Frankie The Law Dog

Some Dog Toys Are Can Be Hazardous to Your Dog’s Health

Although it is important to provide your dog with adequate exercise and stimulation through play, there are some popular types of dog toys that you should either supervise very closely or avoid altogether.

Tennis Balls Do Not Make Good Dog Toys

Tennis Balls Do Not Make Good Dog Toys

Dogs love tennis balls.  They bounce.  They are somewhat chewy.  They can be catchable.  But tennis balls are bad news for dogs.  Smaller tennis balls, like any small toy or ball, can be a choking hazard for big dogs.

Additionally, some veterinarians say that the nylon fuzz on tennis balls is too abrasive for dog’s teeth and can wear down the tooth enamel leading to potentially painful and expensive dental problems down the road.

Moreover, tennis balls can be chewed apart and the pieces swallowed, creating a risk of choking or intestinal blockage, either of which could be deadly.

Any Dog Toy That Is Too Small for the Dog or That Has Small Pieces

Small toys that can fit entirely into the dog’s mouth can create a choking hazard for your dog.  That may seem like a no-brainer, but if you have several dogs of different sizes–say a Chihuahua and a Boxer in the same household–you need to think about keeping toys around that are safe for all the dogs.  If you keep tiny toys around for your tiny dog, be very careful to keep the small toys away from the bigger dogs in the household.

Prior to purchase, it is important to inspect any dog toys for small parts that could fall off or be chewed off and swallowed.  If a dog toy poses a choking hazard for children under the age of three, it is also not safe for your dog.

Stuffed Squeaky Dog Toys May Be Hazardous

Squeaky Dog Toys Can Be Fun, But They Require Diligent Supervision

Stuffed toys with a squeaky mechanism inside are very popular, and dogs do love to bite them and make them squeal.  But stuffed toys are easily chewed apart by rambunctious dogs.  Once the toy has developed a hole or two, the stuffing can end up all over the place and both the stuffing and the squeaky mechanism can be pose choking hazards.  If swallowed, they can cause potentially deadly intestinal blockage.  Any play with stuffed squeaky dog toys should be closely monitored at all times.  It can take only a moment for a determined dog to rip up the toy and swallow the insides.

Rawhide Chews

Rawhide chews for dogs are very popular, but they present a couple of potential dangers to your dog’s health.  First, if larger pieces break off during chewing, the dog could try to swallow them whole.  Large pieces of rawhide pose a real threat of choking or intestinal blockage if swallowed.  Carefully supervise your dog as she enjoys her rawhide chew, and be ready to retrieve pieces that break off.  When the chew gets small enough to be swallowed whole, take it away from the dog to prevent swallowing.

Second, rawhide chews manufactured in some countries outside the United States may not be safe for your dog at all.  As this dog owner’s experience demonstrates, rawhides manufactured outside the U.S. may contain salmonella bacteria, arsenic, lead and pesticides.  Health problems from rawhide chews may include sore throat, choking, intestinal blockage and acute pancreatitis.  So, if you are going to use rawhide chews, make sure you purchase them from a trusted manufacturer.

Why Retractable Dog Leashes May Not Be Your Best Choice

Retractable Dog Leashes Are Not the Best Choice for Training or Safety

The mere fact that retractable dog leashes have earned the love of personal injury attorneys and the ire of dog trainers should tell you something.

What is a Retractable Dog Leash?

A retractable dog leash is a leash that is supposed to allow the handler to be able to adjust the distance the dog is permitted to wander away.  The leash itself consists of either a very thin or a webbed cord that is commonly about 16 feet (5 m) or 30 feet (9 m) in length.  The handle is usually plastic and contains a mechanism that allows the dog handler to stop the extension of the leash by pressing a button on the handle.  A clip on the leash attaches to the dog’s collar.

A Classic, Sturdy Six-foot Dog Leash is Best for Dog and Handler

What is Wrong with Retractable Dog Leashes?

Retractable leashes have two big strikes against them:

• They are not effective for training one’s dog.
• They pose serious safety issues for humans and dogs.

Retractable Dog Leashes are Ineffective Dog Training Tools

The very characteristic that makes retractable dog leashes seem so attractive to dog owners is what renders them ineffective as a dog training tool.  The flexible mechanism allows the dog to wander away from the handler up to the length of the leash fully extended.  This encourages the dog to stop paying attention to her handler and to pursue whatever interests her.

Theoretically, the handler need only push the button to stop the leash; however, when you’ve already lost the dog’s attention and focus, it may be difficult to “reel” her back in, particularly if she has scented something much more interesting to her than your commands.  The flexibility of the leash gives the dog the erroneous impression that she is the master of her own destiny on the walk.  If you want to effectively train the dog to focus on and follow your verbal and physical commands, allowing her this sort of freedom on the leash is not the way to do it.

