Your pet’s body has limited capacity to store water and can only sustain your pet for a few days with available water. When your pet’s water ratio falls 5-10% below normal your pet will start to show signs of dehydration. Failure to take action when your pet becomes dehydrated can result in your pet’s organs shutting down.

The following are some signs of dehydration to watch out for:

-Sunken eyes
-Dry mouth
-Poor skin elasticity
-Constipation
-Increased heart rate
-Lethargy

The amount of water your pet needs varies depending on animal and breed, and is affected by level of activity and environmental factors. In higher temperatures with more active pets, heat exhaustion can occur when water and electrolytes become depleted

Pets need to have fresh, clean water available at all times to prevent dehydration. Make sure that the water bowl is heavy enough that it cannot be tipped over or have several bowls of water available.

Because even the presence of a perpetually full water bowl may not prompt some pets – particularly cats – to take in as much water as they need, canned food formulas are another way to add water to their diet.

If you suspect that your pet is dehydrated do not give him too much water. A severely dehydrated pet will start vomiting after a large amount of water intake, dehydrating him further. The best course of action is to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Wellness Library- http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/resources_and_education/article28.html

There are natural methods you can utilize that make your dog less desirable to fleas if you are worried about the effects of chemicals on your dog. Try just one of these methods, or try them all!

- Cut a lemon into quarters and place in a
pint jug. Cover the lemon with boiling
water and let steep overnight. Use in a
spray bottle and use all over your dog.
Don’t forget behind the ears, under
“armpits” and the base of tail. Be careful
around the eyes.

- Mix 10 ml. of sweet almond oil ,10 drops
of lavender and 5 drops of cedarwood.
Shake well. Use 1 or 2 drops on the skin
weekly.

- Make a flea collar by rubbing a few drops
of eucalyptus oil, Tea Tree Oil, citronella,
lavender or geranium onto a fabric collar
or a doggy bandanna. Do this weekly.

- Garlic is an internal flea repellant. Give
your dog a crushed clove of garlic daily
mixed in with his food. Or, give your dog
brewer’s yeast tablets according to the directions.
This makes your dog less attractive
to fleas as the garlic comes through
the dog’s skin from the inside out.

- Adding a spoonful of apple cider vinegar
to your dog’s water bowl will make your
dog’s skin unpleasant to fleas. You can
also dilute 50/50 with water and use in a
spray bottle all over your dog.

- Make your own herbal flea dip which will
also work on ticks. Steep two cups of
fresh rosemary in two pints of boiling water
for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid, discard
the leaves and add warm water to
make one gallon of this mixture. Pour this
over the dog until it’s coat is saturated. Do
not rinse off and allow the dog to dry
naturally.

- Don’t forget that bathing your dog is critical
to removing flea debris and fleas. Do
this just before using a flea treatment.

- Remember to vacuum your home thoroughly
and wash dog bedding.

Issue 14
July 2009
Hey Dude!
Mini Doodler
Enriching one Doodle Owner’s life at a Time!
Australian Labradoodle Association of America
Visit us at www.ilainc.com

Taking your dog along can make the family vacation more fun for everyone, if you plan carefully. Here are some trip tips to make traveling with your dog enjoyable.

Health and Safety

• Health Checks. Bring your dog to the vet’s for a check up before going on an extended trip. Make sure all his vaccinations are up to date; shot records with you. Health certifications are required for airline travel.
• To keep your dog healthy as you travel, bring along a supply of his regular food and some local, or bottled, water. Be sure to bring any medications he needs.

Crates

A crate is an excellent way to keep your dog safe in the car, and is required for airline travel. It can also keep your pet from getting into trouble in a hotel or at your host’s home. Crates are available from most pet supply stores. Look for these features when purchasing:

• Large enough to allow the dog to stand, turn and lie down.
• Strong, with handles and grips, and free of interior protrusions.
• Leak-proof bottom covered with absorbent material.
• Ventilation on opposing sides, with exterior rims or knobs to prevent blocked airflow.
• “Live Animal” label, arrows upright, with owner’s name, address and phone number.
• Stock the crate with a comfortable mat, your dog’s favorite toy, and a water bottle, and your dog is ready to go.

