Our Guest Blog

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Guest Column: Canine Cancer Information

Today we are pleased to bring you a guest column by Jen Schneider, the President of The Great Good Heart Animal Cancer Foundation. Cancer affects many pets and knowledge is a good weapon in the fight against the disease. So, without further ado, here's Jen.

Animal cancer is a cause close to my heart, not only because it affects so many pets (and the numbers seem to be climbing year after year), but also because my own dog, Indiana, was diagnosed with cancer back in 2006. Though Indiana is still alive and well today (and cancer-free), our experience was life-altering, and my husband and I vowed to make something good out of something so awful. We created the Great Good Heart Animal Cancer Foundation to help educate others in hopes that just one dog could be saved from this disease.

Though no hard and fast numbers are known (so many cases of cancer go undiagnosed), some estimates say that cancer affects around 50% of all dogs. Some breeds, like golden retrievers, rottweilers, and boxers, have higher rates of specific cancers I’ve seen suggestions that up to 75% of all golden retrievers will be affected by lymphoma alone.

There is no one way to prevent cancer, and certainly genetics, which we can’t personally control, play a large role. However, we as parents can go a long way in helping to reduce our pets’ exposure to carcinogens.Some easy, but vital, ways to help prevent animal cancer include:

• Forgoing the use of pesticides and fertilizers on your lawn.
• These products are thought to be the number one cause of lymphoma, one of the most common types of cancer.
• Using non-toxic cleaners in your home. Your pets walk around in bare feet all the time, they they lick their paws. I feel much more comfortable knowing they’re being exposed to vinegar and baking soda rather than synthetic cleaners.
• Feeding a high quality diet--the best you can afford. This involves a lot of research, because commercial pet foods aren’t all as safe as we think. Humans thrive on a fresh diet, and it is no different for our pets.
• Considering titers instead of automatically vaccinating every year. A simple blood test will tell you if your pet’s body contains enough of the vaccine antibodies to keep them safe for another year.

What do you do if your pet is diagnosed with cancer? First, make sure your pet is seen by an oncologist, who is highly trained and deals only with cancer. Second, do as much research as you can (though be careful about the internet--there’s a lot of bad information out there too--and it will just scare you!). Knowledge really is power, and you’ll be able to be confident in whatever decisions you make. There are a number of online support groups, with dog parents who have been or are still dealing with cancer. You’ll often learn little tricks your vet might not know. Plus, the emotional support is invaluable.

Every dog parent dreads a cancer diagnosis, but cancer is not an automatic death sentence. Cancer treatments have come so far. Many people live within an hour or two’s drive from a specialized [animal] cancer clinic, where they have access to top oncologists, high quality diagnostic equipment, and the latest knowledge on treatments and therapies.

We often hear, “I could never put my pet through chemotherapy. My cousin had chemo, and she lost her hair and was sick all the time.” This is one of the biggest misconceptions about animal cancer treatments--that our pets will have the same side effects as our human loved ones. The goal of human chemotherapy is to cure the cancer. The goal of animal chemotherapy is to prolong quality of life. (Though cures can occasionally be achieved.) The dosages are much smaller, and many dogs sail through chemotherapy with few, if any, side effects. That’s why it’s important to consult with an oncologist; you may have more options than you think.

Hopefully you will never be faced with a diagnosis of cancer in your pet. But if you are, there is hope, and there are resources out there to help you and your pet, from finances, to support, decisions, and knowledge. Becoming educated about cancer is perhaps the best thing you can do. Helping to prevent cancer will make a difference in your pet’s future. I’d give anything to have had the knowledge I have now 10 years ago. Perhaps Indiana could have avoided her cancer diagnosis. I’ll never know. But I do know that I learned the hard way and am trying my hardest to make sure you don’t have to.

In addition to Great Good Heart Animal Cancer Foundation, Jen recommends these websites to learn more about canine cancer:

The Perseus Foundation "a wonderful resource for all aspects of animal cancer."

Georgia's Legacy: Canine Cancer Information and Support Resource "My favorite website written by a fellow canine cancer parent."

Things I Learned From My Dog Jen's personal blog where "you can learn more about Indiana and live after cancer."

