Breakthrough Drug Vetmedin Gives Canines Afflicted with Heart Disease 2X Longer Lifespan

One of my biggest fears since acquiring my beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the prevelance of heart disease within the breed, with most Cavaliers suffering from Mitral Valve Disease by age 4. Statistics have shown that heart disease affects 25% of all dogs over age 7. In the UK, where the new drug Vetmedin has been going through trials, nearly two million dogs are affected by heart disease.

The QUEST study on Vetmedin has been published in the September/October 2008 Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. This has been the largest study of its kind in veterinary cardiology, tracking 260 dogs in 11 countries, on three continents, for a period of three years.

Compared with conventional heart disease treatments, Vetmedin has been proven to extend the lifespan of afflicted dogs by double the time currently possible, changing the way veterinary cardiologists will treat canine heart disease.

Vetmedin is indicated for the most common form of heart failure that most regularly afflicts small breeds such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Poodles, Chihuahuas and Dachshunds. Pet owners should feel encouraged by this development, as veterinarians are learning more about canine cardiology and how to treat it.

According to Vetmedin’s website, the only reported side effect is occasional vomiting. Here is hoping this breakthrough drug will help many dogs live longer and more fulfilling lives!

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All dogs deserve the best, right? We pamper our pooches with spa quality grooming products, holistic diets, alternative medical care and more toys then the dogs know what to do with! In fact, in American, many dogs live lives filled with more luxury then most humans around the world will ever experience!

Now, I am all for spoiling our precious pets, especially when while doing so, we can offer Fido and Fluffy something to improve their overall health.

Satisfying Fluffy’s natural urge to chew can get expensive and confusing. We avoid rawhide because of how dangerous it is. The very popular Greenies are also unhealthy sources of chewing pleasure, indigestible and the cause of a lots of trips to the vet!

Bully Sticks, which dogs love, are great, all natural, digestible and low in fat. They help satisfy chewing urges and keep those toothies clean. But dogs chew through them quickly and at about $9.00 a pop, pet owners need to take on a second job just to keep Fido in dried bull penises! (Yes, thats what Bully Sticks actually are, so while its gross, just remember how much your dog loves them!)

I have two absolutely awesome solutions. The first are Antlerz, which I have written about in the past (click here). The Antlerz are an awesome, extremely long lasting and healthy choice.

But what about other options? I just discovered Canine Cavier Fish Stix. Awesome. These chewy treats are completely natural, with no preservatives, chemicals and made of fish cartilage and skin. They are durable (though not quite as durable as Antlerz) and each one holds up to my dogs chompers for at least a week.

The Canine Caviar is a great way for your dog to get necessary jaw and neck exercise, keep his teeth clean and they are a high quality source of chondroitin. Chondroitin helps maintain the integrity of your dog’s bones and it acts as a natural anti-inflammatory. Chondroitin also works to prevent destructive enzymes from breaking down joint tissue and in addition it helps to prevent clotting in the arteries!

So what are you waiting for? Every dog deserves some champagne and caviar dreams!

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Besides euthanasia, cancer is the number one killer of domestic dogs over the age of two. Statistics suggest 1 out of every 4 dogs will develop cancer. Grim as it is, canine oncology is one of the fastest growing fields in veterinary medicine.

Numerous studies are underway to find new ways of treating the various manifestations of canine cancer. One of the most interesting ramifications of these studies is the discovery that canine cancers are of the same types from which humans suffer, making canine cancer patients the ideal models for research - without the need to use lab animals. Pre-existing canine cancer patients are plentiful. There is no need to induce cancer in animals for research purposes or support any organizations that harm or induce cancer for the sake of ‘research’.

Many foundations exist that sponsor the vital research on treatment that helps to save both human and canine lives. The fabulous project, 2 Dogs 2000 Miles is taking a different approach and conquering cancer from a new perspective.

