tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330274732024-03-14T01:18:05.683-04:00MANHATTAN CHIEN~MetroChienUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-71371156243899319132007-08-23T12:18:00.000-04:002007-08-23T12:34:13.709-04:00Metropolitan Dog Club SoireeI've just recieved an invitation to a Soiree and Live Auction to benefit <a href="http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/">Puppies behind Bars</a> organized by the <a href="http://www.metropolitandogclub.com/">Metropolitan Dog Club</a> - an invitation that I've been asked to extend to any NYC Dog Owners that may be also be interested in attending. Click on the invite for a larger version.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahAbczi9QJC7uzK_0F4Sv4b18rJpJRihX_vbvDrtMu3TBoFtVHQ4nK0BuzVQpwhvF7wGHAWE7TB5ZpJUHhiGyTUdkGJOm7xVkALQXRRSs7dU49qNTfsnPnyYV1145lrIwhNUc/s1600-h/MDC_Invitation_8.22.07.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlVdQETxNOz-43aeaF72fw3i0np9Ebq9QcP8c03oDgj-iYRB28HJxIAeHqCq_VoX3XjbjbrTHxTPLu3FordREdWiR8LPKvvQQq13evVFeC8H99XsVDgwalody0Yi2xrkncl8-/s400/MDC_Invitation.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101931480859492178" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-47659072135060430762007-06-27T15:34:00.000-04:002007-07-15T13:08:49.227-04:00Vacation MenuThis is the first time that I have taken Eti on vacation or away from home for a length of time greater than a weekend so I've had to face the challenge of what to feed him while away from our regular resources. Last year when I had come to Provincetown I noted that they sold Evo kibble at the pet food store which is one reason I have over the last year fed him a random occasional meal of Evo kibble. I didn't like how he seemed exceptionally thirsty on it but he was fine with it otherwise. The day we got here, I went straight to the store to get some along with some canned and they didn't have any-sold out, next delivery in a week. I came away with one can of Evo.<br /><br />I was only going to feed him some meals of kibble and canned and the rest from the grocery store anyway so it was only a minor setback. Onward to to the supermarket where I got a whole chicken which included the liver/heart, eggs, sardines, ground beef, marrowbones, garlic and some pork. Next to the kitchen store where I got a pair of poultry shears and a pair of tongs (to hold on to the pieces and prevent him swallowing too big of a piece). Three grocery stores later- at the health food one - I finally managed to find a small tub of live yogurt- on the second try- the first one was sweetened although it didn't actually say that it was. What the original pet food store did have was some good treats- dried liver and buffalo jerky.<br /><br />One more trip to the thrift store where I got a large Pyrex baking dish for a feeding platter and we're in business. First the chicken got cut into portions- I brought my little kitchen scale so was able to measure out the portions. I removed the wings thighs and drumsticks. The breast and back were cut in strips across so that the strips included both the the bonier backs and the meatier breasts. Everything got put into freezer bags and into the freezer. Next I ground up some eggshell with the help of a seashell and the back of a spoon as my makeshift mortar and pestle. Whenever I fed lean meat without bone I would add ground eggshell for calcium -one half teaspoon for every pound of lean meat. Every meal also got a halfish teaspoon of live yogurt and every other meal got a quarter teaspoon of fresh ground garlic. If only I had remembered to bring some fish oil capsules and things would have been near perfect.<br /><br />A week or so later the results are in. I was expecting perhaps slightly softer poops because of the higher amount of lean meat- although I was adding ground eggshell for calcium I thought the lower amount of bone would mean less " fibre ". Instead we had fairly firm poop and very very little of it . At first I was a little concerned, then I realized that he was simply absorbing more and I had actually increased the daily amount a tad because he was getting so much more exercise than usual. You may have noticed that there is no mention of vegetables- I have increasingly reduced his vegetable intake to nothing and it has had no discernible effect. I do however supplement with <a href="http://manhattanchienmetro.blogspot.com/2007/02/legumes-de-la-mer.html">marine greens</a> and fruit for snacks. I decided to eliminate fruit these two weeks just to make sure that his digestive system had the sole job of digesting meat and bone as he didn't normally consume this amount of whole pieces. I've generally avoided feeding wings and thighs because I haven't been completely comfortable about the denser bones but he's been dealing with them well- I know now to include them more in the future. The vacation menu prepared by my temporary <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdviUtJRlM3sDOl8pd9IgHMSVBzkyEItw_cmW6m2pq1p_C-V7i271kq5XKrxXbPrrbV8Ac0GWQLPRLqD4V4ex4gXdMmSBxnrBSNrKEuY19wf4VeYwSrexQf5_BB6KJh0Yac3e6/s1600-h/vacationmenu3.jpg">kitchen equipment</a> was a success, I learnt a couple more things and Eti showed his usual appreciation by licking his platter clean.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-56721094811172465092007-06-07T00:38:00.000-04:002007-06-11T02:03:22.811-04:00Hug Me, I'm FrenchDo you like to be hugged? Do you come from a touchy feely family thats comfortable with shows of physical affection or one where its culturally not the norm to engage in them? Or is it sometimes gender or situationally related- if you were male you might hug another male on a sport field after a successful outcome but not perhaps in a regular social setting or you're more likely to hug your brother but not your best friend. Or you're female and little unsure about the enthusiastic hug you just received from a male acquaintence you just met. Or were you brought up without a lot of hugging and then introduced to it via a significant other or a move to a city or culture where there were different concepts of personal space and etiquette- and subsequently grew to be comfortable with it. Obviously in the human world there's quite a range.<br /><br />So how about in the canine world? I've seen this subject be one of lively debate in response to the statement "Dogs don't like to be Hugged". What's the reasoning behind this? In Patricia McConell's book '<a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/detail/034544678X/105-3745367-9706842">The Other End of the Leash</a>" she explains that many of our intended movements and their intended meanings, easily understood by humans, have meanings that are diametrically different for dogs. For example the humanly friendly gestures of extended hand-arm and of hugging have the opposite meaning of potential threat to dogs. In Turid Rugaas' book <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/detail/1929242360/105-3745367-9706842">On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals</a> she describes the many responses that a dog might provide as clues to their discomfort with this like yawning or looking away. <br /><br />To understand why a dog might feel threatened by this it helps to have an understanding of how it is processing this situation or what is going on its mind when this happens. Temple Grandin, who has writen <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/detail/0156031442/105-3745367-9706842">books</a> and research papers on how animals think- likens their thinking process to those of people with autism. Being autisitic herself she understands that <a href="http://www.grandin.com/references/thinking.animals.html">fear</a> is the main emotion shared by autistics and animals. "Objects that make sudden movements are the most fear-provoking. In the wild, sudden movement is feared because predators make sudden movements." Add to that the restraint of an embrace or its similarity to a dominant gesture or prelude to an aggressive one- and you can see the root of what may cause a dog to percieve this negatively.