With Regard (con't)

Queen Charlotte Veronica, as a pup

Charlotte, our pack's first female.
We were driving down a dirt road in central Texas when out from an overgrown creek bank popped Charlotte, a furless, barely weened pup. We stopped the car, Charlotte disappered into the brush, reappearing with her brother Jake. They smiled and hopped into our lives. Over the next 8 yrs she took charge, even becoming Office Girl rarely missing a day of work beside me.

Immune Mediated Joint Disease, possibly SLE.
The day before Charlotte had been running, investigating and playing. That Monday, she would not walk or eat. She had a fever of 104 and was following me more closely than usual, almost desperately.

Charlotte was initially diagnosed as anemic with a low platelet count and urinary tract infection, and she was given a broad-spectrum antibiotic. By the next morning her fever climbed to 106 and a urine culture was taken. She was dehydrated, so fluids were given subcutaneously (under her skin). Charlotte began to stumble on her back legs when attempting to walk. Attributed to weakness, this incoordination was not defined as evidence of seizure. Her fever rose to 107 and we rushed her to a specialist who suspected Tick-Bourne Disease (TBD) or Leptospirosis. Accordingly she was given doxycycline, a rough antibiotic.

TBDs can cause undulating fevers. Doxycycline can cause strictures in the esophagus, so we force fed her. We had PCR tests ran for TBDs and other parasites. A PCR test actually sees if a parasite’s DNA is present within the dog’s blood. All cultures and tests, ultrasounds & x-rays were within normal parameters. Finally, a Joint Tap was taken from each of Charlotte’s elbows/knees. She was diagnosed with Immune Mediated Polyarthritis (IMP).

IMP occurs when the body attacks its own joints. Perhaps a past infection that settled in the joints, or an allergic reaction to a penicillin-based medication, sent the immune system into overdrive. If caught early, Prednisone and certain other immunosuppressive drugs can manage the hostile immune system, extending the dog’s life. Unfortunately, we were too late?

Charlotte took Predinsone for 3 days. She could eat again, walk outside to potty. We thought she was on the road to recovery…. Then she started licking her nose making a smacking sound with her mouth. This is a sign of impending seizure. Her breathing became labored and her eyes sunk slightly into their sockets all within a seconds. We were on the road to the ER when she seized and passed away.

Charlotte & Jake

Immediate causes of death? She still had a hidden infection that the immune-suppressing Prednisone allowed to flourish? The Prednisone’s side effect of water retention hindered her lungs from breathing or a now weakened heart from pumping? Was the IMP in reality full-blown SLE, dog Lupus? (She had developed mouth ulcers.) In such a case, her immune system would not be halted from attacking her organs including her central nervous system.

Something seemingly simple can be devastating. An important point I won’t forget: have cultures taken before starting antibiotics. An antibiotic can mask findings in subsequent tests. Growing and defining Charlotte’s initial infection, if present, might not have saved her. But it would possibly have saved her from suffering through unnecessary medication side effects.

With Regard

Beloved Brindle Boy Bruno

This past year has been difficult for the Vacdepot Dog Pack. Our Alpha male and female, after gallant and brave efforts, succumbed to disease. Bruno was consumed by cancer, Charlotte assailed by an autoimmune condition. Both ailments initially presented very similarly. Neither of them easily detectable or curable.

Hemangiosarcoma

It was early Sunday, Bruno wouldn’t rise to walk, his favorite activity, nor did he wish to eat. Those were the only telltale signs that something was wrong with Bruno that morning.

Hemangiosarcoma is a rapidly spreading cancer of the blood vessels that causes tumors most commonly in the spleen, heart and liver. As in Bruno’s case, this cancer often goes unnoticed until the tumor bursts and the dog bleeds out. Bruno survived the initial tumor rupture on his spleen but felt weaken by the loss of blood, that blood now pooling within his body cavity. To us, Bruno appeared only slightly bloated, but thank goodness the emergency vet suspected differently. He performed a blood test, which showed anemia and a low platelet count, and sonagramed Bruno’s torso. Bruno went directly to surgery. The tumor remnants were cleaned from Bruno’s abdomen in an attempt to prevent the cancer from seeding to other organs, and Bruno spent the next four days in ICU recovering. A nasty arrhythmia was the souvenir of his experience.