Inspired by the loss of his beloved companion, Malcolm, Luke Robinson has started a 2,000 mile journey, accompanied by his two great Great Pyrenees, Hudson and Murphy. Dedicated to finding the cause of canine cancer, the walk is generating money that will be used to finance the first ever nationwide epidemiological study on cancer in dogs. Finding the cause provides hope for man and his best friend that there will be a path to prevention and/or more successful and less invasive therapies.

Luke and his dynamic duo started their journey in Austin, Texas and plan to make the trek to Boston. They’ll be stopping along the way for press events and of course, plenty of rest! Luke’s top priority is the health and safety of his dogs and has drawn up thorough contingency plans in addition to traveling with a first aid kit. Luke expects this journey to last about 8 months, more if inclement weather or health issues arise.

The trio are receiving plenty of press in addition to a growing list of corporate sponsors and supporters. They are drawing positive attention to an issue that directly affects humans, helping to raise awareness and funds. The money will go directly to The Animal Cancer Foundation (ACF) to be used in this revolutionary study. The ACF works to ensure that those afflicted receive the best possible treatment. They do not fund research that would either harm or induce cancer in dogs. The ACF has two major goals, the first to fund and develop research focused on the biological similarity of cancer in dogs and humans, providing insight and treatments to benefit both; the second goal is to provide information to the scientific community and public regarding the similarity of human and canine cancers, utilizing comparative oncology to provide state of the art treatments, prevention and ultimately, eradication of cancer.

For more information on this great cause, to donate or volunteer, please visit 2 Dogs 2000 Miles. You can also follow Luke, Hudson and Murphy’s journey by visiting their blog.

Good luck to Luke, Hudon and Murphy and wishing them safe travels and success in their courageous and meaningful endeavor!

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This month, the newly launched WebVet unveiled itself online, touting itself as an interactive pet platform where pet owners can do ’symptom searches,’ read articles written about common pet ailments by veterinarians and get pet related news.

Like the human version, WebMD, WebVet does not directly provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, but for those pet owners who tend to sit around Googling symptoms on their laptops, the site provides a nice comprehensive look at issues that affect pets and their owners.

The site addresses the “whole pet” and there are articles that give information on holistic care as well as conventional treatments, tips for living with you pet to ensure Fluffy has a carefree existance.

In order to ensure accuracy, WebVet has formed the WebVet Veterinary Advisory Council (WVAC), who ensures that quality and accuracy of the content. The board of reviewers are veterinarians and veterinary technicians who must review, at a minimum of once annually, all content featuring medical advice and information. After the content is approved, the article will include the WebVet Seal of Approval.

It is important to note that some of the council members are from Pfizer Animal Health, manufacturers of animal pharmaceuticals, such as the controversial weight loss drug Slentrol. Since the content managers are not unbiased, and some stand to see a profit (or loss) based on the information provided on the site, it is important to continue to work with a holistic vet that you trust for your pet’s health.

While a site like WebVet can provide a nice overview of animal health, it is still vital to find unbiased sources of information, not tainted by pharmaceutical corporations who make their fortune via unsuspecting pet owners! The WebVet Veterinary Advisory Council (WVAC) is not an official government approved council, rather an board of members selected by the sites founders to lend authenticity to their site.

Still, the site has some good, informative and useful articles and unlike many other pet sites, WebVet addresses health issues in cats, birds and small companion animals (i.e. hamsters, rabbits, ferrets and more).

Image sources: Bark Street Journal, Veterinary Advisory Council Approved

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Rawhide, that chewy treat available in almost all pet stores (and some grocery stores, I have noticed) is a hotly debated dog treat, one of the most common treats in the pet industry. Is it safe? What are the issues? Let’s explore.

How Rawhide is Made

Rawhide is the dried out raw hide of an animal. Rawhide chews are usually made from bulls, pigs, cows and sometimes horses. The hides are obtained from slaughterhouses, as they are a by-product, un-edible for humans. The hide is scraped of all meat, hair and fat. Originally, Native Americans used rawhide as a material in cabin and boat construction because of its extreme durability.

