GDUA Waggin Tails
Newsletter
Spring 2007
President’s Letter SPRING 2007
I'm Blind, but There's No Need to
Talk to My Dog
On Good Behavior -- Premiere Column
Veterinary Dentistry: Dental Care
for Pets
A tooth fracture requires urgent
veterinary attention
Dental home care instructions for
pets
The Differences Between Smart
Phones and Pocket PC Phones
Kevin Chinn
I’ve heard an ancient Chinese saying that goes “A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.” This is a prelude to the following request. I need to ask the members of Guide Dog Users of Arizona to think hard on what I am about to pose. May 3 and 4th is the Arizona Council of the Blind annual convention.
On Friday May 4th from 1:30 to 4:00pm, GDUA will be having its first session. We are excited about this session, because we have been lucky enough to get a world renown speaker/trainer Gary Wilkes. Gary Wilkes will be speaking on a few different topics related to the psychology of dog behavior and training. On Saturday at 11:00 we will have our business meeting at which time we will hold our elections, and afterwards we’ll have an open discussion about what all of us would like to see happen in GDUA. The convention will be held at the airport Hilton located at the 2400 block of 48th street. I am asking all of you to put these two times aside to come participate and be an active part of GDUA. Saturday is particularly critical, because we will be voting in an almost full new board of directors and officers since many are not wanting to continue as board members. I am also asking all of our members to consider running for a position within our board. Many of our members have wonderful ideas that can spur GDUA onto new and wonderful things. At this time in the history of GDUA we need this. I believe we have nominations for 3 positions filled already.
Inside this issue of Waggin Tails you will find an invitation from one of our members Larry Wanger, with further details on registration fees and hotel room rates plus lots more on the upcoming AzCB convention. Please consider taking that step and starting the journey with us.
Terri Hedgpeth
Hello everyone. I wanted to apologize for getting this out so late. I had planned on sending this newsletter out March 20th, but let’s just say that work had other plans for me that ate up the time I had set aside for the newsletter.
I plan on running for GDUA president this year. I think we have such a wonderful, useful, and very valuable organization in GDUA and I want to do my part in building our organization beyond what it is today. Since a number of our existing board members aren’t running this year, we have lots of room for new blood. I would really be excited to see some of our members from Tucson and other parts of Arizona to be on the board.
I promised you a section on training that would be contributed by one of our two esteemed trainers Don Frisk and Robert Torrence, but we weren’t able to make that happen for this issue. Instead, I have included a couple of very interesting articles that I found, which I hope you will enjoy. One of the articles is written by our world renowned speaker for the GDUA Friday session, Gary Wilkes. I have also included his very impressive bio following my editor’s piece.
Finally, I want to thank our members who sent me items for
this issue. You will find their contributions in the miscellaneous section of
this issue.
Gary Wilkes is an internationally acclaimed behaviorist, trainer, author, columnist, teacher and lecturer. He offers a wide variety of animal related services, including behavior modification, training and behavioral instruction for animal care professionals, pet owners and professional trainers. He currently provides behavior services in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area by veterinary referral and is the architect of the highly successful Coyote rehabilitation project at the Phoenix Zoo. Wilkes is most noted as the founder of "Click and Treat(R) Training", the first practical and humane application of operant conditioning for dogs – and the hottest trend in modern dog training. Wilkes has earned respect for his abilities in both the "real world" of dog training and the scientific world of behavior analysis. He has a unique ability to simplify complex principles into easily applied methods.
Educated at Oregon State and Arizona State Universities, Wilkes is a member of, and has lectured to the Association for Behavior Analysis - an international professional organization of experimental psychologists. He is the recipient of the association's 1995 award for "Effective Presentation of Behavior Analysis in the Mass Media". He was featured in an episode of Scientific American Frontiers hosted by Alan Alda for his work with the MIT Media lab with artificial intelligence. Wilkes taught at the Ethology Instituted in Hong, Denmark to graduate level students in animal behavior and is currently an associate professor of animal behavior at the Morrison School of Agribusiness at Arizona State University.
Wilkes also gives training seminars and lectures,
internationally, on behavior modification and training for obedience trainers,
assistance dog handlers, Search and Rescue groups and pet owners. He is a
popular speaker at university psychology departments such as MIT, Temple
University, Arizona State University and the University of North Texas. Wilkes
is a regularly invited speaker for professional and service organizations such
as the American, Canadian and UK Associations of Pet Dog Trainers, the Delta
Society, Service Dogs International and Pet Sitters International. A former
humane society shelter manager, Wilkes continues to work with animal welfare
issues as a member emeritus of the board of directors of the Arizona Humane
Society.
By Larry Wanger
Dear AZCB Members and Friends:
I am writing to cordially invite you to the 2007 Annual AZCB Membership Convention. We have a very exciting and informative program lined up, and we are planning a number of fun and enriching activities for all participants.
