Dog Magazine » K9 Magazine Web Editor

Canine Osteoarthritis A Growing Dog Owner Problem

K9 Magazine Web Editor — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:38:43 +0000

Canine osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that reduces a dog's mobility. A new report has suggested the problem is a growing concern for dog owners.

Arthritis in dogs is on the rise according to a study published by K9 Magazine.

The condition, which affects the mobility and joints of dogs of any age, is said to be increasing inline with the growing pet obesity problem which has seen more dogs than ever gaining weight and being above the normal healthy BMI for their age and breed.

Experts have suggested that canine osteoarthritis will continue to rise unless pet owners can gain control of their dog’s weight.

One of the key causes of arthritis in dogs is breed type and weight. It’s been claimed that as many as 1 in 4 dogs are above their natural weight.

Canine osteoarthritis is a chronic condition, meaning there is no cure. However treatment and management of arthritis in dogs is readily available, meaning a diagnosis doesn’t have to mean the end of a dog’s ability to enjoy life, go for walks and suffer in pain.

Learn more: https://www.prbuzz.com/home-a-garden/55209-arthritis-in-dogs-concerns-owners.html

Notice: We’re Moving!

K9 Magazine Web Editor — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:20:13 +0000

After some 5 years, DogMagazine.net is on the move.

We're delighted to announce we've decided that we're heading off this .net domain name and on to a brand spanking, shiny .com.

We're re-naming the site MyDogMagazine.com with a greater emphasis on user comment, opinion and more articles from dog owners.

We'll be using the site to gather opinions on the type of content we should be covering in K9 Magazine as well as offering more functionality and a cleaner, faster layout.

You can update your bookmarks already to www.mydogmagazine.com and if you're subscribing to our DogMagazine.net RSS feeds, don't worry – we'll make the change automatically so you won't have to do anything.

Over the coming months we're moving over our most popular articles to MyDogMagazine.com with the aim to completely merge the sites within 2 months.

So, remember, if you want to be the first to get our news, articles and updates – the address you need is www.MyDogMagazine.com

Dog Chews Off Diabetic Woman’s Toe

K9 Magazine Web Editor — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:40:48 +0000

In a case study that illustrates the need for people with diabetes to be cautious of foot injuries and to protect themselves from pets, a woman with numbness in her feet caused by diabetic neuropathy slept through a traumatic episode in which her Jack Russell terrier chewed off part of her slightly infected big toe, according to an article published in this month's issue of the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association.

The patient's wound required surgery, and it ultimately led the amputation of her leg, leaving her a double amputee.

The case study, co-authored by Valley Presbyterian Hospital specialist Lee C. Rogers, D.P.M., is only the second of its kind to be published in the medical literature, although more cases like it have been reported in the media. This case highlights the need for diabetic patients with neuropathy to avoid having their feet or wounds exposed when sleeping with their pets.

"Pets have a tendency to lick wounds, and that simple lick can turn into a bite, if there is no response from the owner. There have also been reports of dogs' saliva infecting diabetic patients with the antibiotic-resistant Superbug, MRSA, which can be deadly," Dr. Rogers said. "This case illustrates the perils of pet ownership in diabetic patients who have numbness in their hands or feet caused by neuropathy."

The Centers for Disease Control estimate diabetes affects 25.8 million Americans –or 8.3 percent of the population–and report that it is the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations. In this case, the 48-year-old woman didn't feel any pain and only realized part of her toe was missing when she awakened in the morning and found blood in her bed and on the floor.

She was sleeping with her 2-year-old Jack Russell terrier and realized it must have chewed off part of the toe during the night because the dog had blood in its facial fur. Doctors amputated part of her toe and, later, the lower portion of her leg because she developed other infections and neuropathic ulcerations, skin lesions that are common in diabetics who suffer from numbness.

"People with diabetes and neuropathy must take special precautions to protect their feet from infections to avoid amputations and other complications," said Dr. Rogers.

