What's Happening at Ultimutt This Week... We had a great week at Ultimutt last week. We now have some Astroturf out in our backyard and the dogs absolutely love it! Some were sunbathing on it all week. They have run and played on it until they were worn out. We've had several boarders and they've loved having buddies to stay with at night.
Its almost summertime almost and many people want their dogs to have their summer haircut! Make your appointment now for your dog to be groomed. Its so funny to watch them after their haircut. They prance around and want to show the other dogs how good they look and feel.Come visit our Ultimutt booth at The Dog Days of Summer this Saturday at St. Barts Episcopal Church from 10 - 3. We'll have a door prize. The Humane Society is sponsoring this event. You can get Microchip and Rabies Vaccines provided by South County Animal Hospital, Games for the Kids, Pet Photos, Caricature Drawings, Snacks, Hot Dogs and Hamburgers, Largest Dog, Smallest, Best Dressed & Best Trick Contests & Bless the Pets at 12 noon. For more info click here.Starting in May we will have a door prize full of goodies. Everyday your dog comes to daycare, his/her name will be entered to win! Stay tuned!We have two more weeks of our Basic Obedience class. We have several dogs of all sizes and are learning quickly! If you'd like to be a part of it, come on Monday at 6 p.m. You will learn how to teach your dog simple commands including sit, stay, come, leave it, off, down, and free. We will have another one soon so stayed tuned if you'd like to be a part of this next class.While doing your spring cleaning if you have some old towels or sheets you would like to part with, Ultimutt would gladly accept those! We could use towels and sheets.Be sure to keep your dog on heartworm and tick/flea prevention. We put out tick crystals in our backyard monthly to ensure a tick/flea free zone. We sanitize our facility nightly to ensure a safe environment for your pet.Although we require your dog to be vaccinated once a year, we highly recommend that you vaccinate your dog twice a year for Bordetella (kennel cough). This is a highly contagious sickness that can get passed easily through dogs. We still have cow bones for sale. They are $3 and $5 each. They are a great way to keep your dog satisfied on the weekends. You can grill or bake them for about 20 minutes and let it cool and then give to your dog outside. They will have a treat they can enjoy for hours!`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Summer Dangers for your DogPlants: Toxic plants include Azalea, rhododendron, lilies, foxglove, daffodils, rhubarb leaves, yew, castor bean, sago palm, kalanchoe, and tulip bulbs. Slug and Snail Bait: These products come in liquid, pellets, or powder form and are extremely toxic to dogs. These baits contain metaldehyde and should not be used anywhere where they may be accessible to pets.- Animal toxinstoads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions- Blue-green algae in ponds- Citronella candles- Cocoa mulch- Compost piles Fertilizers- Flea products- Outdoor plants and plant bulbs- Swimming-pool treatment supplies- Fly baits containing methomyl- Slug and snail baits containing metaldehydeLawn Fertilizers are typically not dangerous. Not all fertilizers are dangerous. Fertilizers that don't contain herbicides or pesticides won't harm pets. But regardless, as a rule, it's always a good idea to water a lawn thoroughly after applying fertilizer to help wash granules into the soil and off the grass blades. The situation is different with garden weed killers, which work by sticking to the leaves large and small. To work, they can't be washed off for at least 48 hours after application and during this time, pets and children should be kept away.Pesticides are usually the most toxic and accordingly, label directions on pesticide products generally say to keep anyone, other than the gardener, out of the treated area until the spray has dried or the dust has settled. Overall, however, fertilizer use alone doesn't seem to have any conclusive affect on a pet's health. If any dog has fallen ill in a permanent way because of fertilizer, that would be an extremely rare occurrence, experts say.
