The Daily Dish from WebVet

Frankie's Friends Helps Those Who Can't Help Themselves

2009-11-09T15:52:40-05:00

Just when you think that people don't open up their hearts enough to help pets and their owners, you meet someone like Dr. Neil Shaw and his brother Darryl. These two amazing individuals -- and founders of BluePearl Veterinary Partners -- started a non-profit organization, The Veterinary Cancer Foundation, whose mission is to save pets with cancer. In actuality, their mission was much broader -- to raise money and help pets who would otherwise suffer without proper care or be euthanized due to their families' lack of financial resources.

In 2008, the foundation changed its name to "Frankie's Friends" to honor Frankie, a beautiful Greyhound and the beloved pet of the Edward DeBartolo family of Tampa. The big-hearted DeBartolo clan rescued Frankie from the horrific world of dog racing and spent the next 10 years showering her with all the love and care she deserved.

Frankie died in 2006. She had been treated by Dr. Shaw and his team of vet specialists since 2000 for both heart disease and cancer. To demonstrate their appreciation to the team at Florida Veterinary Specialists -- and to honor their beloved Frankie -- the DeBartolo family has been among the foundation's most generous supporters. So while the loss of Frankie was indeed sad, and quite poignant, her passing served as the impetus for many good things to come for other animals in need.

How you can support Frankie's Fund

There are many facets of Frankie's Fund each offering a variety of ways you can help. These include:

Cure Canine Lymphoma Project: Launched in 2009, this project's goal is to treat dogs with lymphoma and find a cure for the most common cancer in dogs. The objectives of this effort are to:

raise public awareness of the successful early treatment of the disease;
provide free care for dogs enrolled in clinical programs of promising new treatments; and
assist with heavily discounted care for dogs whose families cannot afford treatment

HOPE Fund: The HOPE fund provides grants for families who have few alternatives if they simply cannot afford to pay for a pet's unexpected illness. If families can demonstrate financial need and their pet has a good prognosis for recovery to a normal quality of life, they will be considered for the program.

The folks at Frankie's Friends are doing so many wonderful things to help assist those in need -- both pets and owners -- and for this we thank them. To learn more about how you can help Frankie's Friends, go to http://www.frankiesfriends.com/

The Goods on Yorkshire Terriers

2009-11-02T14:02:46-05:00

So you’re considering adding a Yorkshire Terrier to your family? Here is a snapshot to help you determine if it’s the right breed for your lifestyle.

· The Yorkshire Terrier is a clever and energetic breed of dog.

· With early socialization and obedience training they quickly become a positive family member.

· The breed temperament is adventurous and affectionate; they can be highly vocal and wary of strangers. Owners must be aware that this cute toy breed possesses a terrier-like attitude and may not get along with other animals.

· Originally bred to hunt vermin, this energized breed requires daily exercise. Ideally they should have a fenced yard and be taken for regular leashed walks to release their energy.

· “Yorkies” easily adjust to apartment living with their family but will still need regular daily exercise.

· They are a light shedder but require daily grooming of their long soft coat. Some owners choose to trim the coat to avoid daily grooming. Usually has a topknot (long fall of hair collected into a ribbon or bow to keep hair out of the dog's eyes). Their teeth need to be cleaned regularly.

· This breed’s average life span is 12 to 15 years of age. Responsible breeders screen their dogs for orthopedic and genetic diseases before breeding them. Genetic defects found in some dogs of this breed include: patellar luxation, hypothyroidism and legg-calve-perthes disease.

Click here for more information about Yorkshire Terriers.

Animal Sex: The Scent of a Woman

2009-11-01T13:06:38-05:00

Across the animal world, creatures from insects to mammals release and receive sexual pheromones -- scent hormones -- signaling to the opposite sex that they're "in the mood". Males will travel miles, following the scent trail of a female. A female who wouldn't have given the time of day to some guy will suddenly find him very attractive. In fact, all she can think about is having his babies-and it all began with a whiff and a little chemistry.

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing

But what about humans? Are we unconsciously at the mercy of sexual pheromones like the rest of the animal kingdom? Are we busy sending and receiving "I'm interested and available" signals to Mr. or Ms. Right across a crowded room, even if we don't know it?

According to an article in the New Scientist, there is no clear understanding of how human pheromones -- if they exist -- might affect our brains, since, unlike other animals, we have no actively functioning vomeronasal organ -- VNO -- the organ animals use to detect pheromones. Although we have something resembling a VNO, it doesn't appear to be connected to the brain; so: no brain, no reaction, no resulting behavior. It may just be that we left this method of communication behind in our ancestral past, in favor of our more highly evolved visual and verbal skills. It seems we do as good a job, if not better, attracting our perspective mates, by what we say, how we look, and how we behave.

