Is Your Dog Acting Senile? There’s Help for the Older Pet.

It’s heartbreaking to see our old dogs acting, well, old. You figure there’s nothing that can be done for a dog showing signs that resemble senility. This is just part of the aging process, right? Maybe not.

A remarkable medication, called Anipryl, was approved by the USDA in December of 1998 to treat age-related behavior changes (although it has been on veterinary shelves to treat canine Cushing’s disease, a hormonal imbalance). It may prove to be a lifesaver for countless senior dogs and could significantly improve the quality of their declining years and the pleasure you take in your dog. By enhancing dogs’ functioning, Anipryl can prevent or reduce many of the symptoms of old age that can disrupt a household.

Once a dog loses its housetraining, stops interacting with the family, begins to grow restless at night or to become lost even in its own home, many owners will decide that it’s time to put their beloved friend down. Those that don’t must face their dog’s progressive debility and the disruption and pain it can bring to the household. What they may not realize, however, is that sometimes these behaviors in old dogs that may look like senility or even Alzheimer’s in humans are now believed by many veterinarians to be part of an aging-associated brain disorder.

Some of these changes that are usually interpreted as the typical aging process could be due to potentially treatable medical conditions, such as tumors and infections, which are more common in older dogs; call your veterinarian for an appointment anytime your dog’s behavior changes suddenly.

A major source of behavior change in the aging dog, however, is very possibly the result of changes in the brain. This leads to the loss of cognitive abilities like thinking, memory, communication and problem solving. In some aspects it resembles Alzheimer’s disease in humans. This generalized medical condition has been designated Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome or CDS for older dogs exhibiting this group of problematic, age-related behaviors.

Anipryl (the trade name for L-deprenyl or selegiline) may help CDS. In the absence of any physical cause such as cancer, infection, or organ failure, CDS is present when a dog shows one or more of the following five signs. See if your dog has any of these symptoms.

• Disorientation or confusion:
  Your dog may wander aimlessly, stare out into space, or stand with his head in a corner; your dog may appear lost or confused in the house or yard;
• Decreased or altered responsiveness to family member:
  Your dog may fail to respond to your attention, and stop seeking out attention;
  he may be less enthusiastic in his greeting;
• Disturbances of the sleep-wake cycle:
  Your dog may bark, whine or pace at night; he may persistently bark abnormally any time of the day; he may be sleeping more, or awake more at night;
• Decreased activity level:
  Your dog may show less general interest in his usual activities;
• Deterioration in housetraining:
  A normally housetrained dog is suddenly having “accidents”; your dog may signal less to go outside and may urinate or defecate indoors soon after being outside.

Given the possible benefits for CDS, Anipryl may well be worth trying when your dog is declining in ways that lead you to contemplate putting him or her down. If the normal course of aging and its difficulties are not disruptive for your household, you may not wish to consider medication. It’s a judgement call. But it’s nice to know that there’s help for your older pet and some of the often devastating signs of aging are not something we are forced to live with and accept anymore.

One Reason Why To Never Leave Your Dog In A Hot Car

They'll die!
I know it can be incomprehensible for many out there when they read about a dog or a human left in a car during the summer when some one has to run an errand. But for many they still think it is okay to think that "I just have to run into Walgreens to pick something up and the dog will okay if I leave the windows cracked and some water." - unless you leave the car running with the air blasting, it is not okay. Life happens, you run into someone and pretty soon it's been twenties minutes since you've left your four legged family member inside the car. Let me repeat this because it should not cross your mind: it is not okay to leave an animal in a car during the summer months without running air conditioning.  The inside of a car can jump 20 degrees from the outside temperature within 10 minutes and the more the dog pants the faster it will heat up.

Here's a link I recommend watching - Dr. Ernie Ward takes us inside a car to show us what it's like for an animal to be locked inside a car when it's hot outside.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/living/2013/07/02/bts-pets-in-hot-car-demonstration.dr-ernie-ward

Keep your fur kids safe and Keep Wagging everybody!

I am my fathers daughter

I never really thought about why I love animals and why I'm passionate about them. It just seems natural that you would care about an animal that is a sentient being, right? Well, I was speaking with my father the other day and it hit me where I think I get this from. My father is a renaissance guy -he's a wonderful chef, a talented musician (12 string guitar), an awesome designer and a guy who can pretty much do whatever he sets his mind to.