Removal of the tumor and chemotherapy are the preferred treatments for hemangiosarcoma. Even so average survival time is 2 months, up to 9 months in the best cases.

Bruno’s vigor returned by about half after a long recovery, much medication and a few turns for the worse. We were so glad to see him bounce back, the pack celebrated his return. For Bruno rides replaced walks, catching sunsets replaced chasing jackrabbits. But slowly his heart weakened, he had trouble rising and he would faint; from the last collapse he could not recover.

Dogs Decoded

A very interesting show on PBS's NOVA series, Dogs Decoded aired 11/09. If you missed it you can still watch online. The show highlighted the interesting DNA of our animal friends. It shows some new data from sources many of us have seen before including the Siberian silver fox genetic testing program where some foxes are selectively breed for tameness. Now 50+ generations in and the foxes are more tame than ever and seek human attention. It also shows the incredibly smart Border Collie that knows 300+ words/objects. With further testing they find this pup can relate symbols as well as the spoken word. But can she heard toads like the Wild Bill Palmer ?

Much of the show tells dog owners what we already know; dogs can speak to us and we can speak to our dogs. The neat part of this show tells how our pups may understand us and how important the relationship is to modern human culture. It also explores the differences in archaeology's understanding of when dogs came to be (10K + years) versus the genetic understanding (100K+ years) but does not offer an opinion either way except to say that it is "agreed" that dogs have been with humans for thousands of years and likely progressed our species beyond hunters/gatherers.

It does definitively show what our Sheppard mix Charlotte has always barked about to anyone who will listen: all dogs are descendants of the wolf, not other dog-like species. Charlotte thinks all wolves are cute and continually wags her fluffy tail to bring the cute boys to the yard. Check out the show Dogs Decoded with your pup, it is a great way to learn more about what may be your most interesting family member.

HERDERS: an INTERVENTION

We fear that we might be committing Border Collie abuse. Maybe it is just a mild case of Border Collie misuse. WBP (Wild Bill Palmer) is our 3 legged Border Collie and the only sample of the breed we have had. Only knowing WBP we assume that all border collies are in perpetual puppy mode, or maybe we just have an extra special model.

Bill's instinct to herd animals is overwhelming. If given the opportunity he will herd something until the point of it's and his own exhaustion. We do not have sheep, and the cattle here are our neighbors - not needing to be herded for any reason and we sure do not want WBP to cause any problems with the neighbors livelihood. So nature has done what nature will do and we have a dog with a built in addiction that far exceeds anything we have ever seen on the TV show Intervention. His desire is strong but his herd is lacking.

WBP's most favorite substitute herd is our jack russel, Laura (aka Bitty). With just a glance of your eye and a nod of your head WBP will jump from any position and immediately scour all known areas for the Bitty. If she is sleeping WBP will stand or lie "pointing" at the Bitty and glancing back at you to make sure you know he has found the Bitty. If Bitty is moving he will gently guide her back to you. He is persistent, never quits and always gets his Bitty - though sometimes he may get overly excited and snap or nip at Bitty, but never a serious bite. We all thought this was funny the first 300 times WBP did it, though Bitty was not very thrilled. Bitty has become quite annoyed and when she wakes to find WBP standing over her, tongue out and drooling she immediately attacks him and pins him to the ground. When she walks away from the attack of course WBP jumps up completely unphased and begins the pursuit all over again.

Perhaps in search of a herd that does not try to rip his face off, WBP discovered the toads on the back porch one night. Toad is somewhat unpredictable, jumping any direction to get away from WBP. We leave the porch lights on at night to attract the bugs which always bring the Toad for WBP to play with. Without any direction WBP just follows Toad all around the backyard, nudging one way or another with the occasional snap but never a bite. WBP will chase Toad for hours foregoing food and water. Getting WBP to leave his Toad is nearly impossible without screaming "BILL! GET INSIDE THE HOUSE!"