Friday, August 27, 2010
What's Happening at Ultimutt This Week... We loved this warmer sunny weather this week! We have played outside most of the week and have been completely wild loving the amazing weather! We are averaging about about 45 Ultimutts each day. Holly came in Wednesday and groomed all morning for us while Mary and Brook were out playing with the dogs. Burgess, an out-of-town Ultimutt, boarded with us this week so his parents could go to the Arkansas basketball game. He loved being here and playing with his friends. Two new puppies are boarding with us this week before going to their new homes. Sophie has been showing them the way around here since she's been here since 7 weeks old. Ruddles and Miles have enjoyed their stay while their parents are on vacation. Our regular Ultimutts: Lola, Junior, Sophie, Cutie, Casey, Derby, Dakota, Zenna, Zubie, Charlie, Lilly, Maggie, Copper, Kodah, Star and Rudy have played hard and gone home worn out each day! We've enjoyed our week and are looking forward to springtime!Our commercial will be airing in the month of March on Channel 7 (40/29 TV). We don't have exact times but will email you when we get that information. We will send out a sneak peak soon of the commercial. We all enjoyed making it and are excited to see it live on air!We are now selling raw cow knuckles and cow femurs (which dogs LOVE) for $3 and $5 each. If you are interested in buying some, let us know! Your Ultimutt will be a happy camper after getting these bones for a treat!We have some spots for Spring Break boarding. If you would like to reserve your spot, give us a call or email us. We hope to have a full house! `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Exercising Your Dog Enough Exercise?Figuring out how many times per day your dog should get physical activity depends on your dog's breed, age, and health. Some require short walks around the block while others require hours of running and playing. Even senior dogs enjoy getting outside after spending a day indoors. In general, make sure your dog exercises or plays actively at least 3 times per day for at least 15 minutes each time. Source: dog.com
What's Happening at Ultimutt This Week... Ultimutt had a great week despite the rain! The dogs got a lot of playtime staying warm and dry inside. We had several new Ultimutts this week and they have fit in so well with our other dogs!We finished our obedience class off on Monday with a bang! It was so fun watching what the puppies have learned over the past few weeks. Several of them come to daycare and we continue working with them on what they were taught. We're gearing up for another obedience class in April. To sign your dog up, email Mary at Mary.Young@ultimuttdogcare.com. It is a 4 week (one night a week) course at $80.We shot a commercial for 40/29 (Channel 7) on Wednesday. We had our biggest day ever with 65 dogs!We got a lot of action shots of all the dogs playing inside and outside. We had dogs from 5 lbs to 150 lbs. It was so fun watching them all play together. They said it will take about a week to edit the commercial. We'll keep everyone posted on when it will go live! We're so excited to see it!We're still accepting photos for our Cutest Dog Photo Contest. The deadline is February 14th. To enter your dog's photo, email Brook at Brook.Lang@ultimuttdogcare.com. You can see our current entries on our website. The winner will receive a free spa day at Ultimutt including a day of doggie daycare (if fixed and up-to-date on shots), bath, nails, and bandanna or hair bow of choice. The owner will win an Ultimutt overnight tote bag for their dog. `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Dog TalkDogs act a certain way when they are upset about something, if they want another dog or human to settle down, or when they want to reassure others. Dogs also watch our behavior for clues about what we are going to do next. How many of us have thought, Wow! I have a really smart dog. How does he know I'm going to the store? To your dog, its pretty obvious that you aren't going to work or to school. Your grooming routine, your clothes, the way you smell, the way you walk, and the expression on your face are all different. Your dog read your signals. But did you notice the signals your dog was giving you? Pack animals like dogs, wolves (and people) have a need to cooperate with each other, to solve conflicts, and to communicate. If you are like most people, you probably didn't notice your dog turn his head and lick his nose when you were irritated and told him to get out of your way. Or maybe he just yawned and sniffed the floor, or turned his back to you. A lot of dog signals happen so quickly that if you aren't looking for them, you wont see them.Turn Your Head: Your dog might turn his head to the side if you lean over him or if you walk too quickly toward him. Does your dog get nervous when you want to take his picture? Notice if he turns his head when you point the camera at him. Dogs look away to avoid eye contact. You can use this signal to try and calm a dog or to help reassure a dog that is barking or growling at you.Sit Down, Turn Away: Sometimes dogs turn their back to other dogs or people to ask them to calm down. If your dog thinks your mad at him, he might use this signal. If you jerk on his leash or run up to him too fast, he might turn away to calm you down. Turning your back on a jumping puppy is a good way to let him know you want him to settle down.Stand Still: Smart little dogs use this when greeting big dogs. They don't move a muscle until the big dog has finished sniffing them all over. If they move too quickly, they might get bitten.Yawn: Dogs yawn when they are uneasy about something. A good place for you to use this signal with your dog is at the vets office. Sometimes dogs yawn and turn their head to the side.Step In-between: Your dog might use this just to separate you from another dog, or a child. Dogs are experts at conflict resolution and if you are arguing with someone, your dog will stand in between you and the person you are arguing with to calm you both down.