Modern tanneries use a bandsaw to scrape the flesh side of the hide clean. Traditional methods of removing the hair side involve hand scraping. This is timely, so modern methods resort to caustic Lye soaking of the hide for a few days. In order to remove all traces of the poisonous lye, the rawhide is then usually cleaned in a bleach solution. Yummy.

After the bleaching, the rawhide is shaped into a stick, bone or some other silly shape and then either dried or sent for smoking and/ or adding other articial flavors or colors to further entice your pup. The more time your pooch spends chewing on his rawhide treats, the greater the exposure to the host of chemicals that are used in the manufacture of rawhide.

If That Info Wasn’t Gross Enough…

Note that processed rawhide shrinks when dried. When your unsuspecting pooch chews on the rawhide ‘treat’, wetting it once more, the rawhide expands. As Fido breaks off and swallows the pieces, his gastric juices are unable to break the product down, it can continue to expand, causing tummy upset or worse. Remember - rawhide is so strong it was once used as a construction material!

Even still, it’s often marketed as ‘all natural.’ Please think twice before offering this treat to your pets. There are plenty of other options to satisfy your dog’s natural urge to chew!

Chewing relieves aches and pains for teething puppies and adults use chewing as a natural anxiety reliever and satisfying activity to pass the time. Chewing proper, healthy objects also promotes clean teeth, healthy gums and strong neck and jaw muscles - all crucial to your dog’s overall health and vitality.

Safe, Healthy Alternatives

If you are looking for a healthy chew for Fido, there are plenty. Options include organic raw bones (supervise while chewing), bully sticks, muscle chews and the popular classic Kong toys, can be filled with peanut butter or another healthy satisfying treat to engage a dog’s chewing instincts. Research on the topic will turn up plenty more healthy, safe chewing options as well!

Image Sources: rawhide chew, pig skinning, raw bone

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To say my 13 month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Louis and I love each other is an understatement. We adore each other. We sleep cuddled, often nose to nose and he follows me everywhere. When I do laundry in my building’s laundry facility, down the hall, he follows. Into the kitchen in the middle of the night? He is there. He gazes up at me adoringly while I write, drifting off to sleep from time to time.

The downside is, dogs don’t ‘love’ in the human sense and I am anthropomorphising my precious Louis. He is fixated on me, a common trait to his breed and it isn’t helped by the fact that I work from home. We spend more time together, then not and his days are filled with intermittent ear massages, belly rubs, play sessions and naps.

So, what’s the problem? This fixation makes Louis really upset when I leave the house. I can do everything that The Dog Whisperer or my hero Victoria Stillwell
would suggest to curb this behavior, but because of my schedule (and lack of car during days when my husband is out) we are inextricably bonded.

Because he doesn’t exhibit destructive behavior and about 10 minutes after I leave he is sound asleep or playing with his little sister Ella Bean, the key is keeping him calm during the ‘leaving the house’ process. Its not good for anyone to get so worked up that they are crying hysterically on a daily basis! Enter Bach’s Rescue Remedy.

The famous Dr. Edward Bach was a British doctor, practicing allopathic medicine in the 1920’s and 30’s. Frustrated by the limitations of the medical profession and the focus on disease vs. the patient, Dr. Bach began working with homeopathic remedies and eventually, flower essences.

Rescue Remedy, the most famous of all of his remedies, is a combination of five flower essences, that when mixed together become an essence of its own that works to calm and soothe. Used on pets, Rescue Remedy is commonly used by vets on nervous patients, after seizures or anesthesia to revive and to speed recovery from heatstroke or exhaustion. When we first adopted Ella Bean, we used it to soothe her during the transition process. Many people find it useful for dogs who are afraid of thunderstorms. It can be used for anxious travelers on car rides and I use it to aid with separation anxiety. Basically, it provides instant calming in any situation.

It has become so popular for pets, that an alcohol-free version of the original remedy is being specifically marketed to pet owners. Louis loves it. When he sees the bottle he comes right over and practically opens his mouth for his dose. Ella Bean isn’t quite as fond of the ‘dropper in the mouth’ method. We put a few drops on our finger and rub it on her gums. Instant calm. My husband and I use it too - 10 drops in some tea before bed is totally relaxing.

