AWESOME AUSSIES

Try these Healthy recipes for you & your pet! 

Simple Scrambled Eggs

Ingredients:

5 eggs

5 tablespoons milk

1 pat of butter

Kosher salt

Ground pepper

Directions:

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine eggs and milk with a fork. In a nonstick skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat until it bubbles. Stir a pinch of salt and pepper into egg mixture then pour into pan, stirring slowly with a heat resistant rubber spatula.

2. As soon as curds begin to form, increase heat to high and instead of stirring, use the spatula to fold the eggs over themselves while gently shaking the pan with your other hand. As soon as no more liquid is running around the bottom of the pan, remove from the heat and serve.

Harvest Veggie Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 pound skinless boneless chicken breasts, diced

5-3/4 cups chicken broth

1-1/2 cups of 1/2-inch-diced yams

1-1/2 cups of 1/2-inch-diced red potatoes

2 zucchini, diced

2 summer squash, diced

Directions:

In a large stockpot, melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook chicken, stirring often, until no longer pink. When chicken is fully cooked, add stock, yams and potatoes and bring to a boil, boiling for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add zucchini and squash and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the portion you will set aside for your dog (about a cup a day). You can even mix the soup with his dry food for a pleasant change.

Lean Mean Meatloaf

Ingredients:

1-1/2 pounds ground turkey

1/2 pound ground beef

2/3 cup peas

2/3 cup carrots

1 cup oatmeal

1-1/4 cups milk

2 medium eggs

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all ingredients well. Place in a loaf pan and bake for 1-1/2 hours. Serve your pet, and then garnish with garlic powder or other spices to your liking.

Foods to never feed your pet ”There are quite a few foods and beverages we can consume that our pets should not, including onions, garlic, mushrooms, macadamia nuts and alcoholic or caffeinated drinks," .

 “For instance, if you are using baby food in any meals for your pet, read the label first to make sure it doesn’t contain onion powder. That being said, whenever you are cooking a meal for yourself and your pets, you should substitute ingredients or reserve a ‘pet-friendly’ portion beforehand.” Then you can add other ingredients and seasonings to the meal to make it palatable for you, your spouse and your kids.

There are a number of other foods and drinks you should never feed your pet. 

Many herding dog breeds are afflicted with a mutation of the multi-drug resistance (mdr1) gene. This gene encodes a protein (P-glycoprotein) that is responsible for removing certain drugs and toxins from the brain. Dogs that carry the mdr1 genetic defect cannot rid their brains of the problem drugs. The result is a neurotoxic buildup that can cause abnormal neurological symptoms and/or death.

Breeds known to carry the mdr1 mutation include Australian Shepherds of all sizes, Collies, English Shepherds, Longhaired Whippets, McNabs, Old English Sheepdogs, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Silken Windhounds. Research has shown that three of every four Collies have at least one copy of the mutated gene.

This also means that if your mixed breed dog has, or you think s/he might have, any of these breeds in its pedigree, you should test your dog and avoid the drugs on the list until you have test results.

There is now a test available to screen for the presence of the mutated mdr1 gene. Test results indicate if the dog carries two, one or no copies of the mutated gene. For further information on the mdr1 genetic mutation and the test, visit the website of the Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine at http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/

From C.A.Sharpe http://www.ashgi. org

I was recently contacted by someone asking whether a dog could have an MDR1

reaction due to eating feces from Ivermectin-treated livestock. I wasn't

sure about that, so I checked with Dr. Katrina Mealy at Washington State

University. Dr. Mealy is the scientist who discovered the MDR1 gene.

She told me that Ivermectin and the related drug, selamectin, were shed in

feces of treated animals in active form. She went on to say that .they have

had a number of reports on dogs that had ingested enough feces to have

serious to fatal MDR1 reactions.

If you have Aussies or dogs of any other MDR1 breed who are prone to poop

eating and may have access to excrement from livestock, it would be wise to

do whatever you can to prevent them from doing so.

