Us canine folk are rumored to have a very robust digestive system, and although this may be true in the wild, there are certain foods and substances that humans consume which a dog or canine in the wild would never come across or be exposed to.

Dogs in the past and no doubt still in some cultures have always been the “scraps cleaner uppers”, and the evolution of dogs as pets has strongly relied on this feature of the canines ability to survive on what humans leave behind.

However as dog breeding for pets and for purpose dogs has evolved, so has the robustness of the digestive system declined, but there is also the factor that foods and substances which most pet dogs would not normally have been exposed to are easily available to humans to innocently give to us dogs as a treat or just as food.

Below is a list of known toxic Foods and Substances that should never be given to a dog and which most humans might give to a dog without realising the dangers.

Never Feed a Dog the Following:

• Chocolate and Caffeine – Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous systems.
• Onions and Garlic – Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Garlic is less toxic than onions.
• Potatoes – Canine digestive systems are not designed to digest the starch properly. Potatoes also contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.
• Bones – It is ironic as most humans think of the very popular phrase – “give the dog a bone”. Bones, particularly cooked, can splinter and can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system. Generally large uncooked bones are ok, however if the dog can break the bone up into pieces it can be dangerous.
• Raw Eggs – Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.
• Macadamia Nuts – Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.
• Grapes and Raisins – Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys.
• Mushrooms – Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.
• Paracetamol and Ibuprofen – Paracetamol in the correct dosage for the dog is actually safe – but the problem with paracetamol is that even a slight overdose can be fatally toxic and if you are guessing the dog’s weight and then halving or quartering a 500mg “human” tablet, there is no way you can safely get the right dose. Anti Inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen are also dangerous in the wrong dosages. Always see a Vet for any medication, even pain killers for your pet.

As always common sense prevails. A healthy balanced diet for your pet dog is the best way to go, just avoid by all means feeding any of the above items.

Do dogs get epilepsy?

Yes! Canine Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent seizures. Although seizures are always abnormal events, not all seizures in dogs are caused by canine epilepsy.

Some dog breeds are more susceptible to epilepsy.

Canine Epilepsy and Dog Seizures can be one in the same thing, with the seizures being broadly divided into two categories:

• Idiopathic Epilepsy – also referred to as primary epilepsy, it is seizures which are not caused by any other brain abnormality other than epileptic seizures
• Symptomatic Epilepsy – also referred to as secondary epilepsy are seizures caused by a brain lesion or other specific cause.

Which Dog Breeds are most Susceptible to Canine Epilepsy

A genetic basis for idiopathic epilepsy is strongly suspected in several breeds including the following breeds:

• Beagle
• Belgian Tervuren
• Keeshond
• Dachshund
• British Alsatian
• Labrador Retriever
• Golden Retriever
• Collie

Most dogs with idiopathic epilepsy suffer their first seizure between the ages of one and five years of age. Idiopathic canine epilepsy is not exclusive to the above breeds may also be inherent in other breeds.

The Types of Seizures

Watching a pet dog having a tonic-clonic or grand mal seizure can be a terrifying scene. A seizure generaly refers to the involuntary contraction and spasm of muscles. The seizure is caused by an electrical storm in the brain. Seizures can be broken into two types:

