Breed Spotlight: The Yorkshire Terrier
Who among us can resist the sweet face and devoted nature of the Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie as we affectionately refer to them? As more and more of us move into apartments and condominiums, this American Kennel Club recognized toy breed has become very popular. They are compact and convenient in size and are highy portable, fitting into satchels and baskets quite nicely. No surprise considering they were bred as ratters to fit into the pockets of English miners and for work in clothing mills. Their breed standard is only a maximum of 7lbs.
A healthy silky-coated Yorkie will proudly display his long, glossy hair. This long straight hair does need regular maintenance or professional grooming. It especially helps to keep the hair around the muzzle trimmed to keep them neat and tidy. The soft-coated Yorkies do not require as much brushing or maintenance. (more…)
Vegetarian Dogs and Cats?
QUESTION:
“I am a vegetarian and would like to feed my dog a vegetarian diet. What are your thoughts on this and can Preference be fed alone, without the addition of meat, as a complete vegetarian meal?”
ANSWER:
As a vegetarian myself, I understand your desire to pass on your cruelty-free and healthy diet choice to your animal companions. However, humans are not physiologically the same as cats or dogs. Their nutritional requirements differ. A diet choice made for ourselves may not necessarily be what is ideal for our pets. In my training in holistic animal health and nutrition as well as my own research, I have found that some dogs can survive on a vegetarian diet if their owners are willing to put in the time and effort needed to guarantee it is balanced and nutritionally complete. This is not an easy task. My question is this, though technically some dogs may be able to survive on a vegetarian diet, will they thrive? Here are some thoughts shared on the subject by other holistic-minded animal care professionals:
“Dogs and cats must eat meat. Neither species is designed to be vegetarian, and although some dogs can eat other protein sources for a short period of time without detrimental effects, this should be done oly under a veterinarian’s supervision.” – Liz Palika, The Ultimate Pet Food Guide.
“….another myth is that dogs are strictly carnivorous and that animal protein must be their chief or only source of nutrition. Like a person, a dog can be a vegetarian, subsisting on veggies, grains, legumes, oils, and spices, or, for that matter, a lacto-vegetarian, living on a diet of eggs and dairy along with greens and grains.” – Deva Khalsa, VMD, Natural Dog: A Holistic Guide for Healtheir Dogs. (more…)
Summer Sun Protection
Question: “I take my dogs to the beach and to the park a lot, especially during the Summer. Do I need to worry about them getting sunburned? What can I do to protect them?”
Answer: The simple answer to your question is an indisuputable YES! Dogs are susceptible to sunburn, too, especially light-colored, thin-coated and hairless breeds. These dogs have less natural protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The longer-haired and dark-skinned breeds are less at risk because their hair covering and pigment offer them natural protection. The following is a list of breeds that are especially sensitive to sun exposure:
- Australian Shepherd
- Bull Terrier (white)
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Beagle
- Boxer (The Boxer has the highest rate of skin-cancer than any other breed!)
- Bulldog
- Chines Crested
- Collie
- Dalmatian
- Great Dane
- Greyhound
- Italian Greyhound
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Whippet
Collies, Shelties and Australian Shepherds are particularly affected by Nasal Solar Dermatitis (sunburned nose) but this can affect any dog with a pink or white nose. And dogs living in the southwest states of the U.S. – Arizona, Southern California, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas- are more at risk simply because the sunlight is so intense. These dogs must be given extra protection of outdoors a lot in these areas. Also, dogs in higher altitudes -such as in the Rocky Mountain regions- can suffer from snow-reflected ultraviolet sun damage. These dogs need extra protection, too.
Here are some things you can do to help protect your dog and prevent them from suffering the damage from overexposure:
- If you have a high-risk dog, keep them out of the direct sun from 10am-2pm when the sun is strongest.
- Have your dog wear a T-shirt while they are exposed to the sun.
- Make sure to provide plenty of shade, especially over your dog’s favorite outdoor areas.
- If you have a dog that likes to sunbathe indoors, in the direct light streaming through the windows, pull the drapes or close the door to these sun-filled rooms from 10am-2pm.
- Spray (or apply) your dog with a children’s sunblock with an SPF of at least 15 on sensitive areas.
