Happy Holidays!

The chilly New York weather won't stop me from a toss...

Thankgiving Safety for Dogs:Stuff the turkey, not your dog

Ahhh, the aroma of a fresh, mouthwatering, roasting turkey in the oven, Mom's cornbread stuffing cooling on the counter, sweet, spicy pumpkin pie tempting your passions. But don't forget the happy, little furry-feet, following your every move!

Yep, its Thanksgiving! A time to be thankful for all we have, for those around us we love, including our canine friends. Many people share the family feast with their dog in an offering of thanks and love. While this is an innocent and seemingly gracious and loving gesture, the truth is, it's more loving not to share your holiday meals with your dog. While it may seem that a little bit of turkey skin here and a little bit of stuffing there wouldn't hurt, we know how quickly the pounds can add up over the holiday season. The same rules that apply to us apply to our pets. A diet high in fat and being overweight is very unhealthy for them.
Pancreatitis is just one of the problems that occur with a high fat and unhealthy diet. The "typical" pancreatitis victim is middle-aged or older and overweight. It's common in both sexes, and very often the family has just had a party or a big holiday meal when this disease strikes. So, if your pet is often one that gets a table scrap here, a potato chip there, extra caution should be taken, as his possibility for an accute pacreatitis attack could already be high. However this doesn't OK you to indulge him if it's "just this once" or "just for the holiday." Things can turn bad quickly and with the hustle and bustle of the holidays; you may not be as alert to the first symptoms, or may pass them off as just nerves, stress or having a little too much turkey or all the family at the home for the holiday.
The pancreas produces digestive enzymes that break down food so the body can digest it. These enzymes are carefully handled by the pancreas in order to prevent them from damaging the pancreas itself or surrounding tissue. If they break down for any reason, the result is leakage of enzymes, which damage the pancreas and any surrounding tissue they reach. This breakdown is called pancreatitis. Symptoms include loss of appetite, severe and frequent vomiting, diarrhea that may contain blood, reluctance to walk, weakness, pain, crying, restlessness, irritability, or refusing to eat. Many people know their dog is sick, but may be confused as to whether or not it's serious because of a lack of symptoms or symptoms being vague and mild.
Pancreatitis may occur only once in a dog's life or it can become chronic, a condition that returns over and over again. It can quickly become fatal or just be a mild attack of pain that is over in a few hours or a day or so. It can cause serious side effects including shock, blood clotting disorders, heart arrythmias, and liver or kidney damage. So if your pet exhibits ANY of these signs, even if mild at first, get him to your vet immediately! Of course with it being a holiday, many animal clinics may be closed - another VERY valid reason to not be so sharing with your pets this Thanksgiving. And just in case, make sure you have an emergency number for your vet or the emergency vet clinic number handy for when your vet's office is closed.
Make sure your pet has no access to any food left on the counters or tables when no one is around. After you're done cleaning up the kitchen, make sure you take the garbage out, and dispose of it in a secure place where no pets can get into it. Even the best behaved, well trained pets may be too tempted with turkey bones, the string that tied the turkey legs together, and what little of what was left of Mom's stuffing in the trash.
Other Holiday Food Dangers
Besides table scraps being dangerous to your pets because of the high-fat in some of them, there are still other reasons to not share your holiday feast with pets. Cooked turkey, duck, geese and other bird bones are dangerous to your pet. They are hollow and break and splinter easily. Also, because they are so easily breakable, dogs usually won't chew them thoroughly. The results are sharp pieces that can choke the dog or block, tear the intestines. A pet that has a bone or fragment of one lodged in his intestine may not even show symptoms for a few days. When they do occur they may include loss of appetite, depression, vomiting, or diarrhea. Sometimes the bone will pass by itself; other times it may need to be surgically removed. So make sure all left overs and throw away and out of your pets' reach.
Chocolate and your dog
Yet another danger to dogs is chocolate. It contains a xanthine compound called theobromine. Theobromine is highest in dark chocolate, but even milk chocolate contains theobromine. Chocolate can be fatal to your dog! Bowls of candy, or pieces dropped by guests or children, may go unnoticed by you for hours, but pose a real risk to your pets.
Bloat is a medical emergency!
One last word of caution on holiday meals and your pet is "bloat." Bloat is a gastric condition that can be deadly and is an EMERGENCY for you and your dog. Bloat is most commonly caused by too much gas or fluid in the stomach. This gas can extend the stomach causing gastric dilation. If the stomach partially rotates it is called gastric torsion. If it fully rotates its called gastric volvolus. Each can be a life threatening problem. Usually, large, deep-chested dogs are the victims, but it has occurred in some smaller breeds and puppies that have been allowed to eat too fast. While the causes of bloat are varied, gulping of food and water, a common behavior at excitable times when yummy treats are given and then exercise, such as the excitability and playfulness a lot of pets experience during busy times like holidays and family gatherings, may be a serious threat to a lot of pets.
Bloat is a deadly condition that gives you a very limited amount of time to act. Symptoms include abdominal distention, salivating, retching, restlessness, depression, lethargy, anorexia, weakness, or a rapid heart rate. Any of these symptoms, even if mild at first, should IMMEDIATELY be attended to by your vet. The stages and manifestations of this condition can happen rapidly once started, so no time should be wasted in seeking advice and care, even if there is a little doubt. Things to avoid are not allowing your pet to overeat, even his own food. Instead of 1 or 2 large meals a day, try 3 or 4 smaller ones. Do not feed your pet at high excitability times, or when he's nervous, such as when you have a house full of company. Many dogs will gulp down their food as a "defense" to keep these "strange intruders" out of it. Calm your dog and feed him at quiet times of the day. Do not allow vigorous exercise before or after your pet has eaten.
Be careful with your pets this holiday season, and be truly thankful for them by keeping them healthy!

