How To Read Your Dog’s Body Language

Reading your dog’s body language is not that difficult and is central to understanding your dog.

Dogs are non-verbal; their body language does the talking for them and vocalization takes second place in their communication skills. As a dog owner you can learn the basic forms of your dog’s body language by spending a little time observing your dog’s interaction with people and other animals in different situations.

Learning to understand dog body language can also help protect you and your dog from dangerous situations, as well as aid in training or identification of common behavior problems your dog may have.

Dog body language can be identified by the following behaviors:

Confidence
A confident dog will stand straight and tall with its head held high and ears perked up. Its mouth may be slightly open, but relaxed. The tail may sway gently, curl loosely or hang in a relaxed position. This means your dog is friendly, non-threatening and at ease in its surroundings.

Happy
A happy dog will show the same signs as a confident dog. In addition, it will usually wag its tail and sometimes hold its mouth open a little wider, or even pant mildly. It will appear even more friendly and content, with no signs of anxiety.

Playful
A playful dog is happy and excited. The ears are up, the eyes are bright, and the tail wags rapidly. It may also jump and run around. A playful dog will often exhibit the play bow with front legs stretched forward, head straight ahead, and rear end up in the air.

Submissive
A submissive dog holds its head down, ears down flat and averts its eyes from direct confrontation. It holds its tail low and may sway it slightly, but does not tuck the tail under its body. A submissive dog often rolls on its back and exposes its belly. A submissive dog may also lick the other dog or person to further display passive intent. The submissive dog may also sniff the ground or otherwise divert its attention to show that it does not want to cause any trouble. A submissive dog is meek, gentle and non-threatening.

Anxious
The anxious dog may act somewhat submissive, but often holds its ears partially back with the neck stretched out. It will stand in a very tense posture and sometimes shudders. Often, an anxious dog whimpers, moans, yawns, or licks its lips. The tail will be held low and may be tucked in. An anxious dog may overreact to stimuli and can become fearful or even aggressive. If you are unfamiliar with a dog that is exhibiting this behavior, try to divert its attention to something else and be cautious not provoke or try to soothe it.

Fearful
The fearful dog displays both submissive and anxious attitudes with more extreme indicators. A fearful dog will stand tense and low to the ground. The ears are held back flat and the eyes are narrowed and averted. The tail is tucked between its legs and the dog will tremble. A fearful dog often whines or growls and might even bare its teeth in defense. A fearful dog can turn aggressive quickly if it senses a threat. If you are faced with this situation, don’t try to reassure the anxious dog, but separate yourself from the situation quickly and calmly. If the dog is yours, be confident and strong, but don’t comfort or punish it. Immediately move your dog to a less threatening location.

Dominant
A dominant dog will try to assert itself over other dogs and sometimes over people. It will stand tall and confident and may lean forward slightly. The eyes will be wide and it will make direct eye contact with the other dog or person. The ears are up and alert, and the hair on its back may stand on edge. It will often growl in a low tone. If the behavior is directed at a dog that is submissive, there is little to worry about. But if the other dog also tries to be dominant, a fight could easily break out. If the dominant behavior is not towards another dog but rather towards you, this can pose a serious threat. Absolutely do not make eye contact with the dog and immediately remove yourself from the area. Hopefully your dog will not exhibit this behavior towards people, but if it does, behavior modification is absolutely necessary.

Aggressive
An aggressive dog goes far beyond acting dominant. All four feet are firmly planted on the ground in a territorial manner, and it may lunge toward you or your dog . The dog’s ears will be pinned back, the head straight ahead, and the eyes narrowed and piercing. Its tail will point straight and high. This behavior usually involves baring the teeth, snapping the jaw, and will be accompanied by growls or threatening barking. The hairs along the back may stand up on edge. If you are near a dog exhibiting these signs it is critical that you get away carefully. Don’t run or make eye contact with the dog. Be careful not to show fear and slowly back away to safety.

Learning to read your dog’s body language will help you understand the fundamental dog language signs and will aid in strengthening the bond between you and your dog. This seemingly simple connection may help save both you and your dog from possible serious injury in the future should you encounter an fearful, dominant, or aggressive dog on your daily walks. Safety comes first for you and your pet.

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Cleaning House With a Long Haired Dog

Cleaning house if you have a long haired dog can be an unwelcome chore and a problem for everyone living in the house.

If you have a pet dog, especially if it’s a long-haired breed, you know what it’s like to live with piles of hair appearing everywhere and maybe even the odor of urine on your rugs or carpet. Cleaning up after your dog doesn’t have to be an unpleasant or insurmountable task. You can make it easy on yourself and at the same time create a healthy environment in your home.

Cleaning house with a long haired dog in residence requires some simple steps to keep your dog and your home smelling fresh and clean.