Friday, August 20, 2010
What's Happening at Ultimutt This WeekIts back to school! We've enjoyed getting our summer daycare dogs back to play! We uploaded a video on our facebook page of everyone playing inside so go check it out. We've been busy with grooms and are still continuing grooming but we are looking for an experienced groomer to come on staff. If you know of anyone who would be interested, please have them contact us.Ultimutt Dog Care is sponsoring the 1st Annual Ultimutts Bark for the Cure!! The 2 mile Fun Dog Run/Walk is set for Thursday, September 30, 2010 at Fort Chaffee - Chaffee Crossing. This event is for the entire family and Fido so grab the kids and dogs and come help as we Bark for the Cure with proceeds benefiting your local Ozark Affiliate of Susan G. Komen. Registration will begin at 6pm and end at 6:30. The race will begin at 7pm. A t-shirt will be guaranteed for all participants that register before Sept 15th. It is $20/person (1 dog per person is included in registration price) in advance or $25/person the day of the race. You can register at Ultimutt Dog Care or call 479.242.1186 to reserve your spot. Ultimutt will also host pet photos each month. Check out our calendar of events to see when they will be. The photo shoots will include Razorback, Halloween, Fall, Christmas and Valentines. There will be a $5 sitting fee and a sheet is $12. A sheet consists of 1 - 8 x 10, 2 - 5 x 7, 3 - 4 x 6, or 12 wallets. The sitting fee must be paid at the time of sign ups. Some of these photos will be during the day so bring your dog to daycare and have their picture made while they are here!We're also starting to get reservations for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays so call or email us today to reserve your spot! They will go quick! `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Shedding Allows Dogs to Prepare Their Coats for Fall/Winter
As the days grow shorter and the nights grow colder, you may be observing what seems rather odd for a body preparing for winter: Your dog is shedding more than usual.
Be reassured: It's perfectly normal.
Dogs typically lose their winter coats in the spring, when it is replaced by a shorter, lighter one for summer. In the fall, this cycle is reversed, as the summer coat is shed to make room for heavy protective fur for winter. The change is most obvious in "double-coated" breeds such as collies, shelties and keeshonden. Those breeds carry not only a harsh, protective long overcoat, but also a soft, insulating undercoat -- and they lose masses of fur from both in spring and fall.
The amount of shedding varies widely from breed to breed. German shepherds, for example, are prolific year-round shedders, while poodles seem to lose little fur at all. Shorthaired breeds may shed as much as the longhairs, but since the hair they shed is easily overlooked, it may seem as if they are shedding less.
All shedders -- even the heaviest -- can be tamed by a regular and frequent schedule of combing and brushing. After all, the fur you catch on a comb won't end up on a rug. Work against the grain and close to the skin to catch as much of the ready-to-fall fur as possible. Bring your dog to Ultimutt for a bath and de-shed to get the lose hair out.
If you have a purebred, or a dog that has the characteristics of a purebred, ask a breeder for grooming advice, especially in regard to the proper kind of grooming equipment. The slicker brush that works fine on a poodle won't make much headway in the thick mane of a full-coated collie at the height of a seasonal shed. For a shorthaired dog, a curry comb or hound glove will do the job well, catching the short fur before it ends up on your rug.
No matter what the breed, shedding -- and heavy seasonal shedding -- is normal, but some heavy shedding can be a sign of health problems. Skin allergies and skin parasites may trigger shedding, and poor nutrition can also be a cause of coat problems.
Become familiar with your pet's normal pattern of shedding, and ask your veterinarian for advice if coat condition seems to dull or excessive hair loss is noticed.
As the days grow shorter and the nights grow colder, you may be observing what seems rather odd for a body preparing for winter: Your dog is shedding more than usual.
Be reassured: It's perfectly normal.
Dogs typically lose their winter coats in the spring, when it is replaced by a shorter, lighter one for summer. In the fall, this cycle is reversed, as the summer coat is shed to make room for heavy protective fur for winter. The change is most obvious in "double-coated" breeds such as collies, shelties and keeshonden. Those breeds carry not only a harsh, protective long overcoat, but also a soft, insulating undercoat -- and they lose masses of fur from both in spring and fall.
The amount of shedding varies widely from breed to breed. German shepherds, for example, are prolific year-round shedders, while poodles seem to lose little fur at all. Shorthaired breeds may shed as much as the longhairs, but since the hair they shed is easily overlooked, it may seem as if they are shedding less.
All shedders -- even the heaviest -- can be tamed by a regular and frequent schedule of combing and brushing. After all, the fur you catch on a comb won't end up on a rug. Work against the grain and close to the skin to catch as much of the ready-to-fall fur as possible. Bring your dog to Ultimutt for a bath and de-shed to get the lose hair out.
If you have a purebred, or a dog that has the characteristics of a purebred, ask a breeder for grooming advice, especially in regard to the proper kind of grooming equipment. The slicker brush that works fine on a poodle won't make much headway in the thick mane of a full-coated collie at the height of a seasonal shed. For a shorthaired dog, a curry comb or hound glove will do the job well, catching the short fur before it ends up on your rug.
No matter what the breed, shedding -- and heavy seasonal shedding -- is normal, but some heavy shedding can be a sign of health problems. Skin allergies and skin parasites may trigger shedding, and poor nutrition can also be a cause of coat problems.