Download the MDR1 Vet Fact Sheet/Problem Drug list Problem Drugs

Dogs from affected breeds who carry the mutated gene OR who have not been tested for the mutation should avoid using drugs from the MDR1 Problem Drugs List (see next page). The list is divided into drugs known to cause mdr1 mutation problems and drugs suspected of causing mdr1 mutation problems.

The most commonly prescribed drug on the list is ivermectin, a wormer used in many canine heartworm preventative treatments including Heartguard, Iverhart, Tri-Heart and Advantage DUO. Dogs in the affected breeds should use milbemycin oxide (Interceptor) for heartworm preventative instead of ivermectin as it’s generally considered a safer alternative. Ivermectin can also be found in many livestock wormers (dogs should be kept away during and for several days after livestock worming), and in home and yard insecticides (under the names avermectin or abamectin).

Other frequently used drugs on the list include loperamide for diarrhea (most commonly sold as Imodium); morphine; butorphanol for pain and cough suppression; and acepromazine (prescribed as Ace, ACP, or Atravet) for tranquilizing, calming, and anesthesia use.

These problem drugs are dispensed in many forms including pills, liquids, injections, and ointments. Check ALL drugs you are considering giving your dog against this list if your dog either carries the mutated gene or has not yet been tested for the gene.

BusterAlert.org

Canine MDR1 Mutation

Info Center

MDR1 Problem Drugs List

with North American Brand & Trade Names

Dogs who test as having a mutated mdr1 gene OR dogs from afflicted breeds* who have not been tested for the mutation should avoid these drugs.

Drug names in bold are the generic drugs identified as problems by the scientists from the VCPL at Washington State University. Below each generic drug is a list of some of the synonyms, brand, and trade names for the generic drug provided by BusterAlert.org. More drugs are likely to be added as mdr1 research progresses.

Drugs PROVEN to Cause Neurotoxicity Acepromazine

Ace

Acepro

Aceproject

Acevet

ACP

Atravet

PromAce

Butorphanol

Dolorex

Stadol

Torbugesic

Torbutrol

Torphajet

Cyclosporin

Atopica

Cicloral

Ciclosporin

Cyclosporine

Gengraf

Immulem

Modusik-A

Neoral

Optimmune

Restasis

Sandimmune

SangCya

Supremunn

Digoxin

Digibind

Digitalis

Lanoxicaps

Lanoxin

Mapluxin

Doxorubicin

Adriamycin

Adriblastina

Caelyx

Doxil

Doxolem

Doxotec

Hydroxydaunomycin

Hydroxydoxorubicin

Hydroxyldaunorubicin

Myocet

Oxicina

Rubex Ivermectin

Abamectin

Acarexx

Advantage DUO

Avermectin

Bimectin

BMD/Ivomec

Ecomectin

Equell

Equimax

Equimectrin

Eqvalan

Heartguard

Ivercare

Ivercide

Iverhart

Iver-On

Iversol

Ivexterm

Ivomec

Mectizan

Megamectin

Noromectin

Panomec Phoenectin

Primectin

Privermectin

SparMectin

Stromectol

Tri-Heart

Unimectrin

Virbamec

Zimecterin

Loperamide

Acanol

Acqta

Anti-Diarrheal

   Formula

Cryoperacid

Deroser

Diahalt

Diamode

Diarr-Eze

Diarrhea Relief

Hurplex

Imodium

Imogen

Imperim Kao-Paverin

Lomotil

Lop

Loperacap

Nodiamex

Permidal

Pramidal

Raxamida

Rediarin

Top-Dal

Valfam

Vinblastine

Lemblastine

Velban

Velbe

Vincristine

Citomid

Leurocristine

Oncovin

Vinblax

Vincasar

Vincrex

Vintec Drugs SUSPECTED to Cause Neurotoxicity (research is ongoing)

