The thin rope-like cord of the retractable leash can cause severe burns, deep cuts, entanglement or strangulations. It can even cause amputation to limbs and fingers of both humans and pets. If the cord portion of the leash is grabbed while it is being pulled, the chance of injuries increases greatly. From experience, this is very painful! Hands and legs tend to receive the most traumas. 
 
The leash can cause people to trip and break bones and hips. If two dogs on retractable leashes get tangled, there is an even higher risk of injury to the dogs or to the humans attempting to untangle them. Tangled dogs are more fearful and unpredictable, creating an increased risk of bites or cord injuries. The cord can be wrapped around a neck or leg cutting off circulation of blood flow and oxygen.

Some dogs will bolt if they are scared, excited, or trying to chase an animal. The sudden force of a dog pulling can jolt a leash from a hand. Some dogs are strong enough to pull their owners off their feet or break the cords. The built in locks on a retractable leash tend to break or wear out allowing loss of control. The combination of loss of control and a split second pulling of a dog can allow them to break free. They could end up in the middle of traffic or in contact with another dog.

In small spaces, such as a veterinary and boarding lobbies, the “roaming” dog can have unwanted or harmful encounters with other animals. In new or different environments, many dogs are stressed. Dogs maybe overstimulated, and may not behave as they would at home. Dogs can react in a defensive manner leading to injury.
 
Some dogs can be protective of their family. Some dogs, even friendly dogs, may not be receptive to another dog running up to say “Hi.” These negative interactions can cause either member of the encounter to have a fearful and stressed experience.

For the safety of your pet, it’s best to use a non-retractable leash in enclosed spaces, situations where you cannot give your dog your full attention, or areas that are shared by other pets.

Dog collars help to manage, control and protect your dog. They also serve as a place for identification; rabies tag, dog tag with the name of the dog, your address and phone number, etc.

A dog’s collar should be selected according to your dog’s size, weight, and the circumference and length of its neck. A dog’s collar should not be too tight or too loose. There should be enough room to slip two fingers between the collar and the dog’s neck. It should never be too loose that it’s easy to drag the collar over the dog’s head.

It is also necessary to consider the type of your dog’s hair. While some dogs keep around the same amount of hair all year round, some of them shed during the summer or get haircuts, but are fluffy again in the winter months. For these dogs, you should account for the enlarging and shrinking of the neck circumference.

Similar to people out-growing their clothes, dogs can out-grow their collars. You should regularly check to see if your dog’s collar is fitting properly using the two finger rule, especially with a growing puppy.

Public places are becoming increasing dog friendly. However, it’s not always appropriate to let your dog tag along. Except for trained service dogs, dogs shouldn’t accompany you to the grocery store or fast food restaurants. Some restaurants with patio seating may permit dogs but you should check ahead before showing up with your furry friend. The last thing you want to do you have to turn around and go home because you find yourself at a non-pet-friendly business.

Even if dogs are allowed, it might not necessarily be a good environment for your pet. A dog friendly bar might sound like a great time to you, but it might be overstimulating for your dog.

Taking your dog on an outing requires more than a leash and collar. Make sure you’re equipped with the necessities.

Vehicle seat covers – To keep your vehicle seats clean, use some sort of seat cover. If you don’t have a seat cover, a sheet, blanket or towel will work. In case of any mess that makes it onto your seats, have a good upholstery cleaner on hand like Shout Auto Multi-Purpose interior cleaner.

Vehicle restraint – Unrestrained dogs are at risk of serious injury or death in the event of a vehicle accident. Dogs should be secured by harness seat belts or carriers/crates.

Lease/collar/harness – Make sure your dog is wearing a well-fitting collar or harness and a use a good sturdy leash.

Identification – Make sure you dog is wearing an ID tag with contact information. Microchip your dog for added protection and identification if they were to lose their tag.

Doggy bags – For when nature calls.

Portable bowls/water – If you are going to be gone for long, make sure you have a way to keep your dog hydrated. Don’t forget food if you will be out past meal time.

It’s also a good idea to keep some paper towels/towels and wipes on hand for any messes you may need to clean up. For longer trips, an extra leash and collar/harness is also a good idea.

A little bit of planning will make your outings with your dog safer and less stressful.