Guest Entry Dog Massage: Much More than Pampering

Today we welcome Justine Erickson to Happy Dog Land. Justine is a Certified Animal Massage Practitioner and professional groomer. Today, Justine shares the many benefits of canine massage and explains why massage can actually improve your pooch's body, mind and spirit.

Dog massage has been performed for thousands of years…by dogs themselves! In one of my favorite books on dog massage, Healing Touch for Dogs , Dr. Michael W. Fox explains how dogs in the wild use their own type of massage called “social grooming.” When mothers lick their young pups, this important stimulating action actually aids in their digestive process. Dr. Fox also points out that dogs that do not receive this type of maternal social grooming or ‘massage’ are less likely to develop and thrive.

The physical benefits of massage are numerous:

• Lowers blood pressure
• Aids Digestion
• Improves joint flexibility
• Relieves muscle soreness, tension, stiffness and weakness
• Helps cleanse the body of toxins
• Improves skin elasticity and coat quality (removes dead skin and stimulates hair follicles)

Massage has many emotional benefits for you dog too:

• Reduces anxiety in chronically nervous dogs
• Helps calm a dog for specific events that may make her anxious, such as vet visits, grooming sessions, moving to a new home, welcoming a new pet or baby into their family, etc.
• Creates a sense of trust
  
• Is an effective and enjoyable way to bond with your dog

Dogs in every stage of life, from puppies to seniors, can benefit from massage. Indeed, a regular massage regimen can:

• Help with socialization: Massage gets a dog used to being touched and handled, which is especially important for families with young children or other pets.
• Serve as a consistent way to monitor your dog: When regular massages are given, the therapist can develop a sense for what is "normal" for your dog. Any changes in temperament as well as physical changes (e.g., newly sensitive areas of the body, the discovery of new lumps, bumps or other changes in the skin or coat) can alert you to something that requires veterinary attention and may aid in early detection of a serious condition or illness.

Whether it’s for general wellness or condition-specific, massage can be customized to serve your dog’s individual needs and preferences. If your dog is very active and likes to engage sports, such as agility, or if is he's your favorite running companion, massage can help keep your pooch finely tuned for his favorite activities. Massage can also help your dog stay strong and avoid injury. For dogs who have had surgery or illness, massage can help speed recovery time as well as enhance their comfort and pain relief.

In my own practice, I like to incorporate gentle stretching as well as Reiki and acupressure when I feel that they will be beneficial for the dog. I really ‘tune-in’ to the dog and follow their signals about what feels good and what doesn’t. For some dogs, a short yet continuous session is best. Other dogs like to have longer sessions with "breaks" where they can stand up, stretch, sniff around and then resume the massage. Just like humans, dogs definitely have their own individual preferences and moods, which makes every session both enjoyable and challenging.

One of the most interesting aspect of the massage is what I refer to as the “calming ripple effect.” When I’m working on an individual dog, I’ve often seen the calming effects of the massage trickle over to other dogs in the immediate area. Before you know it, all of the dogs are lying down, relaxing, some falling asleep and snoring! This effect is especially amazing in animal shelters where dogs are experiencing high levels of stress. The calming energy that flows through the room is especially beneficial to these dogs. I believe that it helps them cope until they are able to find their forever home.

What you can do at home
Touch improves a dog's well-being. In fact, I would encourage you to lightly stroke and cuddle your dog as much as possible. However, any deep massage, more advanced techniques or intense stretching should be performed only by a trained professional.

Massage professionals are trained to understand the limitations of a dog’s body including the appropriate range of motion for canine joints. In addition, dogs that are older, have health problems or have recently had surgery can be more susceptible to injury. Thus, it is important to keep your dog’s massage practitioner well-informed of your pooch's current condition as well as his health history. When in doubt of your dog’s specific limitations, always consult your veterinarian first. Share this important information with your dog’s massage provider before the massage too. Massage should be a safe and enjoyable experience for your dog. Don’t be surprised if they get ‘hooked’ and are barking for more!