He owns a 13 acre farm out on Long Island where he grows wonderful Hydrangea, Peonies, and other life forms. That should be your first hint - he gives life. But here's the one that had my laughing so hard I was crying. Deer and woodchucks routinely visit to eat his crops. He's had modest success keeping the deer away but the wood chucks are a tenacious lot. So he buys a whole slew of Have-a-hart traps and sets them out. He goes out each morning, gathers up the full traps and...does nothing. He can't release them because he would be fined if caught. So he stares at their little brown eyes and they stare back. And he does what any evolved human would do. He releases them so he can start the process again. He doesn't have the heart to harm them even though they whittle into his livelihood.

Sayings like "The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree" exist for a reason.

I love my father and my four legged kids. Happy fathers day dad.

Dogs, stem cells and Hyper Baric chambers

Big Tuna sleeping on top of her brother Bishop

Today Big Tuna had a very eventful day. As I mentioned earlier, Tuna has a degenerative condition in both elbows, more pronounced in her left elbow. It has gotten to the point where she is lame most of the time, limping - in fact we noticed she was no longer going for longer walks with us because of the discomfort.




We met with Dr. Latimer of Jupiter Pet Emergency and Specialty Center. and discussed surgical options.You can watch the video below to get an idea of what we're in for!

How to trim a dogs nails

I recently had a reader say they could not trim their dogs nails because the dog wouldn't let him touch his feet. I've heard this often - I can't clean his ears because he doesn't like it or he runs when I grab the trimmers..." Well, not unusual but it is something that can be remedied. Some dogs could care less and some do. Generally the ones that could care less have had their feet and ears handled from day one.

That's the key - getting them used to being touched early on. They should not be uncomfortable or afraid. It should be pretty natural, just like petting them. And it's never too late to start either. But it will take longer for the dog to trust you the older they are because it is a new thing they have to get used to.Trust me - if I can do it, you can to. Dogs can be stubborn but with a little patience and lots of treats (you're going to feel like a human pez dispenser) you can get them used to a nail trim or an ear cleaning. Keep wagging everyone!

My husband and I are keenly tuned into customer service skills, specifically the lack of. So when we cross paths with someone who demonstrates customer services skills that are off the charts, we take notice and genuinely share the observation with the individuals.

Case in point, we had dinner at Carabas and we had a young man, Tyler, wait on us. Tyler nailed the customer service angle and it was obvious he was tuned into every customer within reach of us and genuinely seemed to be a nice person.

We prepared to leave and made an off hand comment about the "bullies enjoying the left overs" which led to Tyler talking about his rescue work and his rescued baby pit Vino. As all proud parents do, Tyler dutifully pulled out his phone to show us his beautiful kid (pictures to the right and below). When he mentioned "rescues" (as in dogs), I thought - duh! How obvious! You would expect someone who was involved with a caring act such as rescue work to have excellent customer service skills. My husband frequently comments that people who treat their animals as family members are more evolved that those who don't get it. There are of course many caring people who don't share their lives with animals but I think my husband may be on to something.

Should you be interested in gaining another loving family member, I encourage you to visit your local Humane Society or local rescue organization and meet all the furry kids looking to rescue a human.

Don't forget to friend us up on FaceBook and send us your questions!

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

Canine Entropion eye surgery

It's been almost two weeks since Bishop, our English Bulldog, had surgery for entropion.

If you have watched previous videos, you know what Bishi looked like before. Tightly packed folds around his eyes, so much so you couldn't tell what color his eyes were.

Take a look at the "How to give a dog eye drops" video (below) and you'll see how much skin he has around his eyes. Seriously, that's enough skin for a couple of dogs.

Now that he has recovered, his eyes are big and round and I found out that his eyes are actually brown. And the beauty of this procedure is he hasn't pawed at his eyes or squinted or rubbed his eyes. He's a brand new happy dog!

I have to give a special thanks to Bishops ophthalmologist - Dr. Colitz! She is one of the best canine ophthalmologists I've had the pleasure of working with and through the years she has done wonders not only for Bishop but for countless other dogs! 

If you have a question about the surgery, please contact me - and if you have one of your babies undergoing the same procedure, send us before and after pics and we'll write about them.

Keep your pets safe and healthy and keep wagging!

Canine eye surgery - Part 2

Bishop, our English Bulldog, has just come home from having surgery for a condition known as entropion. Entropion is where the eye lashes curl in back toward the eye. When this condition occurs, it is highly recommended to have surgery since the irritation can result in ulcers, losing an eye or if left untreated, possible death. Entropion is not something to be taken lightly and dismissed. And certain breeds (ahem...English bulldogs) are more likely to develop the condition. If you notice your dog pawing at his eyes and squinting, its time for a visit to the doctor.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Bishop already had surgery for this condition. But English bulldogs being English bulldogs, there has to be a health issue present at all times. His condition began to surface again as he celebrated a few more birthdays and began to lose a little fat / mass around his eyes. Because his condition had worsened and he was noticeably irritated, it was time to take care of the problem. Dr. Colitz removed excess skin from the areas above and below the eyes - and because he is an English Bulldog, he wouldn't miss the skin because he has enough skin for two Standard poodles and an Irish Setter. 