Become familiar with your pet's normal pattern of shedding, and ask your veterinarian for advice if coat condition seems to dull or excessive hair loss is noticed.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
What's Happening at Ultimutt This Week Our 1st Birthday party was a success! We had close to 85 people in attendance. It was fun for the owners to meet each other and see the dogs interact. Check out our Facebook page to see many more birthday photos!!
Ultimutt's 1st Year in ReviewWe are so blessed to have the best clients, human and dog, in the world so thought that to celebrate Ultimutt's first anniversary we would take a look back on our first year.
Once almost everything was in place, we loaded a trailer behind Mary's SUV and headed to Kansas City to pick up everything we could dog related. Brook and Mary spend the next 2 days working their butts off and spending what little we had left to buy the fencing, bowls, retail items, etc. To see the 2 of us pulling a 20ft trailer loaded down was more than a sight! We stopped multiple times to duck tape the plastic wrap back around the pallets, re-tie the fencing, crates, etc to the trailer and only by the grace of God did we make it back safely. Our first customer actually started a few days before we opened. He helped the crews put up the sheet metal in the back and watched us do office work (like figure out how to get dogs in the door!). Brook & Mary always say "go big or go home" ... so fittingly our first dog was Farley, a large, beautiful Harlequin Great Dane. On August 17th, our doors opened for business and Mary's mom came from across the state to help and Brook's mom was here to help with everything. None of us slept the night before so we were here by 6:45 am and ready for the rush. Well, we waited ... and we waited ... and we waited. A few dear friends and family members came by to look around and buy a toy. We then thought we had our first client but it was someone delivering a bouquet of daisies from our friend Kara to wish us luck. We can't believe we are admitting this, but on Tuesday morning Mary went and picked up her cousin's dog and one of our good friend's dog to come back so it looked like we had a few more dogs in the back. Thankfully, we got our first real daycare dog, Darby. There were so few dogs that we could do lunch and nap time in the office. Darby claimed the lifted bed the 2nd day we were open and still believes that its her bed. The first week was a very long, very slow, and very scary week. Thankfully each week picked up a little more. We didn't meet many new dogs in August but fell in love with the ones we met: Darby, Buddy, Farley, Cutie Pie, Lilly Jack, Hershey and Dixie Bell. At the end of August, we knew we were doing what God meant for us to, but we needed more dogs.
One September morning, Brook yelled for Mary to come out back because someone had thrown dog food over the fence. We spent hours picking it up and are freaking out that someone would throw poisoned dog food over the fence. Two days later it happened again but lots more. We again spent hours picking it up and asked the police to do extra rounds at night. The next day Chuck, our wonderful neighbor, came over to see how things were going. We were telling him how someone had thrown dog food over the fence and by the 3rd day we were getting really concerned. Mary is on the phone with a client and Brook just starts laughing after she showed Chuck the 'food.' He informed us that we had been spending hours picking up rabbit pellets. And we claim to be Arkansas girls....
In October, we received a phone call from a very upset new mother. She had left her new puppy at home for the first time and didn't think she could handle the thought of doing it ever again. Sophie joined our lives the next morning. Mary has always had big dogs so she had no idea what to do with a 1.5 lb Shih Tzu puppy -- Thank goodness for Brook! Sophie used to sleep on our laptops. She has grown up so much! We looked over one day and she had a Saint Bernard cornered and she truly believes she weighs 200 lbs. We're thankful she only weighs 15lbs! She definitely rules the roost around here.Halloween and the doggie photos were wonderful. We had a blast even if the dogs didn't! Cutie Pie was freaked out by Lilly Jack's shark costume and kept trying to get the shark head off of Lilly.On Thanksgiving, we had 20 - 25 boarders. That was the first time that we had more than 30 dogs in a day. We were thrilled, overwhelmed, and beyond excited. Brook's parents and Mary's husband were called in to help. It was a wonderful weekend and great learning experience.
In February, we got to hire our first employee, Kristal Grounds. We were so thrilled that help was on the way! We're very blessed to have her! We also shot our commercial in February and we had 65 dogs that day. During Spring Break, we had 30 boarders each night and hit 73 dogs for our record! We were so excited and worn out!
In April, Brook had back surgery so Mary and Kristal needed help. Vicki Callaway was wonderful and came in to help. We were still growing so fast, Mary called Brook after surgery and informed her of hiring Christine Curran. She'd been a client for months and we knew her well so we knew she'd be a great fit!
May was our transition from our daily dogs to overnight boarders with families going on vacations. We had dogs sleeping over more and more. June and July continued with boarding. We had 80+ dogs several Friday's in a row. It was so awesome to see all the dogs here and playing.
We've lived and learned a lot in this past year with our first year of starting a business. Its been so great and we're very blessed to have such great dogs and owners!!
