THE DOGCADEMY AWARDS
As long as there have been kids, there have been dogs as their faithful companions. As long as there have been movies featuring kids, there have been dog “actors.” In this season of People’s Choice, Golden Globes, Emmys, and Academy Awards, it’d be a doggone shame to not recognize some of the great celebrity canines of all time so here are the winners!
• Longest journey to an imaginary place by a real dog: Toto (Alice in Wonderland)
• Highest ranking military dog as a member of the U.S. Cavalry: Rin-Tin-Tin
• Most likely dog to make you cry by leading you to a well where in a young boy is stuck: Lassie
• Most romantic love scene by a spaghetti-eating mutt: Tramp (Lady and the)
• Greatest contribution to 4-legged philosophy reflecting the simplicity of life: Snoopie
• Greatest performances of athletic feats without a stunt double: Eddie (Frasier)
• Best performance by a recovering alcoholic: Neal (Cosmo Topper)
• Greatest collector of bad guys, banditos, and other human vermin: Bullet (Roy Rogers)
• Most jaded left-wing intellectual in an irreverent comedy: Brian (Family Guy)
• Most gifted and talented writer and observer of life’s foibles: Piper ... of course!
As part of my humble acceptance of this award, I want to thank my Pop and Sage Publisher, Len Semas, all of our Sage readers, our other dedicated writers, and our supporters and advertisers! Thank you all!
~ Piper
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EAR YE, EAR YE...
By Gary Ailes, DVM
It has been a good winter so far. I’ve only had to blade the parking lot out a couple of times and we have a great load of snow/water sitting in the mountains. Translated, that may mean we can take showers all through next summer and our pets will have enough water for bathing and grooming.
Speaking of bathing, if your pet gets water in its ears during a bath and it does not shake its head enough to get all of it out, that can lead to infections. Not only do many of these smell bad, depending on the microorganism involved, but the infections can be more than troublesome.
Usually, a dog or cat with an ear infection will be shaking their head, holding the affected ear down causing the head to tilt or digging at the ear. Also, it is possible the only sign noticed will be a foul smelling ear. Acute ear infections are easier to treat than chronic long standing infections. The tissues of the ear are closer to normal in the acute infections while the chronic infections may have thickened skin with a cauliflower appearance. Once the skin gets this appearance, it is very difficult if not impossible to get it to return to the normal state.
Chronic ear infections may cause swelling of the ear canal to a point where the canal needs to be removed to relieve the pain and irritation present. Chronic infections may cause the eardrum to become thickened and allow infection to permeate through to the middle ear. Once an infection is in the middle ear, it is usually necessary to remove the entire ear canal, both the vertical and horizontal component, and the lining of the middle ear. Repeat ear infections that are poorly responsive to treatment may be helped with surgery to remove the outside of the vertical ear tube (canal) if the horizontal canal does not have chronic swelling already established.
To achieve control of ear infections, the type of infection should be established first. There are two typical causes of ear infections; yeast and/or bacteria. There are different products available to treat the infections. Usually, a product that will work against one of these types will not be effective against the other type. In cases of mixed infections, bacteria and yeast, a product that has both types of drugs is usually the way to go. Primary yeast (fungal) infections are typically better treated with products designed to treat the yeast. Bacterial infections and mixed bacterial infections may require oral medication as well as topical to achieve control. Mixