are nearly closed up. In most cases this is from a bee sting. It can also be from vegetation that is caused by allergies. In most cases an antihistamine, such as Benedryl, will will take the swelling and discomfort down rapidly, but in severe cases it may be necessary for the pet to be seen to receive treatment with cortisone or even epinephrine. During times when insect activity is high, it is safe to use repellants like OFF to discourage them from attacking your pet.
By far the most common concern seen in the spring and summer months involves pets that eat things that they shouldn't. This can happen any time of the year, but when the weather is nice and the ground is warm and moist it becomes a perfect incubator for viruses, bacteria and parasites to grow. Dogs have an extremely strong sense of smell and are able to find even the most minute food residue, animal waste, or object on the ground. Their curiosity and appetite lead them to eat things that we would never imagine. Most of these objects are not toxic, but are teeming with organisms that can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Many times this will be a small episode, but if the pet becomes dehydrated or the symptoms continue for longer than a few hours, they may need to be seen by a vet for treatment.
What is happening with the GGNRA plan since the comment period has ended? August 2011
Project Schedule as of August 2011
Mid-Summer – Fall/Winter 2011: Review and analysis of public comment and incorporation of comments into the draft alternatives.
Late Summer 2011: Post summary of public comment analysis report online
Late Fall 2011: Publish project newsletter describing possible changes to the alternatives based on public comment.
Late Summer/Early Fall 2012: Publish Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for public comment
Late Fall 2012: Incorporate public comment on Proposed Rulemaking into the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)for dog management.
First half of 2013: Finalize FEIS
Late Summer 2013: Publish Notice of Availability of FEIS
End of 2013: Final rule published. Implementation begins 30 days after rule publishe
Summer Hazards - August 2011
- Look out for Foxtails! They are still out there and dogs are getting them up their noses and in their ears!
- Update -Coyotes have been spotted in most all of the parks in San Francisco this month. Keep your eyes open!
- We all love to be able to go outside in the summer time without our coats and jackets. Unfortunately for our pets, they carry their coats with them and lack the ability to readily shed the heat that builds up. Heat stroke or exhaustion can occur very quickly for our pets as they only have the ability to sweat throught the pads of their feet. The major way they expel heat is through panting. The two most common ways that pets get overheated is being left in cars or kennels when it is too hot or playing or running excessively in the heat. Our canine friends are almost always up for a brisk walk or a game of fetch. The problem is that they do not know when they are overheated until it is too late. Thus, it is up to us as their caregivers to understand when it is time to take a break, drink some water and rest in the shade for awhile. A dog's normal temperature runs between 101 and 102.5 degrees so they are naturally warmer than we are. When their temperature exceeds 106 degrees there is a very real danger in damaging cells in their brain and causing permanent damage or even death. Treatment for heat stroke is immediately getting the pet into a cool shady area or inside an air-conditioned building. Cooling can be continued with cool cloths or ice packs in the groin area or in the armpits. It is important not to submerge the pet in cold water as this can lead to shock.
WATCH video - Puppy Fakes Death July 2011
http://xfinity.comcast.net/video/puppy-fakes-death-for-pal/2073264639
The Value of Rubber Collars? May 2011
Recently, I took one of my labrador retrievers swimming at McLaren Park. After about a week of daily swimming, the dog seemed to get some kind of bacteria infection on it's neck. Little did I know that when the dog lays on it's wet collar on the way home, this caused a stinky problem. I found a collar on the internet made by www.dublindog.com that seems to combat this problem. The collars are created from a special blend of synthetic polymers that won't absorb moisture, retain dirt, or harbor bacteria. If your dog loves to swim, check out the "No Stink" collar from Dublin Dogs.
Share Your Bed With a Pet? February 2011
One third of all dog owners sleep with their pets. Are you one of them? An account from a 19th - century explorer in Australia, as quoted in The Domestic Dog, describes how Aborigines were so devoted to their dingoes that the dogs were treated as members of the family and allowed to sleep in the hut.
But here's the good news. My unscientific survey of veterinary behaviorists concluded that as long as your pets are good at sleeping with you, it's just fine to sleep with them. Pets are not going to get any uppity ideas just because you're all snoring together, they say.
If you do share your bed with your pet, you are probably aware of some of the challenges that this brings. Pet hair, dirt, odors and germs can all contaminate your mattress. Make sure to enclose your mattress in a protective wrap, to keep bugs out and your mattress clean and smelling fresh.
New Rules for off-leash dog walking in the GGNRA January 2011
By Paul Singer Roll Call Staff
Two weeks ago, the park service released a draft environmental impact statement on proposed new rules for dog walkers. The report, years in the making, is 2,400 pages long.
According to the park service proposal, the rule grows out of a years-long dispute about off-leash dog-walking in the national parks along the San Francisco shore. The parks were originally run by state and local entities, becoming part of the National Park System in the late 1970s. But when the National Park Service took over the beachfront lands, it agreed not to enforce the rule that applies in all other national parks: no off-leash dog-walking. Instead, the park service established guidelines based on historical use of the areas, allowing off-leash dogs in some areas.
But over time, conflicts arose between dogs and protected species in the recreation area, such as the California red-legged frog, as well as between dog people and non-dog people. A court finally ordered the park service to write rules governing dog-walking in the recreation area. That was nearly six years ago.