Bathe your dog at least once a month or more often if needed. A dirty dog will carry its scent all over your home. A good bath will also remove excess hair and help keep your furniture hair free.

Vacuum your upholstered furniture at least once a week. The best way to clean chairs and sofas is to use a standard vacuum cleaner with a side attachment; just guide it along the furniture until all the hair is gone. A lint roller will also do a decent job of removing hair from your furniture.

Clean your floors at least once a week. Vacuum rugs and carpets for a longer time than you usually do in order to remove as much dirt and hair as possible.

If your floors are tiled, sweep them thoroughly, then apply regular household bleach full strength, and mop with clean soapy water. Bleach does a very effective job of killing bacteria. Rinse the floor well to keep it from being sticky.

Clean your air filters for the air conditioning and furnace at least once a month. You should also change the air filter once a month when you have a dog.

Disinfect all hard surfaces in your home daily. Removing surface bacteria will eliminate remaining odors. A high quality sanitizer can kill more than 99% of germs, and can be used on any surface in your home.

Using a standard spray air freshener to remove odors in your home usually only masks the scent and ends up smelling like your dog has been playing in a flower bed or wallowing in some exotic passion fruit garden. Use a spray that will remove the odors rather cover them up. A good air sanitizer will kill most of the airborne odor-causing bacteria and leave your home smelling fresh and clean.

Pet bedding should be cleaned at least two times a month. If it’s washable, launder in hot water then use a good quality spray for a fresh, clean scent.

These are just some of the ways to keep your home smelling fresh and looking clean if you have a long haired dog. This may seem like a lot of work, but once you get into a regular routine of house cleaning and bathing your dog, it will become second nature and no longer seem like an overwhelming chore.

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Know Your Dog Laws

If you live in the city and own a dog, you should know your dog laws if you want your dog to stay out of trouble.

When you fall in love with a dog and bring it home, a visit from the police or a trip to a lawyer’s office is probably the furthest thing from your mind. But like many things in life, owning a dog comes with legal responsibilities, and if you avoid those responsibilities, you could find yourself in hot water, facing unpleasant and an expensive outcome. You’ve heard the old expression ” Ignorance of the law is no defense”, and it applies to handling your dog as much as it does to handling your own life.

Here are some basic dog laws you must be aware of when owning a dog.

License your dog
Dog owners are required to license their dogs with the city or, in unincorporated areas, the county.

Vaccinate for rabies
This is a requirement in most states, and you will need to supply proof of vaccination to obtain a license for your dog.

3. Clean up after your dog
Most cities require owners to clean up their dog’s poop immediately. If you‘ve ever stepped in dog poop, you know it’s the right thing to do anyway.

4. Obey leash laws
Leash laws are on the books for a good purpose. Using a leash is safer for you and your dog. Unleashed dogs can get hit by a car, run away or bite a person or other animal. Check your city’s official web site or call them to find out your city’s leash laws.

Landlords and pets
Don’t sign a lease that prohibits you from having a dog if you already own one or plan to adopt one soon. It will not matter if the landlord or manager verbally assures you that it’s okay. You may end up being evicted and having to hastily start searching for a new apartment that allows pets. The worst scenario and the most heartbreaking of all would be having to take your dog to an animal shelter out of sheer desperation. Moving is the number one reason people abandon their pets, and about half of those animals end up being euthanized.

Dog bites
You are legally responsible for keeping your dog from hurting people or damaging property. If you don’t, you may have to pay for someone’s medical bills, lost wages, and possibly even for “pain and suffering”. You could also be subject to a fine.

Dog barking
Most cities have ordinances against dogs going on bark-a-thons, or at least general noise ordinances that include loud barking dogs. If your dog repeatedly barks long and loud and someone complains, you could end up having to pay a fine or even worse, be forced to get rid of your dog.

Owning a dog requires that you know your dog laws and obey them. A pet dog always brings increased responsibilities to your life. Be sure you know what those responsibilities are and be prepared to handle them. Being a responsible dog owner is as important to the well-being of your dog as it is to you.

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Dog Kidnappers

When you own a loving dog who is your constant companion and never leaves your side, you never expect to be a victim of dog kidnappers.

It was New Year’s eve and I had gone out with a group of friends to celebrate the New Year. We had a ball, going from club to club, meeting up with other friends and even some acquaintances I hadn’t seen in a long time. Midnight came and went, and when the last club closed, I headed for home, safely ensconced in a taxi.

When I finally arrived home I immediately noticed that the lock on my door had been jimmied and the door was ajar. I had no alarm system as I had always felt safe living alone. I turned on all the lights to my small apartment and checked quickly to be sure I was alone. I might be 6’2” and weigh 200 pounds, but I’m no fool when it comes to my own personal safety.

