One A Day

Here’s some news that I can use.

Nutritional supplements improve the memory, ability to learn, and cognitive function of old dogs, giving scientists a new approach to the neurodegeneration and cognitive decline common with aging in humans, as published in a recent study.

I currently take 5 peanut butter covered pills a day. Adding a few more would be welcomed by me.

In the current study, an inbred line of older beagle dogs were taught to find a food treat by identifying certain markers, such as a yellow peg. Applied scents on the markers to deter the dogs from using scent to find the food treats. Some dogs received the supplementation, while others did not. After 15 weeks, more than 80% of the supplemented dogs were successful, while only 50% of those not receiving supplements learned how to find the treat.

I’m a bit leery of the results due to the design of the study. Frankly, I’m surprised the result wasn’t 100% for both sets of dogs; they were searching for treats after all.

Had they tasked the dogs with finding their way out of a corn maze, then those results would have been impressive.

Halitosis Howler

We all have morning breath, now here’s a recipe specifically designed to get rid of it.

Sure you love to get kisses from your dog. But you don’t always love the sour dog breath now do you? Try this biscuits from “Throw Me a Bone” Cooper Gillespie with recipes by Sally Sampson (Simon & Schuster).

3 cups unbleached all-purpose white or whole-wheat flour, or a combination

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1 cup buttermilk or low-fat yogurt

1 tablespoon honey

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley or mint leaves

How good can these be? Where’s the meat flavored Listerine?

Personally, I get rid of my halitosis by brushing right after eating kitty poo and flossing at least twice a day.

Ice Ice Baby

Here’s an article on tips for keeping dogs cool.

The five suggestions are:

1. Sunscreen for pets
2. Offer a lot of water
3. Work up slowly to working out
4. Consider shaving
5. Rinse and dry after swimming

OK, you’re going to have to help me understand how number four makes it on the list. How is shaving going to help me be cool? I like my five o’clock shadow, and besides, when I wear my Don Johnson white suit with it, I look damn cool. Frankly, shaving would just make my upper lip look too big…and dorky.

Bowling For Bellies

Sure the reason for creating The Eat Better Dog Bowl sounds noble, but I think the underlying motive of capitalism is the true goal.

New invention saves dogs from eating too fast, belly-aches and a whole host of indigestion problems.

“The Eat Better^TM Dog Bowl is designed with a wishbone structure in the centre with three apexes and connecting ridges. The wishbone serves as an obstruction to prevent dogs from lapping up all the food in a swift, sweeping motion and inhaling the contents like a vacuum cleaner.”, according to its Singaporean inventor, Mr Victor Lee, a dog-behavioural specialist.

C’mon, let’s be frank here. Anything that obstructs my eating path is only going to make me mad, resulting in me peeing in the house for revenge.

Macey’s Day Parade

Reason #1921 why it’s better to be a male dog rather than a doggess.

A Great Dane dog [Macey] in Manchester has given birth to 16 puppies after a grueling 20 hours in labor, leaving her owners perplexed over what to do with the vast litter.

I hope they have health insurance. Can you imagine the cost of putting these pups through obedience school?

We found out that she was pregnant through the vets. They said they could feel four puppies. Then she had a litter of 16. Our reaction was one of shock and horror really. She had four within hours and they just kept coming. We were stunned. Macey is perfectly fine and healthy and so are the pups. They are just starting to walk around and play with each other. It’s lovely.

Just a quick thought, these folks may want to change veterinarians.

After the 7th puppy was delivered, what did the vet tell the owners? “Wow that was a few more than I expected.”

What about after the 10th? “This is a miracle! I can’t believe I only felt 4 pups and she had ten in there!”

And after the 13th? “Uhm, I think that should be it.”

And after the 16th Pup was delivered? “To be honest with you, I’m not really a vet. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.”

Chow Yun Fat

Chunky canines are getting help but they may be ruining it for all of us.

One of the world’s first anti-obesity drugs for dogs is now available and believed to be the ideal solution for overfed canines.

Yes this article appears to be good news for all of us dogs but in reality it isn’t. Why is it bad? Two things: the first is that owners will focus on the tricks of the trade we love to employ to separate them from their food. The first shot across the bow is in the article:

“Often, they [dog owners] cannot resist those pleading eyes and it takes a lot of determination on the part of the owners to refrain from giving in.”

The second is how it affects our daily strolls of message checking.

[PDSA’s Elaine Pendlebury] added that owners of obese dogs should take their pets for more walks and, in extreme cases, radically alter their diets.

Good advice, but you know if people think they can solve a problem with a pill they will. Kiss your walks goodbye, my fluffy friend.

Besides, what’s wrong with a beautiful golden retriever with a little junk in the trunk? That’s right, nuthin’.

Bad Moon Rising

A new study suggests that injuries in cats and dogs increase during full moons. The catchy title of the study, “Canine and feline emergency room visits and the lunar cycle: 11,940 cases (1992-2002)” tells you a lot about its design.

By reading the conclusions one would conclude there is a definite correlation:

The data, compiled from 10 years of nearly 12,000 case histories of dogs and cats treated at the university’s Veterinary Medical Center, indicates that the risk of emergencies on fuller moon days was 23 percent greater in cats and 28 percent greater in dogs when compared with other days. The types of emergencies ranged from cardiac arrest to epileptic seizures and trauma, and the increase was most pronounced during the moon’s three fullest stages - waxing gibbous, full and waning gibbous.

However, when looked at in actual terms, this equates to only one additional dog and cat per night for average emergency vet clinic.

What I really care about, and not a mention of this, is how many humans turn into werewolves and kill people during full moons.

Say No To The California Raisins

Something Serious: Public Service Announcement

Raisins and grapes have been shown to be toxic to some dogs. This was first discovered in a 2004 study by the ASPCA Poison Control Center. The center found 140 cases where dogs were affected by the ingestion of either grapes or raisins.

In cases of raisin or grape ingestion by dogs, the pets often begin vomiting within six-12 hours. In 12 to 24 hours, the dogs often become anorexic and develop diarrhea. After 24 hours, a large number of dogs develop acute renal failure, which can lead to death.

Hmmm…maybe that’s why I puke and crap all over the house after chugging a bottle of my favorite Merlot. I wonder what my father’s excuse is?

Paging Doctor Feelgood

Looks like a scientific breakthrough in the area of cancer research.

One of the major issues associated with longer life expectancy in man and his best friend is an increase in the incidence of cancer.

…[and] it seems dogs might be able to tell us why and how certain cancers develop.

Go ahead, admit it. You don’t believe it. Well, go ahead, read the article.

Yup, I’m pretty amazing…well not just me, but canines in general. There’s just no end to all the special abilities that we have hidden from humans.

Do I know why and how cancers develop? I sure do. Why haven’t I told anyone? Well, no one ever asked and let’s face it, who’d believe a dog anyway?

A Day Late And A Dollar Short

I tell ya, the young pups today got it made. Times have certainly changed since I was born. I remember having to walk three miles to obedience class, in deep snow, uphill, both ways. Today, the kids get rides in big SUV’s with heated seats.

Now I find out that even getting neutered isn’t an issue any more.

Male dogs can breathe a sigh of relief. The days of removing their testicles to stop them breeding or to curb aggressive behaviour may be numbered. A contraceptive implant that halts testosterone and sperm production for months at a time is expected to gain European approval within weeks, while steps are being taken to enable the drug to be sold in the US.

If I’d only been born ten years later, I’d have me an iPod, an iPhone and my iNuts.

Full story for you here.

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