• Generalized seizure – the electrical storm appears everywhere in the brain at once. Tonic-Clonic (formerly called grand mal) seizure begins with spasm of all skeletal muscles and loss of consciousness. The dog usually falls to his side with the legs stretched out and the head back. This is the tonic portion of the seizure. Sometimes the dog will vocalize or have facial twitching. Vocalizations are involuntary and do not indicate pain. Often the dog will drool excessively, urinate, defecate or eliminate his anal glands. This portion of the seizure is usually brief and is followed by the clonic phase of the seizure. The clonic phase can include rhythmic movements which typically consists of clamping the jaws and jerking or running movements of the legs. After the seizure, the dog may lay still for a brief period. In time the dog will get up on his feet and may appear to be normal, but may show signs of post ictal behavior. These signs include apparent blindness, disorientation, pacing or running about the house bumping into things. The post-ictal behavior can last anywhere from hours to days after a seizure. Another type of generalized seizure is the tonic seizure, in which motor activity consists only of generalized muscle rigidity without the clonic phase.
• Partial seizure – the abnormal electrical impulses begin in a small area of the brain. Partial seizures are also refferred to as focal seizures, the electrical storm affects only a specific part of the brain. A partial seizure may stay localized or it may expand to the whole brain and cause a tonic-clonic seizure. Because the seizure starts in only a specific part of the brain, an underlying disease or injury may be likely. A partial seizure may remain localized or spread to other parts of the cerebral cortex producing a sequential involvement of other body parts. Partial seizures are described as simple focal seizures where consciousness is preserved and as complex focal seizures where consciousness is altered. Any portion of the body may be involved during a focal seizure depending on the region of the brain affected. In a simple partial seizure, the area of the brain that controls movement is affected. Usually resulting in face twitching or blinking, sometimes limited to one side of the face. If the seizure spreads, other parts of the body on that same side will be affected. The dog will usually be alert and aware. A complex partial seizure will originate in the area of the brain that controls behavior and is sometimes called a psychomotor seizure. During this type of seizure, the dog’s consciousness is altered and he may exhibit bizarre behavior such as unprovoked aggression or extreme irrational fear. He may run uncontrollably, engage in senseless, repetitive behavior or have fly-snapping episodes where he appears to be biting at imaginary flies around his head.

What to do when your Dog has a Seizure or Epileptic Fit

The best thing you can do for your dog during a fit is to move anything out of the way that they might hurt themselves with. Watch the dog but don’t get to near it or put your hand near it’s mouth as it might involuntarily bite you. Never move the dog during a fit unless it is in danger of getting hurt. Comfort the dog after the seizure and seek Vetinary advice

References:
Cash WC, Blauch BS: Jaw snapping syndrome in eight dogs. JAVMS 175:179, 1979
Parent JM Seizures, Small animal medicine 735:741, 1991
Thomas WB: Idiopathic Epilepsy in Dogs. Vet Clinics of N. Amer. Small Animal Practice 183:206, 2000

Qustion – What is the Best Breed of Dog for Children?

- Answer – British Bulldog!

Well I guess I am being bias here, but we do make great companions for children, we sleep most of the time, we are not very big, we love to play and we are just adorable!

Seriously though, what is the best breed of dog for children to have as a pet? The answer is …..there isn’t one. It all comes down to a number of factors and breed is just one of them.

It is a fact however that certain breeds have more favourable temperaments than others, dogs that are bred for guarding or size and strength may not be the best idea around small children, however it is not to say that they would not be good with children.

Breeding

Breeding is a very important factor, a good breeder chooses good lines and temperament is a big factor. Also good breeders will start to socialise the puppy at an early stage. Good breeders care for the breed they rear and so they breed from good stock in order to improve the line and their reputation.

Size

Size of the dog is also an important factor, even though a big dog may have a good temperament and they may not intend to harm, because of their size and strength, they maybe dangerous around small children.

Obedience Training

Children must be taught the boundaries of what is acceptable behaviour when with dogs, but us dogs also need training particularly as pups so we also know the boundaries and learn to behave around humans and other dogs. It is also good to include the children in the training of the dog so they and the dog are familiar with each other and what the dog knows.

Socialisation

Socialisation is very important, expose the new puppy to the household, children, sounds and smells. If the dog is suitable for indoors let them get familiar with the rooms and the place in general.

Supervision

Us dogs being dogs it is always better to never leave children and dogs together unsupervised, it is just not worth the risk. No dog is 100% safe as their natural instincts can overtake their better judgement.