Animals make their own "perfume"

In the scent-loving animal world, pheromones are "manufactured" by animals as the aphrodisiacs of their courtship. And they are not only airborne; they can also be secreted in saliva, sweat and urine. As Adrian Forsyth points out in A Natural History of Sex, white-tailed deer and elk bucks will give off their own perfume by urinating and ejaculating on the ground and then wallowing in it. This drives the females wild. The male porcupine showers his beloved in his urine, soaking her in his scent, to get her aroused. Rabbits and hares leap into the air and from that vantage point, spray their desired one in urine.

And now, human ingenuity has turned animal pheromones to practical, commercial use. A product called "Boar Mate" has been created, which farmers spray on boars to get them interested in mating with sows. The only ingredient in Boar Mate is the hormone androsterone, which is found in pig saliva, and is a powerful, sexually seductive chemical that is irresistible to male and female swine. (Interestingly, androsterone has also been found in human male urine and in the sweat emitted from male armpits.)

Eau de people

Just when you were ready to believe humans don't send and receive sex pheromones, new research shows that some animal species detect pheromones using their olfactory system. So, it may turn out that animals and humans are not so different in this respect than we seem to think!

New brain-imaging studies suggest that humans may indeed respond to sex pheromones. In one such study, women who were asked to smell sweat-drenched pads that had been worn in male armpits showed a reaction in the primitive part of their brains, where sexual feelings originate.

More studies will need to be done to prove the relationship between our secreted hormones and sexual arousal. But if these pheromones get identified, duplicated and manufactured -- like Boar Mate -- then perfume that actually is effective could be a dangerous thing. Imagine walking along the street and suddenly you get a whiff of male cologne; your knees buckle, your thoughts become clouded, and all you can think about is a little afternoon delight. You turn your head to find the source of that compelling scent and you find a street full of women, all turning in the same direction. Men!

By Sally Schloss for WebVet

The Scoop on Shih Tzus

2009-10-19T09:07:52-04:00

So you’re considering adding a Shih Tzu to your family? Here is a snapshot to help you determine if it’s the right breed for your lifestyle.

· The Shih Tzu is a friendly and energetic breed of dog. They have a sturdy build covered with a lot of soft fur.

· They need early socialization and persistent obedience training to become a positive family member.

· The breed temperament is lovable and outgoing; vocal toward strangers they can make good watch dogs.

· Bred as a companion dog for Chinese royalty they like to be with their family and are good with mature children.

· Although a toy breed they still require daily exercise. Ideally they should have a fenced yard and be taken for regular leashed walks to release their energy. When exercising avoid going out in warm temperatures.

· Shih Tzus do well with apartment living.

· They are a light shedder but require daily grooming of their long soft coat. Some owners choose to trim the coat to avoid daily grooming. Ears and eyes need to be cleaned daily to avoid infections.

· This breed’s average life span is 12 to 14 years of age. Responsible breeders screen their dogs for orthopedic and genetic diseases before breeding them. Genetic defects found in some dogs of this breed include: patellar luxation, ear infections and dry eye.

Click here for more information about Shih Tzus.

For the love of dogs!

2009-10-14T11:54:14-04:00

Well, the votes are in and it looks like the DOGS (yes, DOG is GOD spelled backwards) have taken it by a landslide.

As a prelude to Meet the Breeds, the world's largest showcase of cats and dogs, the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Cat Fanciers' Assocation (CFA) joined forces to put an end to a long-standing squabble between pet owners. Who is the most "loved" pet of all -- dogs or cats?

They say the proof is in the numbers and if this is indeed true, the dogs have it -- hands down! With more than 9,000 pet owners casting their ballots -- despite the fact there are more cat owners than dog owners, 13MM to be exact -- dogs fetched 65% of the votes, leaving cats with a less impressive 35%.

What cities love their dogs the most? Chicago, Seattle and Detroit topped the list, each capturing 69% of the votes. Cat lovers dominated in Baltimore with 45% of the votes, and Philadelphia and Houston not far behind with 41%.

While I love all animals, clearly (as the picture above will indicate) I LOVE my dog. And as the survey found, both cat and dog owners have some very good reasons why they appreciate their species of choice. My favorite from dog lovers:

"Cats have to have do-over lives because they didn't figure out how to have fun the first time around", Marilyn Finley
"Dogs walk around with a smile as man's best friend and are always there for us", Kelly Smith

I couldn't have said it better!

