Breed of the Month: Labrador Retriever

This is one of my patients Sadie. She is a sweet and beautiful Labrador. 

   

     Labrador's are great family dogs from the sporting group. The size of the lab ranges from 55-80  pounds. They have a goal to please their owners and will kill you with kindness. They are sturdy, muscular dogs, and can help with a variety of jobs. They do require some grooming and LOTS of exercise. If they get too bored/underworked they can damage objects around the house. They are a great dog for a family that has kids or other animals, and also a great option for the novice owner (as long as you listen to the veterinarian's advice).

STAR RATING 1-5:

Personality

Adaptability ***

Kid Friendly *****

Dog Friendly *****

Stranger Friendly *****

Affectionate *****

The lab is known as one of the most sweet-natured breeds. They are true family dogs and aim to make everyone as happy as possible. 

Grooming

Shedding *****

Easy to groom *****

The lab can easily be groomed at home with baths every 2-4 weeks and daily combing to aid with all of their shedding. They do not need to be cut, unless that is something you desire to be done. 

Health

General Health ***

Some genetic health issues in a Lab are Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Osteochondrosis Dissecans, Cataract, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Epilepsy, Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia, Myopathy Gastric Dilation-Volvulus, Allergies/Dermatitis/Ear infections, Happy Tail, and Obesity. I always strongly recommend insurance in these breeds and all pure-bred dogs to help offset the potential of high veterinary bills. 

Behavior

Easy to Train *****

Intelligence *****

Energy Level *****

Exercise Needs *****

Potential for Playfulness *****

The Labrador aims to please, but they also have a high energy level. If their energy level is met they rarely lash out and cause harm. However, if they are bored and/or agitated by having too much energy they have the potential to cause damage to objects and themselves. They are highly food motivated and intelligent, which makes training relatively easy.

Let me know what questions you have regarding this breed and if I can help you decide if this is the breed for you! 

Dr. Alicia’s Monthly Newsletter

October 2018

By: Dr. Alicia Marquart

Picture credit: http://www.myphillypetcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/halloween-dog.jpg

This month is Halloween month (spooky!), so I hope you all get to celebrate some scare in your life. My monthly newsletters are available for tidbits of information regarding pet healthcare. My intention is to educate clients and enhance their relationship with me. I am hopeful this will aid you in keeping your furry family member healthy! Please feel free to share these with your family and friends.

What to expect from our monthly newsletters:

1. Fact or Fiction? We will provide a “True” or “False” statement for your consideration. The answer will be in the next month’s newsletter.

2. New information regarding any recalls or other matters pertaining to your pet’s health.

3. Updates on new recommendations

4. Seasonal recommendations for your pet.

5. Behavior training recommendations for your pet.

6. Question of the month. One client’s burning question will be answered by a veterinarian.

7. Pet of the month

FACT or FICTION:

October – All poisons are instant (think chocolate)

This is FICTION folks. In reality, most poisons need time before they start effecting systems involved and clinical signs are noted. It can take hours to days to see the effects of a poison pending what it is. Definitely consult your veterinarian if you are concerned about a potential toxin to see what the best course of action is.

Picture credit: https://sociopathworld.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/poison-bottle.jpg

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that grain-free diets have recently been linked to heart disease in our canine (dog) patients?

            A few months ago, it was brought to our attention by the FDA that Grain Free boutique diets have been linked to a disease called Dilated Cardiomyopathy in our dog patients. This is where the muscles of the heart decease in strength and the heart enlarges (dilates). They have seen some dogs improve with diet change and others that have progressed to the point where it is permanent damage. So, if you are feeding a grain free diet that has not been studied for a long period of time on our pets, I recommend a slow transition to a well-studied diet we know is safe. Such food I recommend are Royal Canin, Purina Pro-Plan and Hills Science Diet.