Identification

In the event that your dog gets away from you on your trip, you can increase the chances of recovery by making sure he can be properly identified:

• Make sure your dog has a sturdy leash and collar. The collar should have identification tags with the dog’s name, your name, and your home phone number, as well as proof of rabies shots.
• Consider a permanent form of identification, such as a microchip (see CAR).
• Bring a recent picture of your dog along with you.

Traveling by Car

• Get your dog used to the car by letting him sit in it with you without leaving the driveway, and then going for short rides.
• Avoid car sickness by letting your dog travel on an empty stomach. However, make sure he has plenty of water at all times.
• Keep the car well-ventilated. If the dog is in a crate, make sure that fresh air can flow into the crate.
• Do not let your dog ride with his head sticking out of an open window. This can lead to eye injuries.
• Never let your dog ride in the back of an open truck. This is extremely dangerous and can lead to severe injuries or death.
• Stop frequently for exercise and potty breaks. Be sure to clean up after your dog.
• Car rides are boring for everyone, so instruct your children not to tease or annoy the dog in the car.
• Never, ever leave your dog unattended in a closed vehicle, particularly in the summer. See Summer Safety Tips for more information. If you must leave the car, designate a member of the family to stay with the dog.

By Plane

• Each airline has its own set of rules for canine air travel. You should call for information and make arrangements well in advance of your trip.
• All airlines require health certifications and proof of vaccinations.
• Some airlines will not transport animals when it is extremely hot or cold.
• Dogs must be in an airline-approved crate when transported as cargo. Small dogs may ride under the seat in a crate or carrier.

By Train, Bus and Boat

If you plan to travel by train or bus, you may be disappointed. Dogs are not permitted on Amtrak trains or on buses operated by Greyhound and other interstate bus companies. (Service dogs are permitted.) Local rail and bus companies have their own policies.

You may fare better if you’re taking a cruise. The QE2 luxury cruiser, which sails from New York to England/France, provides special lodging and free meals for your dog. However, you should check the policies of the cruise line or ship you will be traveling on before making plans to take your dog on a cruise with you.

Lodging

• Find out in advance which hotels or motels at your destination or on your route allow dogs. Many do not, or have size or breed restrictions.
• If your dog is allowed to stay at a hotel, respect other guests, staff and the property.
• Keep your dog as quiet as possible.
• Do not leave the dog unattended. Many dogs will bark or destroy property if left alone in a strange place.
• Ask the management where you should walk your dog, and pick up after him. Do not leave any mess behind.
• Remember that one bad experience with a dog guest may prompt the hotel management to refuse to allow any dogs. Be considerate of others and leave your room and the grounds in good condition.

http://www.akc.org/public_education/travel_tips.cfm

By Stephanie Chen, CNN
CNN.com/travel 

(CNN) – A few weeks ago, Tony Hoard, a 57-year-old manufacturing worker in Indiana, boarded a flight on Midwest Airlines to Las Vegas, Nevada, with his Australian Shepherd. The flight attendant smiled at the two and said, “Welcome aboard.” Hoard has flown with Rory, his furry 40-pound companion, in coach more than 15 times on Midwest, the Wisconsin-based airline that boasts “The Best Care in the Air.” Each time they fly, Rory wears a harness and sits strapped into a seat. ”Rory gets the window seat,” said Hoard, whose dog has won a series of Frisbee competitions. “He likes to look out the window when the plane takes off and naps the rest of the way.”

Blame America’s pet obsession, but in recent years, more members of the airline industry are embracing dogs and cats on board. Midwest Airlines may be an extreme example, letting select dogs sit in the same seats as humans, but other airlines are relaxing their pet policies by letting smaller cats and dogs come into the cabin area.

About a year ago, Midwest began allowing certain “celebrity” dogs that appear in canine competitions, shows or advertisements to sit in seats.