<br /><br />Patricia McConell however does qualify this by saying that a positive response to hugging can be learned. In fact behaviorists generally believe that anything can be learned by classical or operant conditioning. Whenever Eti and I return from a walk we have a ritual of paw wiping and a little play and affection which would include some form of embrace or hug from me followed by a meal. So his whole entire life he has only had a positive association with hugging which I would imagine is very similar in other households where the act is meditated with affection or loving intent. Is a dog, apart from learning by positive association, able to understand or recognize this intent? According to Marc Bekoff a distinguished Biologist whose field of research is animal behavior, cognitive ethology (the study of animal minds), and behavioral ecology, is convinced that our companions do have this ability and says "We also hug them, love them, and welcome them into our homes as family members which pleases them immensely because they're such social beings". He says they have a great capacity for <a href="http://www.animalliberty.com/animalliberty/articles/marc-bekoff/marc-1.html">trust</a> and they "tell us they trust us by their actions, their willingness to allow us to do just about anything to them."<br /><br />"Don't hug dogs" would therefore be something you might want to teach children as a general rule of safety or you might not want to hug a dog you don't know or just met but to say "Don't hug <span style="font-style:italic;">your</span> dog" a dog that you have built a trusting relationship with would be poor advice that doesn't properly recognise the bond that can occur between a dog and its owner and the need to continually nourish it. Nor does it credit the ability of a dog to transcend his base fears and replace it with trust and the ability to understand that a hug is intended as a gesture of love and affection from his beloved guardian. <br /><br />An interesting outcome of the hugging dicussion on the forum is that many Frenchie owners declared, myself included, that their French Bulldogs go one step further- not only do they show little to no aversion to hugging but enjoy even demand to be cuddled, coddled, and cradled like babies and they had pictures to prove it. How can this be? How can the combination of an aggresive bull baiting bulldog combined with a murderous ratting terrier exhibit such infantile behavior. Most probably genetics - and by genetics I mean the kind thats been largely in operation from the 19th century to today - the kind that involves significant human interference. <br /><br />The roots of the French Bulldog began with the intent of English Bulldog Breeders to redefine the breed from an aggressive one, which was no longer desired with the decline in interest in Bull Baiting, to a more docile 'family dog' and a smaller one at that as breeders were also trying to create a miniature bulldog. When the breed surfaced in France combined with the local Terriers it was at the dawn of the "Show Dog" Era and also the beginning of a demand for small companion dogs and lapdogs. The breeding programs were without doubt all selecting for appearance and good temper. Not only would this positive selection for "good temper" have an effect on genetics, so would selecting for appearance . A preference for physical characteristics like larger heads and puppy like features can also have according to <a href="http://www.ao.net/~holmanh/CoppBioBases/CoppBioBases.htm">Raymond and Lorna Coppinger</a> an impact on behavior. In <a href="http://www.grandin.com/references/genetics.html">this article</a> by Temple Grandin she describes this Neoteny or preference for juvenile characteristics as one of many reasons how behavioral genetics can be altered. The article sums up all the possibilites - experience, environment, learnt behavior, selection for certain traits -they all impact an animal's temperament. So where a Frenchie may not only be agreeable but actually enjoy lot of physical handling, a working dog like the Siberian Husky or a herding breed like a German Shepherd, who tend to be more flighty, may not feel quite the same way.<br /><br />My experience with Eti is that he loves physical interaction and I encourage it not just with myself but with others and in doing so he is socially confident with everyone that he meets and its a trait I not only like but find important living in a crowded urban setting where he deals on a daily basis with the physical advances of strangers, friends, neighbours and their children. But like the humans described at the start of this post, not all Frenchies are the same there's a range and its important to be able to read your dogs language and what he's telling you, understand that your body posture and body language plays a role- you should be low to the ground not standing or hovering over him and that the situation should have positive associations - food, toys, playing , smiles and laughter.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-20281535151265216822007-06-05T10:18:00.000-04:002007-06-06T23:22:34.577-04:00French EducationI have over the last few years been a regular contributor to a couple of French Bulldog Forums, first asking questions and learning then, answering questions and sharing what I have learnt about taking care of Eti. Out of personal interest I have also researched issues that other members of the forum have been experiencing that I, touch wood, haven't and in doing so learnt a little more. Add to that the many valuable insights gained by reading the many knowledgeable responses from other Frenchie Owners - owners of longer standing, multiple owners, owners with interests in the Show Ring and with insights provided by their network of breeder friends, owners involved with the rescue of French Bulldogs and owners with both healthy and unhealthy Frenchies. This has resulted not in just a little knowledge but also perspective. I have a photographic memory that has always held me in good stead and I haven't just remembered what the problems were that challenged some owners but also what were the practices of the owners that had healthy dogs. <br /><br />I intend to serve up this information and knowledge in a series of posts that cover topics that I have found to be relevant, recurring issues, or just interesting to French Bulldog owners. You'll see in the sidebar that there are already broad categories like Health, Nutrition and so on- over time this will become subdivided and more easily searchable as I begin to index them. To give you an idea of what these posts might be I thought I might kick off with a post inspired by the phrase "<span style="font-weight:bold;">The Concept formerly known as Dominance</span>"- one jokingly coined by Dr. Rosemary Connell in response to the extremely un PC usage of that word nowadays amongst dog trainers and behaviorists but I think I want to spend a little time working on a suitable graphic to represent that just like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_(musician)">artist</a>'s. So instead we'll start on a post I'm putting together called "<span style="font-weight:bold;">Hug me. I'm French</span> " that ponders if like their human French counterparts who like their greetings with not one kiss but two, our little Gallic Chiens also have a different perception of 'personal space. Without doubt an important focus in this series of posts will be nutrition- a subject that has more dog owners reevaluating and researching options in the light of the recent pet food recalls. So the next post will most probably be "<span style="font-weight:bold;">Nutrition Options</span>"- an overview of the three common choices -kibble, home cooked and raw. <br /><br />We don't fully appreciate the casual confidence that we have in the human world as friends or parents to say 'Oh, that looks like measles' or ' she's annoyed with you because you ignored her'. With our dogs being a completely different species it takes some knowing to recognize an allergic reaction or that grumpy behavior is a symptom of pain. There is a substantial difference in the knowledge threshold between saying to a fellow human 'You need to see a doctor' or 'It would be a good idea to get counselling' and what you would similarly say to a dog owner 'He needs to see a vet' or 'you need the help of a trainer'. Another reason for this knowledge gap is simply that a dog can't say to us like a two year old could- 'my tummy hurts'. Thats the information territory that I am most interested in filling- information that leads to insight and knowledge that transforms a dog owner from one who is baffled by his dog to one who has some ideas on what to do next. Ideas that he has confidence in executing before he or she feels professional help is required. <br /><br />I am not an expert with any kind of training and all the information and knowledge I've acquired is with this simple ambition in mind and that is to understand my dog a lot better and to be able to confidently know what to do with with him when things go a little wrong and how to