While most dogs are fluffy, sometimes our four-legged friends are a little more … naked. Hairless dog breeds might be the minority, but there is a lot to love about them. For one, many hairless dogs might be a good fit for certain people who are allergic to dogs (though no pup is completely hypoallergenic). Here’s what to know about bringing home a hairless dog.
What to Look for in a Dog Toy “When choosing chew toys for dogs, there are many options, depending on your goals,” says Dr. Lubold. If your dog is an aggressive chewer and needs a hardier toy, he advises careful selection. “Toys that are too rigid can wear down the teeth over time or even break a tooth. A good general rule is for hard toys to be soft enough that you can press your fingernail into them and leave an indentation,” says Dr. Lubold. Dr. Lubold approves of West Paw’s Zogoflex Hurley, which is made from BPA-free, phthalate-free and latex-free food-grade plastic that is FDA-compliant—this is an extra assurance meaning the product meets FDA guidelines for a material that comes into contact with food. If your dog likes a squeak, try the Gnawsome squeaker football dog toy, which is made from plastic that follows those same guidelines. The Nerf Dog nylon flyer works well for more athletic dogs, and it’s likewise made with BPA-free, FDA-approved, tear-resistant nylon. While not all dog toy companies provide information behind their product labeling, it’s worth taking a moment to investigate companies’ websites for more dog toy safety information. For example, the company Planet Dog provides detailed information on its website about how its toys are made, explaining how they developed their special plastic with white olefinic oil instead of chemical softeners. Armed with a bit of information about labeling practices, chemicals and other potentially dangerous materials, you should find selecting a safe and environmentally friendly dog toy a bit easier. And don’t forget to consult your four-legged friends as well: your pup’s preferences and personality will go a long way in helping you make an appropriate choice. “There isn’t a one-size-fits-all,” Dr. Barrack says. “It is important to know your pet when selecting toys.”,Image via iStock.com/Alona Rjabceva By Maura McAndrews As pet lovers, we prioritize our pets’ safety—keeping them out of harmful situations, feeding them the proper food and taking them to the vet when they’re sick. But what about the toys we buy for our dogs—are we vigilant enough about safety hazards? “Toys are an important part of a pet’s life,” explains Dr. Rory Lubold, a veterinarian with Paion Veterinary in Scottsdale, Arizona. “They serve as an enrichment tool and source of mental stimulation to keep our pets active and engaged.” But because plastics and other materials can pose hidden dangers, he advises that you should “always monitor your pets after giving them a new toy.” Unlike with children’s toys, there is no body that regulates the safety of dog toys. “Pet toys do not fall under our jurisdiction,” explains Thaddeus Harrington, public affairs specialist with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, and he notes that the only time a pet toy might be recalled is if it poses a hazard to human consumers through its intended use. That means that the onus is on the consumer to sort the safe from the unsafe, and understanding the labels can help. Some dog toys feature labels like “BPA-free,” “phthalate-free” and “nontoxic,” but for those who are not scientifically inclined, these terms can be confusing. So, what should pet parents look for when purchasing toys, and what should we avoid? What Is BPA? The first step to understanding labels on dog toys is decoding the terms. BPA is short for bisphenol A, a chemical used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), BPA is found everywhere—from beverage containers and food can linings to car parts. Both humans and pets are generally exposed to it through food and drink containers.
Staphylococcal Infection in Rats Staphylococcal infection in rats is caused by a bacteria belonging to the genus staphylococcus, a gram positive bacteria that is commonly found on the skin of many mammals, including rats, and which includes a number of species and subspecies, most of which are harmless to the body and are not implicated in disease. When the immune system of the rat is compromised as a result of disease or other stressful conditions, staphylococcal numbers can flare up. Under these circumstances, if a rat happens to have an old unhealed wound, a fresh cut, or a fight wound, the staphylococcal bacteria can gain entry inside the body through these open wounds, resulting in a staphylococcal infection. The staphylococcal infection gets progressively worse when the rat keeps scratching at any injured part of the body. Although this infection can occur in many species besides rats — including humans — it has not been found to be transmissible to humans by rats. Symptoms and Types Inflamed skin and sores on the head and neck Formation of abscesses (pus filled swellings), which in turn may enlarge and spread under the skin to form lumps (tumors) around the face and head Ulcers or pus filled bumps on feet (ulcerative pododermatitis, or bumblefoot) Intense itching/scratching of affected areas Swollen belly due to internal swelling Causes This infection is caused by the presence of the staphylococci bacteria that is commonly found on the skin of most animals. While most staph bacteria remain harmless, some species can cause a diseased state of infection when they are able to gain entry into the body. One of the most common types of disease producing staphylococci bacteria is the S. aureus. Infection typically occurs when the skin is damaged by scratching or bite wounds, or when the skin is injured due to small abrasions. Rats can acquire the infection from soiled bedding, or from coming into contact with infected urine or feces. Cages with wire mesh flooring have been implicated in increasing the incidence of foot lesions and subsequent infections of the foot. Rats with weakened immune systems are most likely to become infected. Diagnosis A diagnosis can often be made by the symptoms observed, but a fluid sample of the abscess will be necessary for a confirmation of the infection. Discharges