Two Girls and A Leash, LLC

29/08/2024

27/08/2024

26/08/2024

Pet Behavior Help offers dog training for family pets and sports in Durham, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. PBH offers group and private obedience and agility classes, in-home training, In-board / day training, behavioral help for anxiety & aggression

26/08/2024

Happy National Dog Day!!

23/08/2024

Enrolling Dogs With Stifle or Hip Osteoarthritis on a Study Involving LIBRELA September 28, 2023 amfuhrer Principle Investigator Masataka Enomoto, B. Duncan X. Lascelles Description Translational Research in Pain team is seeking dogs with osteoarthritis to take part in a study aiming to compare the....

22/08/2024

Hello there! Have any treats?

22/08/2024

Cookie please!

18/08/2024

Very interesting article about dew claws and their function.

Dewclaws! They are IMPORTANT! Many dog breeders routinely, and without much thought, amputate puppies' front dewclaws when the pups are 3-5 days of age. Why? The thought is to prevent potential injuries, such as tears of the digit, later in life. BUT do you realize that the dewclaw is a FUNCTIONAL, IMPORTANT digit? I am thankful that my own dog's breeder did not amputate Dunkin's front dewclaws. Do you also know that with appropriate exercises, the muscles of the dewclaw can be strengthened to help promote and maintain appropriate function and close apposition of the dewclaw to the side of the paw? Below is an article by a friend and colleague, Dr. Chris Zink, that explains the importance, anatomy, and function of the front dewclaw.

"Do the Dew(claws)?
by Chris Zink, DVM PhD DACVSMR

As a veterinary sports medicine specialist, I work extensively with canine athletes, developing rehabilitation programs for injured dogs or dogs that required surgery due to performance-related injuries. I have seen many dogs, especially field trial/hunt test and agility dogs, that have chronic carpal arthritis, frequently so severe that they must be retired or at least carefully managed for the rest of their careers. I noticed that very few of those dogs had dewclaws and began to wonder whether these appendages might, in fact, protect a dog from injuries. What I learned might surprise you.

The Anatomy of Dewclaws
Miller's Guide to the Anatomy of the Dog, a veterinary anatomy text, has an excellent figure depicting the muscular anatomy of the distal forelimb. There are 2 functional muscles, the extensor pollicis longus et indicis proprius and flexor digitorum profundus, which are attached to the front dewclaw by 4 tendons (references in blog). Each of those muscle/tendon units has a different function in movement. That means that if you cut off the dew claws, you are preventing the muscles that were attached to the dewclaws from functioning.

In contrast, rear limb dewclaws do not have muscle/tendon attachments, so their removal might be appropriate, except in the breeds such as Briards and Beauceron in which they should be retained.

Dewclaws Do Have Functions
If there are muscles and tendons attached to the dewclaws, then they most likely have a function. Broadly speaking, dewclaws have at least two different functions:
1. Grasp the ground when the dog is turning to prevent torque on the forelimb. Each time the front foot lands on the ground, particularly when the dog is cantering or galloping (see Figure 2), the dewclaw is in touch with the ground. If the dog then needs to turn, the dewclaw actively digs into the ground to stabilize the lower leg and prevent torque. In Figure 3 you can clearly see the dewclaw of a Corgi herding a sheep extended, ready to grip the ground. And in the image at the top of this article, you can see the dewclaws of a dog extended, ready to grip the water!

Do the Dew(claws)?

If a dog doesn't have dewclaws, the leg will twist on its axis, creating increased pressure on the carpal bones, as well as the elbow, shoulder and toes. A lifetime of this kind of torque and the result can be carpal arthritis or injuries to and subsequent arthritis in other joints of the forelimb, such as the elbow, shoulder, and toes. Remember, the dog is participating in the activity regardless, so there will be concussive pressures on the leg, and if the dewclaw does not help to stabilize the leg, those pressures will be transmitted to other areas of the leg, especially the joints.

2. Grip objects. We have all seen dogs using their dewclaws to grip an object such as a ball or bone (Figure 4). I've even seen many photos of agility dogs gripping the teeter for stability (Figure 5). But did you know that the dewclaws' gripping ability can, in fact, save your dog's life? Check out the video "Dewclaws Do Have a Purpose" for "gripping" views of dogs attempting to get out of water onto ice without the help of those ice picks on the inside of their legs. The video also shows dogs using their dewclaws to grip the ice and escape from a potentially fatal situation. I have known several dogs that drowned after falling through ice in the winter. None of them had dewclaws. If they had, perhaps they would have survived and spared their owners the incredible heartache of watching their dogs die unnecessarily.