There are several risks correlated with rawhide chews:

• Exposure to toxic chemicals used in processing.
• Suspect origins of some of the chews. Some jerky pet treats sourced from China have been linked to the potentially fatal kidney condition Fanconi syndrome, which raises concern over safety standards generally Not to mention, sometimes there are unapproved additives.
• Choking hazard.
• Bowel blockage (rawhides are NOT digestible).
• Possible Salmonella and E. coli contamination.

You should weigh the risks and benefits of giving rawhides based upon your dog's chewing needs and behaviors.

Due to the risk of chocking and bowel blockages, we do not allow our guests to have rawhides while staying with us. We recommend alternatives such as bully sticks, antlers, frozen fruits and vegetables, Kongs, etc.

Strabismus is fairly easy to diagnose but it is not so easy to diagnose the cause. Treatment for strabismus is generally aimed at correcting the underlying cause of the problem. There is unfortunately no way to prevent the condition from developing, but most causes for the disease are not life-threatening.

Photo credit: Pippy/Flickr

The excess accumulation of copper in the liver may be caused by an abnormal binding of copper to certain proteins in the liver or abnormal secreting of copper in the bile.

Primary copper liver diseases generally fall into one of three categories:

Subclinical disease – a condition where the disease is present in the organ or body, but not detectable by abnormal signs or changes in the dog

Acute (sudden) disease – most frequently affects young dogs and associated with a condition that causes the death of liver tissue

Chronic progressive disease – symptoms are often observed in middle aged and older dogs with chronic hepatitis, with damage and scarring of the liver

Secondary copper liver diseases show symptoms of progressive signs of liver disease due to chronic hepatitis or progressive cirrhosis. Liver disease in which the flow of bile is slowed or stopped is known as cholestatic liver disease. The abnormal flow of bile results in secondary copper retention.

Acute:

• Anemia
• Anorexia
• Dark urine due to the presence of bilirubin
• Depression
• Hemoglobin in the urine
• Jaundice
• Lethargy
• Vomiting

 
Chronic:

• Abdominal distention due to fluid build up
• Anemia
• Anorexia
• Dark urine due to the presence of bilirubin
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Excessive thirst and urination
• Hemoglobin in the urine
• Jaundice
• Lethargy
• Nervous system dysfunction due to the liver being unable to break down ammonia in the body
• Spontaneous bleeding, black or tarry stools
• Vomiting
  

Tests including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count and a urinalysis will be conducted along with a history of your dog’s health.

Copper storage disease requires lifelong therapy. With early identification and appropriate treatments, dogs are often able to lead normal, high quality lives.

Penicillamine is administered to help the body get rid of the excess copper that has accumulated in the liver. Dogs are also placed on a low copper diet to reduce further accumulation of copper in the body.

Supplements many be recommended to support liver tissue, such as Vitamin E, s-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) or milk thistle.

Food allergies usually occur in adult dogs over the age of three. There are exceptions, and a food allergy can have a detrimental effect on a young dog's growth if not addressed. Skin reactions are usually more concentrated around the face, groin, toes, and under the front legs.

• Bald patches
• Chronic ear infections
• Chronic gas
• Chronically inflamed feet
• Coughing
• Diarrhea
• Hives
• Obsessive licking
• Paw biting
• Pawing at face
• Poor growth (puppy and adolescent)
• Shaking of the head
• Skin infections
• Skin rashes
• Vomiting
• Wheezing
  

If your dog has developed an allergy to a particular poultry, other poultry options may still be available. The three most common poultry sources are:

Chicken is the most common poultry ingredient in dog foods and is also the most likely to induce allergies in dogs.

Duck is often used as an inexpensive alternative to chicken as it has a lower incidence of allergic reactions.

Turkey is sometimes used as an inexpensive alternative to chicken, but allergies are somewhat more widespread to turkey than to the more exotic choices.

The most common diagnostic tool for confirming and later pinpointing food allergies is an elimination diet. During an elimination diet, the dog’s food will be switched to a reduced ingredient commercial foods or unseasoned human grade food. Proteins and carbohydrates that are not included in the dog’s current food are generally the best choice for an elimination diet.

There are many types of proteins that are suitable as a replacement to poultry in a dog’s diet. Alternative protein sources could include one or more of the following:

• Broccoli
• Buffalo
• Eggs
• Elk
• Fish
• Goat
• Kangaroo
• Lamb
• Lentils
• Pork
• Quinoa
• Rabbit
• Soybeans
• Spinach
• Venison
  

Apocrine adenomas – These lumps or soft bulges above the skins mostly arise on the head and neck which a higher incidence between 8-11 years. They grow slowly and there is no chance or recurrence following surgical extirpation.
 