Ultimutt's 1st Year in ReviewWe are so blessed to have the best clients, human and dog, in the world so thought that to celebrate Ultimutt's first anniversary we would take a look back on our first year.
Once almost everything was in place, we loaded a trailer behind Mary's SUV and headed to Kansas City to pick up everything we could dog related. Brook and Mary spend the next 2 days working their butts off and spending what little we had left to buy the fencing, bowls, retail items, etc. To see the 2 of us pulling a 20ft trailer loaded down was more than a sight! We stopped multiple times to duck tape the plastic wrap back around the pallets, re-tie the fencing, crates, etc to the trailer and only by the grace of God did we make it back safely. Our first customer actually started a few days before we opened. He helped the crews put up the sheet metal in the back and watched us do office work (like figure out how to get dogs in the door!). Brook & Mary always say "go big or go home" ... so fittingly our first dog was Farley, a large, beautiful Harlequin Great Dane. On August 17th, our doors opened for business and Mary's mom came from across the state to help and Brook's mom was here to help with everything. None of us slept the night before so we were here by 6:45 am and ready for the rush. Well, we waited ... and we waited ... and we waited. A few dear friends and family members came by to look around and buy a toy. We then thought we had our first client but it was someone delivering a bouquet of daisies from our friend Kara to wish us luck. We can't believe we are admitting this, but on Tuesday morning Mary went and picked up her cousin's dog and one of our good friend's dog to come back so it looked like we had a few more dogs in the back. Thankfully, we got our first real daycare dog, Darby. There were so few dogs that we could do lunch and nap time in the office. Darby claimed the lifted bed the 2nd day we were open and still believes that its her bed. The first week was a very long, very slow, and very scary week. Thankfully each week picked up a little more. We didn't meet many new dogs in August but fell in love with the ones we met: Darby, Buddy, Farley, Cutie Pie, Lilly Jack, Hershey and Dixie Bell. At the end of August, we knew we were doing what God meant for us to, but we needed more dogs.
One September morning, Brook yelled for Mary to come out back because someone had thrown dog food over the fence. We spent hours picking it up and are freaking out that someone would throw poisoned dog food over the fence. Two days later it happened again but lots more. We again spent hours picking it up and asked the police to do extra rounds at night. The next day Chuck, our wonderful neighbor, came over to see how things were going. We were telling him how someone had thrown dog food over the fence and by the 3rd day we were getting really concerned. Mary is on the phone with a client and Brook just starts laughing after she showed Chuck the 'food.' He informed us that we had been spending hours picking up rabbit pellets. And we claim to be Arkansas girls....
In October, we received a phone call from a very upset new mother. She had left her new puppy at home for the first time and didn't think she could handle the thought of doing it ever again. Sophie joined our lives the next morning. Mary has always had big dogs so she had no idea what to do with a 1.5 lb Shih Tzu puppy -- Thank goodness for Brook! Sophie used to sleep on our laptops. She has grown up so much! We looked over one day and she had a Saint Bernard cornered and she truly believes she weighs 200 lbs. We're thankful she only weighs 15lbs! She definitely rules the roost around here.Halloween and the doggie photos were wonderful. We had a blast even if the dogs didn't! Cutie Pie was freaked out by Lilly Jack's shark costume and kept trying to get the shark head off of Lilly.On Thanksgiving, we had 20 - 25 boarders. That was the first time that we had more than 30 dogs in a day. We were thrilled, overwhelmed, and beyond excited. Brook's parents and Mary's husband were called in to help. It was a wonderful weekend and great learning experience.
In February, we got to hire our first employee, Kristal Grounds. We were so thrilled that help was on the way! We're very blessed to have her! We also shot our commercial in February and we had 65 dogs that day. During Spring Break, we had 30 boarders each night and hit 73 dogs for our record! We were so excited and worn out!
In April, Brook had back surgery so Mary and Kristal needed help. Vicki Callaway was wonderful and came in to help. We were still growing so fast, Mary called Brook after surgery and informed her of hiring Christine Curran. She'd been a client for months and we knew her well so we knew she'd be a great fit!
May was our transition from our daily dogs to overnight boarders with families going on vacations. We had dogs sleeping over more and more. June and July continued with boarding. We had 80+ dogs several Friday's in a row. It was so awesome to see all the dogs here and playing.
We've lived and learned a lot in this past year with our first year of starting a business. Its been so great and we're very blessed to have such great dogs and owners!!
Friday, August 6, 2010
What's Happening at Ultimutt This Week We're gearing up for a big week next week! We have our 1st Birthday Party for Ultimutt on Thursday from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. We'll have food, drinks, and of course birthday cake/cookies for the dogs and owners ! We're very excited so plan on attending this fun event! Wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty or dog on them! Invite your friends who have never been to Ultimutt to check us out! Dogs & Owners welcome!