Domperidone

Motilium

Etoposide

EPEG

Etopophos

Etopos

Toposar

Vepesid

VP-Tec

Mitoxantrone

Formyxan

Mitroxone

Neotalem Novantrone

Morphine

Analfin

Apokyn

Astramorph

Avinza

DepoDur

Doloral

Duralmor

Duramorph

Graten

Infumorph

Kadian

M-Eslon

MOS

MS Contin (MSC)

MSIR

Oramorph

RMS

Roxanol

Statex

Ondansetron

Zofran

Paclitaxel

Abraxane

Asotax Bris Taxol

Onxol

Paclisan

Praxel

Taxol

Quinidine

Biquin

Chinidinum

Cin-Quin

Quinact

Quinaglute

Quinalan

Quinatime

Quinidex

Quinora

Rifampicin

IsonaRif

Rifadin

Rifamate

Rifampin

Rifater

Rimactane

RMS

Rofact

Roxanol

Many owners love to lavish goodies on their pooches: bacon and cheese snacks, pig ears, and an endless stream of table scraps. But all that affection comes at a hefty price. Before Fido turns fat, it may be time to consider healthy dog treats.

In other words, skip the cheesy chews and bring on the baby carrots.Baby carrots? Yes. “Dogs like the crunch,” says Ernie Ward, DVM, aveterinarian in Calabash, N.C. Ward is also president of the Association forPet Obesity Prevention. He founded the group in 2005 to highlight the growing  problem of heavy, out-of-shape pets. He has treated many overweight dogs that come to his practice with osteoarthritis. “That is the number one thing that wesee: obese pets that are literally crippled by pain,” Ward says.

Heavy dogs also face heightened heart disease and cancer risks, Ward says. About 44% of dogs in the U.S. are overweight orobese, according to statistics from his group’s web site. But he tells WebMD that owners can take action. “When you look at obesity-related disorders,” Wardsays, “they are typically chronic, incurable, expensive, but generally preventable.”

Are treats making dogs fat? Treats have a place in a dog’s diet, veterinarians say. Besides spicing up adog’s day, treats -- such as small liver treats or salmon flakes -- are anexcellent way to motivate and reward puppies. One example might be duringhouse-training.

But today, Ward says, too many commercial dog treats are loaded with fat and sugar. “This makes these treats almost irresistible,” he says. “This is whyyour dog will dance and howl and yip and run and do amazing things just to getone of these goodies. I call them calorie grenades.”

Even a single, high-calorie treat, such as packaged beef, bacon, or cheese snacks, can fill as much as one-fourth to one-fifth of a small dog’s daily calorie needs. “It’s really dangerous,” says Ward, “because pet owners are inthe habit of giving two or three treats at a time. Voila -- obesity.”

Experts say that too many owners forget to factor treats into a pet’soverall caloric intake. “A general recommendation is that treats should notmake up more than 15% to 20% of the pet’s total diet,” says Sarah Abood, DVM,PhD. Abood is an assistant professor of small animal clinical sciences at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She tells WebMD that the restriction still holds whether it’s commercial treats or people food.

Certain store-bought treats, such as dried chicken strips, are a better,low-fat choice than some of the heavily processed, high-fat snacks, says MarkNunez, DVM, a veterinarian in Van Nuys, Calif. Nunez is also president of theCalifornia Veterinary Medical Association. “I usually tell my clients, if it sounds like junk food, it probably is junk food,” he says.

Natural Dog Treats For owners interested in homemade or organic dog treats, Ward says, “It’sstill better to give natural, whole foods. I look for crunchy vegetables.” He suggests offering small portions of snacks such as green beans, celery, or cooked yams, including canned ones. “You have to experiment with your own dog,”he says. But avoid onions, garlic, grapes and raisins, which are toxic todogs.

Some owners have told Ward that their dogs refuse veggies. But he encourages them to keep putting healthy choices before them, as parents would do with children.

In the summertime, Ward freezes small chunks of apples, kiwi, and watermelon into ice cubes for his dog to lick outdoors. “They’re great for a hot day.Those are simple things that people can do,” he says.

Nunez says chicken hot dogs or tofu hot dogs -- the ones for human consumption -- can also be cut into pieces for dog treats.

