Itchy dog?

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6Common Reasons Why Pets Itch

Just last week I got a call from one of our Pet Detectives located in Ohio. Hecalled to report that one of the Search Dogs, a Bloodhound named Luscious, wasitching. Here is the short list of the 6 most common causes to itching in pets.See if you can guess which one Luscious was suffering from!

Fleas - It can only take a few bites for a pet to start itching like crazy.When a pet itches, it can make the skin become more irritated, which can thenbecome susceptible to infection.

Food Allergies - Many pets have food allergies. Keep in mind that an allergycan develop as a pet ages, even if it wasn't there before. Food allergies canspontaneously occur without any change in what the pet is eating.

Environmental Allergies - Pets can be allergic to things like pollen, mold, andhouse dust!

Mites - Mites are another parasite that can cause a pet to itch. To find ifyour pet has mites, a veterinarian can test your pet based on the symptoms.

Ringworm - Ringworm isn't a worm! It is a fungal infection. If you have workedin rescue, you have probably had to deal with a pet with ringworm. Ringwormusually causes hair loss in a round, or ring shaped pattern. A veterinarian candiagnose this in a pet.

Other - The other five reasons why pets itch here are reallythe  most common, but there are some other, less-likely possibilities. Ifyour pet isn't itching because of one of the other reasons listed here, youwill have to talk to your veterinarian and get to the bottom of the scratching!Other possibilities include fungal infections other than ringworm, bacterial skininfections and immune issues.

Now that you know the six most common reasons why pets itch,what do you think our lost pet recovery Search Dog was suffering from? If youguessed the common flea, you are right! After a few baths with special naturalflea shampoo, Luscious is back to sniffing out lost pets!
Annalisa Berns, Pet Detective - Pet Search and Rescue
Annalisa is the author of the Lost Dog Recovery Guide andLost Cat Recovery Guide and has been assisting with the recovery of lost petsfor over 7 years. For more information go to www.PetSearchAndRescue.comor call Pet Search and Rescue at 800-925-2410.

Captain the GSD beaten to death

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 I recently read an article where a woman thought that some rescues were too thorough in their vetting of homes for the dogs in their care.   She went on to make some jokes about it.   I didn't think it was funny then, and I want her to know about Captain.   I wonder how she would feel if she had looked into Captain's eyes and promised him a good, safe, loving home, and then had to look into his eyes as he suffered in the trash bin after being beaten by the person she turned him over to?   What would she say as he laid on the table dying?  


Captain the dog’s death leads to thousands in donations to B.C. SPCA

Captain, you did not die in vain.   You were important.  

If you agree, please sign this petition.  


http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/justice-for-captain/  

Leaving your dogs with a petsitter

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I have been volunteering with German Shepherd Rescue for more than a decade.   That is a lot of years, a lot of homeless dogs, a lot of leaving dogs behind at a shelter because the sad truth is that we just cannot save them all.  
So, you would think I would have a pretty thick skin when it comes to leaving my dogs behind for a few days while I take a much needed trip.   However, this is not even close to the case.   I am only slightly embarrased to admit that leaving my dogs behind causes me so much anxiety that I have to wonder if it is even worth it.   So, I do what any neurotic poochie mommy does... I plan.  
I am leaving for them for 4 days.   I have a petsitter who I have known and loved for almost 8 years.   She came this week and spent three hours hanging out with us and the dogs, so they know she is a good person and we love her.   As I was going over the schedule, where they eat, who gets what food and what supplements, who gets fed first, who sits where, who sleeps where, what time they go to bed, what time they get up... etc, etc... I saw her eyes glaze over.   I know it is excessive.   I also know there will be 5 pages of these details left out in writing for her to refer to. 
So, I thought I would put together a few "must do's" if you are leaving your pet with a petsitter. 

• First, make sure the petsitter is someone you can trust with your babies.  Check references.  Get a reference from his/her vet.  How they treat their dogs may be an indication on how they will treat your animals.  

• Have the petsitter come over and meet your pack and see how they interact with him/her.  

• Give your petsitter a number of a friend or family member who has a key to your house in case of an accident or emergency and she can't come. 

• Leave out an extra bowl of water.  

• Lock your gates.  If you don't keep your gates padlocked all the time (which you should with dogs) make sure you padlock it when you are going to be gone. 

• Leave a written list of instructions.  Even if you have verbally gone over everything with the petsitter, make sure you leave instructions for her to refer to. 

• Do a double check of your home and pick up things that your dogs may get into if they are bored (or mad at you for leaving them) that they wouldn't normally bother with. 

• Ask your petsitter to text you pictures daily so you know all is ok, and you get to see their smiling faces.  

I hope you are like me, and as soon as you pull out of the driveway, you relax a little.   You did everything you could to make sure the babes are well cared for and safe... and they get so much love all the time.  After all, maybe they need a vacation, too. 

Protecting our dogs from the heat

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It is HOT here in Southern California.   I live in a Coastal area and it is HOT, so I know it is hot, hot, hot out there.   It was so hot that when I got up to take the dogs out for a quick walk this morning, 3 of the 4 opted out.   They just laid where they were and looked at me.   Considering that normally when I get close to where the leashes are they go crazy, I realized that the heat really gets to them. 

I started thinking about all the warnings you see about keeping your dogs cool, making sure they have water, making sure they have shade...and I couldn't help but think about some of the dogs out there who, on a normal day get the bare minimum they need to survive, let alone thrive.   How are they fairing today? 

As I wet down my dogs  and put ice cubes in their water dishes for the third time today, I worried about the dogs out there. 

I think MOST people know that you cannot leave your dog in the car when it is hot...but what about the dogs who live in the yard?   Did you know that the temperature on a slab of cement can get so hot in the sun it can actually burn a dogs feet?   I mean like, blisters burn!   And asphalt is worse.  So bring your dogs in, and only walk early in the morning or later in the evening. 

Did you know that dogs can die from overheating in a garage?   A garage can get so hot that even with water available, dogs can die from overheating in a very short period of time.   Can you imagine?   How horrible.   Locking a dog in a garage in the heat can be as deadly as a hot car.   Bring them inside.

So add GSROC to the list of people sending out warnings about protecting your four footed babies from the heat.   Give them extra water, extra shade, and remember... you are responsible for their lives AND their comfort.   

Gideon's One Year Rescue Anniversary!!

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Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of Gideon's rescue. It was a great reunion with Gideon, his new family, Dr. Wheaton and all of the staff and Alicia Pet Care Center. Gideon is a complete lover boy! He smiles and wags and demands love from all! He looks great and wears his "badge of courage" well. He has a lot of new fur and some scars but we love the way he looks!! This boy is the image of courage, determination and will. I know that when my days seem rough, I think of Gideon and how strong he was to get through so much! Keep Gideon in your thoughts as he enters his second year of his new life!