Dog Tip for Today. Suspected poisoning.
Always consult a Veterinary Professional, if possible giving them the packaging/sample of plant/full details of the poison.
Dogs Dewclaws, should we remove them?
“Do the Dew” …should we or shouldn’t we? M. Christine Zink DVM certainly gives food for thought in her articles, but she’s not talking about that well known bright yellow soft drink, instead she’s talking about dewclaws and the fairly common practice of removing these. Dr. Zink exposes us to her concern about the long term ramifications that may occur from foreleg dewclaw removal, the possibility of injury or disease (carpal arthritis).
Quite frankly I’ve always removed the dewclaws from puppies in my litters, and I haven’t really given much thought to the practice. I’d always been told that the dewclaw served no purpose, and that when working in the field, the dewclaw could be a source of injury if caught on a branch or bramble. So, I simply had them (the dewclaw that is) lopped off at my earliest convenience within a day or so of the puppy’s birth. I do remember being told that it wasn’t a good idea for an amateur like me to nip those claws off myself, as if done wrong, one could damage the tendons in the dog’s foreleg causing lameness or a limp, so I always asked my vet to perform this simple procedure. Well, those tendons attached to the dewclaw that I just mention, that’s what lead me to share these articles with you today, articles by Dr. Zink that offer a different opinion about the function of the dewclaw and how injury or disease might result from their removal.
M. Christine Zink DVM, PhD, DACVSMR of Johns Hopkins University “When a dog runs, however, the entire foot from the carpus to the toes contacts the ground. If the dog then turns, it can dig the dewclaw (the equivalent of our thumb) into the ground to stabilize the leg and reduce torque on the rest of the leg.”
“Based on stop-action photographs, veterinarian M. Christine Zink of Johns Hopkins University believes that the entire front foot, including the dewclaws, contacts the ground while running. During running, the dewclaw digs into the ground preventing twisting or torque on the rest of the leg. Several tendons connect the front dewclaw to muscles in the lower leg, further demonstrating the front dewclaws’ functionality. There are indications that dogs without dewclaws have more foot injuries and are more prone to arthritis. Zink recommends “for working dogs it is best for the dewclaws not to be amputated. If the dewclaw does suffer a traumatic injury, the problem can be dealt with at that time, including amputation if needed.”[1]
To gain a full understanding of Zink’s position regarding the dewclaw’s purpose and any injury that may result from their removal read through links I’ve provided to her articles. Click the bold type link to open and read each in full. You’ll also find I’ve included a few excerpts if you’re looking for a quick Reader’s Digest version.
Dewclaw Explanation
“I have seen many dogs now, especially field trial/hunt test and agility dogs, that have had chronic carpal arthritis… Of the over 30 dogs I have seen with carpal arthritis, only one had dewclaws.”
“…there are 5 tendons attached to the dewclaw… at the other end of a tendon is a muscle, and that means that if you cut off the dew claws, there are 5 muscle bundles that will become atrophied from disuse.”
“Those muscles indicate that the dewclaws have a function… to prevent torque on the leg. Each time the foot lands on the ground, particularly when the dog is cantering or galloping the dewclaw is in touch with the ground. If the dog then needs to turn, the dewclaw digs into the ground to support the lower leg and prevent torque. If the dog doesn’t have a dewclaw, the leg twists. A life time of that and the result can be carpal arthritis, or perhaps injuries to other joints, such as the elbow, shoulder and toes.”
“As to the possibility of injuries to dew claws. Most veterinarians will say that such injuries actually are not very common at all.”
Canine Athletes & Working Dogs
I haven’t decided whether to make any change to my practice of removing dewclaws. Whether to “do the dew” or not is still in question for me, and I’m not here to give you my advice, or to assert that you change what you do, what I did want was to simply share this information with you and then to ask whether you have any thoughts, questions or practices that you’d like share about dewclaw removal through the comment section?
I did find this funny tidbit on Physchology Today in an article written by Stanley Coren: “There is an interesting bit of folklore that keeps some people from removing the dewclaws of their dogs. In the southern states in America there is a common belief that dogs that are born with dewclaws on their hind feet (which is somewhat rare) have a natural immunity to the venomous effects of snake bites as long as the dewclaws remain intact. Once, when I was in South Carolina, an old man brought out a favorite hound of his and showed me the dewclaws on her back legs. He explained to me, “She’s been snakebit more’en one time, but she’s still here ‘cause them dewclaws sucked up the poison.”
well…there are rattlesnakes here in AZ and we are in the south so…
Sally Gift, Mesa AZ
Here is Archie in his bed at home, looking very pleased with himself. We had just returned from our dog walk, exploring the Poor Common at Longham, nr Wimborne. Having the sun shining made it particularly nice.
Welcome back Archie. I missed you!
Studland Stomp (Dorset)
13th Mar 2016 13:00
Get stomping to support our animals.