Happy Birthday Adrienne, love Lucy:)

Dogs are able bedbug busters, but only when backed by humans

Sniffer dogs are the latest defence in the battle of the bedbugs in Metro Vancouver, but consumers should be wary of pest-control companies that do not conduct visual inspections to verify the canine findings.
Bedbug-detecting dogs are touted by several Vancouver companies because trained dogs can detect bedbugs' scent through all life-cycle phases from eggs to adults, and can find them in out-of-reach areas such as in walls and baseboards.
But a concern has been raised that the dogs give too many false positives, causing consumers to fork out hundreds of dollars needlessly, following a report in the New York Times Thursday. The article found that as infestations rise in New York City and the demand for the dogs has soared, so, too, have complaints about some companies' dogs "finding" bedbugs in apartments where other companies have found none.
Vancouver's top canine psychologist at the University of B.C., Stanley Coren, identified several reasons the dogs may give false positives, including that they could be picking up the scent of bedbugs from a ventilation shaft in a neighbour's apartment, or they could be picking up the scent of other types of mites.
Another theory is that because some handlers reward a dog's result with food, the animal might be tempted to invent bugs for treats.
Coren adds that with other, harsher methods, dogs can get too stressed out. He said he'd much rather see a service dog dancing around when it's time to go to work, than "coming out with his ears down thinking 'Oh no, what is going to happen to me today?'"
In B.C., no one regulates standards and accuracy. The Ministry of Environment regulates the application of pesticides if an infestation is found, but it does not set standards for bedbug sniffer dogs.
So industry experts here caution that if companies use dogs, consumers should demand that staff do visual inspections to ensure the presence of bedbugs after the dog has detected them.
Sean Rollo, a manager for Orkin pest control in Vancouver, said dogs are "exponentially" better than humans at detecting bedbugs, but admits that it can be tricky if the dog senses bedbugs behind a wall or under a baseboard, where it may be difficult to see with the human eye.
"If the dog is trying to pull a fast one, it is really important the trainer correct that problem before it becomes a pattern. A good handler can read the dog. Maybe the bugs are in the wall, so you have to trust the dog is accurate," he said.
And that is where the relationship between dog handler and dog becomes crucial, he said. In Vancouver, Orkin employs the services of Frankie, a three-year-old Jack Terrier, who is trained yearly by an expert sniffer-dog trainer from Florida.
To ensure Frankie's skills are up to snuff, the company tests him by hiding sealed vials of bedbugs in hotel rooms. If he finds every one, they'll remove the vials and send him back in to search again. If he detects bedbugs, staff mark the area and go back in for a visual inspection.

