World of Pets Expo: Chaos well worth it

Held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium MD, the World of Pets Expo showcased the wonderful world of pets within a three day period.  This family event had various activities ranging from AKC Dog Agility Trials to shopping at the assortment of vendors. 

My Experience

Upon arrival, I was greeted at the door by this unusual sight: 

Chihuahua holds Bernese Mountain Dog for Ransom.  Mountain Dog seems unperplexed.

 

An American Pit Bull Terrier watched in horror as the ransom situation unveiled.

 

Critters of all shapes and sizes were brought to this pet friendly extravaganza.

Even the most elaborate of costumes were dished out in grand displays of elegance.

While others mere cuteness was entirely sufficient.

Vendors, Displays and Entertainment Galore: My Top 4

Baltimore Bird Fanciers Club had a large assortment of birds for you to meet and greet.  After cleaning your hands with hand sanitizer, you were encouraged to hold and interact with the many birds on display.

Annie's Pooch Pops All Natural Dog Treats was my tasty but healthy favorite.  A wide arrangement of dog treats and chews for even the most eclectic of tastes.

  

 Owners and canines alike lined up for the mouthwatering buffet.

It wouldn't be winter without canine apparel in which Foggy Mountain Dog Coats scored highest on my list.

Talk about entertainment: these talented pooches were surefire crowd pleasers.

 

How do you think your dog would react to seeing sheep, horses, rabbits and cats at the Pet Expo?

*Johanna*

Brand New: We will be introducing a brand new Ask a Vet Q & A feature.  Please post any questions for the veterinarian to this blog or email Andrew@k9llc.com.

Canine Health Insurance

I knew that my dog would be covered under health insurance before I even brought her home.  My decision was based on the monthly premium, the coverage for unexpected expenses and the fact that dogs have health problems and accidents just like humans.

I pay $37.75 a month for Lola’s VPI health insurance.  It includes benefits for core coverage (heartworm and tick preventative, vaccinations, wellness exam etc.), the main health insurance benefit and a cancer endorsement.  

Last year, Lola’s health insurance plan paid for itself as she had two mammary growths surgically removed and biopsied.

Shopping around is a must before making a final decision on pet health insurance. 

Here are ten questions you should ask:

1. Are there any age restrictions?
   
   
2. Will the premium increase as the pet ages?  Some pet health insurance companies include age related premium increases.
   
   
3. What are the coverage waiting periods (if any)?  A waiting period is the time between the effective date and the date coverage begins.
   
   
4. What is the deductible and is it yearly or per incident?  A deductible is the amount that must be paid out of your pocket prior to benefits being paid.
   
   
5. Can you use any veterinarian or are you limited to a network?  Some pet insurance plans require that you visit their veterinarians only.
   
   
6. Are there any lifetime, yearly or incident maximums?  These maximums would put a cap on benefits and are important to know.
   
   
7. What does the plan cover?
   
   
8. What policy exclusions are there?  Most plans will exclude pre-existing conditions but there are also other exclusions to be aware of.
   
   
9. How are claims processed?  Most pet health insurance plans require that you pay the veterinarians office up front and submit a claim for reimbursement of covered expenses.
   
   
10. How much does the plan cost?

It is not for everyone

So is pet health insurance for you?  Here are some things to consider:

1. Do you have a plan of action if your pet were to get hurt or ill?
   
   
2. Are you prepared to pay the hundreds to thousands of dollars that could be associated with a veterinary bill?

You may have money saved up for a just in case canine situation or you may decide that health insurance is best for your pet.  Whatever decision you make, the most important thing is that you are prepared for the unexpected in a way that works best for you.  

Is your pet covered under health insurance, what carrier did you choose and why?


*Johanna*

10 Dog Myths!!

1.  Dogs only see black, white and gray scale.
Dogs are in fact color blind when it comes to red and green but they do see color.  The colors that dogs see are not as vivid as the human color scale but what their vision lacks they make up in their sense of smell.

Source: http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/LA/DrP4.htm

2.  All of a dog’s senses are more sensitive than that of a human.

A canine’s sense of taste is NOT as sensitive as humans. 

"Most of a dog's taste buds are clustered around the tip of the tongue.  Dogs can detect bitter, sweet, salty, and sour tastes, but their sense of taste is relatively poor and they have only one-sixth the number of taste buds that humans have."

3.  One human year = seven dog years
This one couldn’t be further from the truth because dogs (depending on the breed) are typically considered sexually mature between ages one and 18 months.  The best way to relate dog years to human years is through the following graph:

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dog_and_human_year_graph.png

4.  A wagging tail means a dog is happy.

Dogs wag their tails for many reasons and it DOES NOT always mean that they are happy.  

"A friendly dog will communicate his intentions through loosely wagging his tail. But, a wagging tail does not always indicate friendliness. Dominant or aggressive dogs may wag their tail, but the tail is held high and maybe just the tip of the tail is moving rapidly. A playful dog will also hold his tail high, but it will be wagging greatly from side to side. A dog who holds his tail low and wags it stiffly may be indicating he is submissive or afraid."