Arguments for Removing Dewclaws
1. The dewclaws will get injured. This is the most common reason I hear for removing dewclaws. A friend of mine had such a severe dewclaw injury in one of her dogs that she swore she would remove them on all the dogs she bred subsequently.

But the data indicate that dewclaws are not injured very often. A study published in 2018 showed that the dewclaw was the LEAST likely toe to be injured in agility dogs, in which landing and turning from jumps and other obstacles put the toes at risk for injuries. Thus, it makes no sense to remove the dewclaws because of risk of injury. And, of course, no one would consider removing the 5th digits in the front feet, which are by far the most commonly injured toe.

2. Owners forget to trim the dewclaws. Surely this is a matter of education. Do we really want to remove a functioning digit in all dogs, just because some owners need to be reminded that they must remember to trim the dewclaws?

3. Dewclaws make the forelimb look less straight when viewed from the front in conformation. The AKC states: "The breed standard describes the characteristics of the ideal
dog to perform the function for which it was bred." While we could have long discussions about the veracity of this statement, it is interesting to note that there are VERY few breed standards that require dewclaw removal. I know of only one - the Vizsla breed standard.

A Plea
So, here's a plea to retain dogs' dewclaws. They are a functioning digit. They are the toe least likely to be injured. Isn't this enough to convince us not to do the dewclaws?"

02/08/2024

update: ADOPTED!
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Featured Adoptable - ANAKIN!🐾
Anakin landed in the shelter when his owner was evicted and left him behind. 😕He is super sweet and was terrified, so we busted him outta there and sent him to a great foster home. He currently enjoys the air conditioning and attention of a couple of playful dogs and a kid. About a year old and 65 pounds. This guy is the complete Labby package. Friendly, goofy, and loves to fetch. He's fully vetted and already neutered. Anakin has all the house skills and is ready to be your best boy today... More info at https://bit.ly/anakinpeaklabrescue.

Located in Apex, NC. Adoption Fee $325.

31/07/2024

26/07/2024

Update: ADOPTED
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Featured Adoptable - MILES**
Silver Lab Alert! MILES is a hunky derp weighing in at just under 50 pounds. He's two years young and fully vetted. Fine with other dogs and people of all ages. MILES might be a full grown man, but he still nibbles on a blankie to help him sleep. I find that endearing and you will too. Crate trained, housebroken, neutered, and microchipped. MILES is ready for a family to love right now! More info at https://bit.ly/milespeaklabrescue.

Located in Apex, NC. Adoption Fee $325.

10/07/2024

"New Home Syndrome"🤓

I am coining this term to bring recognition, respect, and understanding to what happens to horses when they move homes. This situation involves removing them from an environment and set of routines they have become familiar with, and placing them somewhere completely different with new people and different ways of doing things.

Why call it a syndrome?

Well, really it is! A syndrome is a term used to describe a set of symptoms that consistently occur together and can be tied to certain factors such as infections, genetic predispositions, conditions, or environmental influences. It is also used when the exact cause of the symptoms is not fully understood or when it is not connected with a well-defined disease. In this case, "New Home Syndrome" is connected to a horse being placed in a new home where its entire world changes, leading to psychological and physiological impacts. While it might be transient, the ramifications can be significant for both the horse and anyone handling or riding it.

Let me explain...

Think about how good it feels to get home after a busy day. How comfortable your favourite clothes are, how well you sleep in your own bed compared to a strange bed, and how you can really relax at home. This is because home is safe and familiar. At home, the part of you that keeps an eye out for potential danger turns down to a low setting. It does this because home is your safe place (and if it is not, this blog will also explain why a lack of a safe place is detrimental).

Therefore, the first symptom of horses experiencing "New Home Syndrome" is being unsettled, prone to anxiety, or difficult behaviour. If you have owned them before you moved them, you struggle to recognise your horse, feeling as if your horse has been replaced by a frustrating version. If the horse is new to you, you might wonder if you were conned, if the horse was drugged when you rode it, or if you were lied to about the horse's true nature.

A horse with "New Home Syndrome" will be a stressed version of itself, on high alert, with a drastically reduced ability to cope. Horses don't handle change like humans do. If you appreciate the comfort of your own home and how you can relax there, you should be able to understand what the horse is experiencing.

Respecting that horses interpret and process their environments differently from us helps in understanding why your horse is being frustrating and recognising that there is a good chance you were not lied to or that the horse was not drugged.

Horses have survived through evolution by being highly aware of their environments. Change is a significant challenge for them because they notice the slightest differences, not just visually but also through sound, smell, feel, and other senses. Humans generalise and categorise, making it easy for us to navigate familiar environments like shopping centres. Horses do not generalise in the same way; everything new is different to them, and they need proof of safety before they can habituate and feel secure. When their entire world changes, it is deeply stressful.