Thursday, May 3 - Saturday, may 5, 2007
Phoenix Airport Hilton Hotel
2435 South 47th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
Reservations: (480) 894-1600
Or toll-free 1 (800) 728-6357
Reservations Deadline: April 12, 2007
We will host several meals and mixers to give you the opportunity to meet and network with other people who are blind or visually impaired. The Convention is a great time to make friends and renew old acquaintances.
We will hold workshops to assist AZCB members and leaders to improve outreach and advocacy efforts and to build a strong and vibrant organization.
We will provide workshops on job training, employment and rehabilitation services, geared to provide you with knowledge and tools you can use to seek and obtain effective training and rewarding employment.
We will host additional workshops on a variety of topics ranging from strategies for obtaining assistive technology, accessing accessible information about health-related topics, and strategies for improving transportation access in our communities.
Registration for the 2007 Convention is only $35.00. This fee covers registration and most meals. Hotel room rates range from $99 to $125 per night, depending on number of guests and room preferences. AZCB members will receive a $40 per night discount on their hotel room charges.
If we are to be successful in promoting the educational, employment, economic and civil equality of blind and visually impaired Arizonans, the AZCB needs people with energy, enthusiasm and talent. The Convention serves as that one opportunity where we can meet face-to-face, exchange ideas and information about blindness and visual impairment, draw strength from each other, and plan our social and advocacy efforts for the coming year. Put another way, the more people who attend our convention, the more successful we will be at understanding and advocating for the needs of blind and visually impaired people in our state.
Registering to attend the 2007 Convention is simple. Just complete and return the enclosed registration form in the envelope provided. Also, if you plan to stay in the hotel, contact the Phoenix Airport Hilton to reserve your room.
Please note the registration deadline of April 12, 2007. After this date, you will still be able to register at the door, but the registration fee will be slightly higher, and hotel room availability cannot be guaranteed.
For more information about our 2007 Membership Convention, contact me at (602) 795-4275, or send me email at lsw999@cox.net.
I look forward to meeting you in Phoenix in May!
Sincerely,
Larry Wanger
Convention Coordinator
By Ian Hamilton
The Herald, Scotland (UK)
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
I'm utterly exhausted with people constantly asking how I became blind. Considering that I'm 42, and blind since birth, it could be imagined that by now I would be familiar with this question.
On the contrary, if anything I'm getting more impatient with the same old questions day after day.
"Have you been blind all your life?" To this I always respond: "Not yet".
"Your hearing must be so much better than mine?" Answer: "Pardon?"
"That's a lovely Labrador you have there." Answer: "Labrador? My dog is a Shepherd."
Not original answers, but they always make me and Moss, my black Labrador, chuckle.
It always happens when I'm trapped and unable to escape. When I'm on a bus, train or taxi. People are naturally curious; I understand this. But they can't resist going that little bit too far if you show any glimpse of being generous with your responses.
"Couldn't you get an operation to get your sight back?" Answer: "No! I like walking into bus stops."
"My auntie was blind. She had to stay in bed. You're so brave going out and about." Staying in bed. Umm, now there's an idea. That was one smart auntie.
"How do you find your mouth when you eat?" Answer: "In the same way you find your bum when you wipe it."
"If I was blind I would have to kill myself." Answer: "Why wait?"
These normal questions are the reason I've come up with a fantastic plan. For years, various organizations have been providing Blind Awareness Workshops. In fact, I've had to deliver a few. These workshops show the public how they should respond if they encounter a blind person. Topics such as: don't go up and shout at blind people, they are not deaf. ASK, if they want to cross the road? DON'T drag them across the road by the ears. When you are giving directions, DON'T waggle your finger in some vague direction and say: "It's just over there next to the post office. SEE, you can't miss it." Wanna bet?
Many years ago I was waiting for a bus in Union Street in Glasgow, when two little old ladies decided to lift me, from behind, on to the bus. They proceeded to push, heave and shove me. Now, I know I'm not known for my speed, but I was heading in the right direction of the door under my own propulsion. You won't be surprised to hear that they failed miserably. After all, I'm 13 stone and 6ft. To get me safely aboard they caused mayhem, pushing mothers and toddlers aside to get to their prey. The driver had to leave his cab to untangle buggies, shopping and various limbs and walking sticks. I wonder if the ladies survived that day. I know I'm scared.
I've decided to call my new training course The Blind Person's Guide to the General Public. Topics such as dealing with people who are giving directions to my dog while ignoring me. This did happen in Glasgow's Central Station by a member of the railway police. I couldn't believe it. Was he having a laugh? No, he really was under the misapprehension that my dog knew what he was on about. Not once did he refer to me at all. Bizarre behavior!
My course will teach blind people how to cope when faced with this kind of attitude. When people come up and say: "You are a lovely boy" - when talking to the dog. Say, "Thank you very much but I'm spoken for." Another tip is always to have a pair of headphones in your pocket. It is awful to be trapped on a train with someone going through all their fears and traumas about being blind. Just say that you are going to listen to an audio book. Pop on the headphones and put the jack in your pocket. They'll never know the difference.