My family, those with paws and without, highly recommend a bit of Rescue Remedy for calming, whenever things get stressful.

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The Main Event

Yesterday was Ella Bean’s spay surgery, the inspiration of the From Start to Ovariohysterectomy series of posts. In addition to her spay, my little Bean had over 10 baby teeth removed - they lost count because some were so tiny!

She did an excellent job under anesthesia and the vet was able to remove all the deciduous teeth, one of our major concerns.

We absolutely love our vet and his staff. They took such good care of our little girl and she is eating, drinking and going to the bathroom normally. As I am a regular on a lot of dog threads, there are a number of common issues to the spay and neuter surgery that puppy moms & pops seem to be concerned about, so here goes!

The Cost of Surgery

Plenty of rescued pups are spayed and neutered without any issues, through the shelter which they were adopted. Many spay/ neuter events cultivate an impression that the sterilization procedure can be done in an “assembly line” manner. Proponents of spay and neuter clinics and low cost sterilization aren’t wrong - spayed/neutered dogs make better pets and do not contribute to the millions of homeless puppies already looking for their forever home.

It is important to know that the spay procedure is a major surgery and your pet will need post-operative care and attention. Remember, this surgery is a one time cost and a lifetime investment in better health. The cost of the procedure varies from clinic to clinic, depends on the gender, size, breed, age and health of your pet. Discuss the fees in advance so you can be prepared and involved in any decisions that affect cost and safety.

For any female that is older and has gone through multiple heats or been bred, it can be time consuming and complex. Additionally, if you have a toy dog, or in my case - the smallest pup I have ever met - imagine the procedure from a vet’s perspective. At under three pounds, the surgery borders on a microscopic adventure!

The Spay

Let’s get to the nitty gritty. What happens when your girl is spayed? Well, it varies depending on your vet and their protocol, but the gist is that your pup is going to go under anesthesia. After she is under, her belly will be cleaned and the vet will scrub up. The team working with the vet will place the pup on her back, either on an operating table or in a sterile tray that is placed on the table. A tray keeps the dog from sliding around.

Gas anesthesia such as Isoflurane is usually used during the surgery. The benefit of gas anesthesia is that it can easily be increased or decreased, depending the dog’s needs. Often, vets use a heart monitor during surgery to monitor her.

The first part of the surgery is when the vet clamps the skin to stretch it and begins an incision using a scalpel. Careful incision minimize muscle damage. The uterus is a Y shaped organ that has two horns and a body. The vet removes the whole uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes and dissolvable sutures are used for the incision. After checking for abnormalities or bleeding and the incision is stitched up.

For a puppy who has never been in heat, the spay takes about 25 minutes.

Questions, Questions, Questions

As a concerned parent, you will likely have questions before the procedure. These are some common ones. Make sure you feel that your vet answered all your questions and you feel comfortable!

• Are the surgical instruments sterilized between each procedure?

The answer should be yes! Its more expensive and takes more time, but its much safer.

• Do you use a heart monitor during surgery?

Again, its a safety precaution that adds some $$ to the procedure. Wouldn’t you want your pup to be monitored?

• Is the incision closed with layers of stitches?

Again, this is more time consuming and costs more, but it’s safer.

• Does the clinic use reversible gas anesthesia?

The cost is higher but the risks of anesthesia are lessened this way.

• Will she be normal when I get her home?

Well, activity should be restricted for the week after surgery so as not to rupture the incision. Schedule your post-operative follow up appointment as you are leaving surgery so you can make sure she is reevaluated.

• Will she be in pain?

The surgery is preformed under anesthesia so she wont feel a thing during the operation. Usually, the vet will send her home on painkillers. It is up to you and your vet whether to continue to administer pain medication. Its important to note that dogs heal much quicker then we do. Some discomfort helps with the healing process, so she knows her limits and doesn’t try to play like normal and risk opening the incision.

Good luck and happy spaying!