We're also gearing up for another round of our Basic Obedience Dog Training. Be sure to reserve your spot for this 4 week class. It will teach you and your dog how to communicate clearly using basic commands. The class will be $80 total. Email Mary at Mary.Young@ultimuttdogcare.com to sign up and reserve your spot! You will learn these basic commands:
Sit, Stay, Come, Leave It, Off, Down, Free
We're also having "Back to School Spirit Day" on Thursday, August 19th. Dress your dog up in their favorite school colors!
Notice: Effective October 1, 2010 Ultimutt will require the Canine Influenza vaccination. If your veterinarian gives the vaccination, please bring a copy for our records. We will also have a couple clinics at Ultimutt for your dog to receive the vaccination. Stay tuned for those dates.
Be sure to keep your dog on heart worm and tick/flea prevention. We put out tick crystals in our backyard monthly to ensure a tick/flea free zone. We sanitize our facility nightly to ensure a safe environment for your pet.`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Canine Influenza
What is canine influenza (dog flu)?
Dog flu is a contagious respiratory disease in dogs caused by a specific Type A influenza virus referred to as a canine influenza virus. This is a disease of dogs, not of humans.
What is a canine influenza virus?
The canine influenza virus is an influenza A H3N8 influenza virus (not a human influenza virus) that was originally an equine (horse) influenza virus. This virus has spread to dogs and can now spread between dogs.
How long has canine influenza been around?
The H3N8 equine influenza virus has been known to exist in horses for more than 40 years. In 2004, however, cases of an unknown respiratory illness in dogs (initially greyhounds) were reported. An investigation showed that this respiratory illness was caused by the equine influenza A H3N8 virus. Scientists believe that this virus jumped species (from horses to dogs) and has now adapted to cause illness in dogs and spread efficiently among dogs. This is now considered a new dog-specific lineage of H3N8. In September of 2005, this virus was identified by experts as "a newly emerging pathogen in the dog population" in the United States.
What are the symptoms of this infection in dogs?
The symptoms of this illness in dogs are cough, runny nose and fever, however, a small proportion of dogs can develop severe disease.
How serious is this infection in dogs?
The number of dogs infected with this disease that die is very small. Some dogs have asymptomatic infections (no symptoms), while some have severe infections. Severe illness is characterized by the onset of pneumonia. Although this is a relatively new cause of disease in dogs and nearly all dogs are susceptible to infection, about 80 percent of dogs will have a mild form of disease.
How does dog flu spread?
Canine influenza virus can be spread by direct contact with respiratory secretions from infected dogs, by contact with contaminated objects, and by people moving between infected and uninfected dogs. Therefore, dog owners whose dogs are coughing or showing other signs of respiratory disease should not participate in activities or bring their dogs to facilities where other dogs can be exposed to the virus. Clothing, equipment, surfaces, and hands should be cleaned and disinfected after exposure to dogs showing signs of respiratory disease.
Is there a test for canine influenza?
Testing to confirm canine influenza virus infection is available at veterinary diagnostic centers. The tests can be performed using respiratory secretions collected at the time of disease onset or using two blood samples; the first collected while the animal is sick and the second 2 to 3 weeks later.
How is canine influenza treated?
Treatment largely consists of supportive care. This helps the dog mount an immune response. In the milder form of the disease, this care may include medication to make your dog more comfortable and fluids to ensure that your dog remains well-hydrated. Broad spectrum antibiotics may be prescribed by your veterinarian if a secondary bacterial infection is suspected.
Is there a vaccine for canine influenza?
Yes, an approved vaccine is available.
What is the risk to humans from this virus?
To date, there is no evidence of transmission of canine influenza virus from dogs to people and there has not been a single reported case of human infection with the canine influenza virus. While this virus infects dogs and spreads between dogs, there is no evidence that this virus infects humans.
However, human infections with new influenza viruses (against which the human population has little immunity) would be concerning if they occurred. Influenza viruses are constantly changing and it is possible for a virus to change so that it could infect humans and spread easily between humans. Such a virus could represent a pandemic influenza threat. For this reason, CDC and its partners are monitoring the H3N8 influenza virus (as well as other animal influenza viruses) along with instances of possible human exposure to these viruses very closely. In general, however, canine influenza viruses are considered to pose a low threat to humans. As mentioned earlier, while these viruses are well established in horse and dog populations, there is no evidence of infection among humans with this virus.
My dog has a cough what should I do?
