My beloved 5-year-old Rottie died in his sleep. He did not appear to experience discomfort.

He showed no signs earlier in the day of abnormal breathing, tiredness or lack of appetite. He appeared to be perfectly normal.

The autopsy showed three large clots in his left lung. All of his other organs appeared healthy and there was no sign of trauma to his body.

What do you think caused the clots? Do you think it was subaortic stenosis (SAS)? My vet did not examine his brain or the interior of his heart or other organs. Thanks for whatever information you can give me.

– Rosemary, Bayfield, Colo.

Hi Rosemary,

Please accept my condolences for your loss. Suddenly having a pet pass away is always traumatizing for any family.

Blood clots, also know as pulmonary embolisms, are life-threatening sequelae (conditions resulting from a disease) of a variety of underlying health concerns

The possible reasons your Rottweiler may have formed blood clots include metabolic disease (Cushing’s disease, etc.); cancer; trauma (blunt trauma can cause pulmonary contusions, which is bruising); toxic exposure; heart and lung abnormalities, etc.

Regarding your inquiry about SAS, the possibility exists that your dog’s heart and circulatory systems were involved. SAS is typically detected early in a puppy’s life when your veterinarian listens to (ascults) his heart. Abnormal heart sounds are heard that lead to the need for further evaluation (X-rays, ultrasound, etc.). Over time, SAS will lead to congestive heart failure, which could increase the likelihood of a blood clot formation.

Did your vet perform any diagnostic testing (pathology) as part of the post-mortem examination (autopsy)? A determination of the exact nature of the lung tissues at the site of the apparent clot can yield helpful information as to the nature of your dogs’s illness.

I hope that you will be able to cherish the memory of good times spent with your beloved pet, and those memories will supersede the challenges of getting over the loss.

– Dr. Mahaney

Ask a Vet is for informational purposes only. If your dog is ill, injured or otherwise requires medical attention, take him to a veterinarian or animal emergency hospital.

Have a question about your dog’s health? Ask a Vet can provide answers and advice.

PHOTO: Caronna

“I’m glad the dog’s back home with his family,” Dyer said in a CNN interview today.

“I never wanted anything but [that]. It was an accident. It just kind of all snowballed and perfect-stormed into the bite and then all this that followed.”

The incident occurred on the morning of Feb. 7, less than 24 hours after Max, an 85-pound Argentinian Mastiff (aka Dogo Argentino), had been rescued after falling through ice in a reservoir.

As Max, his dog dad, Michael Robinson, and Tyler Sugaski, the firefighter who rescued him, appeared together on a live 9NEWS show, Dyer patted the dog’s head for a few minutes and then put her face close to his.

At that point, Max bit her.

Dyer was rushed to Denver Health Medical Center, while Max was taken to Denver Animal Control.

Max bit off Dyer’s upper lip, requiring reconstructive surgery. “It could have been worse,” Dyer told CNN. “I mean, it was bad, but just think, it could have been my cheek or nose or eye – or throat.”

In an interview published yesterday in the Denver Post, Dyer said she did not feel bitter, angry or sad. “It was a fluke, it happened,” she said. “Not once was I afraid or scared. Yeah, it hurt, but having a baby hurt more.”

She told both CNN and the Denver Post she was extremely touched by the outpouring of get-well wishes and encouragement.

Animal behavior experts said Dyer should not have put her face so close to that of a strange dog, especially one that was likely still traumatized after nearly drowning the day before.

When asked by the Denver Post if she was too close to Max’s face, Dyer replied, “I guess I was. We’ve all learned a lot in the past two weeks.”

After he bit Dyer, Max was quarantined for 10 days, which is Denver Animal Control’s policy for any dog or cat that bites someone and breaks the skin. Since he had no prior biting incidents, Max was allowed to go home on Feb. 18.

“I’m doing better, the dog’s with his family – it’s time to move on,” Dyer told CNN.

PHOTO: por diaz de vivar gustavo

On this day and throughout the month, events and activities are being held around the world to shine a spotlight on the spaying or neutering of pets as a means of saving animals’ lives.

World Spay Day provides a unique opportunity for veterinarians, animal welfare professionals, business owners and animal lovers to join together toward a common goal —a comprehensive global, united effort to end the euthanasia and suffering of companion animals. Spaying and neutering is an effective and humane way of helping to reduce the number of homeless animals in shelters.