Ella Bean is on her way to making a full recovery, she is already giving kisses and her antennae ears are whirling about. She is a little shaky and we are monitoring her closely to make sure she doesn’t try to hop on or off any furniture. (A BIG no-no after surgery.) We peeked inside her mouth and although its pretty red and her gums are a bit swollen, she now has the movie star smile she deserves!

For more information on spaying and neutering,  check out the rest of the From Start to Ovariohysterectomy series. Part I focuses on why dog sterilization is important and the myths that surround the procedure.  Part II is about the mandatory sterilization laws that are being passed around the US and the risks of sterilization.

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Part I of the From Start to Ovariohysterectomy series was focused on the benefits of spaying and neutering and the myths that surround sterlization procedures.

Mandatory spay and neuter legislation is being enacted all over the country. As such, the debate has entered the mainstream media and an informative article on MSNBC outlines the risks and the controversy surrounding the legislation. In light of Ella Bean’s impending spay surgery, it seemed valuable to include this pertinent discussion.

Mandatory Sterilization?

Because of the pet overpopulation problem, Los Angeles, CA has passed legislation that will require cats and dogs over 4 months of age to be spayed or neutered, or risk facing fines up to $500. Palm Beach and North Las Vegas have recently passed similar laws and nearly a dozen other cities are mulling over the details of mandatory spay and neuter legislation.

As more cities pass legislation that requires pet owners to sterilize, the critics of such legislation have begun to make noise, stirring up a great deal of confusion for pet owners, who just want to do whats best for their beloved four legged family members.

Critics of the legislation are standing behind Every dog has different needs. While Louis had a pediatric neuter at 10 weeks old, Ella Bean is nearing 8 months of age and is due for her surgery this Friday. There are benefits to a pediatric spay/neuter. You can read about those benefits here.

Louis rarely, if ever lifts his leg and never marks his territory. He also has never exhibited humping or other dominant behaviors. My childhood dog was neutered later and was extremely dominant marked his territory everywhere. Louis is 4X the size of Ella Bean and was twice her current weight when he was neutered. (Neutering is also a much less complex procedure then spaying.) For Ella, it is good that we waited, as far as her deciduous teeth situation. Because she has not lost many of her baby teeth, they can be pulled while she is already anesthesia.

Conflicting Information

For as many studies that tout the health benefits of spaying and neutering, there are studies that support the opposite claim - that sterilization actually can increase risk of some cancers, incontinence and thyroid issues. Studies also show that some of the aggression and behavior issues that were thought to be curtailed by spay or neuter procedures, may not actually be helped.

WHAT? This flies in the face of everything I have been taught about dog rearing!!

So what is the truth?

Well, everything depends on your specific dog. How old he or she is when the procedure is preformed, the breed of the dog and lifestyle must all be taken into consideration. Large and giant breed dogs, for instance, may fare better if they undergo the procedure after their growth plates are closed, at about 12-14 months. I realize that isn’t very helpful, but find a vet you trust and work with him or her to decide what is right for your pet.

If you purchased a purebred from a reputable breeder, they will have definite opinions about when their puppies should be sterilized and those opinions will be based on experience with the breed. For those who adopt, often times the procedure takes place before your pet comes home with you.

This is a definite departure from the archaic ‘6 month’ approach - which many vets still practice. According to MSNBC’s article, this notion dates to the 1960’s and 70’s when it was found that spayed and neutered dogs showed a decrease in undesirable behaviors and spaying females before their first estrus cycle nearly eliminated the risk of mammary cancer, which commonly occurs otherwise.

Risks vs. Reward

The actual risks associated with sterilization are minimal, but they are real.

Experts disagree when the surgery should take place, but they do ultimately agree that spaying and neutering is what is best for pets. There is no risk that outweighs the benefits of sterilization.

Given that this fact is agreed on, and millions of animals are euthanized each year, it seems to me it would be a far better use of financial resources to direct money toward providing communties with low cost or, even better, free spay and neuters then directing money and energy at passing legislation that requires the sterilization of pets and collecting fines from those who don’t sterilize.

