Shih Tzu Palace Puppies
December 1st, 2007 Edition |
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Greetings!
Well, Thanksgiving is over and now we have Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kawanzaa to get ready for. Whichever you celebrate, there are precautions and tips for this holiday season that should not be ignored.
The puppies are doing fine, and four already have future homes. Please go to the web site to see the latest pictures. Gizmo is being a great baby-sitter, and, of course, the moms are being super little mommies.
Gizmo showed some signs of eye distress over Thanksgiving, so he was taken into the vet on the next day. He has what is known as Distichiasis. I have included an article about that eye condition as it is important.
Because there is so much information about the holidays, I have decided that for this month, I will be sending a newsletter once a week. The next issue will come out on December 8th. I had some previous requests for more frequent newsletters, so let's see how this does.
Until then, ENJOY! |
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Keeping Your Dog Safe During the Winter Holidays |
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Holiday Pet Safety |
 Christmas, New Year's, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa - and all the celebrations they entail pose safety problems for pets. Aside from the over excitement and confusion caused by too many guests, there are purely physical problems: A dog can singe a tail on a candle or can swallow tinsel and wind up with an intestinal blockage that may need surgery to repair.
Here's how to keep a pet safe during this holiday season:
The Tree
The natural smell of a Christmas tree attracts pets. But remember that needles (even artificial ones) are indigestible. So, keep your pet away from the tree (using a baby gate in the doorway or low lattice fencing around the tree itself) and secure it so he can't knock it over.
Artificial trees pose their own hazards. Small pieces of plastic or aluminum can break off and be swallowed, causing intestinal blockage or irritation to the mouth.
Don't use preservatives in the stand water. They can be toxic if consumed by a thirsty pet. Carefully cover the top of the stand with a tree skirt so your pet can't get to it.
Lights can get very hot - remove them from the lower branches of the tree so they won't burn a dog.
Tinsel is dangerous. Its sharp edges can cause cuts in the mouth. If a pet swallows it, it can block intestines, causing decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, listlessness and weight loss. Treatment usually involves surgery.
Don't use edible ornaments or fragile, easily breakable glass decorations to trim the tree. Your pet may knock over the tree trying to get to them and your dog may decide they're toys and cut himself trying to play with them.
Don't use angel hair. It's made of spun glass and can cause irritation on contact.
Make sure electrical cords are out of reach, taped firmly to walls or floors. Chewing on wires may cause burns or pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), which can be fatal.
Don't use wire ornament hooks that can easily snag an ear or a tail, or, if swallowed, can lodge in the throat or intestines. Instead, fashion loops of yarn, ribbons or light weight twine. And be careful not to leave any of that lying around.
The Gifts
Check out the "toys" your pet or kids receive as gifts. A pet can swallow small parts; plastic items can be easily broken and swallowed, too.
Gift wrappings can be dangerous to a pet's health: String and ribbon can cause obstruction of the small bowel if swallowed.
Before throwing away large boxes or cartons, check the insides to make sure a puppy hasn't curled up inside.
The Food
Alcohol and chocolate are toxic - keep drinks and sweets out of a pet's reach. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, and even a single ounce of pure chocolate can be lethal to a small dog. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolate are most dangerous. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity and seizures.
Turkey bones left in an accessible place are almost irresistible to pets, but they can lodge in an animal's throat or block the intestinal tract. Remove leftovers from the table and don't leave garbage where animals can get to it.
Indoor Hazards
Certain plants are a menace to dogs: Poinsettias irritate the stomach and eyes. Berries of the Jerusalem cherry are toxic, and cause pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Holly and mistletoe, amaryllis, chrysanthemum, rhododendron and winter broom as well as Christmas berry, cherry, pepper and rose can all cause problems to pets that ingest them. Note: Liquid potpourri can cause terrible burns in an animal's mouth should it be ingested.
Space heaters, wood-burning stoves and fireplaces can cause burns if animals get too close.
Candles are a great attraction for pets, but don't leave them alone in a room with a menorah or candelabra blazing-the swish of a tail can be disastrous.
Outdoor Hazards
Even a small amount of antifreeze is extremely toxic. It has a sweet taste that attracts animals, but it can cause permanent kidney damage or death. The lethal dose is 1 teaspoon per 2 pounds of body weight. Don't let animals drink from puddles, and make sure to clean paws when a pet comes in from the outdoors.
Don't leave your dog alone in the car while you do last-minute shopping or errands. Carbon monoxide from an engine left running is dangerous.