Dr. Rogers is the associate director of Valley Presbyterian Hospital's Amputation Prevention Center, an integrated limb-preservation center that is one of the nation's only facilities of its kind. Since its January 2010 opening, the Amputation Prevention Center's specialized multidisciplinary team of highly skilled professionals has treated more than 350 patients with leading-edge technology and achieved a limb salvage rate of 96 percent.

"With its exemplary record of success, the Amputation Prevention Center is truly a community asset and an extraordinary benefit to patients in danger of losing a limb," said Gustavo Valdespino, President and CEO of Valley Presbyterian Hospital. "The Center is leading the way in patient care and treatment with its cutting-edge technology and innovative team approach pairing podiatrists with vascular surgeons."

George Andros, M.D., the Center's Medical Director, notes the center recorded an average wound-healing rate of 52 days – less than half the national average of 120 days, in its first year.

"At Valley Presbyterian Hospital, we are proud to be part of this pioneering effort to employ new technology to bring expertise to patients wherever they may be," he said. "The Amputation Prevention Center is on the leading edge of advancing the pace of medicine and improving the care of patients."

Our Dog’s Body’s Are in Our Hands

K9 Magazine Web Editor — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:52:50 +0000

Today I'm reminded of this famous quote by billionaire investor Warren Buffet on looking after one's physical and mental health…

"If you were given a car and told it's the only car you'll ever be allowed to own, you'd be sure to read the manual really carefully and service it all the time."

Our dog's bodies are the only ones they'll ever be allowed to own, but they don't have their own manual and they can only do so much in terms of looking after themselves. The rest is down to us.

So I thought it'd be useful to list some resources that we can use as our working dog manual….

1. Dog teeth
2. Dog joints
3. Older dogs
4. Dog worms
5. Dog fleas
6. Dog weight

If we can keep on top of our dog's oral health, their joints, look out for them as they get older, make sure they steer clear of fleas and worms, keep their weight under control and make sure their minds are kept active – we'll be doing our bit to ensure they are well serviced and their body's are in the best hands.

Is This The Happiest Dog in the World?

K9 Magazine Web Editor — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:33:57 +0000

Can a dog truly smile with pure, unadulterated joy?

We think yes. Yes they can!

Mental stimulation and fully engaged body language – a perfect advert for the pleasure of bringing out a dog's full potential.

Dog News Round Up June 7: Can a Puppy Survive Parvovirus?

K9 Magazine Web Editor — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:23:45 +0000

tabbloid_2011-06-07_1606.pdf Download this file

In today's Dog News round up (PDF download)…

Dog News: Did Toxins in My Dog’s Food Nearly Kill My Best Friend?
Dog News: Trial By Tape Measure: The Story of Lennox
Dog News: Does Being Pet Friendly Increase The Value Of Your Home?
Dog News: Disaster Planning for Dog Owners
Dog News: Repeal Breed Specific Legislation Say Vets
Dog News: Can a Puppy Survive Parvovirus?

Read the round up by downloading the PDF or visiting www.dognews.co

Rottweilers & GSDs Amongst Breeds Deemed ‘Potentially Dangerous’

K9 Magazine Web Editor — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:01:37 +0000

From July 1st 2011, owners of dogs that the city of College Park, Gainesvill deems "potentially dangerous" must be registered, photographed and should be forced to wear a bright identifying tag to mark them out.

Ambrose Clay, the local Councilman, brought in the breed specific legislation following two high profile dog attack cases in his district.

"What the person has to do is go to the vet and get a chip implanted into the dog for identification purposes. They also have to submit a photograph of the dog, and they'll be issued a brightly colored tag that will identify it as a potentially dangerous dog," said Clay.

The legislation has been opposed by anti BSL groups, including Dogs Deserve Bettter whose spokesperson Heidi Pollyea says:

"Breed profiling is wrong. It targets the dog when the real problem with any canine is how the owners raise and treat it."