get back on the path of keeping him happy and healthy and knowing when to seek professional help. Or, even more importantly understanding the important role of nutrition and successful communication with our dogs in order to prevent things going wrong and ultimately avoiding the need to seek professional medical or behavioral help or at least to keep it to a minimum. The comments section will be available for this part of the site so feel free to add your thoughts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-43233240166591304652007-05-27T14:20:00.000-04:002007-05-27T18:24:59.106-04:00Summer PrepI've been rushing to get someone to install the new air conditioning brackets - a new mandatory requirement by the city. The handyman can only come early next week which means we'll have to deal with the warmer temperatures for a few more days. The urgency is of course because of Eti who despite having excellent breathing apparatus- no snoring ( well- just an occasional tiny snore which I actually quite like and find calming), no labored breathing when exercising and certainly no other worse symptoms like vomiting or 'roaring' where they are really struggling to breathe- as I've seen in some frenchies. When the weather goes over 80 degrees however I see a marked change in his comfort level and its really not possible to exist without the air conditioning at full blast 24 hours a day all through the summer months.<br /><br />Additionally I found a nifty ice cube tray that freezes tubular spikes of of ice that can be dropped into a water bottle- which perfectly melts to cool water when needed at the destination or the bottle can be used as a cooling device on his face or belly. I've also begun to mentally re align my schedule to account for the fact that he simply can't be outside beyond 10 am or so and not again till early evening cools things down again. So wake up for me is brought forward to 7.30am which is already instituted as Eti's internal clock responds to the earlier daylight. Ever been woken up by a French Bulldog lying on your shin licking your toes at 6.30 in the morning? Welcome to my world-if you're reading this you're probably already there.<br /><br />Let's see what else. Oh yes, budget for more cab rides because the subway turns into a furnace and frankly prepare for a little worrying. I get worried that if I stay out too long something drastic might happen like a power failure and the air conditioning cuts out and all the windows are closed. I know I shouldn't but I can't help it- and so my social life takes a little dive during the summer months. Not to forget the panic attacks you get halfway on route downtown- <span style="font-style:italic;">OMG I totally forgot to bring the bottle with the ice cubes.</span><br /><br />I watched a PBS program a little while ago about the evolution of dogs and was struck particularly by the Inuit dogs that provide all the transport, protection (they can take down a polar bear) and even hunt for their masters. The Inuit to this day are hugely reliant on their dogs who still perform many tasks relevant to their daily survival. How on earth I got suckered into the reverse situation here with Eti, I'll never know. French Bulldogs have the most cunning evolutionary survival strategy ever- find humans to perform all tasks including provision of food and shelter, porterage and all hygenic ministrations, in return look adorable and have an irresistable personality.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-39126519274109417972007-05-11T14:37:00.000-04:002007-05-11T18:37:49.278-04:00Flat Faced FeaturesI was aware of some of the breed specific problems that Frenchies have being brachycephalic, mainly by reading the excellent article by Jan Grebe called '<span style="font-style:italic;">The Brachycephalic Syndrome</span>' (Part <a href="http://www.bulldogfrances.com/brachy.html">I</a> & <a href="http://www.bulldogfrances.com/brachy2.html">II</a>) but I didn't realise there were other problems as well as an interesting fact- their visual field is more like ours than other dogs which is why they may be more likely to enjoy watching TV with you.<br /><br />I discovered this on another Frenchie Afficionado's site <a href="http://www.ebullientfrenchbulldogs.com/GoodBlog/">Good Bloggie</a>. Her <a href="http://ebullientfrenchbulldogs.com/GoodBlog/2007/04/24/does-your-frenchie-watch-the-tube-with-you/#respond">post</a> on the subject points to the research that supports this and follows with <a href="http://ebullientfrenchbulldogs.com/GoodBlog/2007/05/06/vaccinations-and-adverse-reactions/#respond">another post</a> about adverse reactions to Rabies Vaccines- which she additionaly informed me that there is a 2005 American Journal of Veterinary Research study that found brachycephalic dogs were most susceptible to reacting to.<br /><br />I was then of course curious to see what else were flat faced features and discoverd that eye prominence was another one. From <a href="http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_brachycephalic.html">Marvistvet</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Sometimes, the eyes are so prominent that the lids cannot close all the way over the eyes. This will lead to irritation and drying of the center of the eye unless surgical correction is performed. If you cannot tell by watching your pet blink, watch as your pet sleeps. Dogs who sleep without closing their eyes all the way could do with surgical correction.<br /><br />Eyelid problems are common in these breeds. Look for persistent wetness around the eyes. In some dogs, the shape of the eyelids prevents normal tear drainage and there is an overflow. This problem cannot be corrected surgically and is not uncomfortable for the pet; however, there is a more serious condition which looks similar. This second condition involves the rolling inward of the eyelids such that the lashes rub on the eye. Surgery may be needed to correct this problem.</span> </blockquote><br />I actually know of a couple of Frenchies with the former situation who had surgical procedures. The latter combined with facial folds, another brachycephalic feature increases the potential for skin fold infections also something I've witnessed in a few Frenchies.<br /><br />Another concern is dental:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">The normal dog has 42 teeth in its mouth. The brachycephalic dog also has 42 teeth but a lot less space to fit them in. This means that the teeth will be crowded and growing in at odd angles which, in turn, traps food debris and leads to periodontal disease at a far younger age than in non-brachycephalics. The earlier you begin using home care dental products, the longer you will be able to postpone full dentistry under general anesthesia.</span></blockquote>.<br />I also came across an interesting study that links brachycephalic dog with upper respiratory problems with a greater incidence of gastrointestinal lesions. The full text can be downloaded from <a href="http://revmedvet.envt.fr/RevMedVet/2004/2004_US.htm">here</a> but one finding was that '<span style="font-style:italic;">surgery on their upper respiratory airways showed marked clinical respiratory and digestive improvement associated with marked improvement in the digestive abnormalities confirmed by a control endoscopy.'</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-2429797617030538042007-04-13T21:05:00.000-04:002007-04-13T21:45:25.257-04:00Kefir<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0I9umk7QYJto32EXe26IBqtF8xuUbrIFTcawG4QbjSLgGtn0nTCGxcqvb-JzanLFLENv7Lxa0GeHClmy_keW-2zc2vaHiIVXOuK-E0RNDpW-huryGrTMSdxSttYaIfy1-xDs/s1600-h/kefir.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0I9umk7QYJto32EXe26IBqtF8xuUbrIFTcawG4QbjSLgGtn0nTCGxcqvb-JzanLFLENv7Lxa0GeHClmy_keW-2zc2vaHiIVXOuK-E0RNDpW-huryGrTMSdxSttYaIfy1-xDs/s1600/kefir.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053083846829314306" /></a> Probiotics are important for keeping the beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract in equilibrium with the the more harmful ones that find their way into the system. A situation thats compromised when a dog has recently been on antibiotics as Eti has- the antibiotics kill both the good along with the bad bacteria. <br /><br />Its's argued however that given the highly acidic environment of the canine digestive system probiotics may not be effective as they are unable to survive that environment. There is a school of thought that believes it's best to give probiotics between meals when the digestive juices are less active. The other, and one that I subscribe to, is to give one with as broad a range of bacteria as possible to ensure the inclusion of strains that do survive that environment. <a href="http://www.heliosnutrition.com/html/probiotics.html">Kefir</a>, which contains, certainly in the case of the brand that I get for Eti from Wholefoods-<a href="http://www.heliosnutrition.com/html/our_organic_kefir.html">Helios</a>, more than thirty different kinds of these bacteria far exceeding the more limited ranges found in the powdered form or in capsules and even its cousin live yogurt.