The park service attempted to bring the various interested parties together to hammer out a deal on new rules, but after 18 months, no consensus was reached and the effort was scrapped, said Howard Levitt, communications director for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
So the park service had to write a rule, governed by laws that require a whole series of specific steps designed to promote transparency and fairness, including public comment periods and environmental impact statements.
Levitt said the park service has taken some ribbing for releasing a 2,400-page document, but he notes that the rules govern 21 different areas of the park, with five separate alternatives considered for each area.
“If you are going to do a thorough analysis of these areas, it requires a whole lot of work and depth,” Levitt said. “If you are going to be open and transparent about that, which is what the policy requires, it is going to add up to a lot of heft.”
Levitt said the agency hopes to be able to issue a final rule in about two years.
Warning: Coyote attacked Dog in SF Dog Park 11/27/2010
Coyotes have been spotted in some of the popular dog parks and recently, a dog was attacked
. Places reported are Golden Gate Park, Presidio, Glen Canyon Park and Bernal Heights. You should avoid places that they inhabbit, especially if you have a small dog. Glen Canyon Park is where a small dog was attacked.
It is a Miracle! 10/27/2010
One of my clients has a 14 year old lab mix dog and the dog's health has been spiraling downhill for the past year. One day when she was out for a walk, she fell and wound up with a dislocated disc in her back. After that, she could no longer stand, nor walk and even getting outside to go potty was becoming a real struggle. The owner was ready to put the dog down when I suggested that they try something called VOM.
Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation is a healing technology that locates areas of the animals nervous system that has fallen out of communication, and re-establishes neuronal communication and thus induces healing. VOM is singularly the most simple, effective and safe healing modality in veterinary care to date. VOM exists in a gray area between both professions (Veterinary and Chiropractic) and benefits from the positive aspects of both, a hybrid, and thus more effective than either by themselves. VOM is not animal chiropractic care. You may see a response while your pet is on the examination table. It can be that fast. An experienced Vet may have treated cases who haven't walked for weeks, given up for dead, with one adjustment thrust and pet stands and walks about the exam room!
VOM is performed by Michael Schneider, who is also a human chiropractor in San Francisco. For a relatively small sum of money, he will come to your house and do a series of procedures on your dog, if you are unable to go to him. My client's dog is not only standing, but she is running around and not falling down! She is back on her daily walks and is happy and feeling good. Find out more about Michael Schneider and VOM go to www.michaelschneiderdc.com or call him directly at 415-292-7878. This is completely awesome!
Update: Rules will be released in January 2011.
Off-leash Rules Fort Funston & Crissy Field- Released in November (reprint from SF Examiner) 9/29/2010
The environmental impact statement for parks such as Fort Funston and Crissy Field, scheduled to be released in November or earlier, is intended to provide a clear, enforceable policy on the manner and extent of dog use in “appropriate” areas.
Kite fliers, hang gliders, native plants and animals don’t always mix well with unleashed dogs, park officials said.
“They will be assessing not only the impacts to resources but also the impacts to other visitor groups. We have a responsibility to not only protect resources, but to balance to provide access for everyone,” recreation area spokeswoman Shirwin Smith said.
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area began work on the report following a 2005 court ruling that it couldn’t begin enforcing a policy banning unleashed dogs without first going through a public review process. The rules had not been enforced for decades.
When the report is issued, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area will allow at least 90 days for public comment before making policy changes official, Smith said.
I cannot stay silent any longer. Recently, members of a professional association received thanks from a well-known, highly-regarded, professional dog walker that had lost a dog at Fort Funston for 9 days. Imagine that? Your dog being out there, God knows where, without food and water, scared and helpless, looking for you, crossing Skyline Blvd. dozens of times without being hit by a car . . . for 9 days!!!! (we don't even know if there were some near misses) Although it pains me to let you know this because we all love this walker, actually one of the best out there - but like so many of them - they take too many dogs in their packs and when something goes wrong, it goes REALLY, REALLY WRONG. There is no way a dog walker can run after a run-away dog, when they have a pack of 10 or more dogs. It just makes sense, SMALL GROUPS ARE SAFER. The terrible tragedy is that this walker has not lost just one dog, but has actually lost between 4 & 5 dogs in the last couple of years and 2 of these dogs were killed when hit by cars. Yes, things can happen. There is no guarantee that when you hire an off-leash dog walker that something won't go wrong. You do add an element of risk when you hire someone else to take care of your dog, even with the best of them. But the chances are significantly lessened, when your walker has fewer charges to keep control over. And to be fair, this walker is not the only one out there with this history. There are many similar stories and the common thread is that the walkers have too many dogs in their groups for it to be safe.
Dogs love to run free and I am a big believer that if you give a dog it's freedom it will feel more loved, enjoy life more and become a better pet. That is why I am a dog walker - I learned the value of giving a dog complete freedom of running wild on the beach several times a week. I knew what it meant to have a happy dog; he wanted to obey me more often than not and to be more of my partner than just a dog. We jogged on the beach several times a week together and I noticed a significant difference in his outlook on life. I would blow a silent dog whistle- and he would come racing back from miles down the beach, happy to do what I ask of him. Dogs don't get enough freedom when their owners are too pooped out from working all day and that translates into a grumpy, unhappy pooch.