Many retractable dog leashes have a locking feature that stops the leash at a certain length.  However, if the leash has gotten damp or is starting to wear out, the locking mechanism may be difficult to engage.

Retractable Dog Leashes Pose Safety Hazards for Dogs and Their Handlers

Consumer Reports notes that retractable leashes have caused cuts, burns and even amputations when the cord came in contact with skin or became wrapped around part of the owner or the dog.  According to the report:

In 2007 there were 16,564 hospital-treated injuries associated with leashes, according to Consumer Union’s analysis of statistics collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Of those, about 10.5 percent involved children 10 and younger; 23.5 percent involved injuries to the finger. The CPSC’s data does not parse the leashes into types but it’s likely that the amputations were caused by retractable leashes.

Other injuries have been reported as well.  For example, in September 2008, the Slydog brand retractable leash was recalled due to complaints that the metal clip would break and fly off.  A Texas teen has sued the manufacturer after the retractable leash she was using snapped back and punctured her eye.

Safety Tips for Using a Retractable Dog Leash

This Puppy is Better Off Without a Retractable Leash

If you must use a retractable dog leash, keep the following safety tips in mind:

• A retractable leash should be used, if at all, only on well-trained dogs that respond immediately to voice commands.
• Make sure to use the appropriate size leash for your dog’s weight.
• Check the locking mechanism prior to each use of the leash to ensure that it will engage instantly if needed.
• Do not allow children to use the retractable leash.
• Read and heed all manufacturer warnings for the leash.

The Housing Foreclosure Crisis is Leaving Many Pets Homeless

Hard Times for Pet Owners Can Mean Hard Times for Pets

Although some experts say the American economy is slowly showing signs of improvement, there are still many people out of work or otherwise facing financial hardship.  And in many instances, family pets are suffering the consequences.

Since the economic meltdown began in early to mid 2008, animal shelters around the country have seen a surge in people having to give up their pets because they have to move.  Sadly, there has been a corresponding drop in adoptions because people cannot afford to take on the financial responsibility of pet adoption.

Some shelters have been forced to turn abandoned or unwanted animals away because they simply lack the facilities or funding to care for them.  This situation leads to more pet abandonment and euthanasia.

How to Help Overburdened Animal Shelters

If you can’t adopt or foster a shelter animal, there are still ways to help.  Several reputable charities work to assist animal shelters in various ways to provide housing and medical care for so-called foreclosure pets.   The following organizations utilize over 80% of their revenue for program activities:

• American Humane Association.  This group is offering Foreclosure Pets Grants which go directly to shelters so they can help pet owners in need and provide housing and medical care for displaced animals, so the shelters never have to turn an animal away.
• PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin’ Program.  The Rescue Waggin’ partners with local animal welfare agencies to help save the lives of homeless dogs and puppies.  Since the program began in 2004, it has helped save more than 30,000 dogs.
• Petfinder.com Foundation.  This organization “works with shelters, rescue organizations and animal welfare organizations across the country to ensure that no adoptable pet is euthanized for lack of a good home.”

Study of Dog Flu Will Focus on Helping Animal Shelters Limit Transmission of the Illness

The ASPCA has announced what it is calling a “groundbreaking study” of the canine influenza virus, an extremely contagious respiratory illness and one of the viral causes of so-called “kennel cough.”

Canine Influenza is a Newly Emerging Disease

Dog Flu is Easily Transmitted Among Dogs in Close Quarters

Dog flu, known as the H3N8 virus, originated in horses and migrated to dogs.  According to the ASPCA,  it has been spreading across the United States since about 2004.  The virus is easily transmitted between dogs in close contact with one another, and dogs housed in shelters are especially vulnerable.

Dr. Scott Weese of Ontario Veterinary College’s Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses notes that there is currently only a conditionally licensed vaccine available for canine influenza.  Further, there is no reliable test available to veterinarians for diagnosing the disease.

Goals of the ASPCA Canine Influenza Study

The ASPCA’s three-year study of dog flu will seek to accomplish the following goals:

• Examine the spread of canine flu among shelter dogs.
• Determine whether dogs can be tested for canine influenza prior to entering the main shelter population.
• Analyze how the virus changes or mutates over time.

The ultimate goal of the study is to aid in the development, improvement and use of vaccines to prevent the disease.

How is Canine Influenza Spread?

The disease is a highly contagious respiratory virus that is spread via respiratory secretions.  This means that it is usually transmitted in droplets created by coughing and sneezing.  According to the ASPCA, because this is a newly emerging disease, there is no natural or vaccine-induced immunity.  Thus, although dogs housed in close quarters with a lot of other dogs are the most vulnerable, all dogs are susceptible.

The study is funded by the Morris Animal Foundation and will be conducted by Dr. Miranda Spindel, ASPCA Director of Veterinary Outreach, and Dr. Gabriele Landolt of Colorado State University’s Department of Clinical Sciences.