If left outside until past bedtime you will find WBP, sleeping next to Toad - both exhausted. Some days we make WBP stay inside so Toad can get some of that food he came to the back porch for. Bill will just stand at the window, drooling and crying as he watches Toad hop around the back porch collecting his dinner.
As if that story was not sad and embarrassing enough, this may get WBP kicked out of the Border Collie breed all together. Our poor abused Border Collie, the Wild Bill Palmer, has taken to herding insects. Yep, Bill was caught herding Katydids one night just to get his fix. It was a sad sight really, one I am sure he is already regretting. His brothers and sister now look down on Bill with some shame and Bitty will no longer play with Bill. We have enrolled him in a 12 step program and we hope to get our Bill back.

Neem, Dogs Agree

Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide. People, dogs and cows all emit CO2 as they exhale. Living on a ranch where twenty cows are only a hundred yards from the dog play yard results in a large concentration of CO2 in a relatively close space. Add to the scene standing water due to recent flash floods, and we become home to hoards of bloodsuckers.

In an effort to prevent discomfort and disease, I’ve begun washing the pups with Neem. Neem shampoo is organic, hailing from a species of tree found in Asia. Widely used in India for its anti-parasitic abilities, neem has been found to nourish and moisturize skin and hair. Among dog families, there are claims that neem works to repel mites, fleas and a few tick species. Neem oil has been recognized as an effective mosquito repellent, and neem gum is used in diabetic-food preparation. I was surprised to stumble on something that carries so much promise.

So far, so good. The pups are not allergic to the neem shampoo. I’ve noticed no scratching, nor have I seen mosquitoes landing on the dogs. I also have used neem in the shower and, while definitely not a scientifically valid study, have only been bitten once in these last couple weeks. Biting flies don’t seem phased by neem, however.

We’ll proceed with caution in our neem trial. One warning: neem is not for developing/growing humans or pups, nor pregnant females. (Not a concern for our neutered, aging pack.) The smell of neem may be off-putting to some humans. It has a slight meaty scent. The dogs don’t seem to mind.

A Month of Cloverberries

The lush fields of green clover are giving way to spring grasses and wildflowers. What remains of the clover is its seeds, thousands of them, shaped like tightly wound spirals. Each of these spirals dons dozens of spokes, ready to cling to anyone who happens by. Beginning around mid-April, our house becomes a repository for the stowaway seeds. Carried in on socks, jeans, shoelaces and especially via dog fur, they land on the rugs and furniture and hold fast. We’ve taken to affectionately calling these seasonal visitors cloverberries, in an attempt to assuage their annoying imposition on everyday life.

Cloverberries tend to drop off clothing readily. Not so when adhered to fluffy dog fur. If caught at the moment of contact, the cloverberry will release its hold with just a gentle tug. But within seconds of lodging itself into a few fur strands, the cloverberry tangles the dog’s coat, often rolling up towards the dog’s body. Extracting the burr requires a steady hand and a patient, willing dog. Our pups understand the consequences of leaving entrapped cloverberries unattended. As cloverberries dry, they sharpen. Lying on an old cloverberry is similar to the sensation of multiple, simultaneous pinpricks. Even with this incentive for quick removal, staying still while someone detaches ten or more cloverberries from your fur can be difficult. We often must carefully trim the enmeshed fur to rid the pup of the hanger-on.

Once free of their host, cloverberries seek out another carrier. Unfortunately, for them too, they often meet a dead end on a rug or carpeting. A good vacuum system with strong suction is mandatory for picking up these pests. Very light and well-suited for rolling, cloverberries can scoot quickly across bare floors propelled by the slightest breeze. In fabric or carpet strands, their spokes cling tight. As with dog fur, speedy removal is important. When a cloverberry dries, its spokes and spiral can break off into pieces, left embedded in the carpet. Pick out a cloverberry manually by hand, then pass your hand over that same spot. You’ll likely feel residual sharp bits. A rotating brushroll, such as in a power nozzle or turbine brush can clean the area better via vacuuming.