They struggle to sleep until they feel safe, leading to sleep deprivation and increased difficulty.

But there is more...

Not only do you find comfort in your home environment and your nervous system downregulates, but you also find comfort in routines. Routines are habits, and habits are easy. When a routine changes or something has to be navigated differently, things get difficult. For example, my local supermarket is undergoing renovations. After four years of shopping there, it is extremely frustrating to have to work out where everything is now. Every day it gets moved due to the store being refitted section by section. This annoyance is shared by other shoppers and even the staff.

So, consider the horse. Not only are they confronted with the challenge of figuring out whether they are safe in all aspects of their new home while being sleep deprived, but every single routine and encounter is different. Then, their owner or new owner starts getting critical and concerned because the horse suddenly seems untrained or difficult. The horse they thought they owned or bought is not meeting their expectations, leading to conflict, resistance, explosiveness, hypersensitivity, and frustration.

The horse acts as if it knows little because it is stressed and because the routines and habits it has learned have disappeared. If you are a new human for the horse, you feel, move, and communicate differently from what it is used to. The way you hold the reins, your body movements in the saddle, the position of your leg – every single routine of communication between horse and person is now different. I explain to people that when you get a new horse, you have to imprint yourself and your way of communicating onto the horse. You have to introduce yourself and take the time to spell out your cues so that they get to know you.

Therefore, when you move a horse to a new home or get a new horse, your horse will go through a phase called "New Home Syndrome," and it will be significant for them. Appreciating this helps them get through it because they are incredible and can succeed. The more you understand and help the horse learn it is safe in its new environment and navigate the new routines and habits you introduce, the faster "New Home Syndrome" will pass.
"New Home Syndrome" will be prevalent in a horse’s life until they have learned to trust the safety of the environment (and all that entails) and the humans they meet and interact with. With strategic and understanding approaches, this may take weeks, and their nervous systems will start downgrading their high alert status. However, for some horses, it can take a couple of years to fully feel at ease in their new home.

So, next time you move your horse or acquire a new horse and it starts behaving erratically or being difficult, it is not being "stupid", you might not have been lied to or the horse "drugged" - your horse is just experiencing an episode of understandable "New Home Syndrome." And you can help this.❤

I would be grateful if you could please share, this reality for horses needs to be better appreciated ❤
‼️When I say SHARE that does not mean plagiarise my work…it is seriously not cool to copy and paste these words and make out you have written it yourself‼️

10/07/2024

Dogs and cats seeking homes as Beaufort County Animal Shelter reaches maximum capacity

05/07/2024

🐾

29/06/2024

26/06/2024

⚠️ Attention Dog Owners ⚠️

Beware of blue-green algae blooms! With summer in full swing, it is crucial to watch out for these blooms in lakes, ponds, and any stagnant or slow-moving water. 💦 This algae is extremely toxic for dogs!

👀 Keep a close eye on where you let your dogs swim and drink, especially in the summer months. If you suspect a blue-green algae exposure, seek help from your vet as soon as possible. Here's to a safe pet summer!💙

18/06/2024

Please spread the word so we can reunite this found dog with its family! FOUND on June 16, 2024 in Durham, NC 27701 near East End Park tennis courts parking lot

Message from Finder: Wasn't able to get him to come with me. Has a collar on - gave him some water and treats.

Description:

Do you have information? Contact finder here: https://www.pawboost.com/p/70424558

Lost or found a pet? Report it to PawBoost here: https://www.pawboost.com/l/rpf

04/06/2024

📣 NEW CLASS ALERT 📣

You won't want to miss out on these new Pet Behavior Help Obedience classes! Summer is a great time to brush up on these critical obedience skills. Check out our website at petbehaviorhelp.com for more information. See you there!!

27/05/2024

To those who made the greatest sacrifice for our freedom, thank you. ❤️🤍💙

23/05/2024

BAHAMA RURITAN IS HOSTING A FISH FRY FUNDRAISER
FRIDAY JUNE 7TH
5PM - 7PM
FISH FRY(2PC OF FLOUNDER 2 SIDES AND HUSHPUPPIES/CHILDREN WILL GET 1 PC OF FLOUNDER)
$10 FOR ADULTS/ $5 FOR CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER.
PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARD A FLAGPOLE FOR DISCOVERY CHARTER SCHOOL.
THIS IS A PRESALE ONLY!!!!!
CONTACT ADA GLENN AT GLENN TIRE SALES.

12/05/2024

Happy Mother’s Day to all the pet moms out there!

Happy Mother’s Day! 🐾🌸

10/05/2024

Geese family I saw today on a walk. The goslings were so cute!

10/05/2024

Way to go Jack!