When you get caught by someone asking silly questions, the answer is to turn the conversation round at the first opportunity. The one main conversation that everyone likes to talk about is themselves. Now this doesn't just apply to us blindies - the technique can be used by everyone. Let me give you an example. I was traveling on the Glasgow Underground. Sitting opposite was a woman who decided to interrogate me about my then German Shepherd guide dog. "What's its name?" The following questions took that kind of line. Then she started to get a little more probing. "So how did you lose your sight?"
Now in the correct circumstance that is a perfectly reasonable question. However, not on the underground when surrounded by ear-wigging passengers. I had a number of options. One is telling her to mind her own business (or words to that effect). I took a different tack. This was the first time I had put the technique into action. It worked a treat.
I ignored her question. Then I asked her some questions of my own, such as, "Where are you off to today?". By the time she got off three stops later, I knew that she had just broken up with her boyfriend; she was looking for a flat and was thinking of moving south again! But she left the tube feeling happy.
I hadn't been rude, and the only thing she found out about me was the name and age of my dog. A good result, I would say. I'm not a reporter for nothing.
Ian Hamilton reports on disability issues for BBC Scotland.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/features/display.var.1173810.0.0.php
Submitted by Beth Anderson (GDUA member)
A man wrote a letter to a small hotel in a Midwest town he planned to visit on his vacation. He wrote: I would very much like to bring my dog with me. He is well-groomed and very well-behaved. Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my room with me at night??
An immediate reply came from the hotel owner, who wrote: "I've been operating this hotel for many years. In all that time, I've never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware or pictures off the walls. I've never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly. And, I've never had a dog run out on a hotel bill. Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel. If your dog will vouch for you, you're welcome to stay here, too."
By Cindy Rogers (GDUA member)
Every day we lovingly touch our beloved guides. Whether it is a touch of praise, for a job well done or the touch with a favorite brush or comb, we are always touching our guides. Our touch is a way of communication, but this touch also may save the life of your dog.
About a year ago I noticed a small bump on Cosma’s left hip. The vet was not concerned, but I continued to be very aware of how this bump felt to my touch. Each day I would be vigilant about running my hands over her body. Cosma enjoyed these loving touches not realizing I was also taking care of her.
About a month ago I noticed that the bump had doubled in size and the consistency. We visited the vet and the determination was made that this was a cyst and needed to be removed. The surgery on March 2nd was very routine. Of course, I was more upset about the surgery than was Cosma! The surgeon mentioned that the cyst looked different than she expected so it was sent to a lab for identification.
Last Tuesday I received the results that Cosma’s lump was actually a neurofibrosarcoma tumor. Fortunately, although cancerous, this type of tumor is non invasive and it will not spread. Intellectually, I understand this outcome, but emotionally, I see the big “C” word! I wonder if the prognosis would have been different if I had not taken the time to explore Cosma’s body every day.
My friends, please, use your loving touches each day with you precious guides. They are such miracles in our lives and it our responsibility to take care of them and cherish every moment we share
From The Seeing Eye
April 2, 2007
As you may know, the current pet food recall has expanded to include several more products from three different companies since our last communication with you. What follows is the latest information from each. So that you are not deluged with constant email notifications from us, we suggest you check the Food and Drug Administration's website for up-to-the-minute updates. You can visit the FDA site at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/rssRecalls.xml to get the latest news or subscribe to receive automatic updates.
These are the products most recently added to the recall list:
From Del Monte
Jerky Treats Beef Flavor Dog Snacks
Gravy Train Beef Sticks Dog Snacks
Pounce Meaty Morsels Moist Chicken Flavor Cat Treats
Ol' Roy Beef Flavor Jerky Strips Dog Treats
Ol' Roy Beef Flavor Snack Sticks Dog Treats
Ol' Roy Bark'n Bac'n Beef & Bacon Flavor Dog Treats
Ol' Roy with Beef Hearty Cuts in Gravy Dog Food
Ol' Roy with Beef Hearty Strips in Gravy Dog Food
Ol' Roy Country Stew Hearty Cuts in Gravy Dog Food
Dollar General Beef Flavored Jerky Strips Dog Treats
Dollar General Beef Flavored Beef Sticks Dog Treats
Happy Tails Beef Flavor Jerky Strips
All sizes and varieties of ALPO Prime Cuts in Gravy wet dog food with specific date codes. Please check the Purina website for specific dates. No Purina brand dry pet foods are affected by the recall - including ALPO Prime Cuts dry. In addition, no other Purina dog food products, no Purina cat food products, Purina treat products or Purina Veterinary Diet products are included in this recall
Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Feline Dry Food. This is the only product Hill's currently sells in the United States and Canada that contains wheat gluten from any supplier. No other Hill's Prescription Diet or Science Diet products are affected by this voluntary recall.
