Dog Health | The Day At Dog Camp Blog

As seen on Fido Friendly’s Blog, written by Camp Bow Wow Boise: http://www.fidofriendly.com/blog/how-to-handle-ticks-on-your-dog

Your dog comes in from a romp by the river and settles down on your lap for a belly rub when you feel a bump on your dog’s soft fur. When you look closer you find the bane of many a dog and dog owner’s life: the tick.

Male brown dog ticks and non-engorged female ticks are flat and brown. Deer ticks are tiny; you can barely see them if they haven’t had their ‘drink’ yet. As the female ticks fill up on your dog’s blood they start to look like gray beans about a quarter inch long. They have four small legs on each side near their mouth. The deer tick is known to carry Lyme disease and can be harder to find than the dog tick because it is so small.  We have seen both types on dogs recently. Continue reading →

I want to say up front, right now that most of this post will be MY opinion and not necessarily the opinion of Camp Bow Wow LIC. Many of you know me as Cody, the marketing guy for Camp Bow Wow, but not today. Today, I am just an ordinary citizen talking about the issues I have with people getting a “new puppy.”  I love dogs, very very much and I get angry when they aren’t given a home they can thrive in. You see, I grew up on a farm full of Border Collies and Australian Shepherds. I have a soft spot in my heart for each one that I see in this world. Anyway, growing up on a working farm it was plain to see what a dog should do with it’s day. Our dogs were Stock dogs, and we had Livestock. Granted, most dogs don’t have these needs, and I understand that. You may have a a little “New Yorkie” that is ‘happy as a clam’ laying by your side and going for 2 brief walks everyday. You may also have a Bulldog that eats all your least desirable pumps and high heels in your closet. Each dog has a purpose, and I believe more people should consider that before they “get that puppy in the window.”  I’m just gonna come out and say it, even if it insults you, most people pick dogs based primarily on looks and that’s just stupid!

Foster dog “pawrents” must be the smartest cookies around because they are the only ones that assess a dogs’ personality for weeks on end before deciding which one they get for themselves. They may go through a hundred dogs, bless their hearts, before finding one they just can’t live without, a dog that completes their home. While we are on the subject, can I just say that I am proud of the many Foster parents and Rescue Shelter owners in the city of NY?! You guys do some truly amazing work and I can’t thank you enough. But why are so many of these shelters in existence? Because the supply of dogs is seemingly endless. There is and probably never will be a shortage of unwanted dogs out there. Why are there so many unwanted dogs? Because people don’t choose a dog based on need, they choose a dog based on looks.

You know how they say that a lot of dogs look like their owners? Well, your friend or neighbor “just had to have XYZ breed of dog, facts be damned.”  OYE!

Benefits Socialization:

Think our doggy daycare is just all about having fun and playing with other dogs?  Well, that’s of course a big part of it, but did you know there are actually physical, mental and behavioral benefits to doggy daycare too?  A tired dog is a happy dog – and we all know that after a day of daycare at Camp Bow Wow, your pup is dog-tired!

Physical Benefits:

Today it is estimated that 40% of American dogs are overweight. Simply, carrying around the extra pounds will shorten the life of your pet. Regular exercise improves blood flow to the heart, and oxygen to the lungs, builds strong muscles, increases joint mobility, increases energy levels and helps to control weight. Pet obesity is a serious problem as it puts pets at risk of diseases such as osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and cancer.  Exercising your dog through socialization can enhance their quality of life, decrease risk of cancer, diabetes, arthritis, heart attack and strokes and extend their lifespan and the time that you can enjoy them being part of your family.

Mental Benefits:

Exercise and socialization also improves a dog’s mood, and decreases the risk of dog depression. It is especially important to keep aging pets agile and fit as they may not be inclined to exercise without your encouragement.  Also did you know studies show the mental exercise of being at Camp is just as effective as the physical exercise?  You’re almost guaranteed a pooped pup at the end of the day!

Behavioral Benefits:

Social interaction relieves boredom and burns energy that can cause behavior problems such as destructiveness, separation anxiety and barking. Exercise gives your dog a way to channel their energy in a positive way. A dog that has regular exercise and socialization usually has:

• Increased attention and focus during training


• Decreased territorial issues


• Decreased on-leash reactions to other dogs

Active dogs are typically happy, well-adjusted dogs. A regular routine of exercise, playtime, and a healthy dose of Camp Bow Wow may be exactly what your dog needs to maintain its health for many years.

 

Get your “daily dose” at Camp Bow Wow

At the end of the year, we all take time to reflect on the things that we are thankful for and have brought us fulfillment.  We spend time with family and friends and feel love and contentment; it’s a time of reflection and of course excitement for what’s to come next in our lives.