Justine Erickson is a graduate of the Northwest School of Animal Massage. She is also an Animal Reiki Practitioner and has completed canine acupressure training with the Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute

Knitting For Your Dog

Today, we have a guest blogger, Corinne Niessner, the author of Doggie Knits, Sweaters and Accessories for Your Best Friend. Knitting for your furry friend is not only relaxing, but a nice way to make your pooch a Happy Dog. Although the temperature has been soaring here in Chicago, it's never early to start preparing for the cold weather that's just around the corner. So take it away Corinne!

Knitting has been a big part of my life, since I was in grade school. The rhythmic movements of my hands are now ingrained. I love the tactile aspect of it, watching my work grow in my hands, and even the smell of sheep and vinegar as I work with wool.

When I adopted my first dog, it was natural and inevitable that I would knit for her. I knit for the dogs that followed too. The dog sweater soon became my favorite garment to knit. I worked on getting the fit to be just right, and I loved to combine color in an unexpected way. Now, whenever I meet a dog, I imagine what the dog would look like in something knitted.

Instead of just knitting for my dog, I have a business, Lucky Penny Hand Made, where I make custom fit dog sweaters to order. In 2008, my book, Doggie Knits, Sweaters and Accessories for Your Best Friend hit the shelves, so now a knitter can create the Lucky Penny look at home.

Why should your dog wear a sweater?

People with long-haired dogs often scoff at the thought. Just because your dog is covered with hair doesn’t mean that they won’t feel the cold. Think of it this way--most of us have heads covered with hair, and in winter, we would very likely be wearing a wool hat. I also have found that in inclement weather, the sweater offers a layer of protection. My dog stays a lot cleaner because she has worn a sweater outside too.

People often tell me that their dog won’t wear a sweater. I am convinced that if the sweater is comfortable, and is knit of a fiber that feels good and keeps warm, a dog will want to wear it.

Why would you want to knit a dog sweater?

You can choose color and fiber and custom fit the sweater for your dog’s unique shape. If you love luxury fibers, making a dog sweater is a relatively inexpensive way to indulge. Yes, I’m talking cashmere for a dog sweater! Over my many years of knitting, I’ve found that quality fibers elevate the end product.

For beginners, a dog sweater is an excellent first project. Most new knitters begin with a scarf, which ends up to be a long, tedious project that many give up on. By the time your get tired of knitting a dog sweater, you’re probably done! If you’re a new knitter, it’s a way to learn technique that would prepare you for the big project that’s next on your list.

My book Doggie Knits, Sweaters and Accessories for Your Best Friend is new knitter-friendly. It has a detailed "how to" section, and drawings and photographs that take you through the maneuvers needed to complete your projects. If you need more than a book to get started, consider enrolling in a class at your local knit shop, park district, or public library.

Once mastered, knitting is a skill that will stay with you for life. It’s even more satisfying when you can share it with your dog!

You can see the Lucky Penny Hand Made collection on line. If you're in Chicago this fall, visit Corinne at Yarn Con on October 17th and the DIY Trunk show on November 21. Both events are at Pulaski Park, 1415 W. Blackhawk Street. Copies of Doggie Knits, Sweaters and Accessories for Your Best Friend, will be available at both events.

Corinne Niessner lives in Chicago with her best friend and muse, Piccolo. Read all about Corrine's crafty adventures on her blog: Lucky Penny Hand Made.

Guest Column: Keeping Fido Organized Means More Time For Fun!

Organization guru Molly Boren of Simplicity Works Home and Office Organizing Services is a long time friend of Happy Dog Land. Not only did Molly organize Jill (a notorious slob), but she introduced Jill and Billy to their wonderful agent Rebecca Oliver.

If Molly can successfully teach Jill how to keep her clutter under control, she can help anyone, including your four-legged pal! Like many dogs, Jill's dog Shadow had his things strewn throughout the house. Shadow wasted way too much time hunting for his bone or poop bags. Finding his stuffed Hedgie was becoming a chore. Molly to the rescue! Shadow is organized and everyone in the house knows where to find all the canine accessories.