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian so that they can evaluate your dog and recommend an appropriate course of treatment.Source: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/canine/
We're also gearing up for another round of our Basic Obedience Dog Training. Be sure to reserve your spot for this 4 week class. It will teach you and your dog how to communicate clearly using basic commands. The class will be $80 total. Email Mary at Mary.Young@ultimuttdogcare.com to sign up and reserve your spot! You will learn these basic commands:
Sit, Stay, Come, Leave It, Off, Down, Free
We're also having "Back to School Spirit Day" on Thursday, August 19th. Dress your dog up in their favorite school colors!
Notice: Effective October 1, 2010 Ultimutt will require the Canine Influenza vaccination. If your veterinarian gives the vaccination, please bring a copy for our records. We will also have a couple clinics at Ultimutt for your dog to receive the vaccination. Stay tuned for those dates.
Be sure to keep your dog on heart worm and tick/flea prevention. We put out tick crystals in our backyard monthly to ensure a tick/flea free zone. We sanitize our facility nightly to ensure a safe environment for your pet.`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Canine Influenza
What is canine influenza (dog flu)?
Dog flu is a contagious respiratory disease in dogs caused by a specific Type A influenza virus referred to as a canine influenza virus. This is a disease of dogs, not of humans.
What is a canine influenza virus?
The canine influenza virus is an influenza A H3N8 influenza virus (not a human influenza virus) that was originally an equine (horse) influenza virus. This virus has spread to dogs and can now spread between dogs.
How long has canine influenza been around?
The H3N8 equine influenza virus has been known to exist in horses for more than 40 years. In 2004, however, cases of an unknown respiratory illness in dogs (initially greyhounds) were reported. An investigation showed that this respiratory illness was caused by the equine influenza A H3N8 virus. Scientists believe that this virus jumped species (from horses to dogs) and has now adapted to cause illness in dogs and spread efficiently among dogs. This is now considered a new dog-specific lineage of H3N8. In September of 2005, this virus was identified by experts as "a newly emerging pathogen in the dog population" in the United States.
What are the symptoms of this infection in dogs?
The symptoms of this illness in dogs are cough, runny nose and fever, however, a small proportion of dogs can develop severe disease.
How serious is this infection in dogs?
The number of dogs infected with this disease that die is very small. Some dogs have asymptomatic infections (no symptoms), while some have severe infections. Severe illness is characterized by the onset of pneumonia. Although this is a relatively new cause of disease in dogs and nearly all dogs are susceptible to infection, about 80 percent of dogs will have a mild form of disease.
How does dog flu spread?
Canine influenza virus can be spread by direct contact with respiratory secretions from infected dogs, by contact with contaminated objects, and by people moving between infected and uninfected dogs. Therefore, dog owners whose dogs are coughing or showing other signs of respiratory disease should not participate in activities or bring their dogs to facilities where other dogs can be exposed to the virus. Clothing, equipment, surfaces, and hands should be cleaned and disinfected after exposure to dogs showing signs of respiratory disease.
Is there a test for canine influenza?
Testing to confirm canine influenza virus infection is available at veterinary diagnostic centers. The tests can be performed using respiratory secretions collected at the time of disease onset or using two blood samples; the first collected while the animal is sick and the second 2 to 3 weeks later.
How is canine influenza treated?
Treatment largely consists of supportive care. This helps the dog mount an immune response. In the milder form of the disease, this care may include medication to make your dog more comfortable and fluids to ensure that your dog remains well-hydrated. Broad spectrum antibiotics may be prescribed by your veterinarian if a secondary bacterial infection is suspected.
Is there a vaccine for canine influenza?
Yes, an approved vaccine is available.
What is the risk to humans from this virus?
To date, there is no evidence of transmission of canine influenza virus from dogs to people and there has not been a single reported case of human infection with the canine influenza virus. While this virus infects dogs and spreads between dogs, there is no evidence that this virus infects humans.
However, human infections with new influenza viruses (against which the human population has little immunity) would be concerning if they occurred. Influenza viruses are constantly changing and it is possible for a virus to change so that it could infect humans and spread easily between humans. Such a virus could represent a pandemic influenza threat. For this reason, CDC and its partners are monitoring the H3N8 influenza virus (as well as other animal influenza viruses) along with instances of possible human exposure to these viruses very closely. In general, however, canine influenza viruses are considered to pose a low threat to humans. As mentioned earlier, while these viruses are well established in horse and dog populations, there is no evidence of infection among humans with this virus.
My dog has a cough what should I do?