Sincerely,
The Seeing Eye Canine Health Department
By Gary Wilkes
If I had a broom, and the nasty habit of sneaking up behind you and whacking you, would you want me to say "Duck"...
1. Before I hit you
2. As I hit you
-or-
3. After I hit you
If you are like most people, you will intuitively get this right. Unless I say "duck", BEFORE I hit you, you cannot use the information to change your behavior i.e. get the heck out of the way of the broom. Since all creatures in the natural world must obey this rule, we shall call this the "natural" solution to the problem.
The unfortunate aspect of this tidbit of behavioral knowledge is that almost no one actually does this in real life. Dog book, after dog book, after dog book, gives this information incorrectly. Since a choke chain is the primary tool of traditional training, you will often find the phrase "jerk the chain and say NO!" Since this is the most common use of this information, we shall call this the "common sense" approach to giving a correction.
About one hundred years ago, the Russian physiologist Pavlov studied how animals learn about the environment. He suggested that if a dog had to wait for the claws of a bear to sink into his flesh before running from the danger, he could never survive. The fact is clear - the signal must come before the correction. Since this answer seems absurdly obvious, you might wonder why all those experts haven't figured it out yet. The answer is that "common sense" most often "ain't natural."
For a natural look at this oddity, consider the "nature" of human beings.
Language and speech are learned behaviors. Until we are about a year old, we do not use language. We instinctively grab and push things long before we learn to ask for them. When confronted with new situations, we fall back on our instinctive reactions - we jerk the chain first, and then warn the dog. This is identical to the old saying about closing the barn door after the horses are gone.
All this natural stuff is well and good, you might say, but what does it mean in the real world? Is common sense really invalid? How can the timing of my warning change the effect of the broom whack?
To answer these questions, let’s look at a really common dog problem-rushing to the door when a guest arrives. We need three things to get started with our little experiment - a "whacker" (a soft throw pillow), a dog who rushes to the door, and a warning signal. (NO!) We will use the pillow as a gentle "punishment" for wacky behavior - judge the size and force of the pillow to match the size of the dog - the idea is to create the same level of safety that you would expect in a human pillow fight. The idea is to startle the dog without causing injury.
For a test of the process, we have an assistant ring the bell. The dog flings itself toward the door, barking and fussing. By the time we can get to the door the dog has been displaying the behavior for about 10 seconds. End of repetition number one. Now we know what the dog is likely to do in this situation.
On the next repetition, we try the "common sense" way, by offering the "whack" before the "NO!" This time, Fido rushes the door. It takes you ten seconds to get there and throw the pillow at the dog. (Why do you think they call them "throw" pillows?) Then we say "NO!" The result: You might as well skip the word, no, it hasn't given you any advantage over just throwing the pillow.
Now we try the theoretically correct, natural approach to the problem. This time, as the doorbell rings, Fido again starts to rush the door. At the first instant of rushing toward the door, we say the word "NO" to identify WHICH behavior causes the pillow to fly. We then throw the pillow at the dog. You will see the advantages of this method on the next repetition.
Now, something unusual happens. When the bell sounds, and you say "No", the dog checks for a second. Instead of worrying about the door, he is suddenly concerned about that blasted pillow. The use of a warning signal BEFORE the actual correction has disrupted the behavior, effectively. Over two of three additional trials, the behavior of rushing the door will disappear. This is the time to start doling out treats and affection for the new, passive behavior.
Learning some simple rules of behavior can help you develop long lasting and effective ways to control your pet's behavior. Relying on advice merely because "everyone" suggests it, may be a mistake. It will not benefit you to use "common sense" to solve a problem, if it "ain't natural."
By Gary Wilkes
In the mid 1970's, I began working for a small humane society in Oregon. I had little experience with animals and even less experience with the realities of pet overpopulation. Each day I answered phone calls from pet owners who wanted advice about how to fix their pets' behavior problems. The most common types of problems were chronic barking, digging or jumping on guests -- simple problems for which I had no simple solutions. Another type of call came from owners who wished to release their pets to the shelter. Our policy was to tell the owners that the shelter should be used as a last resort and that they should keep the animal if possible. After a very short time I realized that there was a clear connection between these two types of phone calls.
I remember one particular call that radically changed my attitude about our shelter policies. I spoke to a man who was angry because his German Shorthaired pointer had destroyed over $1000.00 worth of drapes. I attempted to persuade him to work through his problems and keep the dog. His reply pointed out the weakness of my position.
"If you are so sure that I should keep him, can you tell me how to stop him from doing it again? Are you willing to pay if he ruins the next batch of curtains?" The man added that advising someone to keep such a pet without telling him how to fix the problem was ridiculous and naive. To make matters worse, the man had adopted the dog from the shelter, several months before, based on the assurances of a very mistaken shelter worker -- me.