I called to my Charlie, my pet Beagle. No answer. I called again and again. Silence. I desperately searched the entire apartment, my heart growing heavier each minute with the knowledge that my beloved dog was gone. When I knew for sure he wasn’t anywhere in the house, I sat down in the middle of the kitchen floor and cried. Charlie and I had shared so many wonderful times together.

I had adopted Charlie from the animal shelter when he was only two, left there by a family who no longer wanted him. He treasured my adopting him and I treasured the unconditional love he always gave me, no matter how much I unconsciously ignored him or sometimes wasn’t home to feed him when he needed to eat.

The hour was late and I was tired, so I laid down and tried to get some sleep. I was unable to even doze off for a short nap as I was so worried about Charlie and what might have happened to him. As soon as the morning alarm went off in my bedroom I picked up the phone and started calling the animal shelter, the SPCA, the Animal Control Department, and a half dozen friends who commiserated with me and even offered to drive around the local neighborhoods and help search for Charlie.

After a fruitless day and night of searching, I was heartbroken. I turned down offers from a few friends who wanted to take me to dinner and help me forget, at least for a while, that my ‘best friend’ was nowhere to be found. All I could think about were the dog kidnappers and how they were treating my best friend Charlie.

The next day I made more phone calls to the same places and still, no Charlie. I went to Kinko’s and printed 200 posters with a picture of Charlie and an offer of a $250 reward. I started putting the posters on telephone poles and supermarket bulletin boards. I even listed Charlie on Craigslist on the off chance that someone might have found him.

Nothing came of all my efforts, or the efforts of my friends. A week rolled by while I slunk off to work, was distracted the entire day, then hurried home each afternoon to begin making phone calls to everyone and every place I could think of. I was becoming quite unpopular at a couple of the locales I kept calling. It was obvious their politeness was wearing thin.

I printed some more posters and asked friends to put them up in their neighborhoods. I kept leaving posters on the subway in hopes that the right person might see it and lead me back to Charlie. One of my friends was the DJ on an early morning radio show and each day she would tell a heart-warming story she remembered about Charlie and me, and ask anyone with any knowledge of Charlie to contact the station.

My days were lonely and sad without Charlie. I thought about all the dogs that had lost their families, their homes, and even their lives during the horror of Hurricane Katrina. I began to doubt that I would ever see Charlie again.

One morning I was in the shower when the phone rang. At first I ignored it, but then something told me that maybe it was a call about Charlie. I ran to the phone, dripping water all over my bedroom floor.

The voice on the other end was that of a young child, maybe 10 or 12 years old. “My mom said I had to call you because she found your poster on a seat in the subway last night. I, uh, I – well, my mom found this dog and I think he might be yours. He looks just like the dog in the picture, even his collar. My mom found him running loose in the street a couple weeks ago and brought him home because she was afraid a car would run over him. He didn’t have a tag with his name or a phone number. My mom said we couldn’t keep him but I could take care of him until we could find the person he belonged to. He was limping a lot on his back leg and he had some small cuts and bruises when she found him, but he’s okay now.”

I was ecstatic! “Please hold the phone next to his ear and let me speak to him”, I yelled. I called Charlie’s name several times and then asked the boy how the dog responded. “He started wagging his tail like crazy and knocked my glasses right off the bed.” I was trembling with excitement knowing that Charlie and I would soon be reunited.

I shouted into the phone, “Tell me where you live and I’ll be right over to pick him up.” I looked at my watch and saw that I had time to retrieve Charlie before I was due at the office. “By the way, what time do you have to leave for school? I want to be sure you’re there so I can thank you and also give you the reward.”

The voice was hesitant, finally saying in a low whisper, “I don’t go to school. I’m… I’m, well my mom home schools me. I’ll be here whenever you want to pick up Buster.” “Buster?”, I croaked. The young voice answered, “Oh don’t worry, that’s just the name I gave him because he didn’t have a tag.”

I dressed faster than I had since the last time I was late for work. I jumped on the subway and nervously paced back and forth in the subway car the whole way to the stop where I needed to exit. What if this dog wasn’t really Charlie? Would I be distraught and break down in front of some young kid and his mother?

Reaching the address I had been given, I rang the doorbell four times before realizing how rude that must appear to these people. A very nice looking woman in her thirties opened the door and gave me the most incredible warm smile I had seen in a long, long time.

“You must be the man who owns the dog. I have to tell you, that is the best behaved dog I have ever seen. If I knew dogs could be that loving and well-behaved, I would have let my little boy have one a long time ago.” She ushered me in and told me to follow her upstairs where my dog and her little boy were. She looked back at me and said, “That dog and he have been inseparable since the first day I brought him home.”