Meet the Breeds is being held October 17th and 18th at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. Event hours are from 10am to 5pm both days and tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children. Learn more at www.meetthebreeds.com

The Poop on Poodles

2009-10-12T04:09:07-04:00

So you’re considering adding a Poodle to your family? Here is a snapshot to help you determine if it’s the right breed for your lifestyle.

· The Poodle is an active and highly intelligent breed of dog. They come in three sizes, standard, miniature and toy.

· With early socialization and obedience training they quickly become a positive family member.

· The breed temperament is lively and dignified but with a sensitive edge.

· Originally bred as a retrieving dog, they require a lot of daily exercise. Ideally they should have a fenced yard and be taken for regular leashed walks or runs to release their energy. Many standard-sized Poodles love to retrieve in water.

· Poodles can adjust to apartment living as long as they are with their family and get regular exercise. They are generally good with children and other pets.

· They have a single coat that does not shed. Therefore they will require professional trimming throughout the year. This single coat is ideal for allergy sufferers, as it doesn’t have the dander of double-coated fur.

· This breed’s average life span is 12 to 15 years of age. Responsible breeders screen their dogs for orthopedic and genetic diseases before breeding them. Genetic defects found in some dogs of this breed include: hip dysplasia, heart defects and addison's disease.

Click here for more information about Poodles.

Animal Sex: Battle of the Sexes

2009-10-06T17:08:00-04:00

We all know that competition for sex in nature is ferocious. Males compete with other males, and females make their selection. “Sorry, your nest’s not good enough”—“I prefer more colorful feathers”—“learn better dance steps”—“there’s not enough money in your bank account.” See what I mean? Of course, there’s forced copulation, but by and large, females choose the father of their children, and males go to great lengths to woo them. When sex is involved, there’s competition, and where there’s competition, there’s conflict. Or stated another way, “Whenever the strategy adopted by one sex interferes with the strategy adopted by the other sex, conflict ensues.” (The Evolution of Desire, by David M. Buss). Sound familiar?

Fighting after sex

The Scorpionfly offers a lovely example of competing strategies that cause conflict. In this case the female wants sex with dinner, and the male just wants wants sex. But in order to accomplish his goal, he needs to feed her. So far, so good. The problem arises when the male miscalculates the size of the dinner serving. During copulation, it takes the scorpionfly 20 minutes to deposit all his sperm into the female. In order to get her cooperation he brings her a little gift—a dead insect. If he gets the size right, it will take her 20 minutes to consume it. If the gift is too small, and she is done with dinner before he’s finished, she’ll thanklessly walk off leaving him hanging, so to speak. If on the other hand the gift is too large and she’s still eating when he’s done—this is the part I love—they fight over the leftovers! In fact, while they’re having sex, the male keeps a delicate hold on his little insect gift to make sure he doesn’t loose control of the situation.

What's the human story?

In human terms, the source of our sexual conflicts lies in the ancestral program that was developed over millions of years—women needed men to invest in them and their children in order to survive. Women already made enormous investments in children by carrying the babies in their bodies. Nature makes it obvious who the mother of a child is, but it took social rules, laws, and cultural pressures to secure paternity. Women needed food and protection. Men needed to know they were making the investment in their own offspring. Jealousy was a strategy that allowed each gender to be alert to the threat of a sexual rival. If a rival succeeded, women and their children risked being abandoned and men risked being uncertain of whether the child was theirs. As described by Buss, because of modern birth control, “in today’s industrial nations, women can have short-term dalliances with less fear of pregnancy.” But human sexual psychology evolved to cope with the adaptations of our ancestors. “We still possess this underlying sexual psychology, even though our environment has changed.” In other words, our biology hasn’t caught up with our modern culture and technology. The popular show, Sex and the City, depicts a sexually liberated woman, Samantha Jones, whose appetites and behavior are compared on the show to those of a man. Samantha is the anomaly—envied, mocked, judged and admired. However, the overarching message of the show is about single women finding Mr. Right and living happily ever after. The modern conflicts are portrayed, but the emphasis is as conventional as ever. Love, marriage and divorce, whatever the cultural packaging, is a worldwide phenomenon and is part of the deepest human traditions.

The good news

Every one who is alive today is a success story. We exist because of the successful mating strategies of our ancestors and we are one link in an unbroken chain that stretches back to the beginning of humankind. The people who were not successful in securing mates or couldn’t provide for the survival of their young—all died.