"We strongly believe in showing proof that something is there," he said.
Staff at Vancouver-based Care Pest and Wildlife Control, one of the first Canadian companies to use sniffer dogs to detect bedbugs, echoed the importance of using well-trained dogs to minimize false positives.
For three years, dog handlers at that company have been working with three bedbug-busting beagles named Vegas, Bonnie and Clyde. The dogs were trained in Florida by expert for more than 800 hours, said Katelyn Antrobus, Care's office administrator in Burnaby.
Antrobus also said their dog handlers reward the beagles with food when they work.
"Very rarely do we see false positives. Everyone makes errors, so they are not 100 per cent. We say they are 80-to 90-per-cent accurate," said Antrobus.
Beagles are the ideal sniffer dog, said Coren, because they are small and they have more nasal scent detectors than other dogs -- 225 million, as compared to a Dachshund, which has 149 million (A human has only 5 million.)
From the Downtown Eastside to the swankier West End, Vancouver is infested with bedbugs. And the problem isn't going away, said Rollo.
"It will get worse before it gets better," he said, adding that in the past three years he has seen a 500 per cent increase in calls.
As of Friday, the online bedbug tracker bedbugregistry.comhad nearly 2,000 reports of the creepy crawlers in Vancouver -- with the heavy majority of complaints coming from West End residents.
ticrawford@vancouversun.com

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Dogs+able+bedbug+busters+only+when+backed+humans/3822583/story.html#ixzz15B6Elbkr

How Safe Are Those Dog Food Cans?

Some of the highest quality dog foods on the market come in cans. But did you know that there is a potential danger lurking in those food containers? Yep, that's right, danger! And it comes in the form of BPA, otherwise known as bisphenol-A, a chemical that has been proven to be dangerous to humans. If it's dangerous to humans, you can bet it's also dangerous to us dogs (and kitties too)! Bisphenol A or BPA is a chemical used to make plastics, including the linings of canned food products used by humans and pets. BPA is known to leach from the plastic liners of canned foods into the food itself, consequently contaminating the food and linking to detrimental health effects in humans such as cancer, birth defects, miscarriages, and more.

The research:
In January of this year CBS News reported that the FDA issued a warning to consumers about the potential concern they have for BPA, stating "it now has "some concern" about the potential effects of the chemical - especially on the "brain behavior and prostate glands in fetuses, infants and young children."
Organic Grace says..."foods in #7 plastic containers and the majority of canned foods are exposed to this toxic chemical. Bisphenol-A is a plastic and resin ingredient used to line metal food and drink cans, and it's a main building block for polycarbonate (PC) plastics. Even at low doses, bisphenol A has been linked to cancer, birth defects, miscarriages...and more." According to TreeHugger, the FDA says, "17% of the American diet comes out of cans, and many of those have an epoxy liner made with bisphenol-A, a chemical which can mimic human estrogen and which is linked to breast cancer and early puberty in women. " According to the Natural Resource Defense Council, "the FDA has been slow to acknowledge the harm caused by BPA and has been reluctant to regulate the use of this chemical in food packaging. While they continue to conduct research and deliberate when there will be enough evidence to compel them to act, Americans continue to be exposed on daily basis to this chemical which has been linked a wide array of harmful effects." In July, the NRDC filed a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration for its failure to act on a petition to ban the use of bisphenol-A (BPA) in food packaging, food containers, and other materials likely to come into contact with food.
In 2007, The Environmental Working Group released a report discussing high levels of of BPA contamination in canned foods."
In April 2009, Canada became the first nation to formally declare that bisphenol A is a hazard to human health. The country already placed a ban on using the chemical in baby bottles, but this move lands BPA on the Canadian government's list of toxic substances.

What about your dog's food?
Unfortunately, there are no studies of BPA in pet food cans. So how can you be sure your pet food is safe?
We've found that there is sometimes a difference in the size of the can (5.5 oz vs 13 oz.) whether the can may or may not have lining that contains BPA. Many (but not all) 5.5 oz. cans are made of aluminum and may not contain BPA, however many cans of the 13 oz. size are made of steel and may contain BPA in the lining. Encouragingly, many pet food companies are changing their suppliers of 13 oz. (and 5.5 oz.) size cans and/or working with them to provide BPA-free linings.

Our recommendation?