Apocrine ductal adenoma – These tumors develop on the head, thorax, abdomen and back and occur in the age group of 6-11 years. These tumors are slow growing.
 
Ceruminous adenomas – These tumors around found within the ear canal and also the vertical ear canal and occur in the age group of 4-13 years. They tend to grow outward and ulceration and secondary infection are common. They are non-malignant and are slow growing, but they cannot be surgically excised.
 
Anal sac gland carcinoma – This is a malignant tumor found in the wall of the anal sac and is quite common in dogs, common in the age group 5-15 years.

Diagnostic techniques consist of a fine needle aspiration for microscopic examination of cell samples (cytology). The examination of a biopsy (histopathology) offers a better diagnosis. This information helps in determining the prognosis and a course of action for treatment. A biopsy also rules out the presence of other cancers.

The treatment of choice for sweat gland and ceruminous gland adenocarcinomas is complete surgical excision. If it a tumor of the ear canal, complete ear removal may be necessary. If the tissue around the incision is free of tumor cells, no additional treatment is required. If surgical removal is not possible, your veterinarian may opt for curative-intent radiation therapy since most of these tumors respond well to radiotherapy.

The majority of human patients are less than 21 years old. The following are symptoms commonly seen in humans:
 

• Red papule (small sized solid bump) at bite or scratched site
• Painful lymph nodes of involved area
• Shivering and chills
• Malaise
• Lack of appetite
• Pain in muscles
• Nausea
• Altered brain functions
• Pink eye
• Hepatitis

 
Symptoms in dogs:
 

• Fever
• Enlargement of spleen and liver
• Lameness
• Swelling and inflammation of lymph nodes
• Inflammation of heart muscles
• Inflammation and irritation of the nose
• Inflammation of the eyes
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Cough
• Seizures
• Arthritis
• Nasal discharge and/or nose bleed
• Inflammation of the brain
• Many other symptoms similar to those in humans
  

If your veterinarian suspected your dog is infected with Bartonella spp., he/she will conduct a complete examination, including blood tests, a biochemistry profile and urinalyses.
 
Abnormalities such as a decreased number of platelets or anemia may be present. An increased number of white blood cells or leukocytosis may also be evident in blood testing.  Biochemistry profiling may reveal abnormal liver enzymes and a decreased concentration of albumin or protein in the blood in affected dogs. Confirmation of Bartonella spp. will also involve a positive result from culturing the organisms from a sample of blood. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is a more advanced method for detecting bacterial DNA using a sample of tissue taken from a papule.

No established antibiotic protocol exists for the treatment of Bartonellosis in dogs. Depending on symptoms, a selection of antibiotics will be made by your veterinarian on an individual basis.

The overall prognosis in dogs is highly unpredictable and dependent on the clinical presentation of the disease. After the initial treatment, you should monitor your dog for any recurrence of clinical signs and notify your veterinarian if you notice any symptoms. Note that this disease has not yet been fully understood in dogs and a full resolution of the disease after treatment may be achieved.

The best way to prevent your dog from contracting Bartonellosis is to protect them from the exposure to fleas, sand flies, lice and ticks.

In human medicine, 80% of diagnoses are made via a clinical exam [http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1105870], which involves obtaining an in-depth description from the patient of their symptoms. If you are in pain, you will be asked to rate your pain on a scale of 0-10 or bases on a facial expression scale.
 
Dogs don’t have the ability to verbally give us this information so we often have to use our own observation skills and our knowledge of our dogs to work out if our dog could be in pain.  Veterinarians now have a way to apply the same type of pain scale from human healthcare to our pets.  Colorado State University has developed a Canine Acute Pain scale (there is also a Feline version) to help categorize and standardize pain assessment.
 
Pain is subjective and still difficult to measure.  It is not uncommon for two dogs to have the same injuries and while one dog will happily wag its tail and act like nothing is wrong, the other will cry in panic and pain.
 
Any medical or illness that causes pain, discomfort or decreased mobility, such as arthritis, dental disease, hypothyroidism, cancer, impaired sight or hearing, or Cushing’s disease, can lead to increased sensitivity and irritability. There can also be increased anxiety about being touched or approached, decreased responsiveness to commands, reduced ability to adapt to change and an increase in aggression; your dog may choose warn and bite rather than move away.
 
If your dogs’ behavior changes, they maybe communicating to you that they are in pain.