Luckily the month of cloverberries does wind down. Spring rains usually decompose the drying seeds, disarming their prickles. Yet, mushy, muddy cloverberries can carry a risk to dogs too. They still cling, become embedded in paw pad fur, wedging themselves between toes, which can lead to abrasion and infection. We’ve found that the dogs will alert us to the few discomforts that Spring may bring. But the dogs and we agree, the joys of a cool spring are worth the maintenance and extra care. Just think of it as more time together. The cloverberries enhance my appreciation for our vacuum too.

New Sweetener not Ideal for Dogs

A commercial for a new sugar substitute has been airing lately. This sweetener bakes just like sugar, as opposed to the little yellow packet or aspartame. Sounds wonderful until you dig further into the Ideal website.

Ideal is a sweetener primarily composed of Xylitol. Xylitol is not new. It has been in health food stores for years, it is also in some sugarless gum and mints. Increasingly it is used in diet foods. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol.

Back in the early 1900’s Xylitol was touted as an antiseptic. It supposedly enhanced health, especially by reducing tooth decay. Recently Xylitol has been promoted as helping to manage diabetes in humans.

But before sharing that muffin or gelatin snack with your pup… Xylitol is seriously poisonous to dogs. The Ideal website states that if consumed to contact a veterinarian. That's good advice, but when you find out what damage Xylitol can do to your dog you may decide to RUSH the pup to the vet instead of calling.  Within 30 minutes of ingesting Xylitol a canine's sugar level plummets, dogs go into seizures and they can suffer liver failure resulting in death. 

Xylitol stories pop up in the national news every so often. Many cases involve prepackaged foods shared with furry friends. Here’s hoping no homemade Ideal snacks are shared with dogs.

Celebrating the Pup Pack

My Birthday is this week, so I'm celebrating by blogging about one of my favorite things - you guessed it, the puppy pack. Time to introduce the canine family.

Bruno: Greyhound mix? Thanks go to the North Texas Humane Society for angel-ing Bruno for 6 months before we recognized our desire to adopt. Bruno came right up to us on our first visit to the shelter, he came home with us that same day. He serves as retired Alpha Dog, at age 15? Still known for his mischievous “going missing” in the house, and walking the opposite direction as the rest of the pack. His good natured manipulativeness and clever work-arounds increase with age. He also "smiles."

Nolan: Rottie mix. Charming as seen from a distance, shy and a little anxious up close. (Perhaps due to a rough puppy hood, he was found in a ditch with a gunshot wound.) A real trooper who doesn’t let his elbow replacement or arthritic hips dampen his enthusiasm. The pack respects his space and commands, imitates his actions. As Active Alpha at age 9, always first to eat.

George: Lab/collie mix? Classic black & white farm dog seen all over Texas. Yes, named after W. (He was found injured on the side of the highway shortly after 9/11 with his brother, Henry.) So sweet, baby calves love him. He is first to greet guests with a dance and kisses. But withhold the ball from him in the backyard during playtime, you might get a reminder nip – he demands attention.

Henry: Curly lab mix, doesn’t look much like his brother George, except for color. Uncanny knack for catching birds. His soft mouth doesn’t kill them, he doesn’t wish to eat them. Would make a great hunting dog? No, despises loud noises, forces his way back inside the house. Has webbed toes but pond avoidant. Our curious, precious little Emo dog, he mopes sometimes, also leads the hue & cry. Leader of the pack howl.

Charlotte: Aussie Sheppard mix; aka Queenie. First girl to enter the pack, bossy and protective. Eerily senses human intent, telling the other dogs to line up and go outside before I walk to the door. Independent but stays close by, ever watchful.