<br /><br />Another advantage with Kefir is that more of the Lactose is pre digested and therefore less problematic for lactose intolerant dogs- I do notice Eti tolerates Kefir extremely well whereas with live yogurt- which I give him on occasion can affect/loosen his stools. Yet another benefit is -I've grown to love it myself. I'm not a great a fan of live yogurt but the much less tangy Kefir I find quite pleasant tasting and great with fruit. So Kefir is a regular feature in our fridge, Eti gets a teaspoon of it most days mixed into his meal.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-48834668570171823412007-03-29T11:45:00.000-04:002007-03-30T13:37:27.864-04:00Another Medical AdventureI was enjoying lunch, seated at a picnic table at the New York Botanical garden soaking up the unusually warm sunny weather on my dog free week- Eti was staying at a friend's house when I got the dreaded call from said friend- '....<span style="font-style:italic;">there's something wrong with Eti</span> '.<br /><br />I had recently had Magnus stay with us, and my reward was a swop - Eti was to stay with Magnus' family while I had a couple of weekends away and the weekdays were to be spent doing some long planned DIY projects, varnishing the dining table, some painting, some spring cleaning- all best done without a fume sensitive and curious dog around. So there I was on Day 4 when the phone call came, telling me that Eti had a swollen rear end and had been scooting all morning. By the time I got to him his swollen anal gland had abcessed and was oozing and bleeding. Off we went to our vets.<br /><br />I have since learnt a lot about the anal gland - but I'll post about this another time. Thanks to the wonders of digital photography and email- I also have some gruesome photo evidence, that Magnus' dad sent me- which I'll spare you. Suffice to say Eti is making a good recovery. What I just wanted to say about this episode is a little more philosophical. First on the list - things happen and you fix them. I also gained a new perspective on my vet- although I have a couple of grumbles about the practise- I was very happy about their flexibility and ability to accomodate us at short notice- a good reason to stick with them. Surprisingly, I was also kind of glad to have Eti back home, despite the unfortunate circumstances. As always he can be depended on to raise a laugh with his antics. He now has to take medication after meals which I mix into some mashed banana, so has quickly learnt to wait by his food bowl until I come up with 'dessert'. He tracked down that silver lining right away.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-14653029682533035902007-03-08T19:06:00.000-05:002007-03-18T01:27:46.696-04:00Knowing BetterThe update from our dismal weekend is-we got a diagnosis from the vet: No infection indicated in the urinalysis and culture and no stones in the x ray. No further treatment(antibiotics) required unless symptoms return-and they haven't returned.<br /><br />It looks like what we had was a prepucial infection that was localised and didn't travel any further to infect the urinary tract or bladder.The reason for the infection was most probably a hygiene issue. French Bulldogs can't clean themselves down there so its my job to do that. I do, do that but from now on the procedure will be much more regular and much more elaborate. A three hundred dollar vet bill can inspire you like that.<br /><br />I was very keen to rule out the possibility of a UTI because I have seen with other Frenchies how an undiagnosed one can take hold and become very difficult to beat they keep coming back and the antibiotic therapy needs to get longer and stronger. The situation was complicated by the vomiting but it seems like the two were not connected. <br /><br />As our dog's caretakers we make decisions for them when we see symptoms that we recognize or whisk them off to the vet for diagnostics and treatment when we see symptoms that we recognise as potentially serious or don't recognize at all. It did occur to me during this episode though, what does an adult dog do, by way of his own natural instinct when he is experiencing symptoms of illness. From Eti's perspective the whole weekend was about not feeling well, dealing with nausea and pain. What was his own instinctual, innate response to the situation? Without my or a vets intervention in the wild, what would he have done?<br /><br />Although the general guideline for vomiting and digestive upset is to fast for 12 hours, I decided to offer him food. Given a previous experience with vomiting and diahrrea where he refused food I figured -he has some kind of inner radar about this, lets see what he wants to do. He looked at the food as if he was thinking it over and then he turned to his water bowl and had a drink of that (he's never done this) and then he ate all of his food. Many hours later he puked up a little clear liquid with some undigested carrot. His food was ground lamb (with a little carrot) with some pieces of lean chicken -so it was interesting to see that his system had digested all the meat and bone but left the carrot intact.<br /><br />The next meal he again looked at the food, it seemed he just wanted to make sure it was ok and ate it all. No more vomiting after this. He did however drink a lot of water. He drank at least five times his usual intake. He was obviously and intuitively flushing his system. In between meals he just lay on his bed quiet or sleeping. I think this distressed me most as he is generally such an active dog but I understand now that this is better percieved not so much that he is sick but that it is what he does when he doesn't feel well. Being quiet is curative and healing.<br /><br />He's completely fine now. If this happens again, I'll know to just go straight to the vet in the morning- clumsily trying to get a free catch of a urine sample was a complete waste of time- the vet wanted to do a sterile draw with a needle anyway. I know now, as noted above the cost efficacy of increased penile hygiene procedures. I also got to know Eti a little better, and learnt to trust him a little more about some of the decision making when he's not feeling well- he knows a thing or two about how to make himself better.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-81780315523776437412007-02-19T01:42:00.000-05:002007-02-19T03:23:15.544-05:00Bathing HabitsI've titled this bathing habits because thats how the subject of bathing Eti began for me- by observing the habits of others. To my great surprise, I learnt from a couple of experienced Frenchie owners that they rarely bathed their dogs. Researching a little around the subject, it made sense not to strip the natural oils with overbathing but no bathing for 3 or 4 months. Really? I couldn't remember how often the dogs that I grew up with were bathed, I'm sure it was more often than that. What I do remember is that dog odor in the days or weeks that preceded the bath.<br /><br />As it turned out, the first thing I noticed about Eti was he really didn't smell much like a dog. His things smell icky after a bit- like his bed and his toys and blankets, but not him. I've since spent close quarters with a couple of other Frenchies and they are much the same. When he was a puppy it was hard to avoid going without a bath every few weeks but the gaps got longer and after I started feeding him a raw diet at the age of 5 months, if he didn't really smell before he didn't smell at all now. One day I realised I hadn't bathed him in 2 and a half months.<br /><br />I have learnt to do other things. I stand him in the bath and rinse with just water. Sometimes its just enough warm water to cover his paws- perfect for the winter months to get rid of the salt. This can be increased to include his legs and belly if he's been rolling in the grass or a full body rinse if he's been running around, or more likely lying and crawling in a dusty dog run. In the summer months this is also great to just cool him down, for dogs with environmental allergies this is also a great way to keep those allergens at bay. Every two or three of months I actually bathe him with a <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/detail/B000BXZ718/104-7939191-2783936">shampoo</a>. I use very little which I have already watered down in a container, never applied in concentrated form directly. I always avoid the head and ears which I wipe with a damp towel- water in the ears can cause ear infections.