An estimated 6-8 million homeless dogs and cats enter animal shelters in the U.S. every year.

“About half of these animals are adopted,” HSUS said. “Tragically, the other half are put down. The majority of animals euthanized are healthy pets who would have made great companions.”

Globally, roaming pets and community animals contribute to street dog overpopulation. Often local authorities or individuals electrocute, shoot, poison, or use other brutal methods to kill unwanted animals. In addition to being inhumane, these methods are not an effective, long-term solution.

Celebrities are also doing their part to promote the benefits of spaying and neutering. Singer Ke$ha recently launched a “Street Dog Defender” campaign to promote respect, protection and compassion for these types of animals all around the world.

Actress Katherine Heigl is spearheading the “I Hate Balls” campaign to reach into all pet-friendly hearts and homes with one surgically direct mission: Fight the good fight against testicles!

World Spay Day is a global effort, with hundreds of events taking place to educate people in their communities about the life-saving importance of spaying and neutering pets.

Participate in World Spay Day and help save the lives of animals, find an event near you.

PHOTOS: Humane Society, One-11, Milan

If you are the pet parent of a rescued dog, we want to share your story, too! For information about submitting your story, click here.

Tressel Was Rescued Twice – Once by His Mom and Again by His Vet
By Arielle Baribault

I thought I would share my story with you about my dog and wonderful vet that took care of him when I could not. This is not a story about his rescue, even though I did get him from a family that could not care for him. It is about the compassion that the staff and doctors at Banfield Pet Hospital in North Las Vegas had for him when he was sick.

I got Tressel, Tress as we call him, when he was about 6 weeks old. I found him on Craigslist. His family was giving him away to anyone that could give him a good home. After speaking with my now husband, we decided to bring him home. He quickly became my best friend, and got along great with our 2 ½-year-old Blue Nose Pit Bull, Zoom. Even though they are different in sizes, they are best buds.

As Tress got older, he got lean, skinny and fast! At first, we thought he was a Pit Bull-Rottweiler mix, but it turns out we don’t really know. We have not tested him to see what he is exactly, because honestly we love him not matter what. But he has become a crazy little thing. He has so much energy that at times I think he roams the house during the night and never sleeps.

Over the winter holidays, Tress suddenly changed – he was visibly ill – vomiting, lethargic and just not himself. He could barely walk and looked pathetic. After a few vet visits, tests, X-rays and more, we came to the conclusion that he had eaten something and it had gotten blocked in his stomach and intestines.

After his surgery, we learned that a corn cob was stuck in his belly, and it had been there for months!

As everyone knows, surgery is expensive, and to complicate matters further, I had a baby on the way. I was stressed and agonizing over my pup’s future. His surgery was going to cost $1,100, and we could not afford that. After a day of going back and forth over putting him down or getting the surgery, I decided to get the surgery and work out a payment plan with the hospital. I put some money down and waited for him to begin his recovery.

When I came to pick him up, the surgery costs had been taken care of. I was so surprised that I immediately broke down into tears. Banfield has donation boxes located at all their hospitals. After spending the day on the phone with the vet techs at the office, they realized how upset I was about everything. They decided to get together and collect money from different hospitals and use it towards Tressels’ surgery. His surgery was taken care of, and he was cleared to go home.

I had never been so thankful in my entire life. Tress is my world, and thinking of a world without him is unbearable. My vet also cut a bunch of the costs and a vet tech let me borrow some money from her to pay for the recovery IV fluids and prescriptions, which I paid back.

The people at Banfield gathered around my Tress when I could not. Their generosity brings tears to my eyes even thinking about his whole ordeal.

It’s been about seven weeks since his surgery, and he is back to his old self, with only a large scar on his belly to show for it. The staff and doctors at Banfield are beyond amazing. They care so much for each individual animal; it does not feel like a chain hospital. They are so wonderful to each individual that walks through their door. Rich or poor, they give nothing but the best care anyone could ask for. They were my Christmas miracles. I was so blessed to have such amazing staff look after him, and help me out financially. They pulled together for me and knew how much I was struggling with the decision of surgery.

I am now four months pregnant and just need to worry about my silly Tress getting to know my little one.

PHOTO: Arielle Baribault

There are two new loves in her life – gorgeous actor Justin Theroux, and Sophie, an equally gorgeous 3-month-old Pit Bull mix the couple recently adopted together.