I followed her up the stairs and into a clean and uncluttered bedroom where a young boy lay covered with a blue quilt. I said, “You must be Jimmy.” “In a quiet, and slightly sad voice, he said, “Yes. And I guess you’re the guy who came to take your dog home.”

“That’s me alright, and that is definitely Charlie.” Charlie hopped off the bed and came over to me, wagging his tail furiously. I patted his head and scooped him up in my arms. I hugged him and gave him a big kiss. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you Charlie. Thank God you’re okay.” I looked over to the boy and saw tears running down his small pink cheeks. His mother went to comfort him saying, “Everything will be alright honey. This nice man has his pet back and maybe one day we can find a dog like this for your very own.”

“There’ll never be another dog like Buster,” he said. Then he turned to look at Charlie who immediately jumped from my arms, ran back to the boy and hopped up on the bed next to him. The quilt was pulled back far enough on the bed that I could see the braces that supported the boy’s legs. I must have stared at him because he turned red and his mother quickly said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I should have told you Jimmy can’t walk. He was injured in a car accident last year and he can’t get out of bed without help. It has been wonderful having your dog here because Jimmy has been the happiest I’ve seen him since the accident.”

Charlie starting licking Jimmy enthusiastically and Jimmy started laughing and hugging Charlie so tightly I thought my poor dog might explode from the pressure.

“Now Jimmy, it’s time to give the nice man back his dog. Let go of him and hand him back.” Jimmy reluctantly passed Charlie back to my open arms and I could feel the sadness in Jimmy as our eyes met. Charlie obviously felt it too because he jumped out of my arms again and buried himself beneath the quilt that covered Jimmy. I became painfully aware of what I needed to do, yet the struggle was more than my heart could bear. In a choked voice I said to Jimmy’s mother, “Well you know, I have a new job I’ll be starting next week and I won’t have very much time to spend with Charlie anymore. In fact, I’m going to have to do quite a bit of overnight traveling.”

“Maybe, if it’s okay with you and with Jimmy, Charlie could come to live with you. I’d just like to be able to visit him from time to time when I’m in town. Would that be alright with you, Jimmy?”

“Oh mom, please, please say yes. I love Buster – I mean Charlie.” The biggest smile was plastered on his face and I knew right then that I had made the right decision.

“Well, yes,” Jimmy’s mother said, then looked me straight in the eyes and said, “I know what you’re doing and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. These two have been attached to each other from day one. I promise you that your dog will receive all love and good care we can give him for as long as he lives.”

I gave Charlie one last pat on the head, turned to Jimmy and said, “I know you’ll love Charlie as much as I have. Be good to him and he will always be at your side.”

I floated down the stairs in a daze where his mother opened the door and thanked me again. As I walked down the sidewalk, I looked back at their house, expecting to feel sad, but instead I suddenly felt excited about life again, knowing I had helped bring together two loving creatures who truly needed each other and who would always put the welfare of the other one above theirs.

In a way, the dog kidnappers had won after all because I was losing Charlie forever. But I knew in my heart that one day there would be another “Charlie” in my life.

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A Sad Puppy Tale

You found me when I was a sad puppy, alone in this big cruel world. You took me home and we became fast friends. You hugged me and played with me for hours. Every day you kissed me and told me how much you loved me. When you took me outside to do my number ones and twos, you always praised me and told me what a good boy I was.

You called me your “little boy” and I made you smile and laugh really hard at times. Even when I chewed your shoes or other things of yours, I was still your ‘best friend’. You’d tell me I was “bad” and you’d shake your finger at me and say “Why did you chew my shoe?” – but then you’d give in and just roll me over for a belly rub. Oh how I used to enjoy that.

It took a little longer than you expected to housebreak me, because you were always too busy to follow through with my training, but we eventually got that worked out.

I remember nuzzling you in bed at night and listening to you tell me about your secret dreams. We used to go for long walks in the park, and you took me for fun rides in your car. I even remember when we went to Dairy Queen for vanilla cones. You ordered one for me and one for you. We sat outside on a warm and pleasant afternoon sharing the joy of indulging in a real tasty treat. I ate my cone really fast, and then looked up at you with my soulful eyes, which you recognized as a gentle form of begging and admonished me by saying, “Hey, you ate yours already – this one is mine.”

And then that nice lady came along, looked at me sitting so attentively and so well behaved. She said to you, “Why don’t you give your puppy some of your ice cream? Look how cute he is just sitting there waiting for a bite.”

You told her that I’d already eaten my cone and now I wanted yours. But after she left, you relented and gave me some of yours. You were so thoughtful then.

And then you started spending more time at work and had less time to play with me. That was okay because I loved you back as much or more than you loved me.

When you began dating all those women I would wait patiently for you to return home. I remember comforting you through heartbreaks and disappointments. Sometimes I felt like a sad puppy but never once did I behave badly to any of your female friends.