Months of listening to the same stories from different people taught me several things. First, rather than being indifferent or heartless toward their animals, the majority of people who gave up their pets did it out of desperation. Most of them had turned to the shelter as a last resort after attempting one or more behavioral remedies. Clearly, the first step in solving the problem of unwanted pets lay with teaching the owners how to humanely modify their pets' behaviors. All I needed to do, I reasoned, was read a few books about behavior modification roll up my sleeves and get to work.
My first steps in learning about animal behavior seemed to lead to a dead end. First, I read every dog and cat book I could find. I also read scientific works about behavior modification and talked to experienced trainers. I kept finding "solutions" that were uniformly impractical, inhumane or nonsensical. One book recommended a cure for chronic digging that included filling one of the holes with water and then submerging the dog's head. Another book suggested shooting a BB gun at the dog when it barked. I was ethically opposed to anything so obviously violent and realistic enough to see that even someone with perfect timing could make a tiny error and injure the animal. I had come to a crossroads, of sorts. I decided to search beyond traditional obedience training to find methods that could not possibly injure an animal - even accidentally.
Another obstacle in my attempt to learn about animal behavior was that the experts didn't seem to agree about even basic concepts. Worse, when they did agree, it often seemed to contradict my own experience. For instance, many authorities suggested that scent is the primary cause of many behaviors. Book after book cautioned that dogs will bite you if they detect the odor of fear, yet I spent many fearful moments handling vicious dogs without being attacked. I discovered that visual signs, such as eye contact or touching a dog at the shoulders, are far more likely to trigger an attack than scent. It was not that the experts were wrong; they had simply not seen the entire spectrum of dog behavior. Following a traditional approach to dog training seemed like a limited path.
In contrast to conventional dog obedience training, there were many examples of trainers in different disciplines who seemed free of traditional rules or expectations. I had seen marine mammal trainers who could get a 600 pound sea lion to gently kiss a small child. This type of behavior had not been taught using choke chains or shock collars, but with toy clickers and food rewards. I once saw a herding demonstration, where three border collies fetched a group of sheep from a distance of over 100 yards. The herdsman used neither harsh words nor a leash. His control was so refined that he could move each of the dogs, by name, a few inches at a time.
The previous examples of humane and effective training are not isolated. Sheepherders in New Zealand use dogs to herd sheep at distances up to 1000 yards. The U.S. Navy has trained both dolphins and seals to perform patrol duties at distances ten times that far. Trainers at the Brookfield Zoo, in Chicago, recently taught a female Orangutan how to nurture her baby. She had been born in captivity and had never learned from other Orangutans how to be a proper mother.
Though these examples of training all differ from traditional forms, they are quite similar to each other. The connecting thread between them is their focus on primarily positive reinforcement to shape successful performance, rather than corrections for failure. Even though these various types of trainers use different terms to describe what they do, their proper use of reinforcement is consistent.
It should not be surprising that pet owners can benefit from the knowledge of these "super trainers". Teaching a dog to lie quietly while having his nails trimmed is not so different than teaching a dolphin to lie quietly for a medical examination. Sheepherders whose dogs respond to the faint sound of a whistle can give us insight into teaching a dog to come when called.
Over the past 20 years a growing number of trainers and behaviorists have turned their skills toward expanding the methodology of training and behavior modification. New forms of training such as dog agility competitions rely on trust between the dog and handler. Trust can only be built with positive reinforcement. Service dog trainers routinely teach dogs to respond to people who are physically unable to force a dog to be obedient. These innovative techniques offer real advantages for pet owners as well as professional trainers.
By Perfect Paws Dog and Puppy Training
http://www.perfectpaws.com/sa.html
Separation Anxiety
(Owner-Absent Misbehavior)
Many dogs experience separation anxiety when left alone. They will often whine, bark, cry, howl, chew, dig, scratch at the door, soil the house or destroy your home and yard. We often unintentionally train our dogs to behave this way because whenever they throw this kind of tantrum when we leave, we quickly come back to reassure them, give them attention or even a bone or biscuit. If you do this, your dog will soon learn that he can control you with emotional blackmail.
Long, drawn-out farewells can create separation anxiety problems by first exciting your dog and then making the isolation more obvious when you're gone. Just when he gets all worked up and ready to play, suddenly you disappear. With all this energy, your dog will either try his best to get you to come back or he will have to vent his energy in some other way. Since he can't build model airplanes or invite his buddies over for a hand of poker, he does doggy things - like chew, dig and bark.
Perhaps it is not separation anxiety after all! We often think our dog is destructive because he is angry and spiteful that we left him, but he could actually be just trying to have some fun since there is nothing else to do. He may be relieved to be able to do those things he normally can't do when you're home. He may be thinking, "Thank goodness the owner is finally leaving! Now I can chase the cat, dig up the tomatoes, get in the trash, and bark at the neighbors. They never let me do those things when they're home."
Some dogs with separation anxiety are stressed, nervous and insecure when they are left alone. They express this nervous energy in typical dog fashion - chewing, digging, barking and house soiling.