It is a mystery to me that a dog walker that has lost 5 dogs has such high numbers of tremendous reviews on YELP. Must be because the general public does not know about these incidents . . . and the owners are sobbing in silence because they don't understand why this happened to their dog. Often, they think, it must be their own fault for having a problem dog. It is simple, IF YOUR DOG DOES NOT COME WHEN IT IS CALLED, IT DOES NOT BELONG IN A LARGE PACK OF OFF-LEASH DOGS. And yes, there are degrees of controllability that must be taken into consideration and ways in which they can be addressed through training. A tip off might be if a walker wants to rush your dog into an off-leash pack before it has a strong recall. So, my advice is to choose a dog walker that seems to be doing this job for all the right reasons, has wisdom and maturity - wants to make a difference, is well-educated and isn't in it to make a pile of money. Be very careful about sending your dog out with walkers that manage large groups. It plainly is not safe. And the proof is out there. It is the industries dirty little secret.
What questions should you ask your potential dog walker during an interview?
* How many dogs do you walk off-leash at one time?
* Have you ever lost a dog overnight or longer?
* Has a dog ever been killed or hit by a car as a result of being in one of your groups?
* Have any of your dogs ever been injured in any way that could have been prevented by making your groups smaller?
Have you seen the Red Tides at Fort Funston this week? 9/22/2010 
If you have been out to Fort Funston this week you might have been lucky enough to see an unusual red color in the water. Red tide is a common name for a phenomenon more correctly known as an algal bloom. These algae are plant-like organisms that can form dense, visible patches near the water’s surface.
Some red tides are associated with the production of natural toxins, depletion of dissolved oxygen or other harmful effects, and are generally described as harmful algal blooms. The most conspicuous effects of red tides are the associated wildlife mortalities among marine and coastal species of fish, birds, and marine mammals. This is probably why there were dead crabs on the beach a couple of days before the red tide showed it's face to us. At this point, it is unknown if the red tide is toxic to dogs and humans, but some surfers have stated that they have been sick after being out in this water. The red color has been moving up the coast since the beginning of this week and will disappear once the conditions change.
Aren't all Dog Walkers the Same? 9/11/2010
Now a days, everyone is looking to save a buck where ever they can. Heck, even I do it. But to try to cut corners with something as precious as your Fido's well-being, is a big mistake in my opinion. To most people, their dog is the most important individual in their lives; sometimes even more than their actual wives, husbands and kids! So, why put something so precious to you in harms way? It is a little bit like going to a cheap nail salon, even though you know that they do not properly disinfect their foot baths for 20 minutes between customers. Many people choose to take a chance, ignoring advice from the experts, but when something happens such as huge health issues as a result of patronizing these germ filled places, they wish they had been less concerned about the cost of a pedicure and more concerned about the not so obvious conditions of the salon.
The dog walking business has many similarities to the dirty nail salons. For years,the truth about unlicensed dog walkers was kept quiet. Not until recently, has the media played a part in telling the public about the unsafe conditions and their dirty little secrets.Their trucks are unsafe, the dogs get trampled, thrown around, they walk through poop and vomit without the driver ever knowing. Most of the dog walkers do not carry first aid kits and have never taken first aid training or any sort of animal behavior training classes. In fact the reason they are able to charge you $11-18 a trip is because they have cut all kinds of corners that keep your pet safe and healthy. Sometimes, the operators of these companies are so greedy that they hire several contractors to work for them, pay them pennies to live on, driving them into the ground, making them take out groups of eight-ten dogs at a time having little or no experience ever doing this before. Tell me, why would anyone want to take good care of your pet, home and valuables if they resent that they have to do it for peanuts, while you have such luxuries as regular pedicures and house-cleaners? Business owners cannot possibly make a living charging you $11-18 per walk. That is a fact- the overhead costs are just to high for them to operate safely charging you this amount of money. This is why they load their trucks with huge packs of dogs - so they can put food on their table at night. Don't feel too sorry for them, however, because while they are marching down the beach with a trail of dogs following behind them, they cannot possibly deal with any kind of risky situation, such as one of their charges eating a dead seal, or another lingering too long to sniff a tree and being left behind without ever being noticed missing from the pack. There are many situations that a novice can get into that can be very dangerous for your pet and your bank account. The kid next door may take your dog out for a few dollars, but is it really worth it to have someone that has not fully developed emotionally and mentally to have Carte Blance control over your house, children and dogs? Do you really want a contract dog walker being handed the keys to your castle, even though the owner of the company never checked their background to see that they have a criminal history? And what about turnover? Many of these contract employees get very discouraged with the working conditions and move on, taking the keys to your house with them.
Choosing your dog walker based on cost is an extremely unwise decision, in my opinion. Tomorrow, I will discuss what things to look for when selecting a dog walker. Yes, a disaster can happen at any time, but it can also be avoided. Is your dog walker prepared to handle any situation that comes up?
The Most Heart Warming Story . . .EVER! 9/10/2010
watch this video. You won't believe your eyes!
Fan Video: Dog Found After 7 Years
What you need to know about tennis balls 9/9/2010
Does your dog love to chase after tennis balls? Even, perhaps, a little obsessed about it? Something you need to keep in mind is that a tennis ball is made of abrasive material that can quickly wear down your dog's teeth. Some dogs love them so much that their teeth have ground down to little nubs. This is important because a dog must have their teeth last a lifetime and you definately want to protect them whenever you can. If you want to nip this problem in the bud, change to rubber balls. Rubber does not have the abrasive properties like the green tennis balls you see at all the dog parks. Why do most people not change to rubber? Not all dogs have problems with tennis balls, so just keep an eye on your dog's teeth to determine if you need to make any adjustments. Also, they can be costly, especially if your dog likes to leave them behind in the bushes.