It’s also easy to concoct delicious, natural dog treats at home, Ward says.Here’s one of his recipes:

Lickety Split

1 frozen banana

1 cup rice milk or nonfat yogurt

Place ingredients in blender. Mix until creamy. Serve chilled.

Each 4 oz. serving has about 65 calories. To reduce calories, substitute 2/3cups strawberries instead of using a banana.

Table scraps and bones What about feeding a dog from the dinner table? Nunez discourages the habit because it trains a pet to become a meal time mooch. “You don’t want to get the dog used to begging at the dinner table,” he says.

In contrast, Ward believes that it’s unrealistic to expect dog owners to avoid table feeding. But that doesn’t mean that owners should slip their dogs greasy chicken skins or scraps of fat. “I think it boils down to having good choices,” Ward says. “If you’re going to feed from the table, make it vegetablechoices.”

Both veterinarians agree, though, that contrary to popular belief, dogs should not chew on bones, either from the pet store, butcher’s counter, or leftovers from owners’ meals.

“It’s a common thought that dogs have been eating bones since the dawn oftime. But bones can cause a lot of problems,” Nunez says. Dogs can fracture aback molar when they crunch down on a bone, or they may swallow bone splinters and suffer gastrointestinal irritation. “As a general rule of thumb, I tell people to avoid bones,”Ward says. “I don’t see any need from a nutritional stand point, and it runs aninherent risk.”

Compressed rawhide bones, horse hooves, and pig ears can also irritate orobstruct the intestinal tract, experts say.

So what’s a bored dog to do? Instead of giving a dog a bone to gnaw, place afew healthy treats inside a rubber Kong dog toy, which makes the pet work harder to dislodge snacks with its tongue. “That occupies a lot of time,”

Pets Are Natural Mood Enhancers It only takes 15 to 30 minutes with a dog or cat or watching fish swim to feel less anxious and less stressed. Your body actually goes through physical changes in that length of time that make a difference in your mood. The level of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, is lowered. And the productionof serotonin, an important chemical associated with well-being, is increased.Reducing stress saves your body a lot of wear and tear.

DOGS CAN EAT A VARITY OF STRANGE THINGS.SOME DOGS HAVE ABNORMAl DESIRES TO INGEST NONEDIBLE SUBSTANCES, INLUDING WOOD, FABRIC, OR SOIL. TALK TO YOUR VETERINARIAN ABOUT POSSIBLE HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THESE SPECIFIC HUNGERS, AND ABOUT POSSIBLE PROBLEMS THAT COULD RESULT FROM EATING THESE ITEMS. THE MOST COMMON AND SEEMINGLY APALLING NON- FOOD ITEM EATEN BY DOGS IS THEIR OWN FECES. THIS HABIT, CALLED COPROPHAGIA, HAS BEEN BLAMED ON BOREDOM, STRESS, HUNGER, POOR NUTRITION, AND EXCESSIVELY RICH NUTRITION, BUT NONE OF THESE HAS PROVED A COMPLETELY SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION. FOOD ADDITIVES ARE AVAILABLE THAT MAKE THE STOOL LESS SAVORY, AND YOU CAN ALSO TRY ADDING HOT PEPPER TO IT, BUT A DETERMINED DOG WILL NOT BE DETERRED AND THE BEST CURE IS IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF ALL FECES. MANY PUPPIES EXPERIMENT WITH STOOL EATING BUT GROW OUT OF IT.

IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE AN OLD AUSSIE, YOU STILL MUST ACCEPT THAT AN END WILL COME. HEART DISEASE, KIDNEY FAILURE, AND CANCER EVENTUALLY CLAIM MOST OF THESE SENIOR CITIZENS. EARLY DETECTION CAN HELP DELAY THEIR EFFECTS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY CAN SELDOM PREVENT THEM ULTIMATETLY.