In a cover story for the March issue of GQ, Aniston denies pregnancy rumors but confirms, “Yes. We got a dog.”

“She’s the most adorable little cookie you’ve ever seen,” Theroux told New York Magazine (he was talking about Sophie, not Aniston). “She looks like she just smoked an exploding cigar.”

Along with Sophie, Aniston and Theroux are also pet parents to a Shepherd mix named Dolly. Aniston’s beloved 15-year-old Corgi mix, Norman, crossed the Rainbow Bridge last May.

On “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” today, Aniston shared adorable pictures of her new, black-and-white Pittie pup with the audience.

DeGeneres gave Aniston a very thoughtful puppy-warming present: A clever disguise for Sophie to wear on walks to avoid being bothered by paparazzi.

PHOTO: Brett Cove

Gremlin’s dog dad didn’t. Gremlin is a Pit Bull who was formerly used as a bait dog. Today, as a certified therapy dog, she comforts patients in nursing homes. Her Facebook page has more than 11,000 fans.

Last Friday, a post on Gremlin’s Facebook page regarding the ban said, “We are baffled by this, it is apparently a corporate policy. How can we change people’s views when huge pet-specific companies have this outlook. We asked the manager of the PetSmart we used to go to and he said it’s because PetSmart views them as unpredictable.”

In one of the 224 comments on the post, Kathryn Shelton wrote, “Unpredictable? I have met a yellow Lab that was unpredictable, a Golden Retriever that was unpredictable and lastly … a Basset Hound that was unpredictable. One ‘unpredictable’ dog of the breed does NOT make them all unpredictable. Shame shame shame on PetSmart!”

Stacey Gross commented, “The irony is they recently donated $1 million in Phoenix to help with spay/neuter programs for Pit Bulls in shelters, since they are the largest populations and the ones being put to sleep the most.”

It’s not just Pit Bulls who can’t be happy campers. According to PetSmart’s Doggie Day Camp policy, it only welcomes dogs “who have been socialized with other dogs but are not of the ‘bully breed’ classification or wolves/wolf hybrids.”

That “bully breed” classification includes “American Pit Bull Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, Bull Terrier or mixed breed that happens to look like one of these breeds.”

Along with Gremlin’s dad, many of the people who commented were unaware of this policy, although it has been in place since at least July 2007. At that time, PetSmart released the following “Bully Breeds Safety in Group Play” statement:

“We have received responses both for and against our policy, and can appreciate the sensitivities and deep emotions behind them … When we developed our policy, it was with the deep knowledge and experience we’ve gained by associating with this breed of dogs in a variety of capacities and in understanding their history… This doesn’t change the fact that we believe Bully breeds can make great companion pets and can be a great addition to the right home. They remain welcome to visit our stores for other purposes.”

Perhaps Robert Moran, the president and CEO of PetSmart, is unaware that banning breeds has not proven to increase public safety. Blaming the breed instead of the deed has fallen out of favor over the past five years. Just this week, the state of Ohio ended its 24-year-old policy of labeling all Pit Bulls as “vicious.” And, after 20 years, Miami-Dade County in Florida is expected to drop its Pit Bull ban soon.

The Campaign to End PetSmart’s Pitbull Ban, started on Facebook in February 2011, has more than 500 fans. “We believe this policy is ill-founded, and only promotes the general misconception that Pit Bulls are dangerous and unwanted animals,” according to its Info page.

The Facebook community PetSmart BSL Intervention was created two years ago. Its Info page states, “As a leading pet retailer, PetSmart has a responsibility to end incorrect stereotypes, not perpetuate and expand them.”

The PetSmart corporate office can be reached by phone at 800-738-1385 or 623-580-6100, and by mail at 19601 North 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027.

PHOTO: Nightscream

• Jack Osbourne’s Bulldog Dies
• Betty White to Attend Dog Charity Event
• Linda Blair Visits BC SPCA
• Singers Miley Cyrus and James Durbin to Benefit Animals

Jack Osbourne’s Bulldog Dies

Our condolences to Jack Osbourne, whose English Bulldog, Lola, has died. The son of rocker Ozzy Osbourne and talk-show host Sharon, and brother of Kelly, took to his Twitter on Monday to share the bad news.

“Lola you were the best friend anyone could ever have,” Osbourne tweeted. “I will love you and miss you always.”