“They are just passengers with four legs instead of two,” said Susan Kerwin, who oversees the pet program at Midwest Airlines.

The pet travel frenzy has spurred the creation of an airline catering exclusively to pets. This month, Pet Airways, the nation’s first pet-only airline, will begin flying in five major cities, including New York and Los Angeles, California. It’s an alternative to shipping larger pets in the cargo area of a plane, where there have been pet injuries and even deaths. Chart: Compare some of the common airline fees

“The owners can check a bag with them,” explained Alyse Tognotti, a spokeswoman for Pet Airways. “Or if they have a special blanket or toy, basically anything that will take stress out of traveling.”

On each Pet Airways flight, services include potty breaks and experienced animal handlers checking up on the animals every 15 minutes. Nervous parents can track their pets online.

Southwest Airlines was the latest airline to join the pet-loving bandwagon in May, when it permitted small dogs and cats to travel in the cabin area. The pets must sit in an approved kennel that fits under the seat.

“I wasn’t going to fly Southwest Airlines,” said Katie Chapman, 37, of Louisville, Kentucky, who is mom to a friendly 18-pound Cairn Terrier that resembles Toto from “The Wizard of Oz.” Since the airline has changed its policy, she plans to take her puppy on a Southwest flight to California this fall. “I’m so glad now that she will be able to go with me.”

Each year, airlines transport hundreds of thousands of pets in the cargo and cabin areas. Continental reported moving 270,000 pets last year in cabin and cargo, more than triple the number moved before the airline’s pet program officially kicked off eight years ago.

The Federal Aviation Administration doesn’t have restrictions on whether animals can be in the cabin area, but airlines must allow service dogs for the disabled on board. Only cats and dogs are allowed in the cabin areas on most airlines. In the cargo area, other pets like rabbits, birds and lizards can be stowed.

The cost of flying your furry friend ranges from $75 to nearly $300 each leg. It’s a hefty price tag, but profit-bleeding airlines are happy to offer the option.

Pets can even rack up frequent flier miles. After three flights with Midwest, the pet can earn a fourth flight free. Continental and JetBlue Airways’ programs credit the pet’s trip on the owner’s frequent flier account.

But one airline is catering to allergy-ridden customers who don’t want pets in the cabin. Last year, Frontier Airlines banned pets from the cabin area because officials said pet allergies are common among their customers.

Ann Kerns, a 63-year-old teacher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, experienced continuous wheezing on a four-hour US Airways flight to Phoenix, Arizona. At the end of the flight, she was shocked to find that there had been a cat sitting under her seat.

“What would have happened if I went into an attack at 35,000 feet in the air?” she asked.

In 2008, the American College of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology wrote letters to Congress expressing concern about pets riding in the cabin area after some patients became ill from their flights. The letters didn’t go very far, officials said.

Airlines say they have had few allergy injuries on board. The airlines limit the number of pets in the cargo area to about five. The aircraft is disinfected and cleaned routinely, so dander and hairs aren’t a problem, airline officials say.

But not every traveler has had smooth experiences with pets on board.

Terry Trippler, a travel expert, recalls an unpleasant incident years ago when a dog had diarrhea three rows in front of him. 

“You could certainly smell it,” he wrote in an e-mail. “The only real way to solve the problem is no pets in the cabin.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/07/10/pets.fly.airlines/index.html 

Enjoy the pictures!

http://www.citydogmagazine.com/html/events.html

Can Dogs Love? A True Story

By Stanley Coren | Illustration by Jess Golden

IF YOU WANT TO CAUSE A COMMOTION IN ANY PSYCHOLOGY department or any other place where animal and human behaviour is studied, all that you have to do is to claim that your dog loves you. Skeptics, critics, and even some ardent supporters will pour out into the halls to argue the pros and cons of that statement.

