Around The Fireplug
(Fun and Educational Information)

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   Why We Love Dogs!

They Are Good To Their Friends


They Make Us Laugh
 

They Teach Us To Relax


They Comfort Us In Times of Need

Why We Love Cats!

They Know How to Relax

They Are Mysterious

They Make Us Laugh


They Have An Insatiable Interest In Life

They Know How To Put Us In Our Place

Training Treat Recipe
Hot dog training treats
Purchase a package of inexpensive hot dogs.  Cut hot dogs crosswise into 1/2 inch (or slightly less) slices.  Place hot dogs on a microwave-proof plate and dust with garlic powder.  Microwave at 2/3rds power (on my microwave that is level 6) for 20 minutes.  Rotate the plate every 10 minutes and watch carefully that they dog not start to burn.  Check to see if most of the moisture has been evaporated.  They will still have some moisture from the fats in the hot dog but that should reabsorb within 5 minutes after you remove them from the microwave.  Cool on a paper towel and store in a zip lock.

NOTE:  Microwaves vary in power so you may have to cook them a little more or little less depending upon the power level of your microwave oven.

Homemade Organic Dog Biscuit Recipes
The dogs love these and they have no chemical additives.  Strangely they seem to like the apple-cinnamon biscuits the best.

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Canine Bakeries

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As warm weather approaches we begin to think of protecting our pets from
the summer parasites.  This year protection from fleas, ticks and internal parasites
is even more important than usual because parasite-borne diseases such as Rocky
Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme's disease have that were once limited to the coastal areas have begun to appear in the Midwest.  The bite of Infected ticks can transmit these diseases to our pets jeopardizing their health and well-being.

There are many new preventatives on the market.  We discuss the "pros" and "cons" of each so that you can make an educated decision about the type of treatment that is appropriate for your pet.

Top Choices For Protection Against Fleas & Ticks

Topical Flea & Tick Treatments

EDT # 1 Choice - PROTICALL®

Its active ingredient, Fipronol, kills 96% of fleas within two hours of application and 100% within 24 hours. The PLUS in this new formula stands for a new insect-growth inhibitor called Methoprene, which wipes out all stages of fleas and ticks, rather than just the adult pests. In theory, Frontline Plus® furthers flea and tick prevention by killing all eggs, larvae, and pupae. Unfortunately, due to its potency, it cannot be used on dogs weighing less than 11 lbs. It is also not available for use on cats.  Unlike Proticall, Frontline requires 24-48 hours to kill ticks, therefore it does not effectively protect dogs against Lyme's disease.  If your dog will be traveling in endemic areas for Lyme's disease (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, the forested areas of the East Coast, and the Southern states) Proticall would be a better choice for flea and tick protection.  Frontline is not water soluble and will not wash off.  Frontline kills fleas and ticks effectively. Tick control lasts for 2 weeks to a month. The product should only be applied on a monthly basis but can be used in conjunction with other products for tick control if necessary. It works very well for flea control, so if that is also a problem it may be a good first choice. This medication DOES NOT protect against heartworm disease therefore, your dog will need to take an oral heartworm preventative in addition to Frontline.

Note: Like most topicals, ProTICall can cause itching at the site the product is applied often enough to be a minor concern with its use.

FLEA & TICK DIPS/BATHS

Dips/baths do have their place in the treatment regime in certain cases. They’re very effective as a one-time, large-scale attack on a heavy flea or tick infestation, and, in cases where the animal or its owner have a serious flea allergy, these dips can provide some instant relief. However, they are not optimal for everyday prevention purposes because they are difficult to apply.”

FLEA-ONLY TREATMENTS

ADVANTAGE®
Still a popular product, Advantage® (BAYER) has been safely eliminating fleas
since 1996.

Pros:

• Very convenient topical application

• One application should last one month

• Lowest price of all the products offering residual activity

• Excellent safety profile

Cons:

• Some people feel topical application is messy. The oily spot behind the neck will be present for hours, until it fully spreads out over the entire body Will wash off with bathing or swimming

• Because this is a single agent insecticide, (kills fleas only)  it should be combined with some kind of  flea sterilizer to prevent an Advantage resistant flea population

• No activity against other parasites.

FLEA COLLARS

Despite their popularity among pet owners, flea collars may not offer the safest solution to your animal’s infestation problem. Flea collars can strangle cats if they become caught on a branch or other object; therefore, some brands are now offering breakaway features to prevent strangulation. However, these preventive devices also pose a threat to infants, who can poison themselves by chewing on the collar.  Flea collars are less effective at killing fleas than topical treatments. 

Preventic® collars are effective against tick infestation. They have the drawback of being extremely toxic if ingested. This sounds like it wouldn't be a problem but dogs will eat these collars right off of another dog, for some reason. They are not recommended for multi-dog households, especially if one of the dogs is prone to playing with the other dog's collar or if one of the dogs chews things up frequently. They seem to last around 6 to 8 weeks.