Then one day you told me that you had finally found “The One.” I didn’t know what “The One” meant but I could see that you were as happy as when you first found me. And now “The One” is your wife. She said she wasn’t a “dog person”. I’ve never seen a person that was also a dog so that didn’t mean anything to me at the time.

I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her commands, even when they seemed unreasonable. I was happy because you were happy. Then she gave you a baby and both of you were overjoyed.

The baby was so cute, like me when I was smaller. But then both of you worried that I might hurt the baby. I tried to let you know I would never do anything like that but neither of you seemed to understand me, even when I would nuzzle the baby and lick its tiny little paws (excuse me, hands). After that, you banished me to a dog crate each night.

As the baby began to grow, it would grab my fur and pull himself up on those spindly little legs of his, poke his fingers in my eyes and give me kisses. I loved that baby and I would have defended him with my life.

As the baby grew older, I would sneak into his room and listen to his soft, even breath as he lay sleeping. When he could walk all over the house, we’d sit together and wait for the sound of your car in the driveway and your keys jangling as you opened the door.

There was a time when you showed your friends pictures of me and told them about all the good times we shared together. But these last few years I went from being “your dog” to just “a dog”.

Now, you and your family (which doesn’t seem to include me anymore) are moving to an apartment that doesn’t allow pets. I wondered who would take me in, shelter me, feed me, and love me as you once had. When you said “Come on, boy. Let’s go” I thought you had found a new family for me.

I was so excited about what lay ahead for me and my new family until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dirty dogs and crummy cats.

I watched you sign papers and understood you were abandoning me to this place. When you went to leave, you patted my head and said, “I know they’ll take good care of you.”

Several weeks have gone by and I am still here where you left me. I get fed regularly and no one treats me badly; but this is not the same as being with you.

One afternoon, a young man who works here came and took me out of my cage. Usually I had to stay inside that cage all day and all night except to go outside to do my number ones and twos, like I used to do with you. Instead of going outside we went to a small room with nothing but a table. The man was joined by a nice lady who rubbed my ears, patted me on the head, and told me not to worry.

She gently placed a tourniquet around my front leg and I saw a tear run down her cheek. I licked her hand just like I used to do with you so many years ago. She skillfully slid the hypodermic needle into my vein so as not to hurt me. As I felt the sting and the liquid flowing through my body, I began to feel very tired. I looked at her and thought, “Why? Was it something I did? Was I bad?”.

Perhaps she understood the sad puppy look in my eyes because she said, “I’m so sorry.” Then she hugged me and told me I was going to a better place where I wouldn’t be abused or abandoned – a place where I would be loved forever.

My last thoughts were that I hoped she didn’t think my questions were directed at her. They were meant for you, my Beloved Master. I will never forget you and all the love and attention you bestowed on me. I will think of you and wait for you forever. I just hope that the other people in your life will show you as much love and loyalty as I did.

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Arthritis in Older Dogs

Just like humans, older dogs are susceptible to many diseases, arthritis and hip dysplasia being two of the most common ailments. If your dog is affected by arthritis, there are some things you’ll need to do to make sure it’s comfortable at all times and has the ability – and mobility – to enjoy its “golden years.”

Arthritis is a problem affecting a dog’s joints and is caused by a natural reduction in glucosamine which is essential for healthy bones. A dog’s joints become swollen and painful, making it difficult to move about. Most dogs with arthritis will suffer from pain when attempting certain activities like walking or climbing stairs. Dogs with arthritis also require a special diet containing additional vitamins and minerals.

The diet for a dog with arthritis needs to be easily digestible and should contain fewer proteins. Carbohydrates should be eliminated from the dog’s diet as much as possible. If the dog is obese, a weight loss diet is absolutely necessary because the extra weight can cause additional pain in the dog’s joints. Senior dogs are the most apt to suffer from arthritis and a vet may recommend a wet food diet for an older dog.

Arthritis in older dogs will require administering supplements that help with joint support and make the dog more comfortable. Winston’s Joint System is an all-natural formula developed by a Naturopathic Doctor to heal his own beloved dog. For over 20 years, this proven formula has been helping dogs find relief from the pain and stiffness caused by arthritis and hip dysplasia.

Dogs suffering from either of these debilitating diseases also need extra vitamins and minerals which can easily be provided with a regimen of Winston’s Senior Complete Multi, the most powerful and complete once-a-day multi vitamin for dogs 5 years and older.

The dog will also benefit from a pain relieving supplement like Winston’s Pain Formula, the most powerful natural pain relief product on the market today. It’s fast acting and highly effective. Winston’s Pain Formula works exceptionally well with Winston’s Joint System to give comfort to an ailing dog.

