From A Petzvu

07/18/2022

The High Price for Cuteness

Brachycephalic is a big word that means “short-headed” and is used in reference to dogs and dog breeds with short snouts. This includes mixed breed dogs who have inherited the trait from brachycephalic ancestors. The extreme brachycephalic feature is termed “flat-faced” but anyway you word it, these dogs with their little buggy eyes and worrisome expression are just too cute. However, this cuteness comes at a high price…for the dog.
When breeding for the flat-faced look, the bony structure of the skull was shortened but the soft tissue on the inside wasn’t, so it all got scrunched together in this small space from the nostrils to the trachea. The dog is at risk for a condition called Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome as the airway is partially blocked making breathing difficult. Therefore, brachycephalic dogs snore, snort, wheeze, and gag. They have no tolerance for heat or exercise. If the dog is severely overheated or stressed, the mucous membranes turn blue, and the dog may collapse. If the dog is overweight, all of this is much worse.
All dogs pant. It’s the only way dogs have for displacing body heat. It’s not the most effective mechanism but for the brachycephalic dog it’s difficult because they can’t move enough air with each breathe to sufficiently cool themselves. Therefore, it’s so important to keep them at a healthy weight. It’s important to monitor their exposure to heat and stress. Brachycephalic dogs need to be in air conditioning if the weather is hot and humid and take them for short walks early in the morning or later in the evening. Above all else, never leave them alone in the car with the windows cracked, even on a cool day.
Brachycephalic dogs experience a lot of regurgitation and vomiting because the upper stomach sphincter is weak. They may have a delay in gastric emptying if the outlet to the stomach is thick, known as pyloric stenosis. It is common for the brachycephalic dog to suffer from hiatal hernias and gastritis.
The brachycephalic dog’s mouth has been shortened so there is no room for the normal number of teeth to be in a normal arrangement so overcrowding and crooked teeth are common. This is a misalignment of teeth, which is painful and could result in teeth poking through the roof of the mouth. Because of the overcrowding of teeth, it’s easy for tartar to build up.
Ear infections are common in brachycephalic dogs because the ear canals are very narrow. The infection can spread to the middle ear causing long-term pain and possible neurologic damage. If the infection reaches the chronic stage, the ear canal can be surgically removed.
Now, let’s talk a moment about those curt, little bulging eyes. Irresistible as they are, they’re susceptible to corneal ulcers and since the bulging of the eyes has decreased sensitivity, the dog doesn’t notice so much when something enters the eye and damages it. To compound this issue, the eyelid of the brachycephalic dog doesn’t close all the way, so some dirt and debris doesn’t get washed away when they blink. The cute little nasal folds can rub against the inner corneas causing irritation. And speaking of those cute nasal folds, they must be carefully cleaned on a regular basis to keep infection and dermatitis at bay.
The scariest issue of all for the brachycephalic dog is having to be anesthetized. Their shortened airways and gastrointestinal issues put them at a much higher risk than other dogs. Before surgical procedure, the dog must be put on anti-vomiting and stomach acid reducing medication to reduce the chance of vomiting while under anesthesia. The shortened airway makes endotracheal intubation a nightmare because of possible tracheal hypoplasia and the dog must remain intubated until fully awake and aware. There must be one-on-one supervision of the dog for an extended period after surgery.
No doubt the flat-face and bulging eyes make the brachycephalic dog so irresistibly cute and is why so many people are drawn to the breed, but this selective bred anatomical cuteness has resulted in life-long pain, discomfort, and health problems for the breed. It has been suggested that the breeding of brachycephalic dogs should cease as the anatomical structure serves no practical purpose. Maybe the breeders of brachycephalic dogs should aim for longer snouts and less bulging eyes, but I guess they would lose that cuteness factor and look like all other dogs. As for me, now that I know about the pain and discomfort these dogs feel, the “cuteness” factor is out the window.

06/12/2022

If you have ever watched videos of pets on social media, you’ve seen several featuring pet owners of foxes and you probably wondered if they make good pets. Quite simply put, no!