DESPITE THE BEST OF CARE, A TIME WILL COME WHEN NEITHER YOU OR YOUR VETERINARIAN CAN PREVENT YOUR CHERISHED PET FROM SUCCUMBING TO OLD AGE OR AN INCURRABLE ILLNESS. IT SEEMS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN SUCH A FOCAL POINT OF YOUR LIFE, A REAL MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY.

YOU SHOULD REALIZE THAT BOTH OF YOU HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE SHARED SO MANY GOOD TIMES, BUT MAKE SURE THAT YOUR AUSSIES REMAINING TIME IS STILL PLEASURABLE. MANY TERMINAL ILLNESSES MAKE YOUR DOG FEEL VERY ILL, AND THERE COMES A POINT WHERE YOUR DESIRE TO KEEP YOUR FRIEND WITH YOU AS LONG AS POSSIBLE MY NOT BE THE KINDEST THING FOR EITHER OF YOU. IF YOUR DOG NO LONGER EATS ITS DINNER OR TREATS, THIS IS A SIGN THAT IT DOES NOT FEEL WELL AND YOU MUST FACE THE PROSPECT OF DOING WHAT IS BEST OFR YOUR BELOVED FRIEND.

EUTHENANSIA IS A DIFFICULT AND PERSONAL DECISION THAT NO ONE WISHES TO MAKE, AND THAT NO ONE CAN MAKE FOR YOU. ASK YOUR VETERINARIAN IF THERE IS A RESONABLE CHANCE OF YOUR DOG GETTING BETTER, AND IF IT LIKELY THAT YOUR DOG IS SUFFERING. ASK YOURSELF IF YOUR DOG IS GETTING PLEASURE OUT OF LIFE, AND IF IT ENJOYS MOST OF ITS DAYS. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS CAN BE A FACTOR IF IT MEANS GOING INTO DEBT IN EXCHANGE FOR JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER. YOUR OWN EMOTIONAL STATE MUST ALSO BE CONSIDERED.

IF YOU DO DECIDE THAT EUTHENANSIA IS THE KINDEST FAREWELL GESTURE FOR YOUR BELOVED FRIEND, DISCUSS WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN BEFOREHAND WHAT WILL HAPPEN. EUTHENANSIA IS PAINLESS AND INVOLVES GIVING AN OVERDOSE OF ANESTHETIC. IF YOUR DOG IS SCARED OF THE VETERINARIAN CLINIC, YOU  MIGHT FEEL BETTER HAVING THE DR MEET YOU AT HOME OR COME OUT TO YOUR CAR. ALTHOUGH IT WON'T BE EASY, TRY TO REMAIN WITH YOUR DOG SO THAT ITS LAST MOMENTS WILL BE FILLED WITH YOUR LOVE.GATHER YOUR MEMORIES OF YOUR AUSSIE AND PEN THEM IN YOUR HEART FOREVER. WHEN IT IS TIME TO LET GO, THANK YOUR AUSSIE FOR A JOB WELL DONE, AND GIVE IT THE FINAL RELEASE. THAT'LL DO.

HARSH CORRECTIONS ONLY MAKE MATTERS WORSE.

DOGS LIVE IN THE PRESENT AND CANNOT MAKE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THEIR EALIER MISDEEDS AND LATER PUNISHMENT.

DOGS REPEAT ACTIONS THAT BRING IMMEDIATE REWARDS.

DOGS DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF MAKING AN EZCEPTION "JUST THIS ONCE."

DOGS HEAR WHAT YOU SAY, NOT WHAT YOU MEAN TO SAY. BE CONSISTENT WITH COMMANDS.