In nature, the goal is to continue the species, and strategies that work are rewarded by survival. Over the

millennia, those effective behaviors are passed along in our genes. But, there remains the push and pull,

the tension between the sexes that reflects our different biological agendas, even though we share the

same goal—just like all the other species on the planet. But resolving that tension, figuring it all out and

making it work, is an essential part of what makes us human. Not only that, it’s also fun!

By Sally Schloss for WebVet

The Dirt on Dachshunds

2009-10-06T11:27:11-04:00

So you’re considering adding a Dachshund to your family? Here is a snapshot to help you determine if it’s the right breed for your lifestyle.

· The Dachshund is an active and independent breed of dog. They come in two sizes, standard (16-32 pounds) and miniature (up to 11 pounds) with three coat varieties to choose from, smooth, wirehair and longhair.

· Originally bred to hunt badger, rabbits and other small game, they have a strong drive to hunt but with early socialization and obedience training they can be strong hunters and positive family members.

· Breed temperament varies among the coat varieties. To generalize, the smooth coat is an independent thinker, the wirehair has a terrier-like edge and the longhair is a sweet companion that can be vocal.

· All coat varieties and sizes are lovable and thrive with disciplined children.

· Although they have short legs Dachshunds require a lot of daily exercise. Ideally they should have a fenced yard and be taken for regular leashed walks or runs to release their energy, but should not run free due to hunting instinct.

· Owners must have a watchful eye as these hunters can dig holes in your yard and under fences in a matter of minutes.

· Dachshunds are fine with apartment living but will need regular daily exercise to counter a confined living space and satiate their need to be out of doors.

· Due to their long spine, Dachshunds should not be allowed to jump off of beds or high sofas and stairs should be kept to a minimum. They are susceptible to intervertebral disc disease and repeated exposure to hard landings may contribute.

· Each coat variety has different grooming needs. Smooth coat: bathe every other month; wirehaired, get professional trims throughout the year; and longhaired requires daily brushing and combing.

· This breed’s average life span is 12 to 15 years of age. Responsible breeders screen their dogs for orthopedic and genetic diseases before breeding them. Genetic defects found in some dogs of this breed include: intervertebral disc disease, patellar luxation and progressive retinal atrophy.

Click here for more information about Dachshunds .

The Brief on Bulldogs

2009-09-30T10:14:11-04:00

So you’re considering adding a Bulldog to your family? Here is a snapshot to help you determine if it’s the right breed for your lifestyle.

· The Bulldog is an affectionate and fun loving breed of dog.

· Although a male Bulldog may stand about 16 inches at the shoulders, they can weigh up to 50 pounds.

· They enjoy being with their family and are good with children but need early socialization and obedience training to make them a positive family member.

· Although they are lovable and outgoing their protective nature makes them somewhat of a guard dog.

· Bulldogs do require daily exercise. Due to their brachycephalic face (short muzzle) owners must be careful not to over exert this breed in warm temperatures.

· Bulldogs can adjust to apartment living with their family but will need regular daily exercise to maintain their weight.

· Their coat sheds year round so they will need monthly grooming and they will need their face wrinkles cleaned regularly to avoid skin irritation.

· This breed’s average life span is eight years of age. Responsible breeders screen their dogs for orthopedic and genetic diseases before breeding them. Genetic defects found in some dogs of this breed include: brachycephalic syndrome (breathing difficulty), heart defects and skin conditions.

Click here for more information about Bulldogs

The Brief on Beagles

2009-09-22T14:18:00-04:00

So you’re considering adding a Beagle to your family? Here is a snapshot to help you determine if it’s the right breed for your lifestyle.

· The Beagle is an active and social breed of dog.

· They have a strong drive to hunt and need obedience training to make them a positive family member.

· The breed temperament is lovable and outgoing; they can be highly vocal.

· As a hunting dog they require a lot of daily exercise. Ideally they should have a fenced yard and be taken for regular leashed walks or runs to release their energy, but should not run free due to hunting instinct.

· Beagles can adjust to apartment living with their family but will need regular daily exercise to counter a confined living space.

· They need minimal monthly grooming to pull out dead hair and have their ears cleaned regularly.

· This breed’s average life span is 10 to 15 years of age. Responsible breeders screen their dogs for orthopedic and genetic diseases before breeding them. Genetic defects found in some dogs of this breed include: hip dysplasia, allergies and glaucoma.

Click here for more information about Beagles.