Jake: Charlotte’s “brother,” German Shepherd mix. They were discovered as weeks old puppies at a creek near an old kennel, skin raw and naked. Jake is loyal, seeks approval. Wanna-be Alpha, barks orders when others act unruly, warns us of approaching danger – like when a wild hog approached during our walk. Jake guards small animals. Bunnies and skunks have no worries; he bows down to kittens.


Laura: Jack Russell. Frantic, Daddy’s Girl. Escape artist, but always manages to return, mostly whole. Once “Angel” lived in a condo, then was taken to the farm, literally. Her people couldn’t contain her, gave up trying and after a few trips down the road to return her, we were told to keep her. Luckily she doesn’t cross roads anymore, but did start a fight with the neighbor’s 100 lbs. Lab. She is better now.


Sandy: Yellow lab mix. Giant lap dog. Would love to chase cars, if given the chance. May have arrived at our house after falling out of a Pickup (discovered in the front yard New Years Day with a hurt leg). Keeps to himself regarding the other dogs. Bunny hunter, puts up a rugged front, but nests in the closet at the first sign of thunder.



JenJen: Chow meets Shihtzu & Spaniel. Low to the ground, but 40+ lbs. Loving beyond belief. Hangs with & talks to cows, after all she probably has been a mother before. Her integration into the pack was seamless, as Nolan fell for her at first sight. Jen is now at Vacdepot, formerly at Home Depot, outdoor sales (she was found in the parking lot).


Wild Bill Palmer: Tripod Border Collie. His name from his former family is an apt description; must still be a just a pup. Swimmer and Toad Herder. Jake’s pet in that Jake bathes WBP and keeps him out of too much trouble.

A Kitchen Fit for a King Shepherd

To borrow from a popular saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention,” “Cleanliness is the packmate of renovation.”

Photo of family gathering for a final meal in the old kitchen.

Renovating a kitchen provides a fresh opportunity to address pet peeves. Below are issues we've confronted and how we resolved them.

Problem: Dog fur winds around open, exposed cabinet door hinges. Dog dirt embeds in carved detail on door fronts and the edges of the cabinet doors splinter off from dogs passing through the kitchen.
Suggestion: Use hidden european hinges. Consider a slab door style with banded edging.

Problem: Dog fluff collects and hangs down from the cabinet's base, fur falls onto the floor when opening a cabinet door.
Solution: Dog fur clings to any rough surface that might be overlooked, like the area where the bottom of the cabinet meets the indented toe kick space. Make sure finish work includes sanding and sealing such places.

We also chewed over the idea of topping off the cabinet crown molding versus extending the cabinets up to the ceiling. Dog fur has a way of collecting on the tops of cabinet boxes. Reaching over a ledge of crown molding to vacuum is more difficult than vacuuming a flat plank of wood inset perpendicular and even to the molding. For us, we decided to reach the ceiling with the molding. Good craftsmanship is a must when doing so, since some older homes have very unlevel ceilings yet a snug fit is desired.

We deliberated cabinet handle choice. Sharp edges and corners poke eyes and ears. Large handles make opening a cabinet door a breeze, maybe too easy. We chose a flat handle with a flip out pull. Dogs, even some humans, couldn’t figure out how to get inside. This was important because we had a specially designed pull-out bin incorporated into the cabinets. The bin securely held dog kibble. This design is also good for keeping the pull-out trash bin closed.

A couple more observations. Fur likes rough paneling and heavy textured walls. We spent many hours retexturing our walls and removing popcorn* from the ceiling for this reason. This also inhibited dust from collecting. *Check for EPA standards and asbestos, a speciality vacuum may be needed for removal.

One final suggestion: When feeling discouraged and tapped out, remember the goal is a worthy one: keeping it clean for you & pups.

Dogs Love Decks

Summertime means more time outside picnicking and sunbathing, two activities dogs love. And where better than on a nice wooden deck?