Lola had her own Twitter with more than 9,000 followers. After her death, this message was posted: “Thank you ALL for your kind words. I’m in a better place now. Heaven needs a new princess.”

Everyone from Cesar Millan and TMZ to Lola’s fans are tweeting their support to Osbourne. We’re sad to see Lola cross the rainbow bridge.

Betty White to Attend Dog Charity Event

Just when we thought she couldn’t get any more lovable, Golden Girl Betty White announced she’ll be attending a Dogs for the Deaf charity event this summer.

Dog lovers will have a chance to see White in person when Dogs for the Deaf celebrates its 35th anniversary on August 4 in Studio City, Calif. Pet parents who purchase tickets to the “Hooray for Hollywoof” event (love that name!) will be able to help raise funds for the organization by placing bids in both live and silent auctions.

Tickets are on sale for $250, and a VIP ticket package for two (with a table close to White) will cost you $1,000.

Dogs for the Deaf, founded in 1977, is a non-profit that saves shelter dogs and trains them to assist those dealing with hearing impairment and autism.

Linda Blair Visits BC SPCA

Linda Blair, the Oscar-nominated actress and founder of the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation, recently visited a branch of the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA).

According to dogtipper.com, the actress was in town for the Victoria Film Festival, and used her star power to shine a spotlight on the Victoria branch of the BC SPCA. The organization provides comfort and care for adoptable dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice and more.

During her visit, Blair met Angelina, a 10-year-old Terrier-Chihuahua mix who was saved after years of suffering at a puppy mill, and Elmer – a three-legged, 10-month-old Mastiff.

In an interview with Victoria News, Blair commented on the plight of puppy-mill dogs. “Not only are we creating an overpopulation, but not all of the animals will find homes unless people know and can help support the work of the SPCA, and to stop the backyard breeders and encourage people to come and adopt and not to shop,” she said.

Singers Miley Cyrus and James Durbin to Benefit Animals

• Miley Cyrus has started modeling her dogs, but before you jump to conclusions, she’s doing it for a worthy cause. According to PEOPLEPets.com, each of her pups took a turn modeling for photographer Vijat Mohindra. Cyrus plans to sell the photos and donate the proceeds to help other rescue animals.
• Singer James Durbin, who came in fourth place during the 10th season of “American Idol,” will be singing to benefit Animal Based Charities at the second annual Pet-A-Palooza in Clearwater, Fla. According to dogtipper.com, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the charity, which supports animal rescue groups through fundraising efforts, media awareness and adoption event exposure.

PHOTOS: Jack Osbourne’s Twitter, Dogs for the Deaf, Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation

This morning, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill (H.B.) 14 into law. When the law takes effect in 90 days, Ohio will no longer be the only U.S. state with legislation that designates all Pit Bulls as being vicious.

According to the Toledo Blade, the new law removes specific breeds from the definitions of “vicious” and “dangerous” dogs, and creates a new category of “nuisance” dogs.

It also allows pet parents to appeal the labeling of their dogs by law enforcement. Dog wardens must provide clear and convincing evidence that a dog is actually vicious or dangerous.

The new law does not, however, affect existing Pit Bull bans in individual Ohio cities.

Among the many animal advocates supporting the passage of H.B. 14 was country music legend Willie Nelson, who called Ohio’s 24-year-old dog law “archaic.”

Another dog-related Ohio bill, H.B. 108 – also known as “Nitro’s Law” – passed the House last Wednesday.

“It was 78-9 and that is a very strong vote coming out of the House, and I’m looking forward to getting it over to the Senate,” State Rep. Ron Gerberry, a co-sponsor of the bill, told wytv.com.

The legislation was named after a Rottweiler who starved to death in 2008 while staying at the High Caliber K-9 kennel in Youngstown, Ohio. The formerly 110-pound dog was so emaciated that police officers initially mistook him for a Doberman. Although more than a dozen other dead or starving dogs were found along with Nitro, the facility’s owner, Steve Croley, was charged with just four misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

If Nitro’s Law is passed, animal cruelty and abuse by kennel owners and animal caretakers would become a fifth-degree felony instead of a misdemeanor.

Nikki Moustaki, a pet expert who ate dog food to campaign for the law, said, “The dog-food-eating campaign is funny, but the reality of animal abuse is not funny – it’s sad and real, and if Nitro’s Law can save even one animal, all of this will have been worth it.”

The bill must now pass the Ohio Senate before the end of the year.