Why You Should Crate Your Dog in The Car 9/8/2010
Restraining your pet when driving can not only help protect your pet, but you and other passengers in your vehicle as well. An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at 50 mph will exert roughly 500 pounds of pressure, while an 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert 2,400 pounds of pressure. Imagine the devastation that can cause to your pet and to anyone in its path.
Dog walker's that do not restrain their client's dogs engage in all sorts of risky behind-the-wheel behaviors such as feeding treats, petting a dog, or allowing them to sit in their lap. This behavior can be very distracting and puts all the dogs in the vehicle at a much greater risk of being in an accident.
OrangeTrees Near the Cliff House? 8/23/2010
This is not paint or fire retardant!
The orange-rust color is an algae which has been observable at Sutro Height Park near Land's End over the last several years, but park officials and foresters are not concerned that it poses a health safety risk.
The rust-dark orange algae,Trentepohlia aurea v. polycarpa, can now be found along the seawall from The Cliff House all the way down the sea wall of Ocean Beach.
This algae thrives on ocean salt spray and forms dense colonies on Monterey Cypress trees along the Pacific coast.
On the Brink of Indian Summer, Hot Cars, and All that Jazz 8/2/2010
Animal experts say that it’s a common misconception that animals can survive if the windows are cracked on a hot day, or if the car is parked in the shade. They said people often think that dogs, in particular, can handle high temperatures. Wrong, said Charlotte Biggs, proprietor of Stay-N-Play Pet Ranch in Dripping Springs, which also does rehabilitation on injured animals. In fact, even jogging or walking with a dog in high heat can hurt or kill them, experts said.They can get overheated much quicker than we can,” Biggs said. “Their temperature can shoot up to 104, 105 in just a matter of ten to fifteen minutes, and that can lead to a seizure. … 
“Even cracking a window a little bit, thinking they’ll be okay isn’t enough in this kind of heat to keep them safe. There’s not enough breeze. They don’t cool down the way we do they cool down by panting.”
If you think your pet is suffering from heatstroke, get him out of the heat as soon as possible. Here are a few other things you can do:
- Put rubbing alcohol on the pads of their feet.
- Pour cool – not cold – water on them. Start with their feet, neck, and genital areas.
- Wrap them in a sheet or other cloth that’s been soaked with cool water.
- Get your pet to the vet! Even if you think he’s OK, it’s a good idea to have him checked out.
Bottom line: leaving your dogs in the car when it’s hot outside is downright cruel! I don’t care if you leave the windows cracked or wide open. Even then it’s dangerous to leave a dog in a car in hot weather. Dogs can’t handle the heat as well as we can, and run the risk of developing heat stroke much more quickly. Please, please, please do NOT leave your dog in a hot car. If it’s hot and uncomfortable for you, it’s going to be even worse for your dog!
Have you Heard About the Fur Farms in China? 8/21/2010
I got a piece of junk mail from PETA. So, I opened it up and started to read it and could not believe my eyes! At first I did not believe it and thought this must not be true. So, I went online and investigated "Fur Farms in China" and watched some pretty awful footage that was done undercover by the Swiss Animal Protection.
Cats and dogs are being stolen from pet owners and slaughtered for their fur! I really did not want to watch this footage, but forced myself to do so, so that I would really know the truth. I suggest that you also do so. Struggle thru it and then send a donation to PETA because they are the only way we can stop these horrible people.
http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/educational/watch/v387792n7beGJ7X
http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/all/watch/yapi-L-W4EmYHUX8
An Interesting Story about Pet Detectives 8/2/2010
One of my clients told me a story about her lost dog that is hard to imagine. Her dog escaped from the house and seemed to be lost for several days. My client hired a pet detective, Jackie Phillips, and they tracked the scent of her lost dog to a spot in Golden Gate Park. Running up to the gardener nearby, my client was surprised to learn that he had found the little lost dog, but unfortunately, it had been hit by a car and killed. It is still quite amazing that the tracking dogs were able to follow the scent of the lost dog so accurately. This might be a great method to try to find your lost dog, if you ever need one. Jackie Phillips, certified pet detective 510/415-6185
Should I Get Pet Insurance? 7/31/2010
Often I hear that clients are unsure whether or not pet insurance is a good thing to get for their dog. In the old days, pet insurance did not cover much of the cost of veterinary bills and it made sense to question whether or not to get it. But things have changed and now, more than ever, it is really an important step for you to take due to the rising costs. One of my clients says she really likes Pets Best Insurance, which was founded by Jack Stephens, DVM, who also founded the pet insurance industry in the United States. In 1981, Jack had to put a dog down because the dog's owner couldn't afford treatment. Determined to stop “economic euthanasia” for pets, Jack founded the first U.S. pet insurance company the following year. After twenty-five years of experience in the pet insurance industry, Jack decided to take what he had learned and use it to form Pets Best. Jack contacted Greg McDonald, one of the founders of General Fire and Casualty, and together Jack and Greg founded Pets Best. The company quickly upped the standard of pet insurance throughout the nation and the industry. I highly recommend that every dog owner get pet insurance. With the high cost of vets- it is one of the most important things you can do. Check them out @ www.petsbest.com.