We would like to ask our loyal customers for a national call to action to take one day out of the month in December to “Lend a Paw” to a local shelter or rescue by volunteering, adopting a shelter/rescue pet, or donating much-needed supplies and/or food.  Shelters across America are sorely underfunded and many need our help to stay open and thrive.  They often completely rely on our generous contributions to feed and provide for the animals in their care. Continue reading →

Excerpts taken from: http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/health/tips-to-keep-your-pet-healthy-during-flu-season by David Barras

Flu season can take a toll on man’s best friend just as much as on man. And this year, for the first time, there’s a vaccination available. Should your dog get the shot?

The “dog flu” affects Fido similarly to how the flu affects people, said veterinarian, Dr. Sara Rudwell.

“They may have just a little bit of discharge from their nose and a low-grade fever and feel a little bit off,” said Dr. Rudwell. “And maybe a little bit less appetite.”

While the dog flu cannot be passed to humans, it is contagious to other dogs.

The decision to give your dog the flu vaccine should be carefully made through consultation with your veterinarian. As with all vaccines, side effects are possible, although rare. Discussing the risks ahead of time will help you make a confident decision for your pet.

“Reactions like swelling of the face, vomiting, hives, and lethargy are possible with the flu vaccine as with any vaccine,” said Dr. Rudwell. “More serious reactions, like shock are quite rare.”

For more information on the “dog flu” vaccine, consult your veterinarian or visit usda.gov. or call Steve or Lucy at Camp Bow Wow in Long Island City, 718-392-9663.

John, With Georgia a Vick survivor

This week I conducted an informal interview with John Garcia, the Manager of Dogtown in Kanab, Utah. Dogtown is run by Best Friends Animal Society, which is the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Best Friends is not only known for the TV show Dogtown Unlimited, but also from their amazing work during the Hurricane Katrina rescue effort. John Garcia has been at the center of this effort, recently spending quite a bit of time rehabilitating the Michael Vick Pit-bull group.

Initially I did not plan to interview Mr. Garcia but after a few minutes I knew that I needed to be his voice in NYC! He spoke at some length on educating the public, and his extensive work on training the animals that come to his shelter. With 1600 dogs on site, you realize how big the task is. *gulp* Each and every one of the 4,000 monthly applicants is pre-screened by John and his crew, and when a dog does come in, he is the ONLY one to do the actual assessment. Each assessment is a serious job in itself. Most dogs are given an eleven page evaluation and trial before they are accepted to the shelter and rehabilitation center. For a more detailed history click on the link on the bottom of the post. But for now lets talk about the general issues at hand and how he works with the dogs to get them ready for adoption.

Dogtown Manager and Trainer John Garcia

As I eluded to in an earlier post, there are a GREAT NUMBER of issues with shelter dogs, rescue dogs and other abused dogs. These issues range from correctable to near impossible. If a hyper active dog doesn’t have manners that is something that is fairly easy to work with and correct. One of the hardest traits to work through is dog aggression. This problem is embedded deep in the psyche of the dog and may not ever go completely away, if at all. John tackles all the issues though, no matter the severity. It is comforting for John though, because this is a TRUE no-kill shelter.

He was a great, guy to speak with and I appreciate his time.

If you would like read more about Dogtown and Best friends facility, click here.

Maggie, a Chewing Machine!

Another post by Cody Osborne of Camp Bow Wow Long Island City. 47-16 Austell Place, 11101

You probably noticed that we don’t allow the dogs to have chew toys and chew bones that can be harmful for them while at camp. We do this because many are dangerous in multiple ways. Not only can they choke on them, but pieces of treats/toys can also get caught in their intestines which is very bad. Not only that, but dogs can be allergic to many varieties of rawhide bones and the like. Dogs can chip teeth on bones, and the sharp edges of the chews can cut the lips and gums of your dog. It is also possible to spread bacterial contamination (Salmonella) to other dogs or even humans when they are chewing on the toy.

There are several products that need to be included in the list of possible harmful toys/chews. Among them:

• Rawhide Flat Chews


• Rawhide bones


• Pigs Ears


• Chicken & Turkey Bones


• Bones from cows and pigs

There are instead, a number of treats/toys/chews that are completely safe for your dog to gnaw on while you’re busy. How about:

• Kong Chews, which come in many sizes


• Everlasting Treat ball


• Nylabone Treats


• Dental Chew bones


• Hurley Nylon Bones


• other Rubber and Nylon randoms

Or, you can always get the Michael Vick Tuff Chew Toy. What a great way to “take the bite” out of dog fighting! Show your support by ordering one today!

Clearly there are concerns over these products, but that doesn’t mean you have to take them out of their lives completely. It just means that they need to be watched very close while chewing. Also, the toys/bones should be taken away when they are unattended. So when your dog is either home alone or in their camper cabin no chew-able toys/treats should be given.