ORAL MEDICATIONS

PROGRAM®

Program (active ingredient Lufenuron) was the first of the next generation flea products. Lufenuron is given orally (one dose which must be given with food monthly) and after that any flea that bites the dog or cat is rendered sterile (but not dead). The flea dirt produced by these fleas that normally feeds the larval fleas is rendered toxic. The life cycle of fleas could be broken in two new places, a concept that changed the face of flea control. Program is now available as an injectable product given every 6 months for cats only.  Oral medications such as Program® are generally very effective at preventing flea infestations.   They are highly recommended for people or animals with a severe flea allergy. Program® is available as a monthly pill for dogs, and as either an in- food liquid or a six-month injectable treatment for cats. While it doesn’t kill fleas on the spot (they die on their own within two to three weeks), it effectively exterminates them by sterilizing them and preventing them from reproducing. This flea medication has been proven safe for kittens, puppies, and even pregnant animals, and should be administered every month for optimum effectiveness.

• Not toxic to mammals at any dose
• Excellent prevention and excellent in combination with topical products to prevent the development of insecticide resistant fleas
• Oral (or injected) administration means no messy oils on the coat

• Does not kill fleas (the manufacturer recommends the use of their companion product Capstar to kill fleas found on the pet)
• Does not kill ticks (the manufacturer recommends the use of a tick collar to kill ticks found on the pet)
• Does not protect against Lyme's disease
• Without another product, immediate results will not be seen

CAPSTAR®
Capstar is the newest weapon against fleas and its use is somewhat different than the other products. Unlike the others, this product is not meant to provide a long-lasting residual effect. Instead, it is meant to be quickly in and out of the pet’s system, providing the fastest route to a zero flea state.

• Begins killing fleas within 30 minutes of oral administration
• Excellent safety profile (can be used in any dog or cat weighing over 2 pounds)
• Given as a pill, so there is no messy oily spot on the back of the neck

• No residual flea control; this product is meant to clear a unique infestation. It can be used daily, but such use would be substantially less convenient and more expensive than the topical products
• Does not kill ticks (the manufacturer recommends the use of a tick collar to kill ticks found on the pet)
• Does not protect against Lyme's disease
• Some people are not comfortable with internal flea control

SENTINEL®
This product combines Lufenuron, the active ingredient of Program, with the broad spectrum parasite control of Interceptor (milbemycin oxime). The resulting product,
which is given orally once a month with food, not only sterilizes fleas but also controls hookworms, whipworms, roundworms and prevents heartworm infection.

Pros:

• Excellent safety profile

• Broad spectrum parasite control

• Oral administration means no messy oils on the coat

Cons:

• Does not kill fleas (the manufacturer recommends the use of their companion product Capstar to kill fleas found on the pet)

• Does not kill ticks (the manufacturer recommends the use of a tick collar to kill ticks found on the pet)

• Does not protect against Lyme's disease

• Without another product, immediate results will not be seen

ENVIRONMENTAL FLEA TREATMENTS
Along with oral flea medications, veterinarians also recommend environmental treatments in cases of severe home infestation, or for people or animals with a serious flea allergy. Often available as “foggers” or sprays, these treatments help prevent flea problems within the home. The sprays function as both adulticides (i.e., they kill adult fleas) and Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) that kill all other stages of fleas.

Unfortunately, these treatments are not entirely safe for humans. The popularity of environmental sprays is declining with good reason: the “foggers” contain toxic chemicals, and must therefore be used with great care. The chemicals in these sprays are especially harmful to the growing tissue of children and adolescents.  Even sprays containing Permethrin, a low-toxicity botanical flea-killer, can lead to allergic reactions and even systemic problems. Remember to follow label directions carefully, and limit
spray use as much as possible.  

Flea-only medications are extremely useful in the event of a heavy infestation or a serious flea allergy.  However, apart from these situations, two-in-one treatments such as Proticall® and Frontline® are the preferred treatments.  

The importance of tick control

Now that cases of Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis are on the rise,
pet owners need to become cognizant of the preventive measures
available to them.  If not treated routinely, household pets can
contribute significantly to the spread of these dangerous tick-borne
diseases among humans.  Due to their low toxicity, easy application, and dual
efficacy, topical treatments have become vital weapons in the arsenal of pest
control.  

Because Lyme ticks are much smaller that wood ticks and brown
dog ticks they are much harder to detect  in your dog's coat 

How Lyme Disease is Transmitted

Lyme Disease is the result of a bacterial organism transmitted by ticks.  Not all ticks carry the bacteria responsible for Lyme, but because of the high incidence of Lyme Disease in Wisconsin, Southern Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota, a cautious approach to all ticks is probably wise.

As the Lyme carrying tick attaches to you or your dog, the Lyme organism migrates from the intestinal tract of the tick to the mouth parts of the tick ... and then into you or your dog. It's believed that this process of passing the disease MAY take more than 12 hours.  The primary transmission of the disease is from the bite of an adult tick; young nymph ticks can also transmit the disease.

No evidence supports transmission from person to person or from dog to dog.  Once the tick begins to feed on a host it continues to feed until satisfied and then it falls off. That's why it's believed to be unlikely that any tick brought into the house on your dog will bite YOU after having bitten your dog.

Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease

In Humans - Common symptoms of the disease can include aches, joint pain, fever, loss of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, and perhaps a bulls-eye rash at the site of the bite.  With antibiotics, treatment at the early stages is highly successful.  However, long term and serious complications CAN result from undiagnosed and untreated Lyme Disease, including degenerative arthritis, neurological dysfunction and cardiac problems.

In Dogs  - The most common signs of Lyme Disease in dogs
are the same as the most common signs in humans:  joint pain, fever, loss of appetite, and swollen lymph nodes. Lameness is common.  Dogs rarely get the bulls-eye rash common in some people.  With antibiotic treatment, most dogs recover completely. 

General Precautions

 From April - November, avoid areas in which deer ticks are abundant; if you can't avoid those areas, wear protective clothing such as long pants tucked into socks; consider the use of tick repellents being sure to follow label directions on which products are safe to use on clothing and which may be used on the skin; and most important: check yourself, your children and your pets daily for ticks. 

Products for Your Pet
Daily combing with a flea comb (which will help you find ticks that may be feeding on your dog) is without question  your best defense.  There are also monthly topicals for your dog that will kill a tick that has bitten your dog.   Ask your veterinarian which tick prevention product may be right for your dog. 

If You Find a Tick or Suspect You Have Been Bitten
Ticks are best removed by grasping gently with tweezers as close to the skin as possible, then gently pulling backward. DO NOT apply Vaseline, nail polish, etc., to the tick prior to removal. Save suspicious ticks for identification in a jar or bag with a blade of grass.

If you know or suspect you have been bitten by a tick, call your doctor.  In
particular, pregnant or nursing women should seek PROMPT medical attention if they even suspect they've been bitten.

To Vaccinate or Not To Vaccinate
In Humans -
The best advice is always to consult with your personal physician and decide whether vaccination is right for you.  As a guideline, follow the general recommendations of the CDC as of June, 1999:

In Dogs 
This is a controversial subject, with no clear consensus of opinion. Those who recommend using the vaccine point out that it is largely safe and effective.  Those who recommend against the vaccine argue that it's unwarranted because  adverse reactions to the  vaccination have been reported, including the development of Lyme Disease itself.   Effectiveness of the vaccine is also in question with estimates between 50% to 85% successful immunization.  Additionally, an April/93 Cornell University Newsletter item documented a study of dogs with a clear history and diagnosis of Lymes. Through testing they proved that more than half had Lyme disease because of the vaccine used, and almost a third had Lymes, despite the vaccine.  In past years, many vets recommended against vaccination  because a blood test for Lyme's in vaccinated dogs resulted in false positives. However, improved blood tests now are more accurate in determining if your dog was exposed to the disease or the positive findings were a result of the vaccination.  All agree, however, that the best line of defense against Lyme's disease is preventing the Lyme's tick from attaching to your dog for more than 12 hours.  Because topical flea and tick medications kill the tick before the 12 hour transmission time has elapsed, these medications appear to provide the best protection against Lyme's disease.   Consult with your veterinarian and decide for yourself whether the vaccine may be right for your dog.

The American Veterinary Medical Association
Says We Are Over-Vaccinating Our Pets!

Vaccinations...Too Many, Too Often?

    Vaccinations, vaccinations, vaccinations.  Dog and cat owners have been told by veterinarians and pet health care providers for years that annual vaccinations for Rabies, Distemper, Parvovirus, Feline Leukemia and on and on...are required yearly.  Annual vaccinations, also called annual boosters, have certainly played a major role in disease prevention in dogs and cats. Nevertheless, the question recently on the minds of dog and cat owners has been... Do these vaccines have to be given every year?  And a
second and equally important questions is... are we vaccinating dogs and cats too much?  Are we actually causing harm by over-vaccinating our pets?

    New vaccination protocols have been debated over the past several years.  Now veterinarians have come to agreement on the fact that the newest research reveals that we have been over-vaccinating our pets.  This over-vaccination has resulted in some serious side effects including atuo-immune disease, cancerous tumors at the site of injection and a general overloading of the dog and cats immune system which may have serious health effects over time.  Therefore new suggested vaccination protocols have been issued.  The suggestions include  "recommended" and "not recommended" vaccinations as well as suggested vaccination schedules which range from once every three years to once every 15 years.  See the new protocols for dogs and cats on the AVMA website at http://www.avma.org/vafstf/default.asp ,  Discuss this issue with your veterinarian to establish a appropriate vaccination regime for your pets.

Many holistic veterinarians have long been wary of the quantity, timing, and types of vaccines, including their efficacy and the required frequency. There have been entire articles and chapters of books devoted to "vaccinosis". But until the problem was indisputably obvious, the heavy hitters in veterinary medicine were not going to suggest
new guidelines.  However, when more than a few feline pets started developing cancer right at the site of the vaccine injection (how much more obvious could it be?), the problem could no longer be ignored.  "The Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force (VAFSTF) was formed in November 1996 in response to the increased incidence of soft tissue sarcomas occurring at vaccination sites."  For more information please consult the AVMA web site at http://www.avma.org/vafstf/default.asp