Come along with your dogs, or with friends and family, or even just come on your own. Our Studland Stomp provides a fantastic opportunity to meet new people (and new dogs) and it’s also a great chance to meet some of our lovely rescue dogs who’ll be joining the walk.
The stroll is approximately 5 miles along the beautiful Studland Beach. We will meet at the National Trust Knoll Beach car park at 12.45pm ready to leave at 1pm. We will then walk alongside the sea and back through the heathlands and dunes.
On our return to the car park, we will descend upon the café and treat ourselves to some well-deserved afternoon tea!
This is our fourth Studland Stomp and after the success of previous events, we are keen to continue these walks and get even more people involved. Walking is a great way to keep yourself and your pet happy and healthy.
Sponsorship forms are available to download or alternatively, please feel free to turn up and donate on the day.
Lambing Season. Please walk your dog responsibly.
Keep to Footpaths.
Keep Dogs on leads.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
Pre-registered walkers with a dog will be presented with a limited edition Great British Dog Walk bandana.
Join us for The Great British Dog Walk at 19 beautiful National Trust sites across the UK. Fun for all the family – and kids and dogs go free!
great
Only two weeks until the Great British Dog Walk 2016 starts!
We’ll be holding walks across the UK at 20 stunning The National Trust locations.
Find your nearest walk here >> http://www.greatbritishdogwalk.org
Choose your walk
All routes are approximately 3km and 8km. Purchase your tickets online to save £2 per ticket!
Scotland
Haddo House and Country Park
Aberdeenshire16 April 2016
Pollok Country Park
Glasgow01 May 2016
Hill of Tarvit
Fife05 June 2016
North East
Gibside
Gateshead, Tyne and Wear12 March 2016
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden
Ripon, Yorkshire07 May 2016
North West
Lyme Park
Stockport, Cheshire20 March 2016
Midlands
Croome Court
Worcester20 March 2016
Kedleston Hall
Derby10 April 2016
East
Wimpole Hall
Arrington, Cambridgeshire01 May 2016
Ickworth Park
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk22 May 2016
Wales
Rhossili
Swansea02 April 2016
South East
Sheffield Park
Uckfield, East Sussex13 March 2016
East Head
West Wittering10 April 2016
Hughenden Manor
High Wycombe17 April 2016
Stowe
Buckingham, Bucks15 May 2016
Osterley Park and House
West London04 June 2016
Foxbury Common
New Forest: Near West Wellow22 May 2016
South West
Killerton House
Exeter07 May 2016
Northern Ireland
Minnowburn and Lagan Valley
Belfast14 May 2016
Margaret Green Animal Rescue.
Free Micro Chipping For Dogs (Dorset)
25th Feb 2016 11:00 – 15:00
We are offering free micro chipping for your dog in conjunction with Purbeck Council at UPTON COMMUNITY CENTRE CAR PARK between 11am and 3pm on Thursday 25th February 2016.
Free Micro Chipping For Dogs (Dorset)
6th Mar 2016 10:00 – 15:00
We are offering free micro chipping for your dog in conjunction with Bournemouth Council at SLADES FARM, BOURNEMOUTH between 10am and 3pm on Sunday 6th March 2016.
Free Micro Chipping For Dogs (Dorset)
2nd Apr 2016 10:00 – 15:00
We are offering free micro chipping for your dog at Pampurred Pets, next to Goulds Garden Centre, Littlemoor Road, Weymouth, DT3 6AD between 10am and 3pm on Saturday 2nd April 2016.
A flying dog? It’s not so barking! TV experiment which aims to train the world’s first canine pilot
Alfie the adorable lurcher-collie is training to be the first canine pilot
The bizarre challenge is part of a TV experiment called ‘Dogs Might Fly’
It aims to show the intelligence of man’s best friend by teaching them how to control an aircraft
By LAURA LAMBERT FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 00:41, 27 February 2016 | UPDATED: 00:53, 27 February 2016
With his paws steady on the joystick and his eyes focused on the runway, Alfie is the picture of concentration.
Which is just as well – as the plucky canine is in flying school.
It may seem barking mad, but this lurcher-collie cross’s training is part of a TV experiment which will attempt to produce the world’s first four-legged pilot.
The programme, Dogs Might Fly, aims to show the intelligence of man’s best friend by teaching them how to control an aircraft.
The show uses X Factor-style auditions at rescue centres around the country, to whittle stray dog hopefuls down to 12 contenders.
And Alfie, a 23-month-old who seems entirely comfortable strapped into a harness while being trained in a flight simulator, is one of the high-flying contenders.
Other early frontrunners are Reggie, a German shepherd-labrador cross, and Shadow, a collie cross.