Rock salt can irritate a pet's footpads. Make sure you rinse and dry them carefully. To soften them and prevent cracking, smear them with a small amount of petroleum jelly.
Legal Disclaimer
If your pet is showing any signs of distress or you suspect your pet is seriously ill, CONTACT YOUR VETERINARIAN immediately. |
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DISTICHIASIS IN SHIH TZU |
| Eye Health
by Tracey King, DVM, ACVO |
 Shih Tzus can have a painful and dangerous condition which exists when eyelashes grow inwards from the lids towards the eye. These lashes constantly rub against the eyeball like a rubber-less windscreen wiper blade scraping against a windscreen. The condition is called Distichiasis and deep ulcers on the cornea can be a result. This is indeed a painful condition for pets to endure.
Some breeds, especially Shih Tzu, suffer from a similar condition called Trichiasis. In this condition, normal hairs on the outer margin of the eyelid (not eyelashes) grow in an inward arc rather than arcing outwards so that the hairs again rub against cornea. Surgery is again needed to correct such conditions.
Distichiasis describes a condition in which eyelashes are abnormally located in the eyelid margin. This condition may occur at any time in the life of a dog and is probably inherited in many breeds.
Clinical signs of distichiasis include tearing (in varying amounts), redness of the conjuctiva, and inflammation and possible ulceration of the cornea. Diagnosis can be made by your veterinarian.
Treatment of distichiasis includes epilation, electro-epilation, cyrotherapy, or surgical excision. Each procedure can offer an effective treatment regimen for canine distichiasis.
In Shih Tzu, distichiasis occurs with reasonable frequency and, in some dogs with shallow orbits, produces chronic inflammation of the cornea. Most dogs are only mildly affected. The hereditary basis has not been established, although it seems probable due to the high incidence in some breeds. Breeding discretion is advised; reducing the incidence of distichiasis is a logical goal.
Dr. King specializes in veterinary Opthamology in Marietta, Georgia. Her article is reprinted from the ASTC Bulletin. |
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Has Your Holiday Puppy Had His Shots? |
| Health and Wellness |
 If you received a puppy for Christmas, don't forget that you have to give him his present now - a full series of vaccinations. Puppies that are 4 to 5 months old need their vaccinations to protect them against many infectious diseases. (It's better to adopt puppies that are 8 to 10 weeks old, because they should have had these shots and are generally better socialized by then.)
All puppies need shots. There are several infectious diseases that your unvaccinated puppy can get, the most common being "Parvovirus." This is a very contagious disease that causes life-threatening vomiting and diarrhea. Vaccination can prevent this deadly disease.
Even if you're adopting a dog and think he's probably had his shots, play it safe and have him vaccinated again. It's better to give an extra vaccine than none at all. Booster shots should be given every 3 to 4 weeks until puppies are 4 to 5 months old. Vaccinations of adult dogs should be discussed with your veterinarian during their annual physical exams. Here is a guide to the diseases to vaccinate your pup against:
Distemper
Distemper is a contagious viral disease that affects the respiratory and nervous system of dogs. Distemper does not cause "bad temper." It is a serious illness that is almost always fatal.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an infectious disease that affects the liver and eyes and may cause reproductive problems. Canine hepatitis is not contagious to people.
Leptospirosis
This is an infectious disease that causes severe liver and kidney damage. It may also affect humans.
Parainfluenza
This is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can spread quickly from dog to dog.
Parvovirus
One of the most serious contagious diseases for puppies, this virus causes severe vomiting and diarrhea while suppressing the immune system. It can be fatal even if treated. After the initial vaccination series, a blood test can be done to ensure adequate protection.
RabiesRabies is a serious public health concern because the virus is carried by mammals including raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, dogs and cats and can be transmitted to humans. The virus is spread through wounds, via the saliva of a rabid animal, and causes symptoms such as: overly vicious or timid behavior, lack of coordination and difficulty swallowing. Once these symptoms appear, the disease is fatal. While there is an effective post-exposure treatment for humans, there is none for animals. An unvaccinated dog that is exposed to rabies must be destroyed or quarantined for 6 months under strict guidelines. A vaccinated dog is well protected from contracting rabies but should be quarantined for a period of time if exposed to rabies. Most states require rabies immunization in dogs and cats. |
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What You Shouldn't Get Your Dog for Christmas |
| Christmas Humor
We all like to think of our dogs as family members and buy them presents this time of year. My babies came up with this list of things they DON'T want or shouldn't have! |
- A CD of cats meowing popular Christmas songs.