Which is the Best Breeds of Dogs for Children

As mentioned it really is a matter of personal choice taking into consideration your circumstances and the points above. It is always a good idea to research the breed before you buy so you know the type of temperament and the best environment for the breed of the dog.
There is however some breeds that are more suitable with children than others, so here is a list of breeds that are widely regarded as being a good choice for families with children:

• British Bulldog (that’s me)
• Australian Shepherd
• Cocker Spaniel
• Golden Retriever
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Labrador
• Boxer Dog
• Beagle
• Norfolk Terrier
• Poodle
• Bichon Frise
• Whippet

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment!

Where did Pet Dogs Evolve From?

You may have wondered how us pet dogs have evolved and from where we originated from! Well wonder no more, here is all the info you need to know about the history and evolution of “mans best friend”

The domestic dog was originally classified as Canis familiaris and Canis familiarus domesticus by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758, and was reclassified in 1993 as Canis lupus familiaris, a subspecies of the gray wolf Canis lupus, by the Smithsonian Institution and the American Society of Mammalogists. There is overwhelming evidence that led to the contemporary scientific understanding that a single species, the gray wolf, is the common ancestor for all breeds of domestic dogs.

Dogs have become one of the most successful species on the planet, this is largely due to their relationship with humans. There is conclusive evidence that dogs genetically diverged from their wolf ancestors at least 15,000 years ago.

Dogs were Domesticated 15,000 years ago

Some believe domestication may have occurred earlier than 15,000 years ago. It is unknown however whether humans domesticated the wolf to initiate dog’s divergence from its ancestors, or whether dog’s evolutionary path had already taken a different course prior to domestication. For example, it is hypothesized that some wolves gathered around the campsites of paleolithic camps to scavenge refuse, and associated evolutionary pressure developed that favored those who were less frightened by, and keener in approaching, humans. This then led to a breed or sub species of wolf that then became the dog as we know it.

Most experts agree that human interaction played a significant role in shaping the wolf subspecies. Shortly after domestication, dogs became ever-present in human populations, and spread throughout the world.

It is beleived that domestic dogs inherited behaviors from their wolf ancestors, such as being pack hunters with complex body language. These sophisticated forms of social cognition and communication may account for dogs trainability, playfulness, and ability to fit into human households and social situations.

Dogs and Humans Survive Together

Canines, would have derived significant benefits from living in human camps such as safety, more reliable food source, they would have required less calories, and have more chance to breed. Dogs would also have benefited from humans’ for security by having a larger range and vision over which to see potential predators and prey. Camp dogs would also have benefitted from human’s use of tools and weapons to bring down larger prey for food and controlling fire.

Humans would also had enormous benefit from the dogs associated with their camps. Dogs would have improved sanitation by cleaning up food scraps, dogs may have provided warmth, as referred to in the Australian Aboriginal expression “three dog night” (an exceptionally cold night), and they would have alerted the camp to the presence of predators or strangers (guard dogs), using their acute hearing to provide an early warning. Anthropologists believe the most significant benefit would have been the use of dogs’ sensitive sense of smell to assist with the hunting.

The cohabitation of dogs and humans would have greatly improved the chances of survival for early human groups, and the domestication of dogs may have been one of the key forces that led to human success.

The Word is Dog

It is beleived that the word dog cam from Middle English dogge or from Old English docga, a which is a powerful dog breed. The term may have derived from Proto-Germanic “dukkon”, represented in Old English finger-docce or “finger-muscle”. Due to the archaic structure of the word the term dog may ultimately have derived from the earliest layer of Proto-Indo-European vocabulary, reflecting the role of the dog as the earliest domesticated animal.

So there you have it, us dogs are descendants from the mean lean grey wolf, and had it not been for us you humans may not have survived so easily, thus why we are fondly known as “mans (and womans) best friend”

Dogs! where would we be without them?

Bulldog Australian Style!