Surgery went without a hitch and Bishop is resting comfortably and all the other animals in the house are checking him out because they know something is going on with their big brother. We'll show you what he looks like in about ten days after he's recovered and he has his stitches removed.

If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to contact me and of course, don't forget to subscribe to our Youtube channel!

Keep wagging everyone!

canine eye surgery

Bishop, our male English Bulldog, has to have cosmetic surgery. Bishop was relentless in his demands to have this surgery and we caved - but we said no to the tummy tuck. Seriously though, Bishops eyes were really bothering him - he kept scratching and pawing at them and in fact, recently developed an ulcer due to the scratching.

He's always had entropion - a condition where the eyelids curl inward and poke his yes. In fact, this will be his second surgery for this condition. He's almost nine years old and the fat has diminished in his eyes which has created the condition again. Dr. Colitz is going to remove extra skin, upper and lower, to pull the eyelids open. Pay close attention to how tightly packed the folds of skin are around his eyes. After surgery, he's going to be a different looking man!

Keep your pets healthy and keep wagging!

Another Thanksgiving day has come and gone and as I watch my two English Bulldogs sunning themselves (it's actually cool today down here in Florida), I can't help but think how thankful I am for my family, my home, my husband, my parents...everything. I try to be conscious of what I have in my life and not take it for granted. So best of health to everyone and enjoy your families!

Monique & the Nose Prints family!

Meghan Vogel and an inspiring gesture

I know - I usually write upbeat stories about dogs or cats and how they improve our life and perhaps make us think about our actions. Today I'm taking a break from inspiring animal stories or tips for your dog and I bring you an inspirational human story. I do so partly because they happen so infrequently.

You may have seen this on Huffington Post or another site - Meghan Vogel, a track star from Ohio carried a fallen competitor across the finish line. Meghan is obviously a special woman and obviously a true sportsman, someone who gets the concept of competition. My husband has mentioned a number of times that he thinks women are better people, in general, than men. Part of it is he realizes that he is a knuckle dragging primate with limitations. And that's okay. But he brings up a good point. Imagine a man making this gesture. I can't. And neither can my husband. We can see a dog making a gesture like this but no, no man. In fact, I also recalled a few years back a story about a womans softball team that made such a gesture as Meghan Vogel did. A girl hit a home run but injured her knee. She was unable to run to first base so the home run would not count. A couple girls from the opposing team asked if it was against the rules to carry her across and touch her foot to the bases. It wasn't and they did. I'll have to find the details and it's irrelevant if they won or lost - the point is it is an wonderful gesture, one that stands out even more in todays world. So if any readers know of any similar gestures made by males, please send me info. You can read the story about Meghan Vogels gesture here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/05/meghan-vogel-ohio-track-star-carries-runner-video_n_1570857.html?ref=mostpopular
Keep wagging everyone!

Dogs serving our Country

I want to thank all of the men and women who have put their lives on the line serving our country. There aren't a lot of people who willingly volunteer their time, energy and yes, sometimes their life to protect our country. Thank you from all of us. Here's an article on CNN that provides more insight into Memorial Day, certainly much more eloquently than I can. And I would highly recommend this CNN article profiling Karl Malantes and his struggles (which most soldiers will face) after returning home. Most people never think that once you participate in a war, it never ends.

I'd also like to take a moment and say thanks to all of the dogs and their handlers out there that also serve their country. Dogs, by and large, go unnoticed in the war against terrorism but rest assured they do their part and many have given their lives doing so. Take a moment and visit http://www.uswardogs.org/id2.html
And the dog training secret.com site is really awesome as well detailing the contributions that dogs make and have made.
There are so many special dogs and trainers out there that deserve our thanks and recognition for the difficult work they perform on our behalf.

Thank you again for serving our country. Stay healthy and happy and keep wagging everyone!

Monique
noseprints.net

A friend sent me a link to a video and I was reminded how a little gesture can have far reaching implications and underscore what is really important in life. I bring this up not to pat myself on the back but because I think it is important to realize that no matter how small the gesture, you can touch someones life and not even be aware of it. We created the "Keep Wagging" slogan to remind people to take a lesson from dogs and keep a positive attitude in spite of anything and everything life throws at them. This stems from watching too many seriously injured dogs that wagged when I approached them on an exam table. Here's a dog with a broken leg and in spite of his pain, he's wagging because he's happy to see me. That is a valuable lesson and I would learn that it can get you through really tough times.