If you choose to use a T-shirt, be gentle putting it on. Not all dogs enjoy being “dressed up”. Start by easing the shirt over your dog’s head and then gently placing his front legs through the arm holes. The body of the shirt should cover most of your dog’s torso. For toy dogs, an infant shirt will usually fit. For small to medium dogs, a child’s shirt will do. And, for larger breeds, try one of your own adult t-shirts.
If you choose to use a sunscreen, choose a non-toxic one with an SPF of 15 or greater. Avoid ones that contain zinc-oxide or PABA which can be harmful if swallowed. (There are many natural products now available.) Apply sunblock at least 15 minutes before sun exposure and try to distract them right after you’ve applied it so that it has time to dry before they try to lick it off. If you’re lucky, they may even forget it’s there! Remember that no sunblock is 100% effective and even the waterproof formulas need to be reapplied after some time and after water exposure such as at the beach. Though the spray-on formulas are much easier to apply than rub-on lotions, be careful that your pet does not inhale it. It is best to apply outdoors in the fresh air.
Resources:
The Dog Bible: Everything Your Dog Wants You To Know, Tracie Hotchner
An all natural sun spray for dogs.
Some information about natural sunblocks available.
“Snake Busting”: Keeping your pup safe from snakebites.
Question: “I have just adopted a 3 year-old Lab mix and would love to take her out on hikes with me. She has not had much training and I am no expert. I have heard heartbreaking stories of dogs that have been bit by rattesnakes and want to do whatever I can to avoid this happening to my new girl. What can I do to protect her?”
Answer: Congratulations on your new canine friend and for adopting one in need of a new home. I also commend you for your desire to be informed about snakebite prevention so you can help avoid the suffering this can cause. If you don’t feel you have the training skills yourself, I recommend hiring a qualified dog trainer to do this for you since success could be a matter of life or death. If you do a search online and type in “snake avoidance”, “snake proofing”, “snake busting”, etc. you will find a long list of trainers, schools and classes that offer to train your dog to avoid snakes using methods involving an “e-collar” or “shock collar”. This uses Postive Punishment, a form of Operant Conditioning as as described by B. F. Skinner.
Using Positive Reinforcement techniques, some trainers feel that you can also train your dog to avoid snakes by first training the “LEAVE IT” command. Once you have successfully trained your dog to “leave” or turn away from other objects reliably, begin teaching him to avoid or turn away from a toy or plastic snake. Some professional trainers feel that this is not as reliable a method and prefer to utilize the dog’s sense of smell, sight and sound to teach them snake avoidance and aversion.
Regardless of which method you choose, do whatever you can to keep your pet from coming into close contact with venomous snakes in your area by following some of the basic practices:
- Keep your dog on leash when in an area where snakes are present.
- Ask your vet about a rattlesnake venom vaccine.
- Make sure you know where the nearest emergency animal hospital is to where you will be hiking, camping or out with your dog. And make sure they stock rattlesnake antivenin.
- If you see a rattlesnake, do not approach it or try to kill it. If in close range, remain still. Rattlesnakes respond to movement.
- If far enough away, alter your course to avoid the snake.
- NEVER encourage your dog to approach or try to kill a snake.
Here are some resources for further reading and information:
Snake Avoidance utilizing the ”leave it” command
Snake Avoidance training techniques
Choosing a trainer with The Association of Pet Dog Trainers
Naturally Repelling Summer’s Pests
Question: “I have read of many ideas for flea control for my dog but wonder if there is a natural way to deter mosquitoes? Will the flea solutions work for mosquitoes, too?”
Answer: Here’s a great recipe from CJ Puotinene’s The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care:
The rose geranium, palmarosa or opopanax oil will help to repel ticks. Citronella helps repel mosquitoes. Black walnut works to repel flies and fleas while rosemary is an all-purpose repellent much like lavender and clove.
20 drops rose geranium, palmarosa or opopanax oil
3 drips citronella oil
3 drops clove oil
1 Tbsp. bay rum or bay tincture (alcohol base)
1 Tbsp. black walnut hull tincture (alcohol base)
Mix ingredients together, then add to 1 cup water, aloe vera gell or a combination of water and aloe.
You may also wish to try mixing up a quart of white vinegar and water in equal parts, then adding a single drop of either cedar, lavender or lemon oil to make a spray.