I didn’t even know there was such a breed! My human’s friends came around the other day, they had just picked up a brand spanking new Australian Bulldog Puppy.

As I said I had no idea that there was a breed called the Australian Bulldog. I have heard of English or British Bulldogs – that’s me! – and American Bulldogs, our Yankee cousins, but blow me down we also have an Aussie cousin breed.

Being Aussie they try and out do the rest of the world, so two Aussie breeders – Noel and Tina Green thought they would breed a dog that looked like us British Bulldogs (adorable) but not have the inherent health problems that us Brits have (snobs!).

There were two independent breeding programs, one by Noel and Tina Green (the JAG line) and a separate program by Pip Nobes (the Nobes Australian Bulldog/ Wingara lines). Wouldn’t mind a Jag myself – Wot!, they are a British car by the way!

The only registered organisation for the breed is the Australian Bulldog Society or A.B.S, founded by Pip Nobes. they are currently working toward the A.B.S Australian Bulldogs being recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) as a breed. The United Aussie Bulldog Association U.A.B.A(formed in 2003) is run by Noel and Tina Green, this registry is still actively registering us British Bulldog over Aussie Bulldog litters.

The Aussie Bulldog is a thickset medium sized breed. Males weighing 28 to 35 kg and are from 40–45 cm tall, females are about 40–48 cm tall and weigh around 25 to 35 kg. The Aussie Bully skull is large but in proportion to their body (not like us bigheads!). The muzzle is wide,broad and stub, but not to the extent that it interferes with breathing.

Now when my humans saw this Aussie Bulldog they went nuts – oooh look how cute – etc. etc. and of course they went snap happy with the camera, but we dogs were having too good a time to stand still for the camera, chasing each other up and down the room. Anyway they got some photos, but there isn’t a lot of photos out there of this breed – unlike us British Bulldogs, so when “Ella” gets older we will post some more photos of her out there!

Holiday With Your Pets

Hi everyone Molly here.

Did you ever want to go on holiday but didn’t want to leave your pet behind?

Well there are quite a few Pet Friendly Accommodation and Holiday places available in Australia and other locations in the World.

So I decided to put together a Directory of locations in Australia and around the World that have accommodation where pets are welcome.

There are not a lots of places with Pet Friendly Accommodation, and they are growing in numbers and popularity as holiday makers that want to enjoy their vacations with all the family members (including pets) are growing in numbers.

My directory is very easy to use, just select the state or country from the drop down Category list and you will find the Pet Friendly Accommodation places listed. Alternatively you can just browse through all the listing, or even do a search using keywords for what you are looking for.

If you know of any Pet Friendly Accommodation that you can recommend in Australia or anywhere in the world please submit it, it is easy to fill in – just Click Here.

If you are the manager or owner of a Pet Friendly Accommodation location / holiday spot and want to increase your exposure on the web then don’t miss out Click Here to submit your listing, it is free, no catches and it is easy to fill in.

So holiday makers, now you can enjoy your next holiday with your pets as well! And why not take them with you? We are after all part of the family! Woof!

Go To The Pet Friendly Accommodation Listings Page

Go To The Pet Friendly Accommodation Submit Listing Page

A weaping eye can be the first signs of Entropion

My humans noticed recently that I had an irritated eye, the symptoms they could see was that I had a red and weeping eye and it seemed a bit inflamed overall. They took me to the vet and found out that I have an eye problem that is common in some dog breeds and particularly in Bulldogs. It is called Entropion and it is basically when the eyelid – top or bottom, but mostly the bottom eyelid, rolls inward and causes the hairs, which we have growing normally on our eyelids, to rub against the eyeball.

Entropion is most common amongst dog breeds with loose facial skin such as – Bulldogs, Bloodhound, Akita, Pug, Chow Chow, Shar Pei, St. Bernard, Cocker Spaniel, Boxer, Springer Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Neapolitan Mastiff, Bull Mastiff, Great Dane, Irish Setter, Shiba Inu , Rottweiler and Poodle.