Flash forward to a gentleman (Florida Highway Patrolman) who bought a couple of Buddy Belts from Noseprints.net and shortly thereafter was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that resulted in him being in a coma. His recovery was slow and painful and undoubtedly a very low point - I can only imagine struggling though the pain, rehab and depression, wondering if he would ever get better. I am very proud that a Keep Wagging greeting card that we sent with his order profoundly impacted his life, lifted his spirits and helped him turn a corner.

I watched this and cried because when you touch someones life, really reach them on a level that you never even though of reaching someone, you realize that this is what we seek in life. I found myself in a place where I was giving instead of taking and I would think we should all aspire to that. To give someone hope and help them through a tough time - well, it doesn't get any better than that.
Keep Wagging everyone! Monique

CNN story on Horse "big lick" training

Seriously? I watch stuff like this in horror - and the first thoughts are always about the welfare of the animal. But the larger question is always "What the hell are these people thinking?" I'm so sick of animals being abused for entertainment or something that is considered a "tradition"... I'm wondering what positive contribution comes out of this sort of thing. If you genuinely care about your horse, you would be mad as hell and prosecute. Watch at your own risk.

Newscaster bitten

By now you've all heard or watched Kyle Dyer being bitten by Maximus, a dog that made news when he was rescued after following through the ice. You know the details but let me tell you, based on my experience, my observations. And yes, she was not educated (as most people are not) on how to not only approach a dog but how to tell that a dog is nervous and potentially dangerous because something is making them uncomfortable. As I watched a clip on the Today show, the first think I noticed was how uncomfortable the dog was. He was licking his lips (a sure sign that they are nervous) and panting and his ears were back (instead of forward pointing). When you see one of these signs let alone all three, you never approach a dog - you let them come to you. And you should never, ever bend down to a dog that doesn't know you and is showing signs of distress. Most people have never been taught this. My husband got over sixty stitches in his leg from being an idiot with a dog and he readily admits he deserved it. She wasn't being an idiot but she was clearly not educated on what to look for and how to approach a dog. The dog was clearly not in his comfort zone. He's in an environment that he doesn't recognize with people he doesn't know. Of course he's going to be skittish. Imagine having a twenty foot person bending down in your face (which is probably how the dog perceives a much larger human bending down over them). I'm sorry to hear that she was bitten - what is ever sadder are the people who are condemning the dog. Ignorance will get you injured. Just ask my husband who had to get sixty stitches in his leg because he was being an idiot (his words, not mine). 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2099063/Worried-viewers-News-anchor-Kyle-Dyer-savagely-bitten-dog-air-released-hospital-speak.html#ixzz1lwBjypVP

http://3lostdogs.com/do-you-recognize-these-6-signs-of-a-stressed-out-dog/

Hi, I'm Ron and I'll be your guest blogger today. For those of you who know Monique, you know that she cannot suppress a smile when she see's animals of different species bonding, seemingly enjoying each others company and just getting along. No judgments, just acceptance. And I know there are millions of others out there who also enjoy seeing animals being buddies. Today I saw a video on CNN about a dog and a goat that are best friends. Now Bishop, (AKA goatboy) our oldest rescue English Bulldog believes he is a goat or perhaps is simply channeling his inner goatness when he climbs on tables (notice the proud somewhat smug look on his face) or kitchen islands. But to my knowledge, he does not consort with Goats. On a side note, I can also state that Bishop only climbs the island when I am home.If Monique is home, neither of us dare climb the island. You may also note that, although Bishop may be happily snoozing on the island in the picture below, the white meatloaf known as Big Tuna, standing on the floor, is not.

I too am fascinated by these relationships and wonder what needs are being met, if any. Sure, I'm mindful that the dog would probably eat the goat in other circumstances. Or as Woody Allen stated in one of his proverbs: The lion and the calf shall lie down together, but the calf won't get much sleep." Ah, the Woodman. Understood. But it still charges my batteries when I see these unlikely goombahs spending time together.

