Pet Myth: Spaying or neutering leads to weight gain

Just like with humans, there are way too may obese dogs our there. I hear every excuse from our clients at the hospital. The one that I hear most frequently thought is that the weight gain happened after they had their dog or cat spayed or neutered. It probably has nothing to do with the fact that they are free feeding the animal (rather than limiting their food intake), they don't spend the time playing/walking/exercising their dog or cat or that they are feeding them human food. No, probably has nothing to do with those things. Have another twinky Goldy!

The reality is that they dogs or cats are pretty young (typically) when they are spayed or neutered. Generaly they are very active for the first few years of their lives. The very act of spaying or neutering does not make an animal lazy or somehow sap them of their energy. Granted, there are hormonal changes that do occur after a spay or neuter, but these, by themselves, do not lead to weight gain. As I mentioned earlier, if you regularly exercise your dog or cat and do not over feed them, they will be fine.  The upside of spaying or neutering includes greatly reduced (if eliminated) chance of testicular cancer, better behaved animals (I'll elaborate) and of course, the biggest benefit is no young animals being born that need homes. Good homes.

If the procedure is done young enough, the behavior angle that I mentioned refers to less of a chance of roaming and a mellower (typically) animal.

Dental procedures for Dogs and cats

Months ago I wrote about non anesthetic dental procedures and how you could save money (by not having to pay extra to have your dog or cat put under) and how POTENTIALLY this is much safer for your dog or cat. Let me clarify: although most meds used these days are very safe for animals, there is always a risk when ever you are put under anesthesia. Humans too. It's why we have to sign a waiver when we have a procedure. There is always a risk. That being said and all things being equal, I still think this is the way to go simply because it is a lot easier on an animal. They don't have to wake up groggy, have no idea what is going on and be terrified until the drug(s) wear off. 

One other point I'd like to emphasize is that there are very, very few people who are qualified to do a non anesthetic dental. Pet Dental Services  and their staff.  Again, the point that I brought up last time is "do your homework"... check references, check qualifications, ask questions. 

Once again, I'll post the video for those who have not seen it. 

Keep Wagging!

Pet Myths: fearful dogs have been abused

I hear this one all the time too. That all dogs that are skittish have been abused at one point in their life. Typically what makes dogs fearful is....drum roll please...a lack of socialization. This by far is the most important factor in a dogs behavior. There are so many dogs that are given up simple because of their behavior and instead of working with the dog, they are given up and passed to yet another home and guess what? They have behavioral problems. Think of this in human terms. A kid gets bounced from one home to another, they're going to be messed up unless they get help. Same with a dog. They have to be trained and socialized from day one...or you're simply creating a monster for yourself, or if you give the dog up, for someone else. It breaks my heart when I hear about the countless dogs that get put to sleep simply because of a behavioral problem. 

Do the right thing. Socialize and train and you will both be happy.

Oh yea. Back to the point. Most fearful dogs have not been abused. 

Pet Myths: A dogs mouth is cleaner than a humans

I'm not sure where/how this one got started but I hear this a couple of times a month. I hear these voices, asserting with absolute certainty that it is a proven fact that a dogs mouth is cleaner than a humans, every time I catch one of my bulldogs eating some steaming fetid mass on our property before I run after them and rinse their mouth out. 

I'd like to find one human, just one, that could watch a dog eat a 1/4lb scat burger left by the local fox or bobcat and tell me that, yes, I'd let my dog kiss me goodnight. As someone once said, "A dogs tongue is an all purpose tool: washcloth, scrubber, toilet paper" Basically a dog isn't terribly choosy about where they stick their tongue and what they will eat. As an example, I give you Big Tuna, our youngest English Bulldog with a voracious appetite. She won't turn down any meal, no matter how long it has been dead and baking in the sun. I recall on one occasion (yes, this scared me for life) I caught her staring at me, a somewhat guilty look on her face. Then I noticed something sticking out of her mouth. I proceeded to grab the object and engaged her in a brief tug of war (she's wasn't going to give it up easily which is always a warning sign) before removing something that was approximately two to three inches long. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was the atrophied remains of a squirrels arm, complete with dried skin, radius, ulna, etc. Obviously the hawks didn't finish their meal or dropped the offensive limb from a pine tree ( I don't believe it was an unusually aggressive rare meat eating orchid either). Yes, there are even more disgusting stories that I can regale you with but I'll save those. 

So back to the ever elusive point I was originally trying to make: a dogs mouth is not cleaner than a humans mouth.