The only real remedy is by a surgical procedure called Blepharoplasty. This procedure is actually plastic surgery. Apparently the excess folds and sections of facial skin are removed, and the eyelids tightened (K9 nip and tuck!). It is uncommon for entropion to re-occur after the surgery has been performed unless the condition is quite severe.

Another procedure which is also used mainly on puppies with Entropion is to have the eyelid sutured so it rolls out away from the eyeball, this is reffered to as “Lid Tacking”. This acts as a correcting procedure while the puppies grow into their facial skin. This is common for a dog like the Shar-Pei.

In less severe cases an ointment can be used to keep the eye clean and releive discomfort, however always see your vet for advise as the problem can worsen and ultimately cause corneal ulcers or erosions and scarring which can interfere with the vision.

So, looks like I’m gonna get my first surgical procedure done, I am not looking forward to it, but the problem could get worse if I don;t get something done about it,wish me luck! In the mean time my humans will be comforting me with the eye ointment!

We have character, we have charisma, we love unconditionally, we can be damn mean if we have to, we are as close to perfect as a living thing can be!

Some cultures believe that when humans leave this world they come back as dogs, re-incarnation I think they call it. What a better way to come back aye – as a pet dog!

Just think about it, humans clean up after us, they take us for walks, they feed us, they give us a safe secure place to live, they play with us, some dress us up in absolutely silly outfits, and for what?

I’ll tell you for what – the one thing that all humans crave – the feeling of being loved and wanted. After all we are “mans (persons) best friend”.

Have you ever heard the saying – “it’s a three dog night” – apart from the fact that it was the name of a band, the original saying came from nomadic persons, they guaged how cold the night was by the number of dogs they had to sleep with in order to keep warm. A three dog night was when it was so cold that they had to sleep with three dogs for the warmth. Yep, we keep you warm on the outside as well as the inside!

It’s actually a fact that a dogs body temperature is just slightly higher than humans! We are HOT!

And we are cool too, just check this guy out on the couch watching TV – talk about a cool couch potato!

English Bulldog watching TV (Family Guy) sitting on a couch

Brilliant!

Most vets believe the cause of tear staining is excess tearing and moist hair or fur around the dogs eyes and folds in the face. When the face hair or fur is wet from excess tearing it is the breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. One of the most common yeast infections is Ptyrosporin or Red Yeast which causes a deep reddish-brown stain. Low grade bacterial infections in the tear ducts are also common and may cause excess tearing and staining.

My owners saw a local veterinary surgeon about the tear stains and excess tearing. The vet said that in our area the water has a high mineral content. This can aid the bacteria and yeast growth caused by the excess tearing and moist face hair. The vet suggested giving me filtered water and that seems to helped quite well.

Yogurt is also very powerful in fighting and avoiding yeast infections (for humans and dogs). It must however be plain yogurt with live cultures, and not flavored or with any additives. By reducing yeast growth the tear stains are also reduced.

Good ol Vinegar is also another home remedy that can be added to your dogs drinking water. It may take the dog a while to get used to the vinegar, however by putting a very small amount in to start and then slowly but surely increasing the dose to around a teaspoon for an average drinking bowl, your dog will get used to it. Vinegar is excellent for killing off bacteria and yeast / fungal growth an thus will reduce tear stains.

Diet is also very important to reduce excess tearing and bacterial and yeast infections. Avoid foods with artificial additives, preservatives and colorings. Wheat and cereals should also be avoided as they can aid with the yeast infections.

Another very popular remedy of tear stains is a product called “Angel Eyes”. Angel Eyes is a powdered food additive made of liver. A small amount of powder is added to the dogs food or apparently it works very well and it is very palatable for dogs. Always follow the instructions on the bottle!