A dog with arthritis will need a soft, comfortable bed to ease the pain. The best dog bed I’ve found for my dog is theCanine Cooler Bed that provides comfort second to none. The fluid-enhanced design of this special bed offers a dry, lasting cooling effect combined with superior cushioning support. It will help keep a dog comfortable year-round. You should definitely check this bed out if your dog is suffering from arthritis or hip dysplasia. My dog loves it so much he’s taken to going into my bedroom and laying down on it throughout the day.

Arthritis in an older dog can be more debilitating than it is for younger dogs. Younger dogs are usually able to handle the pain of arthritis a little easier and they may limp or slow down their movements, whereas an older, senior dog is unable to do the same.

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Can Dogs Smell Cancer?

Lung and breast cancers are the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Obviously, early detection of these cancers is desperately needed.

In a new scientific study, researchers have presented surprising new evidence that dogs may be able to detect early cancers in humans.

The study was published a few years ago in the March 2006 issue of the journalIntegrative Cancer Therapies published by SAGE Publications. The article relates how researchers found scientific evidence that a dog’s extraordinary scenting ability can distinguish between healthy people and people with both early and late stage lung and breast cancers. The research was performed in California and documented by the BBC in the United Kingdom.

Past scientific studies have documented the ability of dogs to identify chemicals that are diluted in liquids in extremely low volumes. The first unusual canine scenting observation was noted in the report of a dog that alerted its owner to the presence of a melanoma cancer by constantly sniffing the lesion on its owner’s leg. Subsequent studies published in major medical journals have confirmed the ability of trained dogs to detect both melanomas and bladder cancers.

This study is the first to test whether dogs can detect cancers only by sniffing the exhaled breath of cancer patients.

In the study, five pet dogs were trained over a three week period to detect lung or breast cancer by sniffing the breath of cancer patients. The trial consisted of 86 cancer patients (55 with lung cancer and 31 with breast cancer), and a control sample of 83 healthy patients with no cancers. All the cancer patients had recently been diagnosed with cancer using biopsy-confirmed conventional methods such as a mammogram or CAT scan, and none had yet undergone any chemotherapy treatment.

During the study, the dogs were exposed to breath samples captured in a special tube from the cancer patients as well as the control subjects. The dogs were trained to give a positive identification of a cancer patient by sitting or lying down directly in front of a test station containing a cancer patient sample, while ignoring control samples.

Standard methods of dog training using food rewards and a clicker were used in the experiment. The behavior of each dog was also assessed by observers unaware of which participants were cancer patients or control subjects.

The results of this study showed that dogs are able to detect breast and lung cancer with accuracy between 88% and 97%. The high accuracy persisted even after results were adjusted to take into account whether the lung cancer patients were currently smokers.

The study also confirmed that the trained dogs could even detect the early stages of lung cancer as well as early breast cancer. The researchers concluded that breath analysis has the potential to provide a substantial reduction in the uncertainty currently seen in cancer diagnosis.

We all hope that further studies will be undertaken to standardize and expand the methodology used in these experiments.

The study was supported by the MACH Foundation in Fairfax, California and Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California.

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A DOG’S DAILY DIARY

A DOG’S DAILY DIARY:My Favorite Things

When it comes to the simple pleasures of enjoying whatever life hands us, I thought you might enjoy reading this wonderful excerpt written by Warren Eckstein. It sure sums up a typical day for my dog!

7:00 am – Breakfast! My favorite thing!
8:00 am –A walk around the neighborhood! My favorite thing!
9:00 am – Went for a ride in the car! My favorite thing!
10:00 am – Got my belly rubbed! My favorite thing!
11:00 am – Played ‘catch the Frisbee’ with my master! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm – Ate two Milk Bones! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm – Ran circles around the backyard! My favorite thing!
2:00 pm – Played hide my master’s shoe! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm – Wagged my tail and got petted again! My favorite thing!
4:00 pm – Curled up with my master while he read a book! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm – Dinnertime! My favorite thing!
6:00 pm – Went for a long walk in the park! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm – Watched the news on TV with my master! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm – Ate two more Milk Bones ! My favorite thing!
9:00 pm – Curled up in front of the fireplace! My favorite thing!
10:00 pm – Went for another short stroll in the neighborhood (to do my duty)! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm – Went to sleep on my master’s bed! My favorite thing!

Question: Are you having as much fun as your dog?

A special thanks of appreciation to Warren for writing this entertaining and enlightening little story. You can visit Warren at http://www.warreneckstein.com

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Hip Dysplasia in English Springer Spaniels

English Springer Spaniels are a marvelous combination of sturdiness and composure. They are charming dogs that feel right at home at family events, picnics or even dinner parties. Most people wouldn’t associate English Springer Spaniels and hip dysplasia because it just doesn’t seem to be a major problem with this breed. But statistics prove that these beautiful animals are indeed susceptible to hip dyslasia.