5.  A warm dry nose means your dog is sick.

A perfectly healthy dog's nose will change from dry to moist and cold to warm throughout the day.  On the other hand, you should take your dog to a veterinarian if he/she is experiencing changes in nasal texture and pigmentation.  

Source: Lola

6.  All dogs like to be petted on their head.

Many dogs tolerate being petting on their head but in the canine world, it can be interpreted as a threatening gesture.  Therefore, it is always safest to NOT pet a strange dog on the head.

7.  A dog eating grass indicates stomach upset.

Grass eating is a normal behavior in dogs and is not always related to illness.  Outside of stomach upset, dogs might eat grass because they enjoy the taste or they're hungry.

8.  All dog food is created equal.

There are many dog foods on the market that are considered to be very unhealthy.  Unless otherwise directed by a veterinarian (due to a certain medical condition), here is a guideline to follow when looking at dog food labels:

1. A meat should be the first ingredient.
2. The guaranteed analysis protein level should be 30% or more.
3. The fat content should be 18% or more.
4. Supplements such as Omega Fatty Acids and Vitamin E are good to have.
5. NO FOOD COLORING!!!!!

9.  Humping is always sexual in nature.

Humping is in fact a sexual position in canines but they also hump for other reasons.  Male and female dogs both hump for dominance, excitement and even play. 

10.  Deaf dogs are more easily startled and therefore are aggressive.

Deaf dogs adapt to their new life without hearing and while they can become startled more easily at times, it does not mean that they are going to become aggressive or bite.

"Owners report that their dogs' responses to being touched unexpectedly range from a "YIKES" response, where the dog may jump, to a "huh?" response, where the dog simply turns and looks. Some may be momentarily disoriented when awakened, but few become aggressive or bite in response."


Which of these myths did you find most interesting?

*Johanna*

Do dogs watch television? Video footage of TV experiment included

*****After reading the blog, see the Lola TV experiment below and check out a special CTC training discount!*****

Here are some things to consider:

1. James Glover a retired veterinarian says that dogs are only watching movement and cannot decipher what those movements actually are:

“Many people claim that their dogs watch TV.  A lot of these dogs will actually follow the movement of objects moving around the screen and may also bark. However, the dog does not interpret the television the same way we do. The dog cannot determine what any object on the screen actually is. For example, if we can see a video of a dog running around a field, your dog will see a dark object moving around the screen and this may grab his attention and make him watch,” (petpeoplesplace.com, James Glover). 

2. Noelle La Croix DVM says that certain television pictures are easier for dogs to see than others because of the varying refresh rates.

“Intermittent televised images appear stationary to a human observer since their projection rate exceeds the human "flicker fusion" rate.  This rate roughly corresponds to the speed at which a retina “updates” an image to the brain...Cones are slower to update than rods.  The canine retina is predominately rods that can detect flicker within images projected at a rate below 70 to 80 Hz.  Therefore most televisions produce images that dogs perceive as flickering, without fluid (realistic) motion.  Some newer HDTV’s operate in excess of 120 Hz, and can therefore project images that appear fluidly to a dog,” (VMCLI, Noelle La Croix).”

Whenever I sit down to watch television (I have a DLP TV upstairs and a DLP Projector downstairs, both capable of HD) my dog joins me and every time she sees a dog on TV she gets up and starts barking.  She does not bark at people on TV, just dogs.  The dogs can be silent or barking and Lola will display the same reaction.  If she was only able to see movement, wouldn’t she have moments when she confuses movement for a dog on TV when no dog is actually present?  Sometimes she will go as far as to jump off the bed and run over to look behind the television, as if the TV was in fact a window.

Lola watching TV: Humans Only

Lola watching TV: Dogs with Sound

Lola watching TV: Dog on MUTE

So tell me, does your dog watch TV?

*Johanna* 

Doberman Pictures: Humor

Our dogs are always there for us.  They never falter to stand by our side and make us smile with the curious things that they do.  They never judge us or make us feel unimportant.  This blog is dedicated to those funny little things dogs do that never fail to make our day.  Tribute to the Doberman: Lola.

This is how a Doberman gets comfortable

 ....now I know my A..B..C's, next time won't you sing with me?

What? Don't all tough dogs curl their feet under them when they lie down?

Mommy I love you; therefore I must hug you when we cuddle. Hold me...

Watch carefully, A true lady crosses her legs.

I even watch television, just like Daddy.

Fetal position, I so vicious.

It's so shameful being a Doberman.

Strike a pose!!!  Vogue...

Meowoof!?

Behavior modification

Coolness is in the eye of the sunglasses.  I AM cool.

I'm a Princess and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

 Aha!  There you are.

I just want to play!!!

Not a Doberman but...

The Poodle Pedicure, coming to a store near you!!!

HAHAHA, hope you enjoyed my collection of photographs.  I can assure you that there will be many more added to my collection in the future. 

What hysterical thing does your dog do and do you have a photo that you want to share?

Until next week!!! 

*Johanna*