<br /><br />I came across some good advice about bathing in a post on a canine nutrition/health list that I read from, who better, a dog groomer of twenty seven years. She stresses the importance of rinsing the shampoo out- its the primary trigger of dry skin and the ensuing problems it leads to. Read her <a href="http://onibasu.com/archives/kn/124947.html">post</a> for a solution to this and an interesting use for Listerine which was apparently a Dandruff shampoo before it was a mouthwash.<br /><br />I marvel at the arc of the learning curve both his and mine in establishing his current bathing habit. From my nervous and inept handling and his terrified attempts to get the hell out of the bathtub to my now assured rinsing techniques and his fearless and patient standing and waiting and then the joyful towelling-he loves the towel. I also marvel that he smells better than I do even though I bathe about sixty times more often than he does.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-24820194925612188972007-02-13T21:55:00.000-05:002007-02-13T22:02:08.693-05:00Legumes de La Mer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkOvHCnv8yAYpEMkvxz4BgieXYMOvv_67COSvQNRpxG0QG-Qodf1M-j5y_nx22vghI7CZ_oYEZwr5oes3oftILZJpyKSKBcy2o7bGXDJJrvgpjkaU7L9qjx0a0QhF-rp6Nrlp/s1600-h/marinegreens.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkOvHCnv8yAYpEMkvxz4BgieXYMOvv_67COSvQNRpxG0QG-Qodf1M-j5y_nx22vghI7CZ_oYEZwr5oes3oftILZJpyKSKBcy2o7bGXDJJrvgpjkaU7L9qjx0a0QhF-rp6Nrlp/s400/marinegreens.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031211011547832530" border="0" /></a> Seaweed, Atlantic Kelp, Kombu, Nori, Wakame, Dulse, Spirulina Blue-Green Algae, and Bladderwrack. These are some of the ingredients found in <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/detail/B000CMHREI/104-8628076-1774340">Marine Greens</a>, a supplement derived from algae and sea vegetables. Eti gets one capsule once a week.<br /><br />These sea greens are rich in minerals in particular iodine which is required for the support of thyroid function. The mineral content additionally has an impact on color and pigment in coats. Its is also a rich source of chlorophyll, good for managing breath and body odors.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1169229962018651142007-01-19T12:47:00.000-05:002007-03-18T01:29:41.736-04:00Thank You for Being Such a PainTaking a stroll with your dog in NYC can be an uplifting experience. Manhattanite faces soften allowing themselves a smile, even a little chuckle when they see Eti trot purposefully by, their tough exteriors compromised by the sight of his big bat ears. Many abandon the first rule of NYC sidewalk survival "walk fast, no eye contact" to stop and say hello, or "<span style="font-style:italic;">he's beautiful</span>". How wonderful you think, that a dog can inspire human nature to manifest in such a positive way. And then you get to a NYC dog run and things are quite different.<br /><br />Richard Freedman of Leonard N. Stern School of Business of New York University, says, “<span style="font-style:italic;">Difficult people are distributed evenly throughout society</span>.” In the 2 years of hanging out at NYC dog runs, my personal empirical evidence would be that most of these difficult people find their way here. There's all sorts. There's the ones who bring their breakfast or lunch to the dog run or their one year old just starting to walk toddler staggering unattended with an ice cream in their hand and then are exasperated that your dog is bothering them.<br /><br />There's the ones that bring their dogs toys to the dog run and are annoyed that your dog keeps trying to take their dogs toy. Or how about this little exchange I had with a lady with a bright red plastic ball thrower that she kept swishing in front of Eti.<br /><br /><blockquote>Lady:"Your dog is trying to bite me"<br />Me: "No he's trying to get that bright red plastic thing in your hand that you keep swishing around-he thinks its a toy"<br />Lady:"Its not a toy, its a tool to pick up my dogs ball .<br />Me: Yes I know that, and you know that, but my dog doesn't know that, he thinks its a toy. Please read the guidelines on the noticeboard that advises dog owners not to bring food or toys into the dog run. </blockquote><br />Guess what the owners of the most obnoxious bad mannered dogs are usually doing- talking on their cell phones with their backs turned of course. Guess what the owners of the most (dangerously) submissive dogs are doing- not leaving. Just staying and allowing their dogs to continue to instigate huge brawls, cluelessly complaining how everyone else's dog is so aggressive. <br /><br />Even though you pick up after your dog every single time, and yes you just saw him start No. 2 over there by the fence, in fact your hand is in your pocket fingering a plastic bag in anticipation of its imminent use. You're distracted however for a nano second as someone engages you in conversation and a shrill voice from behind informs you sternly -"<span style="font-style:italic;">Your dog just pooped</span>". Tell that to the lady with the Mastiff whose dog built a poop sandcastle right in the middle of the run 15 minutes ago. And don't even get me started on the dogwalkers with more dogs than they can handle who arrive like a swarm of locust at <a href="http://manhattanchienmuse.blogspot.com/2007/01/hordes-at-gates.html">certain times</a> of the day. <br /><br />Dog runs have increasingly become the most annoying places on earth to be in, for me. If Eti didn't enjoy running around in them with such unfettered delirious joy, I would stop going altogether because the people that frequent them drive me nuts. According to a New York Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/18/fashion/18difficult.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print">article</a> today however, " the problem is not the difficult people. It is you." Thats right, it is I that needs to empathize, understand and of course realise that "we cannot control other people, only our response to them" <br /><br />"<span style="font-style:italic;">Life is like a school.....conflicts that seem to be chance occurrences are actually orchestrated for our spiritual development....the Universe delivers unto us the ideal foe, a person whose characteristics exactly correspond to the places within us that need learning and healing"</span> writes Deepak I mean Mark Rosen in his book, <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/detail/0609804146/104-8628076-1774340">“Thank You for Being Such a Pain: Spiritual Guidance for Dealing With Difficult People,”</a>. My usual tactic is is more along the lines of one of the reccomendations in Carrie Mason-Draffen's book <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/detail/1564149382/104-8628076-1774340">“151 Quick Ideas to Deal With Difficult People”</a>-know when to cut your losses ie get the hell out that run. Know thy enemy- explore the psychological roots of ten specific behavior patterns that represent normal people at their worst- then work on communicative skills to turn conflict into cooperation is the tactic pursued in <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/detail/0071379444/104-8628076-1774340">“Dealing With People You Can’t Stand: How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst,”</a> by Dr. Rick Brinkman.<br /><br />I guess I could brush up on the subject. Or, the dog run people could read a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tompkins_First_Run#Dog_Run_Etiquette">thing</a> or <a href="http://www.kerryblues.info/index.html?http%3A//www.kerryblues.info/KB/DOGPARK.HTML">two</a>.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1168738991066683012007-01-13T20:07:00.000-05:002007-03-18T01:29:15.999-04:00Pearly WhitesAccording to the American Veterinary Dental Society, "80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three. In fact, oral disease is the No. 1 health problem diagnosed in dogs and cats. What exactly should one do about this? Christie Keith explores the subject in <a href="http://www.doggedblog.com/doggedblog/2004/11/of_carnivores_o.html">this post</a> but in a nutshell what your dog eats is primarily going to determine the outcome of its dental health.