If you have concerns about BPA in your pet's food can, you can write or email your pet food manufacturer and ask if they use cans that are lined with plastics containing BPA. But we aren't sure they will know the correct answer, as the cans they purchase come from multiple sources and multiple locations. We urge you to investigate the issue with your pet's food manufacturer and tell them about your concerns, while encouraging them to utilize BPA-free cans, if they are presently using them. When choosing to feed your dog canned food, purchase the food from a small, reputable company that is completely committed to your pets health, and that sources their food ingredients and packaging from local, USA made, healthier sources. These smaller, committed companies will likely know more about the packaging they use when you contact them, and we believe will be more apt to answer your questions about the potential of BPA in your dog's food cans. Another idea is to test for BPA at home. Here is some info on how you can test for BPA in your pet's food at home. Although we don't know of the reliability of the results utilizing these tests.
Get educated, education is always key to the health of your dog!

Happy Halloween from our friend Benny the Sailor. What a cute costume!

Sometimes you just need a hug...

Greetings from Mia & Adrienne. A fabulous day at the spa!

Mission: Adoptable Thursday, October 14, 2010

Our friend Buster trying on his new Halloween costume! What do you think?

Check out this talented pup!

A GREAT CAUSE.....

 

 

Bark in the Park 2010

When? October 10, 2010
Where? Liberty State Park, North Field (map)
Event Time? 11am - 3pm
Download Brochure: (in progress)

-- ONLINE REGISTRATION is now open! --

The Liberty Humane Society is excited to announce its seventh annual “Bark in the Park” Dog Walk and Fair! This year, “Bark in the Park Dog Walk 2010” will be held on Sunday, October 10th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm right on the fabulous Jersey City waterfront in Liberty State Park. “Bark in the Park” will be lots of fun for pets and people too! Please join us for an afternoon of fun and games while raising money and awareness for the Liberty Humane Society—and tell your friends!
Collecting sponsors is really easy! Log on to firstgiving.com/libertyhumane and create a custom web page to send out to friends and family to make fund raising fun and easy! Corporate teams are welcome!

Detailed steps on how to register online

• Go to the registration page and click "Get Started"
• Select your event - choose "Bark in the Park 2010"
• You can choose to register online for the event or simply create your fundraising webpage.
• If you choose to register, select the admission type you prefer and sign liability waiver.
• Enter your e-mail address. If you made a page last year, enter your e-mail address and password. If you are new to Firstgiving, you will need to provide some information to set up a new user id and password.
• If you choose not to raise money with a team, you can either click "Find a team" or "Create a team" or "Skip this part" if you plan to fundraise on your own.
• Enter your credit card information and continue
• Choose your personal web address and click "Create Your Page."
• Then click "Personalize and create your Page!"

STRUT YOUR MUTT

Mark your calendars for Strut Your Mutt!

September 26, 2010
8:30am to 6:00pm

Pier 84/Hudson River Park

Admission:

Join Best Friends Animal Society, our local rescue partners and fellow animal lovers in a leisurely, scenic morning walk to raise money and support our mission to achieve a world of No More Homeless Pets®. Afterwards, stay and enjoy a doggie-themed festival for pets and their people that includes free massages and pampering for your pooches, training demonstrations, doggie yoga, the hottest products and accessories, free treats, music, food, contests and much more! Strut Your Mutt from Coast to Coast Los Angeles – Sunday, September 19 Santa Monica Pier New York City – Sunday, September 26 Pier 84/Hudson River Park A World of No More Homeless Pets Register now and start fundraising for Best Friends Animal Society and our participating local rescue groups (our Network Charities) to help homeless pets in your city. You can raise money for Best Friends local Los Angeles and New York programs by registering as an individual, forming your own Dog Pack, or joining an existing Best Friends Dog Pack . If you want to sleep in that day and support Best Friends in spirit, you can register as a Dog Dozer or Cat Napper for a discounted fee and still get our 2010 Strut Your Mutt earth-friendly t-shirt, provided by Anvil Knitwear. To support one of our participating Network Charities, you can join a Network Charities Dog Pack and they will receive 100% of all money raised (after transaction fees). The top individual fundraiser in each city will be featured with his/her dog in Best Friends Magazine and on the 2011 Strut Your Mutt t-shirts!

Emergency Preparedness for Pets Thursday, September 16, 2010 2:00–7:00 p.m. Union Square Park, 17th Street and Broadway, Manhattan

Check it out, for those of you in and around the Williamsburg area...

Hope to see you there!

An oasis in the middle of NYC!

Here's to a bright, sunny weekend. Bye bye rain!

Check out our new website! www.ecodognyc.com

Our new pal Professor, getting a bit tired on the beach...

WHEW....What a week!!!! TGIF!!!