For hundreds of years English Springer Spaniels have been prized for their ability to switch from “hunting mode” to “family mode” after long days spent in the wilds hunting.

English Springer Spaniels love everybody they meet. They easily adapt to playing with children, and are also comfortable around other pets – cats and dogs included. They make wonderful playmates for children and are eager to fraternize with strangers. That does not mean they will lick the hand of every stranger that appears at your door. They have great protective instincts and will unquestionably sound the alarm if they sense a threat of any kind.

English Springer Spaniels are people-oriented dogs. They need lots of attention, companionship and positive feedback to feel relaxed and balanced. They can get bored if left alone for too long a period and they’ll dig up your garden, chew up your shoes, or bark incessantly.

They can easily adapt to living in an apartment or small condominium. However, they do need plenty of outdoor exercise, and love to hop into a pool or pond for a short swim.

They are reasonably easy to groom, but shed hair all year long. Their coats are medium-length and regular brushing keeps them looking good.

English Springer Spaniels tend to put on weight easily so it’s important that they’re not overfed. Springer Spaniels who are overweight are more prone to developing hip dysplasia. Be sure to take your dog on daily walks regardless of the weather.

Springer Spaniels date back to the 1600’s and have long been prized for their ability to help hunters by driving birds from bushes, trees and fields. They continue to be valued for their agility, hunting skills, obedience, and companionship.

English Springer Spaniels are medium-sized dogs with compact bodies and medium-length coats that grow feathery on their long ears, legs, chest and belly. Their heads are strong and their faces have a chiseled shape, giving them a stately, alert look. Their eyes are medium-sized, oval-shaped and slightly sunken, exuding a cheerful and loving expression. They have long necks that slope down to deep, developed chests. Their tails are usually docked, and their flat or wavy coats come in black and white, liver and white, blue roan or liver roan.

A healthy English Springer Spaniel can live as long as 14 years. Common health issues include epilepsy, eye problems, and hip dysplasia.

Hip dysplasia is a genetic disease that primarily affects large and giant breeds of dogs but can also affect medium-sized breeds and occasionally small breeds. It is primarily a disease of purebreds, although it can also occur in mixed breeds.

To understand hip dysplasia and the resulting arthritis, you need a basic understanding of how the dog’s hip joint is affected. The hip joint is comprised of a ball and socket that forms the attachment of the hind leg to the body. The ball portion is the head of the femur and the socket is located on the pelvis. In a normal hip joint the ball rotates freely within the socket. The bones are shaped to perfectly match each other with the socket surrounding the ball. To strengthen the joint, the two bones are held together by a strong ligament. The joint capsule, a strong band of connective tissue, circles the two bones to provide added stability.

X-ray of a normal hip joint:

Hip dysplasia is linked to abnormal joint structure and a laxity of the muscles, connective tissue, and ligaments that would normally support the dog’s hip joints. As the disease progresses, the articular surfaces of the two bones lose contact with each other. This separation of the two bones within the joint causes a drastic change in the size and shape of the articular surfaces.

X-Ray of an abnormal hip joint:

Most dogs who eventually develop hip dysplasia are born with normal hips, but due to their genetic make-up the soft tissues surrounding the joint develop abnormally. This leads to the symptoms associated with hip dysplasia. The disease may affect both hips, or only the right or left hip.

The symptoms of hip dysplasia cause afflicted dogs to walk or run with an altered gait, similar to a bunny-hop. They begin to resist any movement that requires full extension or flexion of the rear legs. They will experience stiffness and pain in their rear legs after exercising and on first rising in the morning. Climbing stairs becomes difficult if not impossible. Some dogs will limp and are less willing to participate in normal daily activities, including walks they formerly enjoyed.

It appears that the amount of calories a dog consumes, especially during its fast-growth period from three to ten months, has the biggest impact on whether or not a dog genetically prone to hip dysplasia will develop the disease.

Obesity can increase the severity of hip dysplasia in English Springer Spaniels that are genetically susceptible to the disease and the extra weight will intensify the degeneration of it’s joints and hips. Dogs who are genetically prone to hip dysplasia and also are overweight, are at a much higher risk of developing hip dysplasia and eventually osteoarthritis.

Exercise can be another risk factor. Dogs genetically susceptible to hip dysplasia may have an increased incidence of the disease if they are over-exercised at a young age. Moderate exercise like running and swimming is best for exercising young dogs.

Because hip dysplasia is primarily an inherited condition, there are no products that can prevent its development. Through proper diet, exercise, and a daily regimen of Winston’s Joint System, you can slow, and sometimes halt, the progression of these degenerative joint diseases while providing your dog with relief from its pain. Winston’s provides many of the raw materials essential for the synthesis of the joint-lubricating synovial fluid as well as the repair of articular cartilage and connective tissue.