We asked Molly for some advice on keeping all the dog accessories organized and accessible. Here's what she said:

With a little organizational forethought, you can avoid some of the frustrations of dog ownership -- and better focus on its joys! Here are some ideas to consider:

• "A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place"

This old chestnut has endured for a reason. If everything has one "home," there's only one place to look for it or to return it. Give each broad category of things a home, preferably one near the area in which the items are used.

- Label containers. This is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to stay organized -- a Sharpie or a Post-It note works fine. (Ed. Note: A battery operated label maker is loads more fun!)

-Corral those little bags of pet snacks in one open bin.

- Decide whether to keep pet-related cleaning supplies in the "pet supply" home or in the "cleaning supply" home. Either works; just be consistent.

- Tell everyone in the household about these "homes"! Only once they're fully informed can you get annoyed with them for not picking up after themselves.

• Everyday vs. Extras

- Keep all everyday grooming and feeding supplies on a shelf or in a cabinet near the pantry, main entrance, or other often-used area.

- Transfer a manageable amount of food from a large bag to a smaller, air-tight container, or use a binder clip to keep the contents of a smaller, open bag fresh.

- Keep extras such as surplus food, seldom-used medicine or out-of-rotation toys in a less accessible home like a high shelf. These items don't need the "prime real estate" required by everyday items.

• Grab and Go

- Store supplies for walks at every entrance/exit point: leash, towels, plastic bags, etc. for Fido, and perhaps gloves, a scarf, a flashlight, and a lint roller for you.

- Establish a system for moving dirty post-walk towels toward the laundry. Do they go straight to the laundry room? Is there a small hamper near the back door?

• Triggers for Reducing and Replenishing

- Use the changing of seasons or Fido's birthday as triggers to go through his supplies and toys and recycle, donate, or toss what's no longer useful, expired or broken.

- When a supply container becomes less than half-full, check your "extras" area; if no surplus exists for the item, add it to your shopping list.

• Contain the Slosh

- Put Fido's water and food bowls on a tray. Not only does he deserve a little fanciness, but this also contains spills and saves you elbow grease.

• In Case of Emergency

- Be sure that Fido's veterinary and health information are clearly recorded in a binder or posted on the fridge with your other family emergency information so that anyone can find it when they need it.

• Have Fun

- With the time and energy you've saved by getting organized, take Fido to the park!

Visit Molly's website and learn how she helps busy people streamline their lives with tips, tools, and hands-on projects that make everyday routines and spaces more efficient and less cluttered. Be sure to sign up for Molly's helpful newsletter.

Get to Know Adopt a Pet.com

At Happy Dog Land, we are dedicated to helping animals in need. For instance, on our book tour, we will be partnering with companies to help raise money for local and national animal welfare organizations. (Stay tuned for more details!) and our soon to be ready website www.happydogland.com will highlight stories from our readers who have helped animals. Billy and Jill also volunteer at Chicago Animal Care and Control and other Chicago animal welfare organizations.

We are always meeting new people and organizations that help animals. Today we are talking to Jeff Howard of Adopt-A-Pet.com to learn more about the organization.

Q: What is Adopt-a-Pet.com?

A: Adopt-a-Pet.com is the world's largest non-profit adoption website. We are like an ad agency for shelters and shelter pets. Sadly, there are 4 million healthy and adoptable companion animals killed in shelters each year due to overcrowding. We do our best to relieve that problem and put pets from shelters in the homes of pet seekers all over the country.

Q: What can we find on your website?
A. Our website makes it easy for anyone with an internet connection to find profiles and pictures of adoptable animals by location, breed, gender, age, size, and color. Over 8,000 shelters posts pets on our website displaying over 125,000 pets available for adoption at any given time. We also help volunteers connect with shelters, and currently host thousands of people listed in our volunteer database for shelters.

Q: Do you work with any other animals in addition to dogs and cats?

A: Yes we do! In addition to dogs and cats, we now feature all kinds of pets for adoption, including rabbits, farm animals, ferrets, hamsters and other small animals, horses, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and even fish. This was a major initiative that took many months to research and program into the site, and it is being well-received within the shelter community.