To prevent separation anxiety, dogs need to feel happy, secure, and comfortable when you're away. It's important to give them things to do while you're gone. Provide them with lots of toys, such as a kong or have a ball stuffed with treats, or a digging pit. in the yard. Often another companion pet can help alleviate the boredom.
Another way to prevent separation anxiety is to set aside scheduled time periods to give your dog undivided attention, play and exercise. A happy, well-exercised dog will usually sleep contentedly during the day while you are gone. Be sure that one of the scheduled play sessions occurs before you must leave for the day. Give your dog a chance to settle down before you leave and don't make a big deal of your departure - just leave without any emotion or commotion.
If your dog is already experiencing separation anxiety, then gradually accustom him to your leaving. Practice leaving and returning several times a day until he gets used to your departures and realizes that you are not abandoning him forever. Gradually leave for longer and longer periods of time, but start out by leaving for just 5 minutes and returning again.
For more information on Puppy Training and Dog Training, take a look at Gwen's Award Winning Publications ... Manners for the Modern Dog contains down-to-earth advice on housetraining, barking, chewing, digging, separation anxiety and much more! Its concise and easy to follow style makes implementation of the methods described a snap! This book is given to the family of every dog and puppy placed into a home from the San Rafael Guide Dogs for the Blind.
To order Manners for the Modern Dog, go to: http://www.perfectpaws.com/mmdorder.html
For reviews of this book go to: http://www.perfectpaws.com/mrev.html
c1995-2006 Gwen Bohnenkamp, Perfect Paws. All Rights Reserved.
By Frank J.M. Verstraete
UC Davis school of Veterinary Medicine
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vsr/dentistry/DENTALCARE.HTM
In the 1980's, a surge of interest in veterinary dentistry occurred world-wide. Before that time, only isolated centers and practices in the U.S.A. and Europe practiced veterinary dentistry of a relatively high standard. In the U.S.A., more and more private practitioners devoted their time exclusively to this speciality. They promoted the demand for veterinary dental services by presenting continuing education courses to their colleagues, and by making the public aware of the importance of their pets' oral health. Veterinary schools soon followed suit and started introducing veterinary dentistry into their curricula. A complete dental service for pets is now provided by a rapidly increasing number of private hospitals and teaching hospitals all over the world.
The spectrum of dental disease in the dog and cat is wide and varied. This paper reviews the dental problems seen in dogs and cats, what services the veterinary dentist can offer, and what pet owners should know about their pets' teeth and gums.
According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats develop gum disease by the age of three years. Periodontal disease is the most common dental condition affecting dogs and cats. Infection and inflammation of the gums and supporting tissues of the teeth are caused by bacteria present in plaque and calculus (tartar). The problem begins when plaque and calculus are allowed to build up on a pet's teeth, especially below the gumline. Bad breath, bleeding and inflammation of the gums, receding gums, loosening and the eventual loss of teeth are characteristic of the condition. Prophylactic treatment to keep the teeth clean is therefore of great importance. Your veterinarian may recommend an oral hygiene program that includes regularly brushing your pets' teeth with a toothpaste formulated for animals. Diet is a major factor in the development of plaque and calculus. Soft or sticky foods should therefore be avoided, while certain chewing toys are beneficial. A specially formulated diet with dental benefits (reduced accumulation of plaque and calculus) is now available for dogs.
Regular dental check-up visits to your veterinarian are strongly recommended; the interval between check-up's varies from pet to pet and also depends on how effective the home care program is. Hardened tartar should be removed by your veterinarian, as this requires the use of special instruments and equipment. Routine periodontal treatment performed by a veterinarian typically includes ultrasonic scaling, subgingival manual scaling, and polishing. All dental procedures in pets, including scaling and polishing, are performed under general anesthesia. The current state-of-the-art of veterinary anesthesia is such, that this poses minimal risk. The adverse effects of bad teeth on the overall health of the animal also greatly outweigh the anesthetic risk.
There are clear indications that oral health status has a profound effect on the animal's general health. Periodontal disease may cause bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream with potentially deleterious effects on internal organs. Conversely, poor systemic health may manifest in the oral cavity in various ways and may also exacerbate periodontal disease. Your pet's dental examination is therefore not limited to the oral cavity but always includes a general physical examination. Laboratory examinations, to evaluate systemic disease concerns, are also commonly performed. Some dogs and cats suffer from chronic oral infection or stomatitis, a poorly understood condition which is frustratingly difficult to treat.
Tooth decay or caries, as seen in man, may occur but is relatively rare in the dog and cat. Cats, however, are prone to developing a different type of cavity, known as a resorption lesion. These poorly understood lesions often begin at, or below the gumline. Red, inflamed gums around an affected tooth, and pain are early signs that can be noticed by the pet owner. These lesions require immediate veterinary care.