If you are interested in these uplifting stories, I'd recommend picking up a copy of "Unlikely friendships - 47 remarkable stories from the animal kingdom" by Jennifer S. Holland. The book profiles strange couplings such as "the monkeys and the capybaras", the Orangutan babies and the Tiger cubs and of course, my personal favorite, Owen and Mzee, the Tortoise and the Hippo. How strange are these couples? More so than Felix and Oscar but with just as much love I suspect.  I find myself wondering if humans will ever get to this point, to simply leave all the noise behind and simply accept.
Perhaps one day.
Who knows why these animals form these bonds or even why people form the strong bonds that they do with their dogs and cats. People look at my bulldogs and see two fat, flatulent dogs that resemble large meat loaves. I proudly look at my two bulldogs and see two fat flatulent bullies that resemble large meat loaves. But I love them dearly! So if you find yourself in a special relationship, be it two legged or four, don't take it for granted, don't question why there is a bond. Just acceptance and bask in it and consider yourself lucky.

Keep your pets healthy and safe and Keep Wagging everybody!
At least I think that is how Monique signs off.
Ron

Dogs are remarkable creatures who can teach us a great deal about living an honorable life. That is if we actually take the time to observe them. Not sure if everyone caught this video that was on ABC News but it is worth watching the synergy between these two dogs waiting for a forever home. I'm feeling the love.

Watch and enjoy! Keep Wagging everyone!

Monique

I happened to overhear a client who expressed her concern over her dogs diet. Specifically that the dog in question was eating too many "green" things. She was under the impression that too much food outside of their regular (i.e. manufactured) The good news is, just like humans, their is no harm in your dog eating green foods. The exceptions are Onions, Garlic and grapes. In fact, the more they gnosh on from your garden (I repeat: No Onions!) the better. Beans, peppers (not hot), tomatoes, these are all okay. In fact, this is part of their natural diet unless I missed the class in which they discussed the wild dogs of Borneo roaming the grassy savannahs, rummaging for wild growing cans of Science diet chicken and rice formula. In fact, if you watch the video below, you will see the white meat loaf known as Big Tuna, my English Bulldog, sampling items from our garden. She's a good eater.

There is still debate if dogs are canivores or omnivores but I'm not going to discuss that here. You can read an interesting article on diets for dogs on dogfoodadvisor.com.  Take a moment to check out their site. They have a wonderful breadth of information on various diets (such as raw dog food diests, wet dog food, dry dog food) and updates on dog food recalls. they also have a very cool dog food calculator so you can gauge how much dog food your four legged family member should be receiving!

Stay healthy everyone and Keep Wagging!

Monique
NosePrints.ent

Plant toxicity -

I was recently at a T shirt shop reviewin the artwork for our newest Keep Wagging T-shirt design when the owner of the company told me a story about his dogs. One that I hate hearing because I hear it fairly frequently. He had two dogs, both of which ingested seeds from a small Cycad (related to Palm trees). I was somewhat familiar with the plant because it is used often in landscaping because of its unique look.

The plant is commonly referred to as a "Cardboard plant" or "cardboard palm" and looks fairly benign. However, when the plant has seeds, many animals will gnaw on the corn cob like structure that houses the bright red (first warning sign) seeds. The owner told me that his two dogs had gotten one of the corn cobs and chewed on it. One dog swallowed the seeds while the other dog (the "chewer" as he said) actually chewed on them before swallowing. Unfortunately the dog that chewed them died later that evening while the other dog managed to pass the seeds and survived.

I had never heard of this toxic plant so I did a little research. You can take a look at the wonderful ASPCA website to not only learn about this plant but all others. I'd encourage you to familiarize yourself with the local plants to possibly avoid this scenario. You can also find out more at the Florida Palm Tree site.

The cardboard palm is toxic to horses, dogs and cats and the seeds really do some terrible damage to the GI tract and liver before ultimately leading to the animals death.

And remember that if your dog is vomiting, drooling or showing other signs that it may have ingested something toxic, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 88-426-4435 for guidance. And the quicker you can get your pet to a 24 hour emergency pet clinic, the better.

Keep your pets safe, healthy and Keep Wagging!

Monique

One of the questions we get asked quite often is our clients want to know how to clean a dogs ears. Typically they're uncomfortable with sticking something in their dogs ears and I don't blame them. If you aren't careful, you can perforate a dog (or cats) eardrum and cause some damage. So I put together a video which is helpful (I think) because it demystifies the process and shows you how easy it really is to clean your dogs ears. And you really don't need much. I recommend using Zymox as your ear cleaning solution and you'll need gauze and Q-Tips. If you're as uncomfortable as my husband is about sticking a Q-Tip in your dog or cats ear, don't do it. Use the gauze to wipe out as much gunk, then flush again with the Zymox.

Oh, and when you see a dog scratching their ears or face? Check their ears because many times that is want they're reacting to. Allergies, infections, there is no shortage what can cause this problem. And certain breeds are more susceptible to ear problems.

Enjoy and if you have any questions, please contact me!

Monique
NosePrints.net