Foxtail Alert 7/2/2010
Foxtails are abundant now in San Francisco. Be sure to check your dog over for these wicked arrow-shaped stickers. Scroll down to read more information about them.
Ticks, Ticks, Ticks and More Ticks 7/01/2010
Golden Gate Park and Fort Funston are crawling with ticks this year. Even if your dog has prevention, such as a tick collar, they still crawl off of him and on to you! Be sure to check your dog over carefully when you return home and frequent grooming and chemicals for control may help to control the spread. Ticks can detect heat emitted from dogs and humans from far distances and will often situate themselves on well traveled paths to gain access to hosts. They will generally drop off the animal when full, but this may take several days. In some cases ticks will live for some time on the blood of an animal. Ticks are more active outdoors in warm weather, but can attack a dog at any time. Ticks can be found in most wooded or forested regions throughout the world. They are especially common in areas where there are deer trails or human tracks. Ticks are especially abundant near water, where warm-blooded animals come to drink, and in meadows wherever shrubs and brush provide woody surfaces and cover. Ticks are a vector for a number of diseases including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
The American dog tick is perhaps the most well-known of the North American hard ticks. This tick does not carry Lyme disease but can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
The Western black-legged tick lives in the western part of North America and is responsible for spreading Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It tends to prefer livestock such as cows as its adult host.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can be lethal. Initial signs and symptoms of the disease include sudden onset of fever, headache and muscle pain followed by development of rash. The disease can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages, and without prompt and appropriate treatment it can be fatal. Tetracycline has dramatically reduced the number of deaths caused by Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
http://www.5min.com/Video/How-To-Remove-A-Tick-19141056
Sea Foam at Fort Funston 6/21/2010
If you have been wondering about the origin of the foam you can often find on the beach during the summer, it has noting to do with soap suds. It is caused by the decaying remains of microscopic organisms in the sea. Every spring the ocean has sudden bursts of life. Phytoplankton bloom starts at the end of March. After a couple of weeks tiny algae like diatoms occur in such numbers that the water becomes yellow-brown.
Treats for Training 6/13/2010
So, what is the best treat for training your dog? Everyone seems to have an opinion on this, but my favorite is "fat free hotdogs", sliced up.
Lost Dog 6/11/2010
Today, I was out at Fort Funston with my pack of 6 dogs and the wind was howling as I passed a dog walker with 12+ dogs. After she was out of site, I noticed a brown lab looking around like it was lost. I suspected that it was hers, accidentally left behind. After about 15 minutes, I was surprised that she did not return and wondered if she even noticed that the dog was missing from her pack. Tried to approach the dog to look for tags, but he wouldn't allow it. So, my dogs and I headed back to the truck. Another dog walker and I were able to figure out which truck belonged to the wandering dog. The dog finally jumped into the back of the pick-up and I shut the tailgate. I wonder if the dog walker is thinking, "How did that dog close the tailgate?" Moral of the story? Don't let a dog walker take your dog if their groups are larger than 6 dogs. This dog walker didn't even know the dog was missing.
Which is the best Frisbee to get? 6/12/2010
I recommend getting the "soft-bite floppy disc". 
This frisbee is easy for the dog to grip in his teeth, easy to pick up and easy to catch. Another benefit is that it is much easier to throw correctly. All around a dog friendly frisbee and lasts longer than the hard plastic ones!
How to throw a Frisbee 6/10/2010
Click on this video link for instructions. http://www.ehow.com/video_4946219_freestyle-frisbee-forehand-throws.html
How to teach your dog to catch a Frisbee 6/4/2010
Click on this video link for instructions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GACCoO9_k1A&feature=related
Why does my dog act so crazy all the time? 5/31/2010
My best guess is that you have a dog that requires a lot of exercise. Even though you take the dog to the park 3 times a week you will still wind up with a jazzed up dog. These kinds of dogs need exercise every single day. In addition, they need to run free on the beach. If you cheat and do not give your dog the exercise it needs, it will act a bit crazy. I recommend that you take your dog to Fort Funston for a 1 hour run on the beach every day. You will see remarkable changes in their behavior
.
Horses on Fort Funston Beach 5/24/2010
Have you ever run into horseback riders at Fort Funston? Well if not, you probably will someday soon. Fort Funston is a popular destination for equestrians of all skill levels. Don't know how your dog will react to a horse? Well then, I suggest that you keep your eyes open and if a horse approaches, put your dog on leash, until you know their behavior. Most dogs will have a natural curiosity around horses and may run up to sniff or bark, which may startle the horse and cause the rider to fall, or at the very least, the rider may become angry with you and make it an unpleasant encounter. Until you know how your dog will react to a horse, it is important to make that first encounter a cautious one. If you find that you dog seems to be overly interested in the new beast on the beach, then I recommend that you do some conditioning. I have had very good luck with dogs that are reactive to horses on the trail, if I take them on a private walk to a stable, on leash of course, and coax them near the horses with cookies and lots of baby talk. After a few times, the dogs will feel more secure and will relax around horses. And if you should see horses on the beach, you should call your dog over to you, for a treat. If you have conditioned the dog well enough, they should not react to the horses passing, but rather come over to you and sit facing you, when you call out "cookie" and then request that they "sit" quietly while the horses pass.
