Dog Watch back issues from July 2007:
Heartworm: a mosquito-borne threat: fortunately, this potentially fatal disease is readily preventable and usually curable.
Jul 01, 2007; ... Many disorders can seriously impair the function of your dog's cardiovascular and pulmonary systems--the organs and blood supply associated with the animal's heart and lungs. Among the most severe of these disorders is heartworm disease, a condition caused by infection with a parasitic ...
Short takes: a possible new vaccination for dermatitis; zinc poisoning in dogs.
Jul 01, 2007 ... Dermatitis Treatment from Dirt Here's something to think about while giving your itchy dog a bath: "Intradermal injection of heat-killed Mycobacterium vaccae in dogs with atopic dermatitis," a report in the journal Veterinary Dermatology (Vol. 8, Issue 2), suggests that relief ...
Homemade diets: better? The pet food recall caused owners to panic and rethink the way they feed their animals. Here's how to do it safely.(Nutrition)
Jul 01, 2007; ... In March 2007, Menu Foods, Inc. initiated a recall of pet food processed at two of its facilities and sold under multiple brand names. The pet foods were thought to have contained a toxic contaminant. Several additional pet food manufacturers recalled products after learning that their ...
Need to lift your dog's spirits? Fun activities can help, but your pet may need veterinary intervention.(Behavior)
Jul 01, 2007; ... Does your dog seem down-in-the-dumps? You know when you're feeling depressed; dogs can experience depression, too. When people are depressed, they can talk about it and hopefully facilitate treatment. But dogs use their own subtle, nonverbal signs which their human companions need to pick ...
The thrill of the (car) chase: this stereotypical canine habit can have dire consequences, so training is a must.(Behavior)
Jul 01, 2007; ... The visual of a dog chasing a car has been played to comic effect many times in television and film, but dog owners know there's really nothing funny about a beloved pet coming into contact with a fast-moving ton of metal. If your dog has developed a tendency toward car-chasing, it's ...
Lyme disease: a summer danger: the blood-thirsty parasites that cause this illness thrive in the warmer months, so make sure to protect your dog.(Disease)
Jul 01, 2007; ... On a balmy summer afternoon when you'd prefer to be playing fetch with Daisy, your year-old border collie, you find yourself instead driving her to the local veterinary clinic. You're concerned, since Daisy, who is usually an active animal, has been behaving oddly--moping about ...
How behaviors become habits: why it's important to deal with a problem behavior the first time.(Behavior)
Jul 01, 2007 ... As I sit at my desk writing this column, my dogs Ashley (a Dalmatian) and Coral (an Irish setter) are both crowded into my office, chewing on their bleached bones, which I've filled with cheese. They have their choice of any room in the house, plus the entire back yard, yet they choose to ...
Ask Dr. Houpt.(Katherine A. Houpt, VMD )
Jul 01, 2007; ... Q My toy poodle often escapes from the house. To get her back, I use a clicker and treats, but she pays no attention to me. What can I do? A Based on your description of the problem, it seems that you will need to work on two major issues--recalling your dog when she is ...