Among the skeptics you will find the veterinarian Fred Metzger, of Pennsylvania State University, who claims that dogs probably don’t feel love in the typical way humans do. Dogs make investments in human beings because it works for them. They have something to gain from putting so-called emotions out there. Metzger believes that dogs “love” us only as long as we continue to reward their behaviours with treats and attention.

For most dog owners, however, there is little doubt that dogs can truly love people. Take the story of Rocky and Rita from the Finger Lakes region of New York State, near Rochester.

Rocky was a solid 65-pound Boxer, classically colored with a chestnut brown coat and a white blaze on his chest. At the time of this story, Rocky was three years old and Rita was his eleven-year-old companion. Rocky had been given to Rita when he was ten weeks old, and she immediately bonded with him, petting him, handfeeding him, teaching him basic commands, and letting him sleep on her bed. Whenever she was not in school, the two were always together and within touching distance. The family would often fondly refer to the pair as “R and R.”

Rita was a relatively timid and shy girl, and as the dog grew in stature he brought her a sense of security. When Rocky was next to her she felt confident enough to meet new people and to go to unfamiliar places. Rocky took on the roles, not only of friend and confidant, but also of defender. When encountering strangers, he would often deliberately stand in front of Rita, as a sort of protective barrier. He seemed to be without fear, such as once when Rita was about to enter a store and two large men dressed in biker outfits burst out of the door, yelling at the shopkeeper and nearly knocking Rita over. Rocky rushed forward, putting himself between the frightened girl and the two threatening men. He braced himself and gave a low rumbling growl that carried such menace that the men backed off and gave the child and her guardian a wide berth.

There was, however, one flaw in Rocky’s armour. It was a fear of water that was so extreme that it was almost pathological. Boxers are not strong swimmers in any event, and are often shy of the water. However, Rocky’s fears stemmed from his puppyhood, when, at the age of seven weeks, he was sold to a family with an adolescent child. The boy had emotional problems and acted as if the attention bestowed on the new puppy somehow meant that he was less important. In a jealous rage, he put the puppy in a pillow case, knotted the top and threw it into a lake. Fortunately, the boy’s father saw the incident and managed to retrieve the terrified puppy before it drowned. He scolded the boy and returned to the house. The next day the horrified parent saw his son standing waist-deep in the lake trying to drown the struggling puppy by holding him under water. This time Rocky was rescued and returned to the breeder for his own safety.

These early traumas made water the only thing that Rocky truly feared. When he came close to a body of water, he would try to pull back and seemed emotionally distressed. When Rita would go swimming in the lake, he would pace along the shore trembling and whimpering. He would watch her intently and would not relax until she returned to dry land.

One late afternoon, Rita’s mother took R and R to an upscale shopping area. It was located along the edge of a lake and featured a short wooden boardwalk which was built along the shore over a sharp embankment that was 20 or 30 feet above the surface of the water. Rita was clomping along the boardwalk, enjoying the way the sounds of her footsteps were amplified by the wooden structure. It was then that a boy on a bicycle skidded on the damp wooden surface, hitting Rita at an angle which propelled her through an open section of the guard rail. She let out a shriek of pain and fear as she hurled outward and down, hitting the water face down, and then floating there unmoving. Rita’s mother was at the entrance of a store a hundred feet or so away. She rushed to the railing shouting for help. Rocky was already there, looking at the water, trembling in fear, and making sounds that seemed to be a combination of barks,whimpers, and yelps all rolled into one.

We can never know what went through that dog’s mind as he stood looking at the water-the one thing that truly terrified him and that had nearly taken his life twice. Now here was a frightening body of water that seemed about to harm his little mistress. Whatever he was thinking, his love for Rita seemed to overpower his fear and he leapt out through the same open space in the rail and plunged into the water.

