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Upcoming Events
Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.-- in recognition
of National Train Your Dog Month, Free DVD Viewings:
Jan. 13 & 20--Language of Dogs I & II
Jan. 27--Dogs Decoded
Feb. 3--Canine Play
Feb. 10--Cognitive Dysfunction in Dogs
presented by Jamie Bozzi, certified dog trainer and behavior consultant.
RSVP to Jamie@smrtdog.com (seating is limited, no dogs please) at the Dog Beach Dog Wash training room, 4933 Voltaire St., Ocean Beach
www.smrtdog.com
Sat., Jan. 14, 2012, 9 to 11 a.m.--Dog Beach Cleanup with Friends of Dog Beach, at the pawprint entry to Dog Beach. Bags & gloves, plus toys & treats will be provided for you and your friendly dogs
Sun., Jan. 15, 2012, 12:30-1:30 p.m.--3rd Annual Old Town's Blessing of the Animals, at the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, with pet fair, adoptions and costume contest until 3 p.m.
http://www.sandiego.org/event/Visitors/12743
Sun., Jan. 22, 2012, 1:30 p.m. to midnight--Paws for Poker, a charity poker tournament featuring Annie Duke to benefit the San Diego Humane Society, at Harrah's Rincon Casino and Resort, in Valley Center. Buy-ins begin at $210, observers $30
www.sdhumane.org
Sun., Feb. 12, 2012
, 7 a.m.-- Helen Woodward Animal Center's 3rd Annual Puppy Love 5K Run/Walk, and the Wagging Wellness Vendor Village, on the 101 in Solana Beach
PuppyLoveRun
Sat., Feb. 18, 2012,
9 a.m. registration, walk begins at 10 a.m.--
K9 Cancer Walk
sponsored by the Morris Animal Foundation, at Walnut Grove Park,
1950 Sycamore Dr., San Marcos
MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
Sun., March 11, 2012, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.-- 17th Annual Ugly Dog Contest by
the Del Mar Kiwanis Club to benefit the Rancho Coastal Humane Society Safehouse Program & Helen
Woodward Therapeutic Riding Program, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Activity Center, off Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar
http://uglydogcontest.eventbrite.com/
Sun., March 25, 2012, 8 a.m.-12
noon-- Paws in the Park 2012 to benefit the Escondido Humane
Society, at Kit Carson Park, 3333
Bear Valley Pkwy, Escondido
http://www.escondidohumanesociety.org/ehs_003.htm
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New Vaccine Guidelines for Dogs
For past generations of dogs, protecting your pet's health called for annual trips to the vet clinic for vaccination shots of at least six different vaccines.
Last fall, the standards for vaccinations were revised by a highly respected task force of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). You can read the complete report at 2011 AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines
The new guidelines recommend giving puppies a series of three core vaccines (distemper, parvovirus and adenovirus/hepatitis) at 8, 12 and 16 weeks, rabies at 4 to 6 months, boosters of these core vaccines 1 year later, and then every 3 years thereafter.
Optional or noncore vaccines include: measles, parainfluenza, coronavirus, leptospirosis, bordetella, Lyme disease, canine influenza, and Western Diamondback rattlesnake vaccine.
You should discuss the pros & cons of these vaccines with your veterinarian, based on your pet's age, size, overall health, and lifestyle (where you travel, exposure to other animals and cost). Many pet owners now prefer antibody titer testing (blood testing) before deciding to have their pets receive booster shots.
It is important to keep a copy of your dog's vaccine records, especially if you will be traveling out-of-state, or expect to board your pet at a kennel or day care facility.
Dr. Karen Becker, a Chicago-area integrative veterinarian, has some thoughtful observations on the new vaccine guidelines at "Good News About the Latest Canine Vaccination Guidelines" by Dr. Becker.
She includes links to her 4-part You Tube video discussions on the guidelines with Dr. Ronald Schultz, a Univ. of Wisconsin veterinarian whose research on vaccines is widely referenced in the AAHA report.
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Why We Prefer to Dremel Dog Nails
When you hear your dogs' nails clicking on your wood or tile floors, it's time to get them trimmed. Most dogs need their nails trimmed every six weeks or so. If they run or walk on concrete, they may wear down the nails on their back feet by pushing off, but not the front feet nails or the dew claws.
Some pet owners use scissor or guillotine nail clippers, but these must be very sharp (and replaced every couple years) or they squeeze the nail plate and quick (blood vessel and nerves) and can be very painful for the dog. If you cut the quick, the nail will bleed. You should apply cold pressure or styptic powder to the nail to stop the bleeding.
To avoid these problems, and ensure the safety and comfort of the dog and the person trimming the nails, at Dog Beach Dog Wash we  prefer using a Dremel (rotating grinding) tool with a coarse sandpaper band.
With the Dremel the trimmer can see the quick, even on black nails, and stop before it's touched. The nails can be trimmed shorter, and rounded smoother, and this method doesn't hurt the dog (even though some dogs dislike the noise of the machine).
For added comfort we can put the dog in a harness and lift him/her in the air, where the animal's weight is off the floor. If the noise bothers your pet, we have Happy Hoodie ear muffs available to blunt the sound.
To help your pet get used to regular nail trimming, we recommend you frequently touch and play with your dog's paws while feeding him or her yummy treats.
To further help your dog get used to nail trimming, we encourage you to help desensitize your pet by stopping at the Dog Wash often and just walking into the nail room (we'll provide treats), then walking in and turning on the Dremel (we'll provide treats), and then walking in and trimming one nail or one paw (we'll provide treats). Eventually they may come to enjoy it.
As an incentive in January, we have a 20% Off Coupon below for Nail Trims at Dog Beach Dog Wash.
This is your chance to eliminate that annoying click-click-click-click on your floors, and make it more comfortable for your dog to walk and run on any surface.
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| Happy New Year!
Jane & Mindy
(with Chipper, Juno & Zydeco)
Dog Beach Dog Wash
"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."
- Roger Caras
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