from the affected areas can be collected and cultured in a bacterial culture medium. The diagnosis is confirmed by a bacterial culture of skin scrapings and fluid samples from the infected area. Treatment You should not try to drain an abscess on your own, since there is a danger of pushing the infected fluid deeper into the body, rather than out of the body. This could lead to a blood infection, sepsis, a fatal condition. You will need to take your rat to your veterinarian, who will drain the pus from the wound, irrigate the wound, and dress appropriately it to prevent further damage by the rat. It will also be necessary to use medication in the form of topical antibiotics containing steroids, to treat staphylococcal infections and oral antibiotic treatment to be sure that your rat makes a complete recovery. Living and Management Monitor your rat regularly for signs of illness, as disease conditions can be stressful and lead to an increase in staphylococcal numbers. It is advisable to clip the toenails of the hind feet to prevent any damage to the wound when the rat scratches it, and to prevent accidental injuries from occurring in the first place. Regularly follow your veterinarian’s advice regarding the application of medication to the wounds to help in the healing process. Prevention The primary preventative is to maintain excellent hygiene at all times. Cleaning your rats’ living environment on a daily basis, clearing all urine, feces, and spilled food — all of which can harbor the staphylococcus bacterium. Take care to treat fight wounds and other open wounds promptly so that secondary bacterial infection due to the entry of staphylococcal bacteria does not arise. All wounds should be cared for immediately with thorough cleansing at least twice a day, observing the healing process until the wound has scabbed over and is healing without swelling or any other sign of inflammation. If any signs of swelling or inflammation develop, you should see your veterinarian immediately. If treated quickly and appropriately, these wounds can remain non-threatening. Providing proper care and nutrition and avoiding stress to your pet rat can also help to prevent staphylococcal infection. Humans are also implicated in spreading infection, by handling an asymptomatic infected rat and not washing their hands and clothing before handling another rat. It is important to have a policy of always cleaning your hands thoroughly, in addition to changing your clothing before handling rats from different locations.
Dogs and children are the stuff of greeting cards, but not if you’ve got a dog that’s not a fan of the pint-sized crowd. It can be embarrassing if your dog is reactive around children, and depending on the intensity of the display, it can be downright dangerous. Colleen Pelar, author of “Living With Kids and Dogs … Without Losing your Mind,” points out that a dog that’s “fine” with kids is not the same as a dog that’s “good” with kids. Merely tolerating interactions with children can easily tip over into reactivity if a dog is pushed beyond his comfort zone. Being a pet parent to a dog that doesn’t like kids means that you need to be alert and aware to keep all parties safe until you’re able to pursue training to change your dog’s perception of them. Reasons Why Your Dog Might Not Like Kids Does your dog prefer to avoid the junior crowd? There’s a chance it’s because of: A lack of socialization: If your dog didn’t experience enjoyable interactions with children during the puppy socialization period, they might seem scary or overwhelming to him. Socialization is an important dog training step that exposes pups to new sights, sounds and experiences at a gentle pace to help them gain confidence and reduce fearfulness. A traumatic incident: Maybe your dog endured a series of unpleasant dress-up sessions with a small visitor, and now he equates people under 3 feet tall with feeling uncomfortable. Activities that look innocent to us, like allowing a child to climb on a dog or repeatedly take his bone away, can be incredibly stressful for dogs and might cause your dog to develop a negative association with children. Unpredictable behavior: Children yell, run, jostle, tug, hug and tease, and that type of behavior can be overstimulating for some dogs. Pelar points out that nobody likes everyone. “There will be some people your dog doesn’t click with; that’s just life,” she says. “We’re most afraid of things we find unpredictable, and kids can top that list.” What Does Kid-Prompted Stress Look Like? Canine discomfort isn’t always signaled with barks and snarls. (Although, if your dog has those types of reactions around people, young or old, contact a qualified trainer or veterinary behaviorist). A dog’s initial stress and fear reactions can be too subtle to notice, unless you’re actively looking for them, which is why people will often say a dog “snapped without warning.” The signals are usually there, but pet parents need to be able pick up on them in order to be their dog’s translator and advocate. A dog that’s uncomfortable with children and opts for an avoidance strategy might walk away when approached or attempt to hide when kids get too close. Unfortunately, children usually don’t recognize when a dog doesn’t want to meet them, and they try to pursue him anyway. A dog that’s concerned about the proximity of kids might keep his tail tucked and have his ears plastered against his head. He might shake off as if he’s wet, lick his lips or mouth area repeatedly—as if tasting the air—yawn frequently, or even growl quietly. Dogs that use preemptive strategies to keep their distance from children, like barking or loud growling, leave no doubt about how they feel. However, these demonstrative dogs have likely cycled through the subtler “please stay away” behaviors and have amped up their displays to try to maintain their distance. What Not to Do When Your Dog Shows Discomfort Like most canine behavior challenges, ignoring your dog’s discomfort with kids won’t make it go away. It’s a risky proposition anytime you’re dealing with reactivity, but especially so when dealing with children. Unfortunately, your dog won’t “grow out” of his discomfort around kids. Untreated, there’s a chance it might get worse. Similarly, trying to make your dog “face his fears” can backfire. Pelar warns against putting your dog in a situation where he can’t get away when he’s worried, like holding your dog so that a child can pet him. Forcing your dog to cope with children at close range won’t help him to enjoy them. It might actually cause him to escalate his warnings if he feels that he has no other option. First Steps If Your Dog Doesn’t Like Kids If you notice that your dog is signaling that he’s uncomfortable in an encounter involving children, the safest bet is to manage the situation and remove him. Prevent children from running up to your dog to say hello, and always maintain a safety buffer when around kids in public. You can begin to change your dog’s perception of kids with basic training that makes a connection between them and something your dog loves, like dog treats. Any time your dog spots a child in the distance, give him high-value dog treats for as long as the child is visible. Once the child is gone, stop giving the goodies. In time, your dog will see children and immediately look to you to collect the treat, which means that he’s started to associate something that usually makes him uncomfortable (kids) with something wonderful (treats). Dogs and Children: Safety First Helping your dog feel more comfortable around children is a big job. If you’re concerned about the intensity of your dog’s reactions, the safest route is working with a positive-reinforcement dog trainer who can create a step-by-step training protocol that will help your dog learn to see the fun in little ones. Image via iStock.com/Image Source
Teaching your dog to respond to the “down” cue by putting her belly on the ground requires creativity and patience. Down is a more complex dog training behavior than sit, and it can be more challenging for both student and teacher. The following overview will help streamline the training process and lead to down-dog success! How to Teach a Dog to Lie Down: Getting Started The first step of how to teach a dog to lie down is grabbing a handful of tasty dog treats, like Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail treats. Small treats are best for training dogs since you’ll be giving your dog quite a few during the process! To begin, hold a treat in your hand so that it’s almost touching your dog’s nose, then slowly move your hand towards the floor in a straight line. Act as if you’re tracing a path from your dog’s nose to a spot on the ground in between her front feet. Keep in mind that your dog will follow the treat in your hand wherever you move it, so once you reach the ground, try to keep it stationary. At this stage, most dogs will respond in one of two ways; your dog will either immediately collapse into the down position, or more likely, will your dog will contort herself into a half-down/half-up stance.
Reviewed and updated on August 7, 2018 by Jennifer Coates, DVM. The best way to avoid cat bites is to learn the cat behavior signals that indicate that a cat is starting to feel uncomfortable in a particular situation. By understanding your cat’s body language, you can avoid scenarios that create stress and ensure that your relationship with your cat gets stronger and healthier. “Oftentimes, cat aggression and cat biting is caused by miscommunication between species,” said Russell Hartstein, certified pet behaviorist and CEO of FunPawCare in Los Angeles, California. Cat behavior and body language signals are great indicators of a cat’s mood, and they can alert you to your cat’s comfort level in the moment. The Danger of Cat Bites Although dog bites grab most of the headlines, cat bites are not without consequence. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, about 20 to 80 percent of cat bites become infected. Cat bites can be serious even if they initially appear mild. Besides the risk of cat bites becoming infected, contracting rabies is also a cause of concern. The CDC states that in 2014, over four times more rabid cats were reported than rabid dogs. This disparity is attributed to cat owners not bringing their pet to see a veterinarian for proper vaccinations (including for rabies) as often as dog owners do. That is just one reason why providing your cat with regular veterinary care, including any necessary vaccines, is such a vital part of being a responsible cat owner.
Prevention Unfortunately, there is currently no vaccine for this illness.,Aleutian disease is a parvovirus that ferrets contract from other ferrets and mink. As the virus spreads through a ferret’s body, the ferret’s antibodies — the protective immune system — attack the virus, forming complexes which collect in the kidneys, liver, spleen, and other organs causing them to fail. The disease is incurable and if you have a multi-ferret household, you should consider testing your other ferrets for Aleutian disease and having them euthanized should they be positive. Ferrets which contract this disease may appear healthy and act as carriers (persistent nonprogressive form), lose weight over time (progressive form) or become very ill and die (another progressive form). It is also possible for a ferret to have caught the disease and to have fully recovered, not being a carrier (nonprogressive form). However, the vast majority of infected ferrets will become very ill and die (progressive form). Fortunately, this disease is not terribly common. Symptoms and Types Paleness Lethargy Muscle wasting Weight loss Enlarged abdomen Black-colored feces Weakness in the rear legs Neurological signs (e.g., stumbling, circling, difficulty walking, stupor, coma)
Neobenedinia In Saltwater Fish There are many parasites which cause skin and gill damage in fish. Neobenedinia is one such parasite found in saltwater fish. A capsalid, it is much larger than other fish parasites and can therefore inflict more damage. Symptoms and Types The parasites damage the skin — the protective barrier against water-borne organisms — and gills, causing sores, ulcers and small bleeding spots all over the fish’s body. Due to the damage to the gills, the infected fish have difficulty breathing. Skin damage will also leave fish more susceptible to secondary infections. Unless the infection is treated in early, the parasites cause death in the fish.
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