Decks keep dogs cool. Breezes blow over and under deck boards. The shady ground under a deck is much cooler than sun-exposed soil. This dark coolness wafts up to the deck’s surface and onto the deck dog, providing a kind of air conditioning.

Decks keep the house cleaner. Dogs run from the backyard onto the deck, then the house. The deck serves as a giant floor mat, wiping dirt, mud and fur from paws. Much of the debris falls between deck boards and doesn’t even require sweeping off.

Decks lessen backyard wear and tear. Dogs spend more time on the deck, less on the grass. Where dogs have a trail worn into the soil is a good location for a deck. I’ve seen small ravines form in undesirable spots around the house’s foundation due to simple repetitive paths. Also, our dogs will dig dog dens in the backyard in order to reach cooler dirt. They then lie in these pits. This activity kills the surrounding grass and creates mosquito reservoirs after rains.

Decks have really made a difference for us. This one served as a boardwalk over a chronically damp low spot. We used treated lumber, and sanded then sealed to prevent splinters.

Genetic Divergence in Dogs

With the attention Bo Obama has been receiving, Hypoallergenic pets are a hot topic.

But what is an Hypoallergenic dog? Those who are allergic to dogs are allergic to certain glycoproteins, found mainly in the dog’s skin and saliva. The major dog allergen is Can d 1, with 5 other minor allergens also potentially irritating. All dogs carry these glycoproteins, all but genetically divergent dogs.

GD dogs are currently for sale here in the USA. They do not contain Can d 1 and have received kudos from adopting dog parents.

They still shed, their fur still picks up allergens from around the house and yard, and thus vacuuming and bathing is still required. Yet, what a wonderful chance for a wanna-be dog parent to bring a little extra love into his or her home sans dog allergies.

Certain mainstream dog breeds might seem to be less irritating to allergy sufferers. Common reasons include the size of the dog, the lack of fur on the dog, the self-grooming habits of the dog, the hair type and structure on the dog. It is important to recognize that sneezing around a dog doesn’t denote a dog allergy. An allergic reaction could be caused by something foreign the dog is carrying on its fur or on its skin.

One dog purported to be in the Lesser Allergies category is the Labradoodle. We suspect our boy Henry might be related to a Labradoodle. He is quite tidy.

High Pressure Heat. Doglife during a Drought

On a rainy day we usually find our dogs staring out the window. They eagerly await playtime in the puddles and a chance to smell the fresh air a good shower brings. Sadly, we’ve yet to see such weather this summer. Even clouds are few and far between. On a positive note, no walks have needed to be “rainchecked.”

In managing the glaring sun and parched earth, we learned a few things:

1) Lots of clean water is mandatory for dogs to regulate their body temperature, also for bladder health. Bacteria love a dog water bowl sitting in the sun, so the water must be changed often.

2) Pet dogs. Daily check coats for skin conditions caused by humid or dry weather, exacerbated by heat. Look inside ears for mites and yeast on moist days. Stimulate dogs' natural oils to combat dry skin by petting and brushing during dry times.

3) Keep an area green. Dogs love to roll in the cooling grass, they will carry in more dirt from a barren backyard.
Water restrictions are tough, but allowing grass to die invites unwanted weeds, like the foxtail.Foxtails and speargrass seeds burrow in the dog's skin and can reach internal organs.

4) Vacuum daily. Hot, stagnant weather brings on more dust and pollution = respiratory problems, watery eyes for dogs too. Overall comfort increases when surroundings seem airy and fresh versus weighed down by irritants, including smells.

5) Trim fur, on paw pads too. Caution: shaving some dogs is ill-advised. Dogs with undercoats use longer guard hairs for loft cooling, the hair wicks away body heat. Remove any undercoat mats but retain guard hairs to enhance the dog’s ability to self-cool. Watch out for sunburns.

6) Watch for wildlife attracted by water bowls. Everything wishes to escape the heat as sources of water dwindle. Wasps can be found floating in the water bowls, toads migrate to the back patio from flowerbeds and parks.