When Your Dog is Lost 5/20/2010
If your dog has run off and you don't know what to do, first place a call to the SF-SPCA, and then contact a company called findtoto.com. You may reach them online or @ 877-738-8686 and this service will call up to 10,000 people in the area where your dog was last seen with a message: "This is a lost pet alert from your neighbor (your name), who lost her dog . . . " A description and last seen information, along with your contact info, are provided. Prices start at $85 for 250 calls. This could bring your dog back home, safe and sound.
Kennel Cough 5/14/2010
One of my best friends complained to me that her dog had caught kennel cough and that the vet told her that it was making it's rounds in San Francisco. She said to me,” But she had the Bordatella shot!!!!!".
Several commercially available vaccines claim to offer protection against kennel cough. Experts do not agree on how effective the vaccines are, which vaccine is best, or how often dogs should be vaccinated. Dogs that are vaccinated against kennel cough can still be affected by the disease. However, it is thought that the vaccine reduces the likelihood of dogs developing severe symptoms of kennel cough. Which is what it did in the case of my friend's dog; her dog had a really mild case of kennel cough.
The moral to the story is, be careful where you take your dog. Don't take your dog to the SF-SPCA to get low-cost shots and stay away from crowded dog parks. One of my other friends took her dog to the SF-SPCA to save money, and their dog came home with kennel cough. She was very upset to find out that her vet did not automatically give her dog a vaccine against kennel cough. If your dog is old, or sick, be sure to get this shot every six months. And don't just assume that your vet is giving you the Bordatella shot. You must ask for it! If the dog gets a really bad case of kennel cough, it can turn into pneumonia and your pet could possibly die. So, it should not be taken lightly. If you use the services of a dog walker and your dog is enrolled in group walks, or you take your dog to doggie day care, be sure to get a Bordatella shot every 6 months. And when you go to your vet, take a look around at the dogs in the waiting room. If the other dogs look like they have something contagious, go outside - and be sure not to let your dogs sniff anything or any other dogs near the vets.
Black Sand at Fort Funston 5/12/2010
So, what is that black stuff on the beach in Fort Funston? Is it oil left over from the Cosco Busan spill? No, in fact it is the chalky substance-veins of volcanic ash thrown from Mount Lassen thousands of years ago. After all of our heavy storms this winter, most of the top layer of silica sand had been blown or washed away to leave dark colored streaks on the beaches. This black sand is a kind of iron ore called magnetite. The magnetite is a part of the cliff walls, and as the sandstone erodes, it leaves the heavier iron-based magnetite on the beach.
Black sand can be seen as a layer on top of silica sand in regions with high wave energy. This weight enables it to remain when high-energy waves wash the lighter sand grains out into the surf zone.
Take a magnet with you to the beach and run it through the sand, magnetite will stick to the ends. The dark minerals in beach sand at right, from Fort Funston are primarily magnetite and amphiboles, which are non-magnetic black minerals. Both of these mineral types tend to fracture into very small grains that collect on the surface of the sand, by virtue of being smaller and, therefore, lighter.
Dog Walkers, Dog Tags and Lost Dogs 5/10/2010
Today I took my group to Fort Funston where I saw another dog walker with 10 dogs. Way too many dogs!!!!!!! Later on he left the beach and I was playing soccer with my little group of 5 and I spotted a beautiful Giant Schnauzer running frantically down the beach, looking for its guardian. I kept my eye on him and he seemed to want to stay near my pack. After awhile, I realized that he was alone on the beach, so I coaxed him over and leashed him for safety. I was going to call the owner, so I looked for his identification tags on his collar. There were no tags on this dog! What a horrible dilemma! 5 minutes later the dog walker came back down the cliff with his large group of dogs. I was livid! He had taken out someone else's dog without any tags! This is so irresponsible and shows just how thoughtless some dog walkers can be. Dog walkers do not have the right to take someone's pet out without any identification tags! I always put my own collars on the dogs every time I take them out, which has an id tag that says to call Doggie Business, if the dog seems lost. It is an added cost, but so worth it! The first 10 minutes that a dog disappears is really critical and I want to make sure I get a call right away, should the dog get separated from the group. So far, I have never lost a dog. Not all dog walkers can say this. Be sure to ask, when interviewing a dog walker.
Save McLaren Park
McLaren Park has been designated one of San Francisco's great off-leash dog parks by Parks & Recreation, however, our freedom is about to be challenged. We need all the help we can get to save this area for your dogs. Please read below Craigslist Posting.
URGENT! McLaren Park's serene natural beauty is threatened! But we, the concerned citizens, can stop it!
The Parks and Recreation Dept, without adequate local community input, has approved the construction of an 18-hole disc-golf course in McLaren Park. It will plow through the equivalent of 22 football fields stretching from the amphitheater parking lot to the Excelsior border. This serene area is well used by hikers, strollers, nature lovers, and off-leash dog play. The private Disc Golf Club will soon be constructing 54, obtrusive 5' tall metal baskets, 18, 5' x 12' concrete tee-pads, , signage, and unsightly tree shields (trying to reduce bark damage) and numerous new paths cutting into lush woods and grasslands. Trees and plant life will be cut/altered, meadows trampled. Golf players hurling 50 mph flying discs will cause safety concerns for people/dogs. This sports course will destroy the unique natural tranquility so loved by McLaren Park enthusiasts. It's like installing a bowling ally in a cathedral sanctuary.
To see a map of the course and more info go to:
www.SaveMcLarenPark.org
You can help! Tell Park/Rec Dept. - NO DISK GOLF IN MCLAREN PARK!
