It's tick season in most of Florida or other warm climates, how to deal with these beasts!

     Well for the Floridians reading this or other people in warmer climates, it's tick season.  It seems odd to me that we may fight fleas all summer, but although people tell me ticks are out in the summer,  I have never found a tick on one of my dogs or cats until it starts to become cool- always November.
      Since this is my blog and based on my experience, don't take it as vet advice.  This is my advice based on 40 years of working with and around dogs almost constantly.  So people just FREAK OUT OVER TICKS!! Yes, there is some merit to being not real happy when you find a tick on your cat or dog or even yourself.  And there are so many " ways to remove a tick safely" that it's almost funny.  There are plastic tick removers in pet stores now, so you don't have to touch the tick itself.  There are wives tales galore about how to kill and tick and make it let go. They range from putting Vaseline or rubbing alcohol on the tick to nail polish remover or putting a lit match to the tick!! These methods are more likely to make the tick regurgitate, spreading even more of its toxins into the body of your animal or you! I've removed hundreds or ticks and I use two methods.  One is to grasp the tick as close to the head as you an and pull straight out (yes with your bare hands- GASP),  The other way is to use a pair of tweezers and use the same method.  Don't twist or grab the tick where it's grey body is or you won't get the whole tick.

     If you are afraid of lyme disease or live in an area where ticks spread Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, keep the tick in a container and take it to your vet who can identify the species and either reassure you or put your animal on antibiotics. Now, here is something I have found interesting over the years.  Cats almost ALWAYS get ticks in two places- in the fur around their head and neck, and (sorry but you need to know this) on the cat's anus.  I've wondered and today it came to me why these make good places for ticks to go on a cat.  They are places a cat cannot reach with it's mouth to chew the tick away which is what the cat would do if it was on their body.  So each day in the fall, I pet my cats' heads and necks carefully and when they turn around I look at their heinies.  I will never forget the time one of my cats had five or six cats on her bum and my dear mother was here and she said, " Honey, I'm no wimp and that's miserable for Bella, so you get the tweezers, I'll hold and you get them off this poor baby."  Bella was hard to hold but she was tick free in the end. (no pun intended).
     Dogs and horses tend to get ticks in different places than cats.  Dogs tend to get them in folds of skin, like in the armpits or on their belly but a lot of the time they will be on the dog's face or body- ears as seen above are a favorite hideout for ticks, again, most of them are in places where the dog wouldn't be able to get them off themselves.  Horses- ticks go for the soft skin between the horses hind legs.  I once picked 53 ticks off of a gelding's scrotum and stomach after he was in an area that obviously was loaded with ticks.  This was not my horse, but a dear friend's and we counted as she took ticks off the other horse and between the two of us we got 80 something ticks.  WITH OUR BARE HANDS TOO! Didn't freak me out one bit, I was feeling too sorry for the horse.  Tick bites swell and itch worse than just about anything for an animal or a person.  It's truly miserable for animals.
     Ticks often leave a large swollen and hard bump on the skin where they bit the animal.  It feels like a knot under the skin and often has a scab around it.  This is an allergic reaction to the tick bite.  Some animals have this reaction and others don't. This lump should reduce in size as time goes by.  Cleaning it with Betadine Cleanser and applying antibiotic ointment may help but that's really if you are worried.  If the bump does not get smaller or it feels hot to the touch or the skin around it feels hot, take your animal to the vet, as the tick may have spread an infection into the animal's body and the pet will need antibiotics by mouth. Here is a mild example of the lumps or reddened areas left after the tick has been removed. You can actually see the hole where the  tick was attached.  There are so many products made to deter ticks and kill them before they become imbedded in your dog's skin for a long period of time. INVEST IN THESE PRODUCTS!!! There are some homemade sprays you can use on your dog or cat but you must spray them every single day and make sure you cover all the areas the ticks can burrow into.  The toxins in the products sold at pet stores are not as dangerous to your dog as the infections and even death that your dog or cat or horse can experience from a bad tick bite. Flush all ticks down the toilet and wash your hands (obviously) after removing the tick from your animals. And as always, if you are worried or concerned or scared to remove the tick, go see your vet.

   

Great dog training books new and old!!!

People always are looking for the newest, fastest, best, and most effortless ways to have a good dog.  Guess what? It cannot be found, because having a good dog is a time consuming activity and that hasn't changed since the beginning of dog training. 
     When I was a young girl, my mom bought me a book called  No Bad Dogs by Barbara Woodhouse.  She also had a show on PBS. She was a British wonder with dogs.  She was right up my alley because she didn't believe in hitting dogs or tying them up or doing anything to them that she wouldn't want done to her!! If you want to smile and learn how to train your dog too, get her videos from Amazon or whoever you can.
     Another amazing group of men that have been around for a very long time is the Monks of New Skete.  They raise German Shepherds in particular, and believe in compassion as did Barbara Woodhouse.  They have written several excellent books.  Their most famous is " How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend".  They have also written a newer book about raising puppies as you can see above.
    Of course, I would be remiss to not mention Cesar Milan, but as the  quote goes, " There is nothing new under the sun." This is so so true.