One can thank the genetic programming that allowed the dog to swim without any prior practice, and he immediately went to Rita and grabbed her by a shoulder strap on her dress. This caused her to roll over so that her face was out of the water and she gagged and coughed. Despite her dazed state she reached out and managed to cinch her hand in Rocky’s collar, while the dog struggled to swim toward the shore. Fortunately the water was calm, they were not far from shore, and Rocky quickly reached a depth where his feet were on solid ground. He dragged Rita until her head was completely out of the water, and then stood beside her, licking her face, while he continued to tremble and whine. It would be several minutes before human rescuers would make it down the steep rocky embankment, and had it not been for Rocky, they surely would have arrived too late.

Rita and her family believe that it was only the big dog’s love of the little girl that caused him to take what he must have considered a life-threatening action. This certainly casts doubt on Dr. Metzger’s theory that dogs don’t love us but act only out of self-interest. Why should Rocky behave in a way that he certainly felt would risk his life? Surely, if he was evaluating the costs and benefits of his actions then he would have known that, even in Rita’s absence, the rest of the family would be around to feed him and take care of needs.

Marc Bekoff, a behavioural biologist at the University of Colorado, has a different interpretation. He notes that dogs are social animals. All social animals need emotions, in part as a means of communication-for instance you need to know to back off if another animal is growling. More importantly, however, emotions keep the social group together and motivate individuals to protect and support each other. Bekoff concludes that strong emotion is one of the foundations of social behaviour and is the basis of the connection between individuals in any social group, whether it is a pack, a family or just a couple in love. Recent research has even identified some of the chemicals associated with feelings of love in humans. These include hormones such as oxytocin, which seems to help people form emotional bonds with each other. One of the triggers that causes oxytocin to be released is gentle physical touching, such as stroking. Dogs also produce oxytocin, and one of our common ways of interacting with dogs is to gently pet them, an action that probably releases this hormone associated with bonding. If dogs as social animals have an evolutionary need for close emotional ties, and they have the chemical mechanisms associated with loving, it makes sense to assume that they are capable of love, as we are.

Rocky’s fear of the water was absolute, and never did abate. He continued to avoid it for the rest of his life and no one ever saw him so much as place a foot in the lake again. No one, at least not Rita or her family, ever doubted his love for her. He lived long enough to see an event occur which would not have happened had he not cared for her as much as he did. When Rita graduated from high school, she posed for a photo in her cap and gown. Beside her sat a now much older Boxer. The smiling girl had an arm around the dog, and her hand was cinched in his collar, as it was the day that Rocky unambiguously showed her just how much he loved her.

■ Dr. Stanley Coren is professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and author of many books on dog behaviour, including The Intelligence of Dogs and How Dogs Think. His website is stanleycoren.com.

Modern Dog Magazine-

Hi Kim and Mollie,

I noticed you put our message on your Blog – I thought I’d send you a picture to go along with it!

Rufus is doing great. He’s 5 months old and 20 lbs, very tall and lean. He’s the most well behaved dog I’ve ever met. He sits whenever he wants something, never jumps or bothers people who are eating. He’s great with kids and other dogs. He never barks (unless he’s really mad at one of his toys!). At night he goes into his crate by himself and sleeps quietly all night (as he has since day one!).

He loves to swim and hike, but also loves to be mellow and cuddle. He’s also very cute, and stops traffic wherever he goes. We can’t imagine life without him!

Thanks again,

Talia

A dog can only withstand a high body temperature for a brief time. Dogs only perspire through their tongues and a bit from paws. If a dog’s tongue turns a deep red or purplish color, it is in deep distress. Excessive heat can result in severe damage to nerves, heart, liver, brain, and sometimes in death.

UAN offers “It’s Hot!” fliers online at MyDogIsCool.com. Place the stickers on the windshield if you see a pet left in a car alone. If a pet appears to be in distress, humane society officials suggest making a call for help. If you are not sure whom to call, it’s fine to call 911.

MyDogIsCool.com has a lot of great resources! Be sure and check it out.

http://blog.halopets.com/2009/06/03/tips-to-keep/

Summer Safety Tips for Your Australian Labradoodle

Summertime sizzles with excitement — and with potential dangers to your companion dogs! Here are some tips you can use to make sure the summer season is safer and more enjoyable for you and your dog.