- A chew toy with the head already gnawed off by his canine brother who chewed his way into the gift box around the 15th of the month.
- A chew toy shaped like a shoe which he is immediately going to confuse with the right sneaker of your favorite pair.
- Anything Garfield.
- A remote control for the refrigerator door.
- A knitted pink sweater that makes your macho Doberman look like a poodle.
- A deluxe pre-packaged treat-filled Christmas stocking that's large enough for you to use as a sleeping bag.
- Doggie antlers when your near-sighted hunting relatives will be spending the holidays with you.
- A stuffed toy dog with an angel's halo as a hint as to what he has to do to get more presents next year.
- A doggie door between you and the suspicious butcher next door.
- An audition for a diet dog food commercial where they feed him so much during retakes that he actually gains weight.
- A piece of jewelry featuring a ceramic dog of his breed for him to wear.
- His own Internet Pet Supplies credit card
A cat.
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Doggie Christmas Carols
Fleas Navidad! |
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Christmas fun |
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Tennis Balls
(to the tune of "Silver Bells")
There are dog toys
That bring great joys
Tucked away 'neath the tree
But we only want one thing this Christmas
Oh we're hopeful
And so thankful
Just imagine our glee
When on every couch cushion we see
Tennis Balls
Tennis Balls
Perfection - round and inviting
Roll and play
All the day
Please Santa - toss some our way
You can catch them
You can chase them
You can carry them too
They're an all-purpose treat for a canine
What a great find wrought by mankind
Just for doggie desire
And on every dog's wish list you'll see
Tennis Balls
Tennis Balls
Perfection - round and inviting
Roll and play
All the day
Please Santa - toss some our way |
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From Our Kitchen |
Do you like to cook? Have you tried your hand at dog treats? If you haven't maybe you  should try giving your pooch a homemade gourmet experience. All dogs could use a little TLC in their daily treats and meals.
An Apple A Day Dog Treat Recipe
Makes 24 treats
Ingredients:
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 apple, chopped or grated
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
3/8 cup water
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with vegetable oil spray.
Lightly dust work surface with flour. Blend flours and cornmeal in large mixing bowl. Add apple, egg, oil, brown sugar and water; mix until well blended. On floured surface, roll dough out to 7/8-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters of desired shape and size. Place treats on prepared sheet. Bake in preheated oven 35 to 40 minutes. Turn off oven. Leave door closed 1 hour to crisp treats. Remove treats from oven. Store baked treats in airtight container or plastic bag and place in refrigerator or freezer. |
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Doggy Biscuits in a Jar Recipe
(Gift Idea)
Ingredients:
1 quart wide-mouth canning jar 1 dog biscuit cookie cutter 16 inches pretty ribbon 1 large envelope, with a hole punched in the upper left hand corner 1 cup all-purpose unbleached flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal 1/2 cup instant nonfat dry milk powder 1 teaspoon brown or granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 pinch salt
Directions:
Type baking instructions (see below) on a pretty piece of paper or card and tuck inside the envelope.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine: the flours, cornmeal, milk powder, sugar, garlic powder and salt. Using a funnel, pour dry ingredients into the jar. Close jar tightly. Tie dog biscuit cookie cutter and instruction card around the top of the card with a pretty ribbon.
Instructions to type on card:
Doggy Biscuits
Position a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat it to 250 degrees F.
Place Doggy Biscuits mix ingredients in a medium size bowl. Add 1 large egg, 1/2 cup shredded sharp
Cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, and 1/4 to 1/2 cup (or more) hot chicken broth, beef broth or very hot water. Make a dough that is very heavy, but not sticky. Add more flour or water, 1 teaspoon at a time if dough is too moist (use flour) or too dry (use hot water). Turn out dough onto a floured pastry cloth and knead 8 to 10 times until elastic. Let dough rest for 5 minutes.
Roll out dough 1/2 of an inch thick and cut with a dog-bone shaped cutter. Place cookies close together as they will not spread. Bake for 1 hour. Rotate the baking trays in the oven (turn tray around 180 degrees), and bake them another half hour. Cool the cookies in the pan for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire cake rack to cool completely. | |
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I hope you have enjoyed this weeks edition. Hope to see you next week.
Happy Holidays
Barbie |
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Barbie Becker
Shih Tzu Palace Puppies
864-972-9687 |
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