Cesar himself would tell you that his amazing ability is from years of watching his father's farm dogs in Mexico and observing their pack behavior. I think if I could ask him a question, it would be this one and I am certain of how he would answer.  WHY? Because I have the same kind of innate knowledge of dog behavior without any fancy training, but because I was surrounded by dogs my entire life and still am. " How do you know what to do with these dogs and their problems?" " It's in my gut, it's an inner knowing, and it also takes some trial and error." Someone who has been around dogs their entire lives, horses as well, I can tell you that there is a "knowing" in your mind and soul that cannot be explained from a book.  It's being able to "read" a dog's face, tail, ears, eyes, and know what is going on in that dog's mind at that moment.  It is the same with horses- I am rarely surprised by any behavior of any dog or horse IF I AM WATCHING THEM CAREFULLY AND BEING QUIET.  Now, I have been nudged on the butt by one of my miniature horses but I knew it was coming b/c I had the feed bucket.  I am not a seer into the future, but the only time I have been bitten was by my own dog,and it was my fault, as I was grooming him while he was lying on his side and I fell on him and he was asleep.  He snapped at whatever fell on him and well he should.  I know when a dog is not safe to go near, bc I watch and am SILENT.   Try it.  Watch your dogs or cats or animals silently and see if you can predict what they might do. Most animals want you to watch them and communicate with them and be close to them.  Want proof? Last night I had a chihuahua under the covers at my hip, a cat on my left leg, and a green cheek conure under my chin.  We were all taking a nap together and everyone knew where everyone else was and we all napped in peace.  It is how life with our animals is supposed to be and these authors and experts are a good place to start if you need some harmony at your house!!!

It never gets easier

I had to put one of our last Italian Greyhounds to sleep last week. His name was Houston and he was one of my angel babies. He was given to us by a breeder who drove him here from Houston. he had a weird genetic "thing" that made him have a bendy tail which is not allowed in the show ring. His breeder wanted to find a good home for him and so she drove her and stayed for two days so she could see our place and make sure it was suitable for him. (GOOD FOR HER!!)

Houston at first was a very scared dog- afraid especially of new people or dogs. But when he finally got comfortable (after a few years if you can believe it) he was amazing. He was affectionate and always gently put his paws on your thighs when you were standing up to say hello. He was never sick and just an easy sweet dog. IGs often develop something called hemangiomas on their skin. Basically they are skin cancers and look like blood blisters. IGs in Florida and whippets are very prone to them. You have them removed before they get bigger than a dime. With all of our dogs, we removed and removed and after a while they began to pop up so fast we couldn't keep up. When that happens, it means that the cancer is metasticizing and has gone to the internal organs. Almost all of our IGs have died from this cancer which is called hemangiosarcoma when it is internal. When I say they have all died, let me say that I never let them suffer and die from this awful stuff. I had them all put to sleep in my arms when it became clear they were beginning to suffer. They lose their appetite and don't want to do anything and just get "sad" looking. So Houston was covered (we had removed the hemangiomas for years but it had gotten to the out of control stage) and began to have trouble breathing and I knew what was going on. Some euthanasias are hard and I cry but I feel a sense of peace, especially with my really old dogs or dogs that are in pain. Putting other dogs to sleep, younger dogs or dogs that seem to have a "senseless disease" are absolutely gut wrenching. Houston was one of these. I cried until I threw up.

Pharaoh, our very first IG

      I know for myself that I do believe our animals meet us in Heaven.  So that was one of the only things that made his passing any easier for me. This was an old post that I found and now it is January of 2014. One month ago we lost our last Iggie, Tigger.  This is the first time in 17 years we have not had an Italian Greyhound in this house and it is a bitter pill to swallow.  But I know I will see them all one day again and I am so grateful that God did not allow any of my dogs to suffer a painful or prolonged death. I love you all my little Iggies- and I will see you when I meet you at the Rainbow Bridge. These are pictures of some of our most beloved Iggies. 

Patches

Rahtu

Janie

Gizmo and the frog

 I tell people that Pharaoh's Haven is special b/c our animals all get along in an unreal way.  Dogs love the cats and the cats love the dogs and the horses love the cats etc.  Well the other day we hit an all time new.  Julianna was walking Gizmo and she noticed something on his back.   It was a tiny green tree frog.  He looked cold and dehydrated so she thought, " I'll just let him stay there if it doesn't bother Gizmo, as he often allows one of our cats to lie on him and clean his ears." Well the frog sat there.  When Gizmo trotted, the little frog held on for dear life!!! Julianna finally decided that the little frog might be warm but also might get hurt if he fell off or if Gizmo bit at him.  So she tenderly removed him and put him in a sunny spot in the pasture.  I just cannot imagine how that tiny frog got there to begin with.  The things God does here never cease to amaze me. 