Angel Eyes works by reducing circulating porphyrins. A porphyrin is a compound that reacts with light to produce a reddish brown stain to the medial canthus. The ingredients in Angels’ Eyes will prevent your dog from contracting Ptyrosporin (Red Yeast) and bacterial infections which causes excess tearing and staining.

Well there ya go, a few ways to prevent that yuckish staining around your dogs eyes and face!

The American bulldog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a stocky, well built, strong-looking dog with very powerful jaws, a very large head, and a very muscular build. Its coat is short and generally smooth. The breed is a light to moderate shedder. Colors, while historically predominantly white with patches of red or brindle, have grown in recent years to include many color patterns: including red, brown, fawn and all shades of brindle. The color conformation is quite varied, but blue, tri-color, black and tan or any degree of merle is a breed undesirable and considered a fault or disqualification by most breed standards. Black pigmentation on the nose and eye rims is preferred, with only some pink allowed. Eye color is usually brown but split eyes (one blue and one brown) also occurs. American Bulldogs can be droolers; this varies and is more prevalent in the Bully type.

An American Bulldog.

A 6-week old male American Bulldog

In Spain and England during the 17th and 18th centuries, bulldogs were used on farms to hold livestock, as butchers’ dogs, as guardians, as well as for other tasks. Many settlers brought these dogs with them to help around the farm, hunt in the woods, guard property, and for gambling and sport.

In 1835, the sport of bull-baiting was outlawed in Spain and the United Kingdom and, over time, the bulldog became a common pet, being bred into today’s more compact and complacent version. The product was as much from the efforts of selectively bred bulldogs as it was the introduction of the pug. Bulldogs in Spain and England were originally working dogs who drove and caught cattle and guarded their masters’ property.

The original bulldog was preserved by working class immigrants who brought their working dogs with them to the American South. Small farmers and ranchers used this all-around working dog for many tasks including farm guardians, stock dogs and catch dog. These dogs were not an actual breed as considered by today’s standards but were a generic bulldog type. There were no recorded pedigrees or records and breeding decisions were dependent on the best working farm dogs despite breed or background. Several separate strains of the “bulldog” type dogs were kept by ranchers as utilitarian working dogs.

By the end of World War II, however, these bulldog type strains were becoming extinct. Mr. John D. Johnson, a returning war veteran, decided to resurrect this breed. Later Alan Scott and several other breeders joined Johnson’s efforts to resurrect and recreate the old time bulldogs. Johnson and Scott began to carefully breed American bulldogs, keeping careful records and always with an eye for maintaining the breed’s health and working abilities. Initially Johnson and Scott had a similar vision and even traded dogs with each other. However in time there was a split between their visions and resulted in the two distinct types of American Bulldog. Alan Scott preferred a smaller more athletic dog with a longer muzzle that could be used for cattle catching as well as wild boar hunting. John Johnson preferred a larger more massive dog with a shorter muzzle that was more of a guardian type dog. Over time the two founding breeders as well as important breeders crossed in other breeds to help meet their goal of the ideal working bulldog. Originally the breed was called the American Pit Bulldog and in the 1970′s registered with the National Kennel Club (NKC) as such. Later the name was changed to American Bulldog to avoid confusion with the American Pit Bull Terrier. The American bulldog was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1999. Currently the breed is recognized by the NKC, UKC and the American Bulldog Association (ABA) and in the year 2010, the breed of American Bulldogs was awarded the best breed of the decade.

American bulldogs are now safe from extinction and are enjoying a healthy increase in popularity, either as a working dog or as a family pet. All over the world, they are used variously as “hog dogs” (catching escaped pigs or hunting razorbacks), as cattle drovers and as working or sport K-9s. American Bulldogs also successfully compete in several dog sports such as dog obedience, Schutzhund, French Ring, Mondio Ring, Iron Dog competition and weight pulling. They are also exhibited in conformation shows in the UKC, NKC, ABA and ABRA,

Source – Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Bulldog