Write to: Tina.Kim@sfgov.org (CC a copy of your email to SaveMcLarenPark.org for our records).
And/or, call SF Park/Rec. 415-831-2787
Dirty Puddles and Dead Seals
I came upon a well-known dog walker in McLaren Park while he was on his cell phone discussing an issue with one of his clients. As he was preoccupied and had his back to his pack of dogs, he didn't notice that one of the dogs was drinking from a muddy puddle of water. I thought I would help him out by shooing the dog away from it. Instead of thanking me when he got off the phone, he angrily said that I need not bother doing this in the future; that he lets his dogs drink from puddles and has been doing so for over 10 years and nothing has happened yet. He then reminded me of the time that I informed him that one of his dogs was eating a dead seal on the beach. He yelled at me that his dogs had been eating dead sea lions on the beach for years and nothing had happened and I should mind my own business.
Puddles in San Francisco Parks are often sources of drinking water for racoons, rats and other wildlife and can cause a dog to develop bouts of vomiting, diarrhea, by infecting the dog with Giardia, a water borne disease. Additionally, if a dog is eating dead or coming into contact with dying seals on the beach, they are potentially being exposed to Leptospirosis - a serious and deadly situation. Sea Lions
These two diseases are currently very active in San Francisco and both are contagious to dogs and humans and can be passed from dog to human. What this means to the average San Franciscan is that the family dog may be exposing your family to very serious illnesses if they are regularly drinking from muddy puddles in the parks or eating dead or dying seals on the beach. The lesson to be learned? Although it is impossible to catch the dog in every instance, make sure that controlling unwanted behavior is a priority because all too often, I have noticed, requiring that a dog behave is not enforced by many dog walkers. Instead of going after the dog, they just walk away and let the animal do as it pleases.
Do you know your Poisons?
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Ibuprofen (Advil) can cause gastrointestinal irritation, stomach ulcers, and kidney damage in dogs.
- Naproxen (Aleve) has a long half-life in dogs and can cause gastrointestinal irritation, anemia, melena (digested blood in feces), and vomiting.
- Antifreeze is very dangerous to dogs and causes central nervous system depression and acute renal failure. Treatment needs to be within eight hours of ingestion to be successful.
- Mouse and rat poison ingestion is common in dogs. Most rodenticides in the United States are anticoagulant by depleting Vitamin K. This type is the most frequent cause of poisoning in pets. Third generation products contain brodifacoum or bromadiolone and are toxic after a single ingestion. Signs include spontaneous and excessive bleeding internally and externally. Treatment is with Vitamin K supplementation. Other rodenticides may contain cholecalciferol which causes hypercalcemia and leads to heart and kidney problems. Newer rodenticides may contain bromethalin which causes central nervous system signs such as seizures, muscle tremors, and depression.
- Insecticides used in dogs for fleas and ticks commonly contain either organophosphates or carbamates. they can be absorbed through the skin, conjunctiva, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs. Organophosphates inhibit acetylcholinesterase irreversibly and carbamates inhibit cholinesterase reversibly. Toxicity occurs through overdosage with an appropriate product or use of an agricultural product. Signs for both include hypersalivation, vomiting, lethargy, tremors, difficulty walking, weakness, and death.
- Chocolate is a common cause of poisoning in dogs. The toxic principles in chocolate are theobromine and caffeine. Baker's chocolate is the most dangerous form since it contains higher concentrations of these drugs, followed by semi-sweet, dark, and then milk chocolate. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, difficulty walking, seizures, and heart problems.
- Lead poisoning is uncommon in dogs. Exposure to lead is from eating paint chips from lead-based paint (found in houses painted prior to 1950), and eating lead objects such as shot, fishing sinkers, or counterweights. Signs of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, blindness, seizures, and tremors.
- Raisins and grapes are potential causes of kidney failure in dogs.
Heat Problems
Dogs can experience heat exhaustion and heat stroke both inside hot apartments and outside in the baking sun. Unlike humans, dogs do not have an efficient body-cooling system. Some dogs have poor temperature regulating abilities, such as older dogs, puppies, dogs with short muzzles, black dogs, and long-haired dogs. Because we live in a micro climate with wide fluxuations in temperature, I would definitely set the top temperature to be out and running to be about 70° F. But if the dogs are as listed above, this may be too much for them. Note that this situation can easily exist inside a house that is not air-conditioned or an automobile. Also, be mindful of your dogs feet on the hot, burning sand at the beach. Put your hand down and if it feels too hot, then it is too hot for your dog to be walking on. On hot days, it is best to go to a cool, forested park with lots of water on hand.
Dog's Left Home Alone
Avoid the routine of crating your dog all day. This can lead to future behavior problems. The crate is a safe place for the dog to rest, but it doesn't teach the dog good habits. Use a crate wisely. Don't overuse it.
Foxtails
Foxtails are little arrow shaped pointed stickers that can burrow into your dogs’ paws, ears, nose, eyes and fur coat. ON A DAILY BASIS, during foxtail season (when grasses are dry) it is VERY important to check between your dogs’ toes (look up into the cavity of each toe and feel around in there); and to thoroughly feel around in the dog's fur for foxtails. I try my best to remove the foxtails I see after the walk, but it is always good for the owner to double check, as foxtails can and often are, missed. If your dog begins sneezing violently, even if they stop for a day or two, they most likely have a foxtail in their nose. Flapping ears means they might have one in the ear. Take this very seriously and immediately go to the vet with your dog.