It may seem barking mad, but this lurcher-collie cross’s training is part of a TV experiment which will attempt to produce the world’s first four-legged pilot
This latest challenge follows on from Driving Dogs, an experiment by animal psychologist Mark Vette’s which put two stray dogs through driving lessons during a two-month boot camp in 2012.
It resulted in both dogs successfully driving a modified Mini around a racetrack in a live stunt.
Now Mr Vette wants to go further and see a dog take to the skies.
The six episodes of Dogs Might Fly, starting tomorrow on Sky, will chart the progress of the 12 dogs as they undergo ten weeks of rigorous training in a luxury Sussex mansion.
The three best are then sent to flight school to be taught by Mr Vette. At the end of the series, it will be revealed whether the most talented animal is ready for a real-life dogfight behind the wheel of a single-engine aircraft – or whether the task is just too ambitious. Jamie Theakston, the presenter of the show, said: ‘You’ll see just how remarkable rescue dogs really are.
‘People give up on them too easily and this series will show us why we shouldn’t. They are just as deserving and just as intelligent.’
Start: Badbury Rings car park off B3082 Wimborne-Blandford road (grid ref ST962032), Alternative start for dog-walkers, B3082 car park opposite ‘Sturminster Marshall’ turning (grid ref ST966023) and taking bridleway-track north
End: Badbury Rings car park
Country: England
County: Dorset
Type: Country
Ordnance Survey: OS Landranger 195
Difficulty: Medium
Description
Edward Griffiths discovers an Iron Age hill-fort, ancient tracks and drove roads
Badbury Rings and Sheepbriar Drove
This isn’t a strenuous walk, but the ancient lanes around Badbury Rings and through the glorious farmland of Kingston Lacy Estate are filled with variety. At 327ft above sea-level, the Iron Age hill-fort has superb views all around, including Penbury Knoll hill-fort on Pentridge Hill to the north, Blandford Camp beyond Tarrant Rushton airfield in the north-west, and Charborough Parks folly tower in the south-west. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the large hotels on the cliffs of Bournemouth. Not only was Badbury Rings hill-fort occupied by Iron Age people, but by an army under Ethelwold around AD899 and by Royalist Dorset Clubmen in 1645. Sheepbriar Drove is part of an ancient route which followed the drier ground above the River Stour between Blandford Forum and Wimborne Minster, skirting around the historic Kingston Lacy estate on its way.
The Walk
1From the car park, take the path through two kissing-gates into the Badbury Rings enclosure. (Dog-walkers starting in the alternative car park, take the signed bridleway-track north and ignore Point 1 until you arrive at the junction with two benches.) Join the clear rutted track running up to your left. Its a bridleway, and you brush against the outer ring. Follow the track round to the right into the open field and join the faint grass path still skirting around the outer ring. When youve passed the OS trig point visible on the inner ring, go over the National Trust squeeze-stile by the gate near the left wood. Over into the footpath/bridleway junction, turn right to find the two benches. Turn left onto the footpath-track with the Kingston Lacy notice.
2(Dog-walkers, turn right onto the footpath-track with the Kingston Lacy notice.) Now, all together at last, follow the good track with pleasant views, ignoring any turnings into the wood. Follow the right bend when the wood ends. Continue down the footpath-track alongside the right hedge, through into a second field, for about mile in total. Around the right bend, go through the squeeze-stile by medieval Lodge Farm on the right. When you arrive at the B3082 beech avenue, go right along the wide bridleway-verge before crossing over into the signed bridleway-track with Kingston Lacys Blandford Lodge over to your left.
3Through the car park and barrier, follow the grass track around the edge of Kingston Lacys wooded park. After about mile, 200 yards after the top of the rise, turn right off the arrowed bridleways into hedged Sheepbriar Drove between high fields. Pass the left turning which runs down to Barford Farm. In another mile, go through the right half-gate onto the signed National Trust designated bridleway grass track.
4Up, over and down, there are fine views from this track, including to Badbury Rings ahead. At the bottom, zig-zag left-right and continue up to the half-gate which opens onto the B3082 beech avenue. Turn left between the new and old lines of beeches. Before the road dips down to the left Sturminster Marshall 2 turning, cross over where the visibility of oncoming traffic is best. Continue along the verge bridleway. (Here, at the car park, dog-walkers finish their walk.) Everybody else, theres another mile to go before you reach the drive back into Badbury Rings car park so enjoy the views left over the Stour Valley as you go.
Fact File
Start: Badbury Rings car park off B3082 Wimborne-Blandford road (grid ref ST962032), Alternative start for dog-walkers, B3082 car park opposite Sturminster Marshall turning (grid ref ST966023) and taking bridleway-track north
Distance: 4.12 miles (7.25 km)
Maps: OS Landranger 195
Terrain: No really difficult hills
Dogs: Under close control; not allowed in Badbury Rings enclosure
Public transport: None
Picture to make you Smile for the weekend!
Dogs ready for a Friday night out! Aren’t these two so cute!