<br /><br /><blockquote>"The body's natural control methods basically revolve around physical removal of plaque bacteria during eating, the antibacterial chemical and flushing actions of saliva and a cellular response involving 'neutrophil' white blood cells. When animals feed in the wild they rarely develop a serious level of periodontal disease unless they are debilitated in some other way.</blockquote><br />If you're feeding a diet that approximates what a dog might eat in the wild things would, by the above logic, take care of themselves. But what happens when we're not. In Eti's case, although I feed him a raw diet, a fair percentage of it is premade/pre ground. Its more convenient and its safer- he's a gulper. Although he doesn't eat whole pieces all the time I do make sure he has them some of the time- things like chicken breast/backs and even larger pieces of lean meat to ensure he gets some of the physical removal of plaque as described above not to mention the psychological satisfaction of chewing and ripping through meat as he is meant to. He also gets recreational marrow bones, but this is not sufficient and if the activitiy is too vigorous can in fact wear on the tooth enamel.<br /><br />If you're not feeding this way, then you have to brush your dog's teeth. The general rule is to brush every day-as long as the biofilm on the tooth is broken up once every 36 hours, plaque does not form. If it does, and it leads to tartar buildup you will need to get a professional teeth cleaning procedure done under anaesthetic. There's a recent <a href="http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2006/12/29/biting-down-on-anesthesia-free-dentistries/">post</a> by Christie Keith on <a href="http://petconnection.com/blog/">Pet Connection</a> on this subject which also references Nancy Campbell's (<a href="http://vettechs.blogspot.com/">VetTech</a>) opinions amongst others which also, in a nutshell is- don't try to do this yourself or allow anyone other than a registered and certified veterinary technicians with special training in veterinary dentistry to do this.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1167888845542125632007-01-04T00:01:00.000-05:002007-03-18T01:30:08.180-04:00Calendula<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2653/3621/1600/235626/healing.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2653/3621/400/939565/healing.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Calendula is one of the best natural ingredients for treating local skin problems. It may be used safely wherever there is an inflammation on the skin, whether due to infection or physical damage. I particularly like it in a <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/detail/B000GAT6FO/105-2139094-8786809">gel</a> form as it dries to form almost a protective barrier. I've used it after cleaning a small bite wound or on an insect bite. I've also used it as a base- for example when Eti had a little bout of acne on his chin I added calendula gel to benzoyl peroxide to dilute the potency from 5%(human) to 2%(canine). Eti's friend Magnus who suffers from allergies has his tube of calendula gel in the fridge for cool relief when required.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1165261554232667872006-12-04T14:12:00.000-05:002006-12-14T23:36:11.266-05:00To know, know, know youLike the the Phil Spector song says........"is to love, love, love you"<br /> <br />As a dog owner of almost three years, I have unwittingly undertaken a course of study and research with a diligence that has surprised me as it certainly exceeds any efforts I have made previously in the pursuit of knowledge- certainly more the minimal scholarly efforts I put into to getting my bachelor's degree.<br /><br />I have read a gazillion books, countless articles online, joined many lists and forums regarding breed, nutrition, behaviour and it continues to be a daily regimen. I now have an arsenal of bookmarks to online veterinary manuals, scholarly papers, canine nutrition databases. Why do I do this ?<br /><br />It started quite simply by wanting to know the rudimentary stuff-how to housebreak your puppy, the best food to feed. It was just the good intention to be better informed about this soon to be new member of the family but what I've come to discover is there's nothing rudimentary about understanding a completely different species. Add to that the dynamic of it growing and evolving through various life stages- none of them familiar or similar to one's own. The more I read, the more there seemed to know. The more I knew, the clearer it became that some issues are simply not that clear. In fact some of them are mired in controversy. <br /><br />Is a dog a carnivore or an oppurtunistic onmivore? What are fear periods? Why is he yawning? Is hiccuping normal? There are a surprising amount of things to know and you ultimately have to know them because you have to make some important decisions along the way. So the reading and the googling and the bookmarking began and like I said its never really stopped. Has it paid off?<br /><br />So far his life has been relatively free of health issues, so he is at least free of the stresses and discomforts of poor health. He's easy going and friendly, and has nice manners with people and other dogs. Nature or nurture? Did my late night swotting on meat and bone ratios and new vaccination protocols and positive dog training play a crucial role or is it simply good genes -a healthy constituion and temperament. Who knows.<br /><br />If you'd like to see a list of books containing titles that I own, some that I read for free at Barnes & Nobles with a Starbucks Coffee in hand, and some well reccomended ones that I hope to get round to reading- they are listed here:<br /><br /><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/105-2139094-8786809?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=17">Nutrition</a> <br /><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/105-2139094-8786809?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=18">Behaviour</a><br /><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/105-2139094-8786809?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=29">Wellness</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1163965442697693222006-11-19T14:43:00.000-05:002007-02-19T03:24:00.078-05:00A Winter Secret<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1592/3608/1600/mushers.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1592/3608/400/mushers.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Although originally formulated for use in the great Canadian outdoors, this "secret" formula has served many an urban dog. <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/detail/B000H041LC/002-4036869-9821641">Musher's Secret</a> once used for mushing or sled dog racing, is now used as an "invisible boot"to combat winter conditions of ice, snow and worst of all salt. Its a dense non-toxic, non-allergenic, non-staining wax based cream containing vitamin E that forms an invisible but breathable barrier between the pad and outdoor surfaces. What's not well that known is that Musher's Secret is effective year round-it helps in dealing with hot concrete pavement in the summertime. Continous use is actually a better preventative against the winter salt as it moisturizes and conditions the pads preventing the occurence of cracks-which allows the salt to penetrate and cause discomfort. If you haven't already, its best to start conditioning the pads now so that they are in good health before the challenges of winter weather arrive.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1163526978282889972006-11-14T12:32:00.000-05:002007-03-18T01:28:21.872-04:00Previously Unseen PhenomenaThe first time Eti ever refused a meal was a previously unseen phenomena that immediately caused me to break out in a cold sweat. I knew that something was wrong. <br /><br />We had just come back from our morning walk and he had had a surprisingly severe bout of diahrrea. I ran through my head everything that he had eaten over the last 48 hours and couldn't come up with anything that he had eaten in any sort of quantity that could have caused this and figured it may have been somthing random he had picked up<br /><br />We went through the normal routine, he waited on his bed while I prepared his meal. I called him, he went into a down position in front of his food as he always does and I said "Good Boy". Normally this would have created a blur as he dashed to eat, this time he stayed in the down position and turned his head to look at me with a worried look. Activate cold sweat.