Partial reprint Examiner Article - Animal Care and Control
Pet-friendly San Francisco apparently has some unfriendly dog walkers. Reports of dogs lost, verbally abused, left in poorly ventilated cars and found roaming city parks without a watchful eye are just some of the complaints The City’s Commission of Animal Control and Welfare has been increasingly receiving about professional dog walkers. The growing industry has long operated with little oversight. It remains unclear how many dog walkers work in San Francisco, but city officials and industry workers estimate at least 130 and maybe as many as 300. Commission chairman Richard Schulke said that after receiving complaints, it became clear regulations were needed. “Quite often they let the dogs go and they don’t watch them. They don’t pick up the poop,” Schulke said. Nancy Stafford, co-chairwoman of the Professional Dog Walkers Association, which has a membership of about 100 local dog walkers, said that dog walking “is a business that needs to be regulated just like any other business.” Stafford said that the industry has grown for reasons one might expect: There are more pet owners in The City. Part of the problem with dog walking is it’s something that a lot of people think they can do,” said Sally Stephens, chairwoman of San Francisco Dog Owner’s Group. “There’s a lot of knowledge you really should have to be a professional dog walker. It’s like being a nanny.” The proposed regulations include requiring a city-issued dog walking license costing between $100 to $200 annually. Other regulations include limiting the number of dogs walked at one time to eight, requiring insurance to cover dog injuries or loss of a dog and requiring dogwalkers to carry a dog first aid kit.
Toxic Mushrooms - Reprint from SF Dog
Amanita phalloides, the death cap mushroom, has come out in full force since the rains started Dec 2009. We had one death at Lake Veterinary Hospital 2 weekends ago, and PETS emergency clinic in Berkeley called on Friday and said they have had 3 deaths in 6 days - all from the Oakland area. The mushrooms have a sweet odor (like honey) and are attractive to some dogs (whose owners report they actually seek them out to eat them). They are really non little white mushrooms. The toxic effects appear about 6-36 hours after the mushrooms are eaten, and once signs are seen the toxicity is poorly responsive to treatment (we try a lot of things to support the animal, but if enough mushrooms were eaten it will be fatal despite the treatment). If someone suspects their dog may have eaten a mushroom, the best treatment is to take the dog immediately to a vet or emergency clinic and have them induce vomiting and give activated charcoal. The mushroom toxin is absorbed fairly rapidly, but the damage to the liver can take hours before it is clinically apparent. Don't waste time trying to figure out if the mushroom is toxic as speed in removing the mushroom from the digestive system is the most important thing in my experience.Here is a link with some pictures http://wikipedia.org/wiki/amanita_phalloides.
Although most SF/local mushrooms are not poisonous, and those that are usually cause only digestive upset (perhaps causing someone to wish they would die), Death Caps (Amanita phalloides) are aptly named. After an initial digestive upset death caps prevent liver cells from regenerating. Within a few days after ingestion there are no new liver cells to replace the old ones, and liver failure occurs. The below message describes death caps as "little white mushrooms." Note: They might look like that in the early stages, but mature mushrooms can grow quite large (check yahoo group for photo of mushroom I'm holding in hand) and they have a slight metallic, greenish look. Check out the wikipedia link for photos of death caps in various stages. I have seen death caps south of SF and in the east bay. There might be some in SF. The common "white mushrooms" I've seen in SF, e.g. growing in lawns, are not death caps (various Agaricus--see photo). Death Caps have WHITE GILLS (e.g. the radiating blades on the underside of the cap), while most of the "lawn" mushroom have brown gills. At Fort Funston beneath the trees, I've spotted white-gilled mushrooms, but they have shaggy scales on the cap (see photo). Not death caps. Possibly Lepiota rachodes. Don't take a chance w/mushroom, especially death caps. Supervise your dog. If you spot death caps, you might discretely bag them up & securely dump them to prevent other dogs/people from eating them. Since I currently have a curious puppy who thinks everything is to be sampled, I'm bagging up all the mushrooms I find in my yard mainly to prevent potential digestive upsets
Toxic Raisins
Written by: Laurinda Morris, DVM
Danville Veterinary Clinic
Danville , OH
This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix that ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1 AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't call my emergency service until 7 AM.
I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute Renal failure but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject. We had her bring the dog in immediately. In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet and the doctor there was like me - had heard something about it, but... Anyway, we contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said to give IV fluids at 1 & 1/2 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 hours. The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was already at 32 (normal less than 27) and creatinine over 5 (1.9 is the high end of normal). Both are monitors of kidney function in the bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and started the fluids. Rechecked the renal values at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine over 7 with no urine production after a liter of fluids. At that point I felt the dog was in acute renal failure and sent him on to MedVet for a urinary catheter to monitor urine output overnight as well as overnight care.
He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet and his renal values continued to increase daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting medications and they still couldn't control his vomiting. Today his urine output decreased again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his blood pressure, which had been staying around 150, skyrocketed to 220. He continued to vomit and the owners elected to Euthanize.
This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners who had no idea raisins could be a toxin. Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very serious risk. Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's. Any exposure should give rise to immediate concern. Onions, chocolate, cocoa, avocados and macadamia nuts can be fatal, too.
Toxic Cocoa Mulch
Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores contains a lethal ingredient called 'Theobromine'. It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks.
Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker's chocolate which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.