We care about your animals, and we must be strict, and we know you support us! Thank you so much for entrusting us with your babies! We are looking forward to a very safe and happy future with them at camp!

There are many concerns when it comes to adopting dogs. I don’t pretend to be an expert, but I do think, with help from others I can start a good dialog on the subject. Several of the issues can be traced to the past owners of the dogs, however there are some issues that surface during their time in shelters.

Here is what I have so far:

• Cage Aggression


• Separation Anxiety


• Abuse and general fear of humans


• Aggressive/Defensive of owners/territory


• Food Aggression


• Fear of abandonment & attachment anxiety


• Leash Aggression

I also want to present some of the Adoptable dogs in the area, talk about some of their issues and show you how wonderful they are! Let’s introduce a few of them now. I’ve featured them on our Camp Bow Wow Facebook Page as well and they are great dogs!

Nancy is a hound dog!

Nancy is a 2 year old Fox Hound and a sweet heart. She was returned to BARC because she tries to herd people and her owner was uncomfortable with that. She is extremely loving! She gets along well with other dogs and people. She has a few pictures on the BARC website.

Pit Mix dog

Brutus is a great Pit-Mix doggie. He is 2 years old and a fun-loving boy. Contact Maria at Camp Bow Wow for more info.

Pit Mix dog of Camp Bow Wow

Jasmine is also a 2 year old Pit-Mix pup. She is very sweet, and loves to hang out with people. We have had her at camp for several weeks and she does well with other dogs her size. Her vision is not 100% but she has no trouble walking, running and recognizing her loving family. She can be territorial but with a little love and patience you will see that she is a great dog! Our Camp Counselor Maria is working with her, and will work with you too, to make sure she will be very happy in your home. Call Steve or Maria for more info! 718-392-9663.

If you have any suggestions for discussion pieces on this series of Adoption issues we would love to hear them. My next entry will cover some of the success stories over the last few months, and what you can do to train your recently adopted dog. Stay tuned.

As the days of summer wear on, Canine Cough becomes more and more of a concern for our community. Although this infectious cold can be partially contained with the Bordatella shot, new strains come out every year and begin to spread among vaccinated and unvaccinated dogs. The question is, What can/should we do to minimize the cases?

Our Experience

As a leader in the pet service industry we have vast experience with your pet’s safety and hope that we can “lead the pack” in this area in the coming future. Doing the right thing for our community is top priority for all of us that work at Camp Bow Wow. We hope it shows in the many things we do at camp: education of the parents, fostering our communities’ dogs, and providing complete transparency in everything we do. Being open, honest and forthcoming with our customers is important because we are talking about the safety of your dogs. Just as Volvo has the market cornered on auto safety, we hope we can corner the market on the education and care for your dogs. After all, our slogan is “the premier doggy day and overnight camp.”  We should live up to that in every way! This is our mission, and now I want to show how this relates to our handling and policies regarding Canine Cough among other things.

How Camp Bow Wow Keeps Camp Safe

Canine Cough (also called Kennel Couch and Infectious Tracheobronchitis) is one of the toughest things we have to deal with at camp. So when we hear a cough we go on full alert even before we know what it is. If the dogs’ owner is out of town we take the pup to the vet within an hour of observing the cough. The dog is taken out of the play yards, and put in a kennel far from the other dogs. Fans are turned on, and we begin a process of eliminating the pathogens. We pull all water dishes out of the play yards, and begin cleaning the complete back end of the facility. Every dog is then inspected, and by then the possible case is taken to the vet. The front end of our facility is then clean and disinfected, and we begin the alert process. An email is sent to all customers that do NOT have dogs at camp, a post is put on Facebook, and we call all the Vets in a 5 mile radius. Throughout the first day, we are cautious and preparing for when we get the confirmation from the vet that a case has indeed occurred. If the vet confirms or diagnosis, we then Continue reading →

DOES MY DOG HAVE WARTS?

Certain viruses are able to cause the growth of small round skin tumors commonly referred to as warts. Everyone who has every seen a drawing of a fairy tale witch knows what warts look like so when the family dog develops small round skin growths, many people assume these, too, are harmless warts. It is important to realize that viral warts are a specific condition and that a growth on the dog’s skin may or may not represent a viral wart.

They look like cauliflower!

Human warts are round, somewhat flat, and relatively smooth. Viral warts in dogs tend to possess frond-like structures creating more of a sea anemone or cauliflower-like appearance, though they can be smooth as well. The classical canine viral wart patient is a young dog with warts in or around the mouth or eyes. In such cases where warts have a classic appearance in a classic patient, diagnosis may be obvious but in older patients with warts in locations other than the face, other types of growths become more likely. Continue reading →