IMPORTANT MONTHLY INFORMATION (RECALLS)

• Performance Dog frozen raw pet food due to potential contamination with Salmonella
• Steve’s Real Food, Quest pet food due to an unspecified reasoning.
• Dr. King’s homeopathic products for human and animal use for microbial contamination
• Rad cat Rad Cat Raw Diet for potential Listeria Monocytogenes contamination
• G & C Raw ground lamb dog food and ground turkey cat food for potential contamination with Listeria Monocytogenes.

BEHAVIOR: HOW DO I PREVENT MY DOG FROM CHEWING?

Picture credit; https://cdn1-www.dogtime.com/assets/uploads/2009/05/file_746_column_how-do-i-stop-my-dog-from-biting-and-chewing.jpg

It is a common occurrence for a dog to start chewing once they are teething (~4-6 months of age) and some dogs continue with this annoying behavior for even longer. Cases of boredom, anxiety, too much energy and curiosity can all be causes of increased chewing. However, chewing is also a normal behavior for dogs and they may just need to be taught what chewing is appropriate. So, what should you do if this is your dog?

1. Try to determine the cause of chewing. Keep a log of when and what your dog is chewing on. Is it only when you are away – maybe it is due from separation anxiety? Do you have a high energy dog and they aren’t getting appropriate energy release? Is it certain times of the day? Consult your veterinarian to see if they can help determine the cause of the destructive behavior and recommendations on how to help.
2. The next step is to “chew-proof” your house. Make sure there is nothing easily accessible to your dog that they could destroy or harm themselves with. Make sure your objects are put away – shoes, children’s toys, socks, underwear, etc. This makes it much easier for your dog to be successful.
3. Try to encourage your dog to chew on appropriate items – such as a Kong, busy buddy, bento ball, oravet chew, etc. Make sure these toys are throughout the house and easily accessible. It is also recommended to rotate between the toys/chews so your dog has something new and exciting every few days. Reward your dog when catching them playing with these toys – play with them, give them treats or just love them when you see this. Ask your veterinarian for a list of verified chews and toys. You can find some at the following link: http://www.vohc.org/VOHCAcceptedProductsTable_Dogs.pdf
4. Correct your dog quickly if you catch them chewing on inappropriate items. You can do this with a noise or a quick touch (no aggressive behavior). Then give them a toy to chew on instead. You can also try to discourage the behavior by spraying a deterrent on the objects you wish him/her to leave alone.

It can take some time to train your dog out of their chewing habit, keep at it and don’t give up!

QUESTION OF THE MONTH: Do I really need to get those skin tags removed off of my pet?  

Picture from: https://www.dogforums.com/attachments/dog-health-questions/11879d1258426261-tick-mole-something-else-honey-005.jpg

Unfortunately, this is not an easy yes or no answer. Most of the time skin tags are benign (not harmful) and will cause no issue at all. However, there are always those rare cases where a skin tag could be more malignant (harmful) and removal would be recommended. The options I generally give my clients are:

1. Needle aspirate and cytology. This test uses a needle to collect cells from the mass. We then examine these cells under a microscope. If there are concerning cells we will recommend sending this off to a specialist or removing the mass for biopsy.
2. Remove the mass and send it out for biopsy. This is a definitive diagnosis and will inform you and the veterinarian what the mass is and if there are any additional recommendations. This is the gold standard treatment for any mass.
3. Continue to monitor the mass. If you note rapid growth, if it waxes/wanes in size, or if it starts bothering your pet then I recommend removal at that time.

PET(S) OF THE MONTH

This is Sassy and is one of the sweetest patients I know. She came from a hard background, but I have seen her flourish and her personality emerge since her new father has taken care of this little one. She is one attached pooch and so lucky to have had the opportunity to know what love is really about. 

Seriously, how cute is she?!

Please send us a picture and small paragraph about your pet to get them featured in out next newsletter. Send the information to drmarquart@brentwoodanimalhospital.com Attention PET OF THE MONTH.