Your dog and cat don't need so many shots every year!!!! READ THIS!!!!

Because we are a former rescue, we know a lot of tricks to help save money with our animals. After years of reading on rescue forums and the Internet, I have learned some things that might shock you. First of all, let me say, I am not discouraging anyone from taking their animals to a vet. They do need to be looked over once a year and if your pet is sick or just " down in the chops", it's better to be safe than sorry and NEVER WAIT UNTIL THE WEEKEND to take your dog in. Emergency vets charge you $150-$200 just to SEE you, and then the costs go up from there. Better to take your pet in on a Friday and have peace of mind than to put if off and wind up with a strange vet that you don't know and a hefty vet bill.

I learned years ago that many of the shots that are recommended by some vets (not all) are absolutely unnecessary. My vets do not recommend shots that are not needed, just in case you are wondering- :) Every dog needs to be inoculated against rabies b/c it is a shot required by LAW and it is for the protection of your dog and other animals and people. This is a cheap injection but MUST be given by a vet. There are tri- annual rabies shots now, so this doesn't have to be an annual shot for your dog. Every three years, get your dog his rabies shot- not too hard. The American Veterinary School Association recently made some changes on what they are teaching their vet students about shots. They recommend that if a dog has had ALL OF ITS PUPPY SHOTS in the first year of life, there are several shots that need not be given again unless the dog is in a " high risk" category. Dr. Jean Dodd's vaccine protocols are listed on the link below. This is the protocol that is now followed by most vets and all vet schools. When you read it, you will be shocked to see that your dog or cat has probably been over vaccinated. http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/DODDS-CHG-VACC-PROTOCOLS.HTM

The vets and vets schools that helped produce this protocol b/c of an increase in vaccinosis. Basically vaccinosis is a broad term used to describe any auto immune response that a cat or dog has as a result of a vaccine. We are seeing more dogs with bizarre autoimmune diseases now as a result of over vaccinating. We had an Italian Greyhound who died a slow painful death from pemphigus, which is an auto immune disease caused by over vaccination. She had been from home to home for six years and had been given every shot known to man every year of her life. After she came here, she got nothing except her rabies vaccine. It was too late and she acquired pemphigus a few years after coming to us. This was when I started really digging for information about vaccinosis.

I am amazed at how people go to their vet and just have all these shots given to their animals when their pets NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE OR THE YARD!!!! These pets are low risk and are not exposed to distemper, parvo, etc. So why vaccinate against them, because the vaccines are usually good for 7-8 years. Think of the money you will save the the sad illnesses you will spare your babies. Vets make the majority of their income from shots and office visits, not surgeries and emergencies. Routine vaccines and labs are their bread and butter. I do not want us to rob our vets at all, but if you vets are honest, they will know about these new protocols and will NOT PRESSURE YOU TO GET UNNECESSARY SHOTS for your animal. Save that money and have your dog's teeth cleaned every two years instead- it's expensive and necessary b/c many heart and kidney diseases start with that stinky dog breath. It's not just stinky, it's a mouth filled with bacteria that can travel and wreak havoc with our pets' internal organs- and no, it's not a SCAM to get your dog's teeth cleaned- their gums get red and sore and as they age, their teeth get loose and need to be removed.

I love my vets. They adopted these new protocols ages ago and if I ever questioned a vaccine, they would tell me why they thought our dog or cat needed it or didn't. I will say that I am not a big fan of public dog parks- it is the equivalent of letting your toddler play in the McDonald's balls with unvaccinated sick kids who are pooping everywhere. YUCK!!! If you frequent dog parks or dog shows with your dogs, GET THE SHOTS!!!!!! My dogs live here at our own dog park so they need minimal vaccines but always have their teeth cleaned. Blood work? Well, if you want to know what your old dog is probably dying from, do it. If you are like us, and wouldn't do chemotherapy for a 12 year old dog, why know he has cancer? It will become apparent soon enough. Labs can be useful for diabetes and kidney issues, as well as urine tests, which are hard to do at home. :) (They get pee shy with us.)

I hope that this helps some of you who are struggling with money and trying to keep costs down but are frightened that you are harming your dog or cat by not getting certain vaccines. Read the guidelines and talk to to your vet. OH, by the way, any "vet" that has to keep your dog all day for a routine exam and vaccines is not a place I would take my dog to. One I can tell you to steer clear of is B- field. I won't spell it out, they are run by Pet Smart. There is no reason for a dog to be kept for eight hours for a couple of shots and a nail trim- COME ON!!!!

If you have any questions, feel free to comment and I'll comment back- you are FREE FROM CONDEMNATION about annual vaccines, but for goodness sake, get those green teeth cleaned!!! By the way, this is NOT one of my animals!!! :)