Who is the Expert?

Toffee & Beignet, Yin and Yang

written by Carol A. Smock, Founder

Something happened in my family recently that had me asking, "so who is the expert anyway?"  I was diagnosed with Valley Fever and worried that if I had contracted it, my dogs may also have been exposed and could be dealing with this horrible disease.  So, off to the Veterinarian we go...

I love my Clinic.  Dr. Tenney SAVED my Toffee Nut's life last year by amputating one of his toes that had a spindle cell carcinoma attached.  They suggested radiation afterward to be sure we got it all, but after careful consideration, I opted *not* to put him through it.  I met a new doctor on Saturday who would draw their blood - she's lovely too.  Well educated. Well spoken.  Kind and compassionate.

We talked at great length about the fact that I refuse to give Heartguard, Frontline or Vaccinations.  I explained that I've lost two already to cancer and I want to try this Holistic approach to see if it makes a difference.  I explained that while I don't pump their bodies full of poisons and toxins anymore, I still have them tested for Heartworms and other diseases on a regular basis, often performing a full panel of bloodwork annually.  I give essential oil supplements and feed the highest quality food I can buy.  I also explained how I've read extensively about this chosen lifestyle and I've consulted many who could be deemed experts in arriving at my decision.

She was respectful, although I could see she was cautious.  And, I DO respect that.  My dogs' bloodwork came back...  the 10 1/2 year old who just had a battle with cancer last  year - PERFECT!  And, while he showed exposure to Valley Fever, he does not have active infection.  The 4 year old was negative for Valley Fever.

So, this begs the question, just who is the expert when it comes to our pets?  While I would never suggest that Veterinarians are not the most educated and knowledgeable, sometimes, there are experts out there who didn't go to school for their degree.  Sometimes, an expert can be someone whose lifetime has been spent learning by doing (as John Lloyd Wright suggested is the best method of learning), taking chances and risks and studying the results.

I trust my doctors.  I really do.  But, they believe in Western Medicine and I'm learning that I believe in an Integrated Approach.  I'm thankful that they respect me enough as a pet owner to "learn by doing".  They are there to warn me of possible impending doom and to make sure we are testing my pets along the way to insure their safety.

I want to call your attention to a Special Newsprint Section that published in the Washington Post yesterday. It was titled Pet Wellness and the website is http://www.petcarenews.com/.  I encourage you to take a look at what this special section has to offer - good information about nutrition, behavior and general health & wellness.  There are also some great articles on Rescue and Adoption.  A word of warning, it's not all written by veterinarians...  but there is great information in it for you to digest and discuss with your doctor.

Brown Dog Foundation LOVES pets.  We respect the doctors who study for years to save them.  But we also know that often times, "experts" walk among us.  And sometimes, the expert may be us.  After all, who knows your pets' behavior and patterns better than you?

Selecting the best addition to your family (Part 1)

 
Brown Dog Foundation volunteer and blogger, Pamela, has made the commitment to help out with writing blog posts for us! How awesome is that? Here's an excellent series to help you select the "right" pet for your family.

So you have decided to welcome a new member of the family into your home in the form of a four legged family member. It’s exciting and can bring a world full of new experiences and possibilities. Animals have the uncanny ability to spark laughter, joy and days filled with endless smiles.

But, not so fast!

Before bringing an animal into your home, it’s important that you do your research when it comes to lifestyle and compatibility. Just like people, animals have their own unique personalities and lifestyle needs. The quality of life of the animal you adopt will depend on you once you decide to bring him or her into your life.

Unfortunately, we live in a nation where too many people think of animals as being disposable creatures that they can get rid of for any reason if having the animal becomes inconvenient to them. Be a responsible and ethical pet owner by doing your research and taking the time to examine whether you can provide what the animal needs in order to give him a high quality of life. You owe it to yourself and the animal.

7 Things to Consider
#1: How active are you? Do you get up every morning and take a jog or walk to start your day? Or, do you come home from work in the afternoon and immediately relax on the couch to catch up on television for a few hours? Regardless of your activity level, there is a dog breed for you! But, it is important to realize that dogs of all sizes and breeds will need some amount of exercise during the day... even if it’s not a five mile run.

You will have to make compromises in your life, especially when it comes to adopting a dog. Large breed, working and sporting dogs typically need more exercise than smaller and toy breed dogs. It would be irresponsible to adopt, for example, a Golden Retriever, and never take him on long walks or play with him and encourage him to run.

Next up... considerations #2, #3 and #4.

From Bad to Good

Last summer, a friend at a local Humane Society shelter told me to come meet a dog that looked as though she could be my recently deceased dog's grandbaby. I had loved Goldie so much and was disappointed that I only had 3 years with her, so finding a young one who looked like her was appealing. Hold onto your seat though... this little lady was nothing like Mama Goldie!

When I met her, she was extremely nervous and she didn't have a name. So I called her "Little Girl" during our initial interactions. She cowered in the corner the first several times I visited. Eventually, she came out of her shell and I fell in love. And, so she was named Beignet (Ben yay') and I brought her home.

She had been a stray for the first 14 months of her life, so she was not potty-trained, had a bad habit of eating paper and cardboard and thought that running through the house in circles was the best game! She wore me out and drove my older pit-mix, Toffee, over the edge. I had to do something. The accidents had given my home a distinct scent (not one I appreciated). The wildness was causing minor altercations with Toffee (who thank GOD is a great dog). We considered rehoming her, until my friend Cory at Middle TN Dog Psychology reminded me of the basics of behavior modification.

1. All dogs want a "job". No, modeling would not fit the bill (although she's pretty enough to be one) and no, I wouldn't be able to earn a living off of her efforts. Rather, they need a daily routine in which they focus on following their leader and being part of the pack. So, we started walking daily and to my happiness, she leash-trained quickly.

2. All dogs want "boundaries". She was not sleeping at night (I can assume a behavior leftover from nights as a stray) at the foot of my bed and I would wake up to toilet paper strewn throughout the room, magazines shredded and Christmas ornaments pulled off the tree and eaten. So, we began crating her at night. The crate became her den (her safe place) so she could relax and rest. And, this proved to be the core issue with Beignet's behavior. Not sleeping at night made her wild during the day! As soon as she began sleeping safely... that nervous energy that she'd exhausted on chewing, destruction and running around in circles slowed down considerably.

3. All dogs want "discipline". Not a heavy hand when they do something wrong - rather a set of rules to follow and be rewarded. Feeding time was tough at first because my pit sits and waits, but Beignet wasn't picking up on it. Cory fixed it in one 30 second session (still don't know what he did, but I'm glad he did it!). Now both dogs sit/wait until I release them to eat. Other routines include walks, potty breaks, snuggle time, play time with each other, chew on their bones time, and more.

Yes, I still coo over how pretty she is and kiss her and hug on her way more than I should. But, overall, we've settled into a nice routine. We still have the occasional destruction (recently she opened a cardboard case of beer, punctured a can and drank it as it was spraying all over the kitchen), but for the most part - our home is once again a peaceful, enjoyable place to be.