For more information on the benefits of spaying and neutering, please see From Start to Ovariohysterectomy Part I and please check out Kim Campbell Thornton’s article on MSNBC.

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Spring has arrived and with it, warm weather. Actually, hot weather in South Florida! With the change of seasons comes the changes in our dog care routines. Dogs go back on heartworm preventative, start getting out of the house more, etc. Warm weather brings pests and creatures that bite and infect dogs with parasites, so it is more important then ever that your dog’s immune system is functioning on high.

Our biggest challenge in my home is Louis’ ears. I have written about the canine ear before (The Better to Hear You With), but since have found some new approaches to care.

Louis is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He has floppy ears that are the perfect, warm, dark and moist breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. With the humidity and heat, Louis ears started smelling foul and he was secreting a dark brown, sticky discharge. This was a yeast infection. Rather then take him to the vet for a course of antibiotics, experience and education has taught me a better approach - probiotics.

By promoting healthy bacteria throughout his system by use of probiotics (or acidophilus), his body has a defense system with which to fight unhealthy bacteria and yeast. Antibiotics on the other hand, destroy bacteria, both good and bad. This results in a destructive environment that ineveitably will be worse once the course of antibiotics is complete. With healthy bacteria dead, the body must regenerate and is less effective at fighting off anything icky.

Poor Louis was scratching at his ears constantly, determined to relieve his discomfort. We did an herbal ear flush twice daily but no sooner did we get them clean, then the odor returned along with the discharge. I picked up some extra strength probiotic at Whole Foods and started sprinkling the contents of the capsules on his meals. I also added a lunchtime snack of plain yogurt, a natural probiotic to support the supplement. Within a week and a half, Louis’ ears are markedly improved.

If your dog does develop a bacterial infection and needs antibiotic treatment, supplementing with a probiotic can help maintain the presence of healthy bacteria, ensuring his health and keeping his immunity highly functional. If you aren’t sure what is wrong with your pet’s ears, go to a vet immediately. You must seek assistance to avoid a hematoma or closure of the ear canal. It is only because I have experience with Louis’ ears that I am comfortable treating him at home. If his symptoms had worsened, we would have visited his doctor. As you learn your dog’s weakness, you too can use home remedies instead of veterinary intervention in non emergency, non life threatening situations.

Yeast is not just a problem for ears. Moisture trapped between paw pads, wrinkles and under a coat of fur can create a yeasty environment. Dogs begin to frantically itch or compulsively chew their paws. Hotspots and open wounds can result, compounding the original issue. Probiotics assist your dog in keeping conditions like this at bay.

Additionally, probiotics assist in digestive processes, ensuring easier digestion and regular stools.

The word probiotic literally means “for life.” These organisms are your pets first line of defense against all harmful microorganisms. Besides helping Louis with his yeasty ears and the benefits listed above, probiotics reduce cholesterol, manufacture biotin, folic acid and B vitamins, regulate immune system activity, detoxify harmful environmental chemicals that enter the gastrointestinal system and reduce inflammation.

Get your pet (and yourself!) on some good, high quality probiotics and enjoy the benefits of healthier living.

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Why Spay?

Today was Ella Bean’s much dreaded pre-surgical appointment for her spay surgery. We met with our holistic veterinarian and got the lowdown. My little Bean tipped the scales at an impressive 2.7 lbs. The doctor said she is mostly full grown, maybe another ounce or two. I am so nervous about the surgery!

Ella’s row of shark teeth doesn’t help matters. She will be having almost 15 deciduous (baby) teeth pulled in conjunction with this ordeal. Or as many of the teeth as they can wrangle out before they need to pull her out of anesthesia.

The subject came up on the way to the appointment, why spay?

There are a multitude of benefits that outweigh the relatively low risk of a one time surgery. First, between 3 and 4 millions pets are euthanized each year. By leaving breeding to the show dog breeders and people who breed dogs for seeing eye dogs and other working purposes we improve the health of the canine species. Breed fanciers seek to perfect their dogs to the breed standard, resulting in sound, healthy animals. Unfortunately, this tremendous amount of euthanisia will not be reduced until more families have their pets spayed and neutered.