PHOTO: maplegirlie

According to the Daily News, money has gone missing from vending machines at the shelters. While the six captains aren’t suspected of pocketing the money, they may be violating a California law that prohibits state workers from personally benefitting from contracts they implement.

This was just one of a litany of disturbing problems uncovered by a two-year audit of the L.A. Department of Animal Services. The audit results were announced during a press conference on Tuesday.

The Animal Services department has been under scrutiny over the past year due to missing dogs and fraudulent time cards, the seizure of more than 100 firearms and a shelter worker who used a cruel method to euthanize dogs.

According to the audit results, Animal Services also failed to collect more than $1.3 million in dog license fees over the past two years. Instead of billing all pet parents in its database, the department only billed those who had paid for a license the previous year, according to the Los Angeles Times. Those who didn’t pay were dropped from the database, resulting in fewer license renewals.

In addition to lost revenue from dog licenses and vending machines, the audit report noted these problems:

• There is no daily inventory taken of shelter animals. City Controller Wendy Greuel, who oversaw the audit and wrote the report, told the Daily Breeze she felt this was the most troubling of all the issues. “When we drop our kids off at school, we expect officials to know they are there and being cared for,” she said. “Without proper oversight, there is no way to keep track of the animals in our care.”
• Lax recordkeeping resulted in a $125,000 discrepancy in revenue that should have been collected from implanting microchips in adopted shelter animals.
• Department officials were not able to confirm whether cash donations to shelters were legitimately spent. The donations were used as petty cash at some shelters.

“What’s clear is that constant changes in management have exacerbated the department’s fiscal and operational challenges in carrying out its mission of providing for the health, safety and welfare of animals,” Greuel told the Daily Breeze, referring to the high turnover in Animal Services supervisors. Over the past 10 years, there have been six different general managers.

Brenda Barnette currently holds that position. She has pledged to use the audit as a “blueprint for change,” according to Gruel.

Paul Koretz, a city councilman and chairman of the new Personnel and Animal Services Committee, told the Daily Breeze he thought Barnette “believes she was hired to help lower our euthanasia rate and she found all these other problems. I think she was surprised at the number of these kinds of problems to deal with.”

Barnette released a statement this week, saying city officials were aware of the department’s problems and she had been hired to resolve them.

“I’m working hard every day to reform the department,” Barnette stated. “I know we have a long road ahead and look forward to working with the controller and other city officials.”

The Animal Services department must provide a plan of action for correcting these problems by March 15.

PHOTO: Jocelyn Augustino

DOGTV premiered on Monday in San Diego, Calif. It airs programming that was developed to entertain your pooch and keep him out of trouble when he’s left home alone.

“DOGTV provides customized television entertainment while the rest of the family is away at work or too busy to play,” Gilad Neumann, CEO of DOGTV, said in a press release. “Studies show it relaxes and stimulates our dogs – keeping them healthier and more content.”

Based on scientific research as well as input from humane societies and pet experts (including the Humane Society of the United States and Victoria Stilwell), DOGTV’s creative team developed content that will engage a dog’s senses of sight and hearing.

“DOGTV took great care to select the right visuals – the scenery, scenarios, color palettes, camera angle, and transitions that appeal the most to dogs,” according to the press release. “In addition, the programming’s audio soundtracks, including music and other sounds, were selected specifically with a dog’s experience in mind.”

Programming is available 24 hours a day. The short, 3 to 6-minute segments are designed to either relax or stimulate your dog, and improve his behavior. The lineup works in conjunction with a dog’s daily routine by offering calming content followed by something more exciting.

“Animals need visual and auditory simulation throughout the day. DOGTV presents a breakthrough with programming that is created specifically for dogs,” said Nicholas H. Dodman, BVMS, MRCVS, a specialist in animal behavior who is the channel’s chief scientist. “It will help millions of dogs that are left home alone every day and also help pet parents who don’t have the luxury of taking their dog with them to work or paying for doggie daycare.”

DOGTV, which is getting ready for a national launch, will be available to subscribers for $4.99 a month. It is available now in San Diego on COX (channel 2635) and Time Warner (channel 148) cable.

In the meantime, if you don’t live in San Diego, you can have your pooch check out this DOGTV Relaxation segment. (It seems to be effective for humans, too, based on informal research conducted at i Love Dogs, Inc. headquarters.)

PHOTO: Shannon Abigail Simbulan