Max - Weight Loss

G'day Dog Lovers,

A few weeks ago I introduced you to my dog, Max. He's a six-year-old yellow Lab with an intense passion for anything food-related.

Unfortunately, Max has been enjoying a bit too much of the good life lately and has stacked on a few pounds. He's not quite the same trim and taut athlete he used to be - I'm pretty sure it's because he keeps using all his powers of persuasion to get people to sneak him food treats!

So now it's time for Max to go on a diet. His daily exercise routine will be increased a little bit to help him shed the kilos, and we'll have to keep a close track of the treats he gets given each day. Pet obesity is a growing problem in Australia and it is vital to make sure your pooch stays fit and healthy, no matter how tempting it is to spoil them.

Question for Dr Ark?

I'm preparing to send the next round of questions to our resident vet Dr Michael Archinal from Dogs Life magazine's 'Dr Ark - All Questions Great and Small' segment.

We received one question this morning from a reader, Michelle from NSW, asking if there is a nappy-type product out there for her sickly Basset Hound who is peeing inside the house. Dr Ark's answer will be in the July/Aug 2008 edition...

Thought I ask dog-a-bloggers if you have any health-related questions you want answered? I'll be sending the questions next week. So email your question to dogslife@universalmagazines.com.au if you want the chance to have your question answered.

Please see your vet for any emergencies. It can take a while before Dr Ark responds!

Photo by Dogs Life reader Jaki Newman

Hot cars kill dogs

The warmer weather is upon us, and it's time to start thinking about ways to keep your pooch safe and cool over summer. Dogs pant to maintain their body temperature, but they still need our help to stay cool. Like humans, dogs too can suffer from heat cramps and heat exhaustion - they just can't tell us about it. Heat stroke can even cause the death of a beloved pet.

I recently chatted with Laura from DogAid Australia, who has some important advice for preventing heat exhaustion in dogs.

NEVER leave your pet in a parked car, Laura says. Most cars (especially black cars and hatchbacks) heat up to be like a sauna, even on mild days. Always leave windows open when driving with your dog.

It's a good idea to take your dog walking during the cooler parts of the day. Provide fresh, cool water for your dog and ensure they have a cool, shady place to rest, Laura adds.

While these tips may sound obvious, some dog owners still forget about their four-legged friends and the suffering they face when it's hot outside.

Remember - if you do see an animal that appears to be suffering from heat stress in a car and the owner cannot be found, call your local RSPCA, veterinarian or police station immediately.

Have you ever seen a dog in a hot car? What do you do to keep your dog cool during summer? Share your warm weather tips with Dogs Life Dog-a-Bloggers.

Hunt for doggy donors

Every day our four-legged companions suffer from many of the same health conditions that humans do. So it's no surprise that canines need blood transfusions too. Dog's may require transfusions in cases of trauma, surgery, disease and poisoning.

More than 1,000 dogs benefit each year form crucial blood and plasma transfusions. I recently spoke with Bruce Parry, associate professor and head of the Department of Veterinary Science at the University of Melbourne.

The Canine Blood Bank located at the University's Veterinary Hospital is the only registered supplier of blood cells for pets in Australia.

Bruce said the supplies at the hospital are seriously low and the clinic desperately needs more canine blood donors.

Anyone with a healthy dog over 26kg, aged between one and six can become a canine blood donor. Donors must also be up-to-date with vaccinations and heartworm prevention.

For those Dogs Life readers who would like to get involved, there are plenty of participating veterinary clinics across Melbourne where volunteers can take their dogs to donate blood and support this great cause.

For details of all participating clinics and donor dates visit www.vet.unimelb.edu.au or call (03) 9731 2328.

And if you missed our Saving Lives - Blood Donor Dogs story in the #85 September/October 2007 issue of Dogs Life, call Subscriptions on 1300 303 414 to grab a copy!

Saying goodbye

With the release of the Dogs Life Nov/Dec 2007 edition — an Older Dogs Special — we have been receiving emails and letters from readers about saying goodbye to their canine companion.
This has brought a flood of childhood memories of my previous German Shepherds, Blackie and Rex. Blackie died tragically at a mature age — he was hit by a speeding car — but I had time to say goodbye to my old mate Rex, who suffered from cancer.

Being a responsible pet owner isn’t just about caring for your dog when he’s alive. It’s also about making the tough decisions — especially one that end his life. After much deliberation and communication with our vet, my family finally decided to put Rex down to set him free from the suffering.

It has been 25 years since Blackie died and a little over two years since Rex left our side. My parents still keep Blackie’s photos around the house — his death certificate sits at the back of his own doggy photo album. Rex’s collar hangs in my younger brother’s room. They are gone in the physical sense, but not in spirit. I think they always look after us when we remember them.

Bionic dog

More drama in the Dobie household. My four-year-old Doberman, Chase, has hypothyroidism (low circulating thyroid level) and is on Thyroxin tablets to manage the lifelong condition.

This morning, hubby and I accidentally doubled up on Chase’s pills, sending me into a panic as I didn’t know if the overdose would pose a threat to him. It was 6.30am – in the middle of getting our daughter ready for preschool, having breakfast etc (which explains the double-up with the pills!) – so I called the 24–hour emergency vet and felt a little better when I found out the dosage we had given Chase was unlikely to cause any health risks (heart attack or stroke), but that I should keep an eye on him throughout the day just in case.

My visiting brother doggy sat at home for me – turns out Chase spent the day chasing birds off the trees in the backyard, playing tug-o-war with my other Dobie, Logan, and digging up creepy crawlies around the fenceline. I don’t know why I worry about that dog so much.

He is a tough ‘Doberboy’ who has been known to run full speed into a wall and then continue running like nothing ever happened. I wonder if he has a metal plate in his head that the breeder failed to mention? I’m glad I prepared the vet for an emergency visit, though. Better safe than sorry, even for a bionic dog like Chase.