If you’re looking to adopt a dog, the best way to lessen the possibility of getting an English Springer Spaniel that will develop hip dysplasia is to examine the incidence of the disease in the dog’s lineage. If at all possible, try to examine the parents and grandparents as far back as three or four generations.

There are different assumptions on how to prevent the progression of hip dysplasia. Poor nutrition, inadequate or improper exercise, and increased body weight may all contribute to the severity of osteoarthritis after the hip dysplasia has developed. By watching the calories your puppy or young dog consumes and preventing obesity in your dog, allowing only non-stressful types of exercise, and a daily regimen of Winston’s Joint System, are the best things you can do for your dog.

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Putting a Dog To Sleep: A Veterinarian’s View

There is considerable advice available for a pet owner on how to cope with the loss of their beloved dog when the unthinkable and unavoidable time comes that their faithful companion must be put to sleep. But very little has been written about the emotional impact on the veterinarian who has to deliver the lethal injection in the procedure known as euthanasia.

I know from my own experience, that it is too easy to feel as if no one else could ever suffer as much pain and heartache as I have after putting my beloved dog to sleep. But no one is immune to feeling the sadness and heartache when the close bond between a pet dog and its owner is ended; even a veterinarian who has to deal with the death of pet animals every day or every week.

I recently ran into a friend of mine, a veterinarian, at my local Starbucks. Over a Grande cup of Pike Place Roast, I asked my friend why I was still grieving over the loss of my magnificent Golden Retriever whom I had to put to sleep more than 2 months ago. He sipped his coffee for several minutes, and when I was about to repeat my question because I thought he hadn’t heard me, he spoke in a soft whisper and said, “It’s truly unfortunate, but we doctors receive more thanks for killing someone’s pet than for helping it.”

I must have looked shocked because he said to me, “I don’t think most people who have to put their dog to sleep, are able at the time to consider that the doctor who has to give the lethal injection also has an emotional response every time he or she has to euthanize a longtime pet companion. I feel the same sadness every time I’m called upon to euthanize a much loved pet, an abandoned shelter dog, or a sick or injured dog whose owners can’t afford to pay for its necessary medical care.”

“Did you know that for many veterinarians, the anguish and distress in putting a pet animal to sleep is so overwhelming at times that many vets can no longer handle it.”

He went on to tell me that most people are unaware that veterinarians are at a significantly increased risk of suicide. In the U.S., England and Australia, statistics show that one in every five veterinarians who died took their own life.

“Euthanasia is based on the belief that it is more humane to relieve an animal of its incurable pain and suffering. But why do we, the veterinarians who have to take the dog’s life, often wonder if we are doing the right thing for the animal.”

“I once had a pet owner who wanted to be present when I injected her 10 year old Labrador Retriever whose lungs had finally given up on him and whose every breath became a unrelenting and demanding task. I inserted the intravenous catheter prior to the procedure in order to be sure I delivered a sufficient overdose of barbiturate directly into the dog’s bloodstream to avoid any unnecessary stress and discomfort for the dog. Its owner happened to notice the bottle containing the euthanasia solution sitting on the counter and nearly fainted. The drug was labeled “Fatal Plus”, which is an unfortunate name for a drug used in such an emotionally fraught situation as euthanasia. The owner asked me why the bottle was thus labeled, after all, ‘What was more fatal than death’.”

“The barbiturates used in euthanasia solutions work quickly, and the dog suffers no pain in the matter of seconds it takes to accomplish the task. I have seen many dogs give a deep and final sigh, while others may twitch, gasp a last breath, or lose control of their bladder or bowels.”

I mentioned how sad, lonely, and guilty I felt when my own beloved Golden began to lower his head and then in one final moment, left me; looking just like he always did when he was so tired he just couldn’t stay awake any longer. I said he didn’t close his beautiful brown eyes all the way and that surprised me.

My friend looked soulfully into my eyes and said, “Many people are surprised when their pet doesn’t close its eyes in death. The death of a dog who has been put to sleep is not like the movies where the animal gently closes its eyes and passes on. Most dogs who are euthanized leave our world with their eyes open.”

“Understand that I’m not trying to be melodramatic when I talk about the strong emotions we veterinarians experience when we have to put a dog to sleep. As for myself, every time is like the first time. Every dog and every owner is unique. I always have to ask myself if this is mercy killing, or am I ending the life of a much loved pet too early when perhaps the dog could have had a few more weeks or months to be with its owner.”

“This is the most difficult responsibility I have to face in my practice. I am sorry for your loss my friend. And I’m genuinely sorry for the loss of every dog I have had to put to sleep, and every one that I will have to do the same to, for the rest of my career.”

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