06/12/2022

MR. FOX – NOT SO FANTASTIC

If you have ever watched videos of pets on social media, you’ve seen several featuring pet owners of foxes and you probably wondered if they make good pets. Quite simply put, no!
Foxes are considered undomesticated predators, or a potentially invasive species and it is illegal to own one in most states. Foxes do not do well as an indoor animal.
Foxes are part of the Canidae family like dogs and wolves only difference is dogs have had around 40,000 years of domestication while the fox has had, what, two months! They’re a wild animal. This includes all species; the red, grey, arctic, and Fennec foxes.
Foxes have learned to adapt to areas where there are people, however they still have all the needs of a wild animal like live prey and significant room for daily exercise and a lot of it. They are high energy and if they don’t get enrichment, they become bored and destructive.
They will mark their territory frequently and their urine smells like extra strong skunk spray. It won’t be long before your home smells like an animal resides there.
Did I mention they are extremely loud? They scream at night during mating season which is around January. Their screams are like that of a human which will make things interesting for the neighbors.
Then there is the caring aspect of a fox. Foxes can be trained but not like you train a dog. Dogs have had years to develop and appreciate the value of serving their humans as opposed to foxes. Training one takes serious dedication.
Foxes will eat a high-quality dog food however they must have fresh, raw meat on a regular basis so stock up on deer meat and whole fish as you will be feeding this to them several times a week to keep their diet well balanced.
Do you have a lot of room? Foxes need at least twenty-five square yards of enclosed room. A wild red fox has a territory of one to three square miles of room.
Foxes are common carriers of the rabies disease and there is no rabies vaccine that has been tested on them. If your pet fox bites or is bitten by another animal, local authorities will take your fox and put him down to test for rabies.
If you have other small pets, you must keep them away from your pet fox as he will hunt them down and attack them.
So, if none of this has changed your mind and you still want to adopt a fox for a pet, keep in mind that owning one is only legal in some states. If you live in Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, Tennessee, or Wyoming, you can legally own a fox but only a certain fox species so check with your state’s authorities. Be ready to spend anywhere from $400 - $10,000 to adopt a fox which does not include shipping fees, permit applications, and veterinary care. Speaking of veterinary care, not all veterinarians can provide the medical needs of foxes so make sure you have a vet nearby specializing in the care of foxes.
One more important fact that you must consider. Animal rights activists are continuing to fight to make owning a fox illegal in all states. Should the state in which you live and can legally own a fox change their stance on the issue and make it illegal, you have no choice but to give up your pet.
Owning a fox as a pet will get you attention on social media but if this is the only reason you want one, perhaps you should think of another exotic pet to own like a lion, tiger, or bear…oh my, there is a whole new set of issues!

05/15/2022

Like dogs, cats are part of the human evolutionary process and, also like the dog, did so because we humans had something to offer. While dogs started their evolutionary domestication well over 20,000 years ago when we h...

05/09/2022

Got a Big Dog? How's His Heart?

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) literally means disease of the heart and is commonly referred to as an enlarged heart. This disease not only affects humans, but it can also affect our dogs.
The cause of DCM is unknown but believed to be hereditary or occurring without cause (idiopathic). As the disease progresses, it weakens the walls of the heart making it difficult for it to contract and pump blood efficiently, leading to poor circulation. This, in turn, increases the pressure in the heart and blood vessels, causing the heart to stretch or dilate. When the blood vessels are stretched, they cannot close completely so when the heart contracts, blood flows backwards causing a heart murmur, irregular heartbeat, and heart failure. To complicate matters, if one side of the heart is more affected than the other, the lower chamber enlarges restricting the heart’s ability to pump blood to the lungs where fluid begins to pool.
Cardiomyopathy can also occur as a result of other diseases such as a heart infection, from medications such as certain anti-cancer drugs, or exposure to a toxin. These are usually referred to as secondary myocardial diseases.
The incidence of canine DCM increases with age, usually occurring between the age of 4-10 years, although some dogs can develop it at a young age such as the Portuguese Water Dog and male dogs are more susceptible to the disease than females.
Canine dilated cardiomyopathy has a very long early phase of development during which there is no obvious signs of DCM and the dog appears to have perfect health. When signs of the disease become evident, it may seem to have appeared over night when, in fact, it most likely developed over many months, even years. The signs of DCM include episodes of weakness or collapse, fainting, loss of consciousness, difficulty in breathing, rapid and excessive breathing, shortness of breath, coughing, lethargy, unwillingness to move, no tolerance for exercise, loss of appetite, abdominal distention, and accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity or lungs or abdomen.
There is evidence that canine dilated cardiomyopathy is fairly widespread among certain large breeds, therefore is considered to be hereditary however, a gene mutation has been identified in Doberman Pinschers. Other commonly affected breeds include Boxers, Great Danes, St. Bernards, Labrador Retrievers, American Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, English Cocker Spaniels, Scottish Deerhounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Afghan Hounds, and Newfoundlands.
Treatment of DCM is focused on improving the heart’s ability to contract, treating the symptoms of congestive heart failure, and cardiac enlargement with medications that slow the changes to the heart which leads to heart failure, enhance heart condition and slow down rapid beating, induce dilation of blood vessels to help the heart pump blood better, and diuretics to control fluid accumulation in the lungs. Canine dilated cardiomyopathy is irreversible and progressively deteriorates therefore the medications, as well as the doses, will increase over time. These medications carry side effects so close monitoring is required.
Sadly, the life expectancy in most cases of canine dilated cardiomyopathy is poor, generally from 6 to 24 months. Your vet will advise you on your dog’s expected prognosis, considering the progression of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Today, there are medications that may prolong life up to 6 months longer and veterinarians are often able to diagnose the disease before symptoms occur and prescribe medications to keep symptoms in check.

11/21/2021

Dominance in the realm of behavior is a legitimate action in the canine world but it is not forcing another to the ground and pinning him there or sitting higher on the sofa. Simply put, dominance is having first access ...

07/25/2021