|
*Shaving
Down Double Coated Breeds*
Many clients come
in and ask us to "shave" down their Husky,
Golden Retriever,
Labrador Retriever, etc.
These are dogs
that typically do NOT get haircuts.
So why do clients
come in requesting a haircut for these types of breeds?
They feel this is
an easy way to reduce shedding and keep the dog cool.
WRONG! This is NOT
the answer!
A dogs coat provides
insulation from the heat & sun!
Dogs do not
perspire like humans do. They only perspire from the pads of their feet
and from their
noses. They do not "sweat" like humans do.
A Husky, Golden,
Lab, Malamute even a Newfoundland will be cooler with their coats
on.
There is one
important factor in this theory. Their coats must be kept
thoroughly brushed
out. Matted coats or coats with packed in dead undercoat
will restrict
airflow to your pets skin. Therefore making him uncomfortable.
Shedding: It may
seem like a great idea to shave all the hair off,
sure no more hair
all over the house!
Well, shorter hair
all over the house anyway...
What you are doing
when you shave your double coated dogs,
is actually
interrupting the natural
shedding process.
You are cutting into the top coat,
possibly damaging
it & cutting into the undercoat also
possibly causing
damage to it.
By interrupting
the natural shedding cycle, you can actually be
producing MORE
shedding. The exact opposite of what you want!
What is the
answer?
Keep your double
coated breeds thoroughly brushed & combed out.
Keep them well
groomed & they will be comfortable even in
the hot sun of
Florida.
Do you know that
90% of the clients that come in to request
having their dogs
shaved, because their dog is hot & uncomfortable
actually have
overweight dogs?
Look at your dog,
is your dog overweight? When you walk or run with your dog,
do they pant &
get tired? Consider that it's not the dogs fur at all causing
him to be
uncomfortable. If your dog is overweight, that is why he is
panting &
tired after exercise!
Consider keeping
the well groomed fur on your pet & shedding off the excess pounds instead!
|
*Chocolate Toxicity In Dogs*
Never give your
dog chocolate! Chocolate is toxic to dogs.
Here are some
facts about Chocolate Toxicity:
The ingredient in
Chocolate that is toxic to dogs is Theobromine.
The good news is
that it takes, on average, a fairly large amount of theobromine 100-150 mg/kg to
cause a toxic reaction.
Although there are
variables to consider like the individual sensitivity, animal size and chocolate
concentration.
On average, Milk
chocolate contains 44 mg of theobromine per oz.
Semisweet
chocolate contains 150mg/oz.
Baker's chocolate
390mg/oz.
Using a dose of
100 mg/kg as the toxic dose it comes out roughly as:
1 ounce per 1
pound of body weight for Milk chocolate
1 ounce per 3
pounds of body weight for Semisweet chocolate
1 ounce per 9
pounds of body weight for Baker's chocolate.
So, for example, 2
oz. of Baker's chocolate can cause
great risk to an
15 lb. dog.
Yet, 2 oz. of Milk
chocolate usually will only cause digestive problems.
Clinical Signs
Xanthines affect
the nervous system, cardiovascular system and peripheral nerves.
It has a diuretic
effect as well.
Clinical signs:
Hyper excitability
Hyper irritability
Increased heart
rate
Restlessness
Increased
urination
Muscle tremors
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Treatment
There is no
specific antidote for this poisoning.
And the half life
of the toxin is 17.5 hours in dogs.
Induce vomiting in
the first 1-2 hours if the quantity is unknown.
Administering
activated charcoal may inhibit absorption of the toxin.
An anticonvulsant
might be indicated if neurological signs
are present and
needs to be controlled.
Oxygen therapy,
intravenous medications,
and fluids might
be needed to protect the heart.
Milk chocolate
will often cause diarrhea 12-24 hours after ingestion.
This should be
treated symptomatically (fluids, etc..)
to prevent
dehydration.
If you suspect
your pet has ingested chocolate
contact your Vet
immediately!
They can help you
determine the the proper treatment for your pet.
|