People who don't register their dogs face fines and Clay says owners will also have their dogs taken and impounded should they not comply.

The following are breeds of dogs required to be registered in College Park:

Pit Bull

American Pit Bull Terrier

American Staffordshire Terrier

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Rottweiler

Doberman

German Shepard

Breed specific legislation is a concept that has been tried in various places around the world.

It has proven to be controversial, expensive and has never been proven to have prevented a single dog attack or death.

K9 Magazine Report: Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?

K9 Magazine Web Editor — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 15:29:28 +0000

Ever wondered why dogs eat poop?

Perhaps you're the owner of a mucky pup who engages in this ever so unpleasant canine party trick?

Never fear. K9 Magazine has put together a special report containing the advice from three dog specialists on the habit known as canine coprophagia.

http://www.k9magazine.com/why-do-dogs-eat-poop/

In the report you will find out:

Why dogs eat poop
How to stop dogs eating poop
The very serious health risks when dogs eat poop
The methods you need to know to prevent your dog from eating poop

Dog Owner Launches Charity Raising Awareness of Pedigree Dog Health Concerns

K9 Magazine Web Editor — Fri, 27 May 2011 14:17:14 +0000

Dog owner Tania Ledger has set up a charity, Cavalier Matters, to raise awareness and campaign to improve the genetic health of pedigree dogs, in particular Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Although the charity is currently focusing on the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed, in the long term it hopes to extend its scope to other breeds that are affected by genetic health problems.

Tania set up the charity with her husband Graham after two of their three Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs Molly and Dougall were diagnosed with Syringomyelia, an incurable neurological condition.

"When Molly and Dougall were diagnosed in December 2008 with Syringomyelia, I was devastated," said Tania. "When I tried to read up on the condition, I was mystified by all the scientific jargon and couldn't find any information online about how to look after a dog with Syringomyelia."

"I decided to set up a charity to help other Cavalier owners deal with Syringomyelia and other genetic health issues. I hope the charity will enable people to improve the quality of their dogs' lives by giving them the appropriate care and the best veterinary treatment available," said Tania.

The charity has five main aims:
1) To support other Cavalier owners by providing easy to understand information about Cavalier health problems and advice on how to look after a dog affected by these problems.
2) Raising awareness of Cavalier health problems among the general public and encouraging them to only buy a puppy from a breeder who has carried out all the necessary health checks on the bitch and stud dog.
3) Campaigning to improve the health of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and animal welfare in general, for example, campaigning against irresponsible breeding and puppy farms.
4) Funding research into Cavalier illnesses, for example, the Rupert's Fund project (http://www.rupertsfund.com) and the Collection Scheme (http://www.veterinary-neurologist.co.uk/collection.htm).
5) Funding the rescue and rehoming of Cavaliers.

Encouraging responsible breeding is a vital aspect of the charity's work, according to Tania.

"I was shocked when I learnt that many irresponsible breeders continue to breed from dogs that have been diagnosed with Syringomyelia or do not follow the breeding guidelines for Syringomyelia. These breeders are condemning puppies to a life of pain and potentially contributing to the extinction of the breed," said Tania.

Dog health campaigner Carol Fowler is also a trustee of the charity. Carol said: "Tania invited me to be a founding trustee of Cavalier Matters Charity and I was delighted to accept. Initially Cavalier Matters is all about the breed we are both passionate to help to save – the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. We have started small but hope to build Cavalier Matters into something much bigger, extending its scope to helping other dog breeds which are in trouble, and campaigning for the reform of dog breeding in the UK through our political contacts and by working with other welfare organisations."

None of the three Cavalier Matters trustees will be drawing any income or expenses from the charity, so all proceeds will be put towards the charity's goals. So far the charity has raised £5,750 through the sale of items on its charitable shop (shop.cavaliermatters.org) and at pet shows (including the London Pet Show in May 2011).

For more information on Cavalier Matters, visit http://cavaliermatters.org/ or contact tania@cavaliermatters.org