Strike a pose with Stryker...

English bulldog couch potatoes on a rainy day...

Thanks Bethany for the cute snap of our backseat driver friends!

There's nothing like a rest...

Check out Time Magazine's cover story this week!

Hello Surfin Doggy

Canine crew...for hire?

Please remember to keep your dog hydrated in this extreme heat, no matter what the means...

ECO DOG NYC sends a big shout to George. She is a 5 month old Boston Terrier recently adopted. How cute!

ECO DOG'S NEWEST FRIEND BARON!

Beige relief!

Happy Sunday from a beach bum:)

Would you look at this talent?

Woof woof from our Long Island pals Snickers (bottom) and Pebbles!!

Cookie spent her Saturday at Pier 59 Studios in Manhattan. An aspiring accountant.

Who Knew Bo Obama has a blog? Click here!

Have a fun, safe 4th of July holiday from ECO DOG NYC

Welcome July

Don't miss this documentary called "My Dog" out on DVD...

Love at first sight on the promenade...

C'mon, follow us on Facebook & Twitter!

Follow us on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/ECODOGNYC

Follow us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-NY/ECO-DOG-NYC/243338169835?v=wall&ref=ts&__a=5

Pride & Pooch

Have a wonderful weekend. Stay cool!

Go dog!!

Beware, your dog will always follow your lead.

The beach was a sound idea, just ask Cookie

Dogs and the sun....Important Information.

Although they do not sunburn as easily as people, dogs can suffer from sunburn. Most often, dogs sustain a superficial partial thickness burn. At worst, sunburns may result in deep partial thickness burns. Full thickness burns are rare. Light-colored or hairless dogs are more at risk than other types of canines.

Types of Burns

• Superficial partial thickness burns are similar to first-degree burns. Only the top layer of skin is involved. The hair (if present) may still be attached to the skin. The skin appears red and no blisters are seen.
• Deep partial thickness burns are similar to second-degree burns. The surface layer and some deeper layers of skin are involved. Unlike in humans, these burns usually do not have blisters. The skin is red and some layers of the skin may be exposed.
• Full thickness burns are similar to third-degree burns. The burn extends through all layers of skin and may even include tissue beneath the skin.

Immediately after the burn, the skin may look like leather or the surface of the burn may appear white.

Sunburn usually occurs in the summer months when at-risk animals (such as white dogs and hairless breeds) spend too much time in the sun.

Veterinary Care

Diagnosis

The diagnosing sunburn is based on the time of year and possible prolonged exposure to the sun. The skin will have characteristic signs of a thermal burn.

Blood tests are not initially necessary to make a diagnosis. Depending on the severity of the burns, blood tests may be done later to determine the overall health of the animal.

Treatment

Treatment of sunburn is based on the severity of the burn.

Superficial Partial Thickness

• For these burns, the hair is carefully shaved from the burned area in order to ease treatment and better monitor healing.
• The wound is gently cleaned with povidone iodine or chlorhexidine.
• Topical creams such as silver sulfadiazine are quite effective in burns.

Most superficial partial thickness burns can be treated on an outpatient basis with the remainder of treatment and care done by the owner.

Deep Partial Thickness

• For these burns, hospitalization is necessary.
• Intravenous fluids are necessary to provide hydration and needed electrolytes.
• Daily wound cleaning with povidone iodine or chlorhexidine.
• Daily bandage changes.
• Topical cream such as silver sulfadiazine.

If over 15 percent of the body is burned, skin grafts may eventually be required.

Home Care

If you suspect your pet has a sunburn, veterinary care is recommended. Dogs do not burn as easily as people, so more damage has occurred to the skin than you may be able to initially see. After diagnosis and initial treatment, daily treatment with wound cleaning and topical medication may be necessary.

Preventative Care

For dogs at risk, apply sunscreen before spending time outdoors. As in humans, it is suspected that repeated sunburns may result in permanent skin damage and even possible skin cancer.

ECO DOG NYC welcomes the new kid on the block!

Say hello to Dulla!

Look who we found waiting patiently for a treat at the Chelsea dog run.

Don't let the dogs get your back!

It's a beautiful sunny day in NYC...

Check out the ham from peoplepets.com...

Remember, when you go out in this heat, carry an extra water bottle for your 4-legged loved one. They need hydration too:)

NYC rocks, just ask Cookie:) Have a happy, safe and eco friendly weekend.