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian so that they can evaluate your dog and recommend an appropriate course of treatment.Source: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/canine/
Friday, July 9, 2010
What's Happening at Ultimutt This Week If you'll notice in the News section to the right of the screen, we've been planning! We have Ultimutt's 1st Birthday coming up next month! We'll have food, drinks, and of course birthday cake/cookies for the dogs and people! We're very excited so plan on attending this fun event! It'll be Thursday, August 12 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty or dog on them because the dogs have a ball!We're also gearing up for another round of our Basic Obedience Dog Training. Sign your dog up for this 4 week class. It will teach you and your dog how to communicate clearly using basic commands. The class will be $80 total. Email Mary at Mary.Young@ultimuttdogcare.com to sign up and reserve your spot! You will learn these basic commands:
Sit, Stay, Come, Leave It, Off, Down, Free
We're also having "Back to School Spirit Day" on Thursday, August 19th. Dress your dog up in their favorite school colors!We want to hear from you!!! If you'd like to hear about a specific topic/issue please let us know so we can have that information in upcoming newsletters. Also let us know if you'd be interested in any of the following:
Agility Classes
Canine Good Citizen
Therapy Dog Classes
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` 5 Things to Consider Before Getting a Dog Getting a new dog is an exciting and rewarding part of anyone's life. These days you can find puppies for sale in so many places such as in newspapers, pet stores and online. But how do you go about selecting a new puppy? What points should you consider when buying a new puppy? Below are 5 points that you must consider before buying your new puppy.
1) How big is your yard? - The size of your home and yard will help you determine the size of the dog you should buy. Puppies all look small when young, but even the smallest puppy can grow into a large dog. Be sure to understand what breed you are looking at and learn how big the breed will grow. Be sure to be wary of cross breeds as you may not know what size they will grow to.
2) Can you exercise your dog frequently? - If you exercise regularly and have lots of time on your hands, you can consider a puppy with high energy levels. If you will be at work and not have much time for your dog, consider a breed with less energy.
3) Long or short hair dog? - A lot of people don't examine the length of their new puppy breeds hair growth. A long haired dog will generally molt a lot of hair which can get everywhere, especially in carpets. Short hair breeds can be easier to manage and molt less hair around your home.
4) Kids or elderly? - If you have young children or the elderly around, you many need to choose a breed with low energy that is good around people. Larger dogs can easily knock young children and the elderly over, so consider this before purchasing your new puppy.
5) Can you secure your dog? - Certain breeds are notorious escape artists, but most dogs need certain provisions to ensure they do not escape from your property. Fences should be a minimum of 6 foot tall around your entire home. You should also be careful that your dog cannot dig under gates and fences to escape. If you buy a breed that is known for escaping or digging, you will need to allow extra provisions around your home.
Consider these 5 tips before looking at your new puppy. So many people think of these things after they have already bought their new dog, but you should consider all the points above before you even go looking for a new puppy.
Source: http://prsnal.blogspot.com/
Sit, Stay, Come, Leave It, Off, Down, Free
We're also having "Back to School Spirit Day" on Thursday, August 19th. Dress your dog up in their favorite school colors!We want to hear from you!!! If you'd like to hear about a specific topic/issue please let us know so we can have that information in upcoming newsletters. Also let us know if you'd be interested in any of the following:
Agility Classes
Canine Good Citizen
Therapy Dog Classes
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` 5 Things to Consider Before Getting a Dog Getting a new dog is an exciting and rewarding part of anyone's life. These days you can find puppies for sale in so many places such as in newspapers, pet stores and online. But how do you go about selecting a new puppy? What points should you consider when buying a new puppy? Below are 5 points that you must consider before buying your new puppy.
1) How big is your yard? - The size of your home and yard will help you determine the size of the dog you should buy. Puppies all look small when young, but even the smallest puppy can grow into a large dog. Be sure to understand what breed you are looking at and learn how big the breed will grow. Be sure to be wary of cross breeds as you may not know what size they will grow to.
2) Can you exercise your dog frequently? - If you exercise regularly and have lots of time on your hands, you can consider a puppy with high energy levels. If you will be at work and not have much time for your dog, consider a breed with less energy.
3) Long or short hair dog? - A lot of people don't examine the length of their new puppy breeds hair growth. A long haired dog will generally molt a lot of hair which can get everywhere, especially in carpets. Short hair breeds can be easier to manage and molt less hair around your home.
4) Kids or elderly? - If you have young children or the elderly around, you many need to choose a breed with low energy that is good around people. Larger dogs can easily knock young children and the elderly over, so consider this before purchasing your new puppy.
5) Can you secure your dog? - Certain breeds are notorious escape artists, but most dogs need certain provisions to ensure they do not escape from your property. Fences should be a minimum of 6 foot tall around your entire home. You should also be careful that your dog cannot dig under gates and fences to escape. If you buy a breed that is known for escaping or digging, you will need to allow extra provisions around your home.
Consider these 5 tips before looking at your new puppy. So many people think of these things after they have already bought their new dog, but you should consider all the points above before you even go looking for a new puppy.
Source: http://prsnal.blogspot.com/
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