Unwanted pregnancies are incredibly difficult to prevent as un-neutered males can smell a female in heat for a few miles. Dogs have successfully mated through fences before. They are crafty! Additionally, females who are not spayed have a highly increased risk of uterine cancer, breast cancer and urinary tract infections. Ultimately, spaying is ethical and humane because it spares unwanted dogs from being born and female dogs from dying earlier. The procedure is painless, done under anesthesia and pain relief is provided for post-surgical care. The younger and healthier your dog is, the quicker she will heal.

I realize for many people this is a controversial topic. I believe that when humans domesticated dogs, we removed them from their ecosystem, thereby the canine population is not being regulated by environment or predators. Think about it - my tiny Ella Bean is the result of hundreds of years of human imposed breeding. A 3 pound dog would never survive in the wild! Ella Bean and her siblings ended up in a shelter and Ella herself was nearly euthanized.

Humans created the problem of pet overpopulation and now it is up to us to re-home needy animals and prevent the tragedy of new homeless ones from filling up our animal shelters. Regarding cruelty to animals, I believe spaying and neutering is the lesser of two evils. It promotes the general well being of my pet and the canine species in general.

Spay & Neuter Myths

There are many myths associated with spay and neuter surgery, such as, ‘my pet will become fat and lazy.’ Well, that is only true if you overfeed and under excercise! If your pet seems ‘lazy’ for a few weeks after surgery, just let time work it out. They are expending a lot of their energy healing. Make sure as soon as those stitches are out and the doc gives the go-ahead, you are back at the park or on the jogging trail. Slowly work back up to the routine you and your dog had been doing before surgery.

Another myth surrounding spay and neuter surgery is that it is better to allow your pet to ‘experience’ one litter to have sex and go through the ‘miracle of birth.’ From a medical perspective, the opposite is true. Females who have gone into heat or had a litter prior to spaying are much more prone to disease and cancer.

Regarding the emotional aspect of experiencing sex or the miracle of birth, you are over identifying with your pet. Dogs are not human, they do not have much more then a biological drive to reproduce that is the result of hormones. Remove the hormones, then you remove the drive. My Louis was neutered before we got him, at 10 weeks of age. As he never produced any adult hormones, he does not hump (which is a dominant behavior, not a sexual one.) He is the happiest, most relaxed dog I have ever met. Besides his breeding, I believe this is in large part due to the lack of hormonal drive.

Gentleman, if you refuse to neuter your male dogs because you fear removing his masculinity, I don’t mean to be rude, but please stop over identifying with your dog. He isn’t a man, he is a dog and if you want a pleasant dog to share your home with, neuter. Neutering reduces the risk of prostate cancer, eliminates testicular cancer, reduces or eliminates behaviors like roaming and humping.

Another myth associated with spay and neuter surgery is that it will remove his protective instincts. Some people do have dogs for protection. Spaying or neutering does not affect a dog’s natural instinct to protect his or her home and family. A dog’s personality is formed more by genetics and training than by sex hormones. Train your dog to protect and they will.

Some people adopt or purchase purebred animals as pets and feel they shouldn’t spay or neuter their purebred. There is a statistic that one out of every four pets in a shelter is a purebred. On the day I got Ella Bean, there was a beautiful, young Beagle at the shelter. This was within a few weeks after Uno the Beagle won the Westminster Dog Show! Leave the breeding to the professionals. Whelping a litter is not an easy task. Finding caring homes for your litter (I recently read about a Bulldog who gave birth to 20 puppies!) is not easy! How would you feel if you brought a life into the world, only to have it end up in a poor home or worse, in a shelter, getting euthanized? This is the reality of the situation we have wrought onto dogs.

As nervous as I am, I know it will be a routine surgery and Ella Bean will be ok. Please spay and neuter your pets! It saves lives.

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