Q: What are some of the unique features on your website?
A: On our website, people can use something we call “Search Saver.” This feature will notify users by e-mail when a particular pet fitting their specifications in available for adoption. For example, I can tell “Search Saver” where I live and what type of breed I am looking for. When that animal is available, I am notified the next time a pet matching my search is added on Adopt-a-Pet.com.

As of this summer we have now made it easy for our visitors to find pets and then recommend them to friends and family via Facebook, Twitter and other social applications. We are calling the idea “Social Petworking.” Here is how it works; once you have searched and found a pet in need, on the pet details page simply hover over the button labeled “SHARE,” there you can send the pet details page to any of your friends.

Q: You've teamed up with a well-known artisit to help raise awareness and money for animals in need. Please share this exciting news!

A: We have teamed up with renowned street-artist Shepard Fairey, who designed the iconic Obama "Hope" image. As a result, we have available a number of stylish ways to promote pet adoption. Shepard was able to translate his work with Obama to an image that can be used to represent pet adoption support. You can download the image to share, embed it on your website or print it. T-shirts and clothing and stickers are available too and these purchases help raise money to help homeless pets.

Q: What other kind of information can we find on the website?

A: Adopt-a-Pet.com has recently begun blogging, and every week we publish posts from two separate columns. On Tuesday, we blog about pet care tips, and on Fridays we do our best to find heartwarming stories about adopted pets all over the country. Here are a few highlights from our blog:

10 Ways To Help Homeless Pet, Even If You Can’t Adopt
What To Ask Your Veterinarian
Good News In Pet Adoption – A Weekly Post
10 Things To Consider Before Adopting

Adopt-a-pet is also on Facebook and you can follow it on Twitter at AdoptaPetcom.

Guest Column: Greyhounds are GREYT!!

Today, we have a special guest columnist: Jill's friend Amy R., a Greyhound rescue expert. Amy and her husband have opened their hearts and home to several former racing dogs. We thought it would be a good idea to present Amy's guide to rescuing retired racing Greyhounds -- a group of pooches who are always in need of a helping paw. Greyhounds are one of the many breeds subject to misguided preconceptions, which sadly prevent people from adopting these beautiful and graceful animals. Some people think that Greyhounds are high strung, high energy dogs who need to live on 30 acres in order to be happy. Not so! Thus, as part of our larger effort to help dogs in need and debunk old wives' tales, we give you Amy:

Greyhounds are wonderful dogs. Here's some basic information and corrections to some common myths about this breed.

1. Greyhounds are indoor dogs and are excellent pets for people in urban environments and/or yard-less environments. Since greyhounds have little body fat and thin/short fur, they are NOT meant to stay outdoors for any length of time. We live in a townhouse in a city neighborhood with no meaningful outdoor space and our dogs fit great. They are very graceful, body-aware dogs and rarely bump into anything. We walk them several times a day and occasionally take them to the dog park and they are healthy and fit.

2. Greyhounds are mellow, docile and very affectionate. They are not high-strung at all. On the contrary, they are low-key, and love nothing more than to hang with their people and snuggle up for an ear- or belly-rub.

3. With short coats that generate little oil - they rarely generate a "doggy" smell and they hardly shed. (Note from Billy: Use a rubber curry to bestow a relaxing massage and remove any dead coat before it falls off your Greyhound).

4. Greyhounds sleep most of the day, with only occasional bursts of energy. They are often called the "30 mile an hour couch potato." Ours have one or two 5-minute bursts of energy per day - after playing with their toys or running up and down the stairs - it's back to nap time.

5. Greyhounds are purebreds but rarely have the genetic problems common to many large dogs, such as hip dysplasia. Greyhound breeders keep rigorous records back several generations of each dog's genealogy so they can avoid in-breeding. Here's a link to the family tree of our newest grey, Patti (aka Looking Forward). The racing industry also maintains detailed records of each dog's career. Our 9-year-old boy Miller (aka Butch Miller) had an illustrious career before he retired 5 years ago. Click here to see what a racing resume looks like.

Here are a couple of sites where you can learn more about greyhounds. Click here and here. It's easy to adopt a retired racer even if you live in a state without racing. check it out - there may be one waiting for you!

Thanks Amy for sharing this important information! If you are looking for a new furry family member, be sure to consider a retired racer!