<br /><br />He spent the rest of the day very quietly. We went out again late afternoon, it seemd like he needed to make a bowel movement but was unable to. I boiled up some chicken and rice which he ate but shortly thereafter puked up. I called the vet and made an appointment for the next morning.<br /><br />I am reminded of this incident on reading <a href="http://www.dolittler.com/index.cfm/2006/11/13/pet.vet.dog.cat.11.13.06">a recent post</a> on Dolittler about <a href="http://www.dolittler.com/enclosures/66593640%5FMr%2EFrench%26Daisies%2EJPG">Hugo</a> coincidentally also a french Bulldog who similarly exhibited this previously unobserved phenomenon of refusing food. The post is informative of the cause for this problem -gastroenteritis-a broad term for infection or inflammation of the stomach and intestines. In both Hugo and Eti's case resulting from some kind of blockage.<br /><br />The post is also insightful about the difficulties of diagnosing exactly the cause for a blockage and more importantly what would be the right course of action concluding that-'Their bodies are as deeply mysterious as the methods we use to measure them are limited. There’s only so much we can do before our methods enter the realm of the doing-harm thing.<br /><br />In Eti's case, the problem 'rectified' itself. A couple of hours before our 11am appointment at the vet, he passed what looked suspiciously like 2 inches of a Bullystick and ate some chicken and rice after with gusto and without ill effect. Our appointment was duly cancelled and Bullysticks were banned forever from that moment on.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1163105034898958662006-11-09T15:05:00.000-05:002007-03-18T01:35:33.781-04:00Marrow Bones<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2653/3621/1600/marrowbone.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2653/3621/400/marrowbone.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I usually have a few marrow bones in the freezer that I get from Wholefoods but I have certain criteria before Eti gets to enjoy one. The first one is activity. When the weather is inclement or my schedule conflicts with taking long walks in the park a marrow bone is a lifesaver. It is a couple of hours of intense concentration and activity, further enhanced by the fact that I only let him eat it on his <a href="http://static.flickr.com/44/136199646_6dacce9d0e_o.jpg">daybed</a> which requires him to step on and off it like a pro from an eighties step class (bone aerobics?).<br /><br />The second is it cleans the teeth and works the jaw and related muscles so it provides some necessary health benefits that his pre made ground food doesn't offer. He also gets some whole raw meaty bone like chicken breasts and backs which are actually better for teeth cleaning. <br /><br />There is a little meat on the marrow bone, not sufficient to really take into account in terms of calculating his daily intake but the marrow, which is fat and blood, is extremely rich so I remove the bone after a couple of hours -which usually allows him to get about half of the marrow. I wrap the bone in cling film and its put back into the freezer until next time. I'm careful to remember that he's eaten something rich and will perhaps make sure the next meal is not the same-like say lamb or pork, as it does affect his digestion-he gets loose stools. <br /><br />In fact it upset his digestion enough once to create a reaction called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conditioned_taste_aversion">Conditioned Taste Aversion</a> where he refused to eat one thereafter, much to my disbelief. This was resolved by not giving him any for a while and then reintroducing one with a little cream cheese smeared in the hollow. In fact I do this sometimes if the bone is straight out of the freezer and he can't quite smell it. <br /><br />There are some concerns also about the gnawing wearing the enamel of the teeth. Limiting the time moderates this. I may give the bone one more reincarnation stuffed with banana and peanut butter and then frozen after which its disposed of. Leaving it exposed increases its brittleness as does cooking it which is potentially hazardous.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1162701616406548742006-11-04T23:39:00.000-05:002007-02-13T21:32:16.630-05:00Fish Oil<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1592/3608/1600/fishoil.0.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1592/3608/400/fishoil.2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> Fish oil is usually highly reccomended as a supplement for Omega 3. Its superior to Flax seed oil because Flax seed oil contains a different form of omega-3 fatty acids than fish oil does. It contains ALA (alpha linoleic acid), which has to be converted in the body to EPA (eicosapentanenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid)in order to be utilized. At best, only around 15-20% of ALA is converted to EPA and DHA, which means you would have to use 5 to 6 times as much flax seed oil to get an equivalent amount of omega-3 fatty acids as is found in fish oil.<br /><br />Selecting the right product is also important. I use <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/detail/B000FLJU0K/104-7672203-5567967">Spectrum Fish Oil</a> for the following reasons. Firstly its from wild caught fish-not from farmed fish which have lower amounts of omega 3. Secondly its from small fish-which have a much lower incidence of contamination by Mercury. Thirdly its in capsule form which is preferable to being poured from a bottle or even from a pump as Omega 3 is highly perishable on contact with the atmosphere. Each capsule contains 1000mg which is the daily dosage per 20lb weight.<br /><br />I don't supplement with this every day, maybe two or three times a week as I prefer to provide Omega 3 from other dietary sources like canned fish and Omega 3 eggs. Another reason I do this is because there have been studies indicating Vitamin E depletion when supplementing with high doses of Fish Oil.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1162092612568491072006-10-28T22:30:00.000-04:002007-03-18T01:34:47.719-04:00Garlic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2653/3621/1600/garlic.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2653/3621/1600/garlic.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Garlic has a long <a href="http://www.amazingherbs.com/meduseofgari.html">history</a> of use dating back to Egypt in 3200 BC. Its technically an onion which we know to be toxic to dogs but garlic is a mild onion with lower amounts of n-propyl disulphide, the ingredient that causes damage to red blood cells.<br /><br />The beneficial properties of garlic as an <a href="http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t042500.asp">antioxidant, immune booster</a>, and its antimicrobial properties functioning as a <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/mdd/v05/i04/html/04news4.html">natural antibiotic</a> are believed to be the same for dogs as for humans with the additional benefit of garlic making the dog less attractive to fleas.<br /><br />Its important to use fresh garlic as the ingredient allicin, converted from alliin when garlic is chopped, is unstable and loses effectiveness with cooking and extended exposure to the atmosphere. The other ingredient in garlic is ajeone.<br /><br />The general consensus, with regard to how much to feed, seems to be 1/2 to 1 small clove per 20lbs per day. I generally give Eti 1/3 of a small clove 2 or 3 times a week.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1161448279038420372006-10-21T12:11:00.000-04:002007-03-18T01:33:47.390-04:00Grass EatingEver wondered why your dogs eat grass? A recent post on a canine nutrition list that I read elicited this interesting response from <a href="http://www.dogaware.com/">Mary Strauss</a>:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />"I think dogs eat grass for two reasons: because they like it, or because their stomachs are upset. In my experience, the way that they eat it and how they act can help to differentiate between the two.<br /><br />My dogs enjoy eating grass, especially fresh spring grass. When eating for enjoyment, they take time to pick out the best strands and are only interested in certain types of grass.<br /><br />When they aren't feeling well, they grab at tufts of grass indiscriminately and sometimes frantically. Their tummies are often rumbly and they will sometimes vomit shortly afterwards. They usually have less appetite when this happens.