DRUGS

CHOCOLATE (ESPECIALLY BAKERS CHOCOLATE)

RODENT , SNAIL,AND INSECT BAITS

ANTIFREEZE

HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS

PAINT THINNER

TOILET FRESHNERS

NUTS, BOLTS, PENNIES, WHICH CAN DISSOLVE IN THE STOMACH AND CAUSE ZINC TOXICITY

PINS AND NEEDLES, AND ANYTHING IN A SEWING BASKET

CHICKEN BONES OR ANY BONE THAT COULD BE SWALLOWED OR COULD SPLINTER

SPONGES AND SPONGE RUBBER BALLS

ANY OTHER SMALL ITEM THAT A PUP COULD SWLLOW, WHICH CAN CAUSE INTESTINAL BLOCKAGE

Crate Training and "Potty" Training Remember that repetition is necessary. Your puppy will not understand what you want unless you repeatedly show him/her the desired behavior MANY times. Keep in mind also that your puppy does not know what is expected and must be shown the proper place to eliminate, and when. Your best potty training friend is your crate. When you cannot watch your puppy, use a crate. Think of the crate the same way you think of a playpen for a human child. Even if you are only leaving the room for a "minute," either take the puppy with you or use the crate. After all, you would not leave a toddler in the house alone "for just a minute" would you? Crate training can be fun for the puppy if you make it a POSITIVE experience. The DEN is an integral part of the wild dogs upbringing and safety zone. The same thing applies to the "crate". Giving the pupspecial "treats" is a great way to introduce him to his crate. The only time the puppy receives these special treats is when he is in the crate; the treats become associated with the crate. Use the crate wisely. Don't crate only when you are leaving the house. Place the puppy in the crate while you are home as well. Use it as a "safe" zone, or for "time outs".(thus keeping your sanity) By crating when you are home AND while you are gone, the puppy becomes comfortable in the crate and not worried that you will not return, orthat you are leaving him/her alone. This helps to eliminate separation anxiety later in life. Most puppies will not soil their "den." The first couple of tries you might have some accidents, but don't be discouraged. An easy way to avoid accidents in the night for the first few weeks is by following this routine:

1. set your alarm for about 3 hrs after your normal bed time. When the alarm goes off, get up immediately, go to the crate and CARRY the pup outside . Place him on the ground and encourage him to eliminate.PRAISE when he does, and bring him back to the crate. Go back to bed.

2. Set your alarm for another 3 hrs, and get back to sleep. When the alarm goes off repeat part 1.

3. After about a week of the above routine, IF it has been successful (no crate messing) then you can set the alarm for * way through your sleep time. Follow the remainder of part 1. When you arise in the morning, TAKE the pup outside BEFORE you do anything else. Feed the pup and then crate. Follow your regular waking routine, then walk thepup one more time before going off to work. 4. Repeat the feeding, walking and crating at lunch time. Pups from the ages of 2 to 4 months CANNOT control their elimination for much more than 4 hours, so if you cannot return home at lunch time, arrange for someone to do this for you at lunch. If the CRATE is too large, the pup can easily soil on one side and sleep on the other. The way to prevent this is to buy a crate that will accommodate your pet when it is fully grown. Then get a box tha twill fit inside the back of the crate. The box should be large enough that there is only room for the puppy to stand and lie down comfortably.

Here is a general schedule for"puppy shots" to give your puppy a healthy start. Please check with your veterinarian for more specific guidelines.  

Vaccination Schedule for Puppies and Dogs

Distemper…..  an airborne viral disease of the lungs, intestines and brain

Hepatitis…..   a viral disease of the liver

Leptospirosis…  a bacterial disease of the urinary tract

Parainfluenza… infectious bronchitis

Parvovirus…..  a viral disease of the intestines

Rabies…..   a viral disease fatal to humans and other animals

Corona…..   a viral disease of the intestines

Bordatella…  a bacterial infection of the upper respiratory system (kennel

cough)

Puppies (6 weeks to 1 year)

6 – 8 weeks………. first puppy shot (DHLPP) + Corona

11 –12 weeks……. second puppy shot (DHLPP) + Corona

15-16 weeks……… third puppy shot (DHLPP) + Corona

over 4 months…… Rabies ( repeat 1 year later)

7-9 months……… first heartworm test

Adult Dogs (after 1 year)

DHLPP……   Yearly

Heartworm Test……Yearly

Rabies…….  Every three years (after 2nd shot)

Bordatella….. Yearly