Dental fractures are very common in the dog, and dental treatment is mandatory if pulp exposure has occurred. The exposed pulp is not only very painful, but also becomes necrotic; the formation of a periapical granuloma or "tooth abscess" is also possible. Endodontic treatment (commonly referred to as root canal treatment) is now routinely performed by veterinary dentists. Subsequent to endodontic treatment, the root canal opening is filled with a dental sealant. Crown restoration, for which various techniques exist, is also available. In selected cases, other methods of fixed prosthodontics, such as a bridge, may also be considered. Most veterinarians do not offer this service, but are happy to refer selected cases to referral centers.
In the field of orthodontics, attention is paid to the manner in which the teeth are arranged relative to one another (so-called "bite problems"). In evaluating a dog's bite, it is important examine all the teeth. Malpositioned teeth may be the result of teething problems and are not necessarily of genetic origin. On the other hand, evaluation of all the teeth may reveal that the bony structure supporting the teeth is abnormal, which is indeed hereditary. As many of these conditions may have a hereditary background, genetic counseling is always offered; it is often recommended that the animal be rendered incapable of reproduction. Corrective orthodontic treatment is restricted to conditions that obviously cause pain and discomfort to the patient. Both fixed and removable appliances, similar to those used in humans, have been used in animals with good results.
Oral surgery in pets includes extractions, jaw fracture repair and oral tumor management. Unfortunately not all teeth can be saved and extraction is often the treatment of choice. Extraction techniques have been refined in order to minimize the pain and discomfort. Prevention however, remains better than cure. Trauma in dogs and cats is common and jaw fractures occur relatively frequently. The management of jaw fractures is an important aspect of oral surgery. New techniques for fracture repair have been designed and existing techniques modified to minimize damage to teeth and ensure a rapid return to normal function.
Tumor cases account for another important group of oral surgery patients. Tumors of the mouth and throat are common in the dog but occur less frequently in the cat. Oral tumors frequently go unnoticed by the pets' owners until the tumor reaches a fairly advanced stage of development, making it more difficult to treat successfully. A variety of lesions may occur, including benign and malignant conditions. Non-cancerous masses and swellings such as gingival hyperplasia and infectious conditions may be confused with oral tumors. Conversely, oral malignancies may present as non-healing, ulcerated sores instead of "typical" prominent masses. Early recognition of suspicious swellings or persistent sores is critical and, when evident, should be brought to the attention of the veterinarian. Recently developed surgical techniques for removing oral tumors and radiotherapy are now available. These techniques often give excellent results, both in terms of cosmetic appearance and prognosis, provided they are applied at an early stage.
The same type of oral cancer that frequently occurs in man, is also the most common type in the dog
Dogs and cats get plaque on their teeth just like we do! Plaque is made of proteins (from saliva) and bacteria. If the plaque is not removed every day, the bacteria will multiply rapidly and invade the gums around the teeth. Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, results. If the plaque is still not removed, the inflammation of the gums will spread to the bone around the teeth and cause bone loss or periodontal disease. Ultimately, the teeth have no bony support and may become loose or even fall out.
Fortunately, gingivitis is reversible and periodontal disease is preventable! When plaque is removed by tooth-brushing, the gums and bone around the teeth will stay healthy. If plaque is not removed, calculus or "tartar" will form when minerals from saliva cause the plaque to harden. Once calculus is present, a professional cleaning is needed to remove it. You can prevent calculus from forming by removing plaque every day with tooth- brushing.
Tooth-brushing should be introduced gradually. Don't force the mouth open. Start by just sliding your finger under the cheek and running your finger along the teeth and gums. Do this every day for about a week, and always praise your pet during and afterwards, or give them a favorite toy when you are finished. Even if your dog is older, it is not to late for you to start brushing their teeth daily. Once your pet is used to this, begin using a soft-bristled toothbrush and pet toothpaste. (Human toothpaste contains foaming agents which can upset your pet's stomach. Fluoride is also not needed, as dogs and cats don't usually get the same kind of cavities people do.) The paste should be pressed down into the bristles, so the pet doesn't lick it off the brush. Start by brushing just a few teeth at a time. Hold the toothbrush at a 45 angle so the bristles go under the gumline. Only the outside surfaces of the teeth need to be brushed at first. Try to use a circular motion with the toothbrush if at all possible.
Brushing should be done at the same time every day so it becomes part of your pet's daily routine. Afterwards, don’t forget to give your pet a reward such as a favorite toy, a walk, or lots of praise. Most dogs and some cats will actually learn to enjoy this daily ritual, and will see it as extra attention from their favorite person.
Chewing activity: dogs who are active chewers are less likely to have plaque build-up. Chew toys such as Kong® toys, Plaque Attackers®, Gumabones®, or rawhide are recommended. Hard plastic bones or sterilized real bones are too hard and may cause tooth fractures. Fresh bones with meat and cartilage still on them are ok, but they should be removed after a few hours, because they become hard as they dry out. Edible treats are often eaten too quickly to be of much benefit, and may add significant calories to the diet.