</span>"<br /><br /><br />I have also previously read in Cindy Engel's "<a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/detail/0618340688/104-8628076-1774340">Wild Health</a>", one of my favorite books, that:<br /><br /> "<span style="font-style:italic;">Grass seems to have two effects one is emetic (stimulating regurgitation or vomiting), the other, a purgative scour (ridding the body of worms farther down the intestine)...Herbalist Maurice Messegue claims that some dog species discriminate between different grasses for different medicinal functions, using hairy grass for emetics and couch grass as a purgative.</span>"Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1160171633937653952006-10-06T15:25:00.000-04:002007-03-18T01:33:13.372-04:00Twice BittenIt's probably inevitable that your dog will encounter some incident with another dog, either at a dog run, at home with multiple dogs or in Eti's case at a friendly meetup with other French Bulldogs. He had a minor puncture that drew blood but with little consequence from an unfriendly mutt at a dog run but his second run in at the previously mentioned meetup was a more serious matter. There were so many people and dogs at that particular meetup that I didn't even see or hear the incident and only noticed when I got home that he had a small puncture wound between his shoulders with the area around it aggravated to the size of a quarter.<br /><br />It seemed to take a surprisingly long time to heal, and I may have contributed to this by cleaning it regularly with Hydrogen Peroxide, as usually advised by most articles about canine first aid. I have subsequently learned that hydrogen peroxide is in fact bad for healthy skin and mild soapy solution or sterile saline solution are much better alternatives.<br /><br />I was reminded of this subject when reading <a href="http://www.dolittler.com/index.cfm/2006/10/1/pet.vet.pp.10.1.06">this</a> recent article about dog inflicted injuries. I was surprised to learn that '<span style="font-style:italic;">When in predatory mode, dogs exert maximum, super-canid force in dispatching their prey. The key is to grab (with the sharp, canine teeth) and then shake the prey to enhance their crushing ability through the momentum of a brisk snap of the neck and shoulder muscles. The result is a devastating amount of tissue injury due to compression distributed over a wide area of tissue.</span>'<br /><br />Even more disconcerting, and this would be an issue if say the attacker was a considerably larger dog : <span style="font-style:italic;">'Some animal behaviorists feel that a so-called prey response is common to small mammals and relevant to how we treat them. In this theory, prey will often respond to an overwhelming attack with a stress hormone-mediated, quick-death mechanism intended to limit the time of suffering. Complete circulatory shutdown (circulatory shock) often rapidly ensues.'</span><br /><br />This really reinforces the importance to be mindful at dog runs of whats going on given that the behavior of another dog can be completely unpredictable. I have found that the presence of an obnoxiously dominant dog, even an overly submissive one can create a volatile situation where trouble can happen and is a good excuse to leave the dog run.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1159770194126213162006-10-02T02:22:00.000-04:002007-03-18T01:37:12.032-04:00Oregano<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1592/3608/1600/beeforegano.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1592/3608/400/beeforegano.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span style="font-style:italic;">'Herbs can serve as tonics and builders that strengthen organs, glands and tissues in specific parts of the body'</span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.b-naturals.com/Jun2003.php" >Herbs for Dogs and Cats</a> By Estelle Hummel.<br /><br />There is very interesting book called '<a href="http://astore.amazon.com/manhattanchie-20/detail/0618340688/104-8628076-1774340">Wild Health</a>' by Cindy Engels that is an intriguing study into why animals do certain things like rolling and grass eating and actively seeking medicinal plants to eat. I particularly like the idea of a broad range of nutritional sources and the occasional use of herbs as medicinal food, as in the quote above, to serve as tonics. I have a few pots of herbs growing on the kitchen window sill and just as I occasionally use them myself I also sometimes chop up a few leaves for Eti. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.garden.org/subchannels/edibles/herbs/?q=show&id=2214">Oregano</a> is known for boosting immunity and having antioxidant properties. Eti's breakfast this morning, ground beef (with vegetables), beef liver, oregano, 1/4 clove garlic.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1159461568398904972006-09-28T12:36:00.001-04:002006-09-28T12:49:08.906-04:00ListenThanks to the internet there are some novel ways to explore and learn more about the care of our canine companions. The <a href="http://www.virtualdogexpo.com/">Virtual Dog Expo</a> an online event with an impressive roll call of speakers, including <a href="http://www.rawmeatybones.com/">Tom Lonsdale</a> is one. Unfortunately I came across this event a little too late, but its definitely on my radar to look out for next time.<br /><br />Another is the existence of animalcentric podcasts and internet radio like <a href="http://www.allpetsradio.com/">All Pet's Radio</a> and <a href="http://www.animaltalknaturally.com/">Animal Talk Naturally</a>. The latter's most recent <a href="http://www.aspenbloompetcare.com/animal-talk-naturally/ATNaudiouploads/ATNlive_mixed.mp3">broadcast</a> coincidentally, is a report on the Virtual Dog Expo, a taste of both of these new internet venues.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33027473.post-1158825028093014702006-09-21T03:14:00.000-04:002007-03-18T01:34:10.348-04:00Vintage Dog FoodFrom a pamphlet given out in 1915 from the Angel Memorial Animal Hospital and Dispensary for Animals, Boston, Massachusetts, titled Feeding the Dog and Cat:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />"The evening meal should consist of either raw beef, heart or lamb, to which a little minced raw vegetable may be mixed, such as lettuce, spinach, cabbage, tomato. Liver and kidney should be fed two or three times a week in lieu of the raw meat and vegetables. A certain amount of fat is also necessary in the diet. There is no objection to an occasional feeding of roast or boiled beef or lamb or vegetables left over from the table, although cooked foods as regular diet are to be avoided. Some dogs demand cooked foods as they have never known any different. Such animals should be coaxed into eating the raw food by being fed very rarely cooked meats, either merely searing or scalded. If the vegetables are disagreeable the dog will get along very well upon a ration of milk, raw beef or lamb with fat and raw glandular organs."<br /><br />Source: <a href="http://b-naturals.com/Jun2005.php">B-Naturals</a></span><br /><br /><br />In the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog">long history</a> of man's relationship with dogs, a canine diet probably closely resembled this - scraps, leftovers -an extension of its owners diet. If the ingredients weren't the choicest cuts from its master's table it at least still came from his table meaning it at least enjoyed a similar level of quality - a quality now described as "human grade". <br /><br />In the much <a href="http://www.petfoodinstitute.org/petfoodhistory.htm">shorter history</a> of commercially manufactured pet food, there has evolved an entirely new world of ingredients-meat by products, fat from unidentified sources, brewers rice, all unfit for human consumption-a quality of food desribed as "pet grade". How and why and why it continues to happen is a matter to be considered further at another time, what I want to dwell on here is the notion of a more halcyon time when the quality of what our pets ate echoed what we did and how much more sense this makes to me. <br /><br />It makes enough sense to me to want to emulate it. Regardless of whether it is raw or cooked, or more suited for a carnivore than an omnivore or any of the other hot topics of the raw debate, what I feed Eti is at the very least of a comparable quality to what I eat and quite often the same as what I eat.Le Pack Leaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12148696651837331335noreply@blogger.com