Special diets: Hill's T/D diets, available through veterinarians for dogs and cats, and Friskies Dental Diet for cats, help reduce plaque build-up, too. These are nutritionally complete so they can be fed as a maintenance food, or can be used as treats if your pet is on a special diet.
A greater awareness of dental disease in the dog amongst veterinary practitioners and pet owners will greatly contribute to the early recognition and prevention of dental problems, in particular periodontal disease. This is important, because periodontal disease may have a serious impact on a pet's well-being and general health. Great advances have been made in veterinary dentistry and a wide spectrum of dental therapeutic options are now available.
By: Dr. Bari Spielman
Gingival hyperplasia is overgrowth of the gingiva (gum tissue) characterized by firm, nonpainful swellings associated with the gingiva. Gingival hyperplasia is sometimes referred to as fibromatous periodontal hyperplasia.
Gingival hyperplasia is most common in large and giant breed dogs. There is a familial inheritance reported in the boxer, Great Dane, collie, Doberman pinscher, and Dalmatian
Familial inheritance
Chronic drug administration, most commonly diphenylhydantoin, nitrendipine, nifedipine and cyclosporine
Slowly enlarging mass or masses noticed along the gingival margin. Bleeding from the gums. Mouth discomfort in severe cases.
Baseline tests, which include a complete blood count (CBC), biochemical profile, and urinalysis, are usually within normal limits. Careful inspection and examination of the entire oral cavity is essential and may be the primary means for diagnosis. Biopsy of the ingiva is the only way to diagnose gingival hyperplasia definitively, although it is often not necessary or recommended.
Treatment of mild gingival hyperplasia is rarely indicated. In more severe or chronic cases, your veterinarian may recommend the following:
Discontinuing drug administration if the affected individual is on one of the drugs known to be associated with gingival hyperplasia.
Gingivoplasty is indicated if the lesions are interfering with the patient's ability to eat, or there is associated periodontal disease. This is a surgical procedure that necessitates general anesthesia. It is meant to re-establish normal height and contour of the gingiva.
A thorough oral examination should be performed during routine check-ups to monitor for recurrence. It is very important to follow the instructions given to you by your veterinarian. A soft diet and special oral rinses are often recommended for several days postoperatively.
http://www.petplace.com/article-printer-friendly.aspx?id=4031
Gingival hyperplasia is a condition seen in Boxer dogs, characterized by hyperplasia,
or enlargement, of the gingiva, or gums. It usually starts around middle age and progresses. Some areas of the gingiva can become quite large but have only a small attachment to the rest of the gingiva. Infection and inflammation of the gingiva is common with this condition. Under anesthesia the enlarged areas of gingiva can be cut back with a scalpel blade, but it usually recurs.
In humans, gingival hyperplasia can be caused by a reaction to certain drugs, e.g. the anti-convulsant phenytoin.
This Medical article is a stub. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingival_hyperplasia
By Earle Harrison
Every day customers ask me “what are the differences between Smart Phones and Pocket PC Phones. Well, it is easy to be more then a little confused about this topic. There are several devices on the market that are referred to as smart phones and that run on a couple different platforms. The Nokia 6680 for example is a smart phone that runs on the Symbian operating system. The smart phones that I will be referring to from here on run on the Microsoft Windows Mobile 5 operating system. Microsoft also has a suite of applications that run on the windows Mobile Pocket PC environment. Most Pocket PC devices incorporate the use of a touch screen for tapping on items and windows Smart phones do not have a touch screen. Pocket PC devices also include such productivity applications such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel and Microsoft smart phones do not come with these programs; however, there are third party applications that can be downloaded and installed to give the smart phone this functionality such as the free download of Vieka WordPad by Vieka software.
Both the Pocket PC and smart phone options enable users to synchronize personal information such as contacts, calendar appointments, e-mail etc. Both also allow you to download and install third party applications such as Audible Player, Avantgo and Skype. It used to be that Pocket PC devices typically had faster processors than the smart phones but with smart phones such as the Blackjack by Cingular which sports a 416 megahertz this is no longer the case.
Really the main difference is that smart phones are considered phones first with some PDA functionality and Pocket PC devices are considered PDA's first but there is a whole lot of overlap.
Finely, we come to the accessibility software (screen-reader and screen-enlargement software). Most people are familiar with Talks and Mobile Speak for the Nokia Symbian phones, so I won’t include these two software packages in the remainder of this discussion. For the Smart phones with the Windows 5 operating system there is Mobile Speak for Smart Phones from Code Factory. Whereas, the screen-reader and screen enlargement software for the pocket phones with the touch screens is called Mobile Speak Pocket, also by Code Factory. I know this is confusing at first, but hang in there.
The Mobile Speak screen-reader and screen-enlargement software for the smart phone is 299 dollars. However, the Mobile Speak Pocket screen-reader and screen-enlargement software for the pocket PC phones with the touch screens is 595 dollars.
If you have any questions, you can call me at the number below. I am a distributer for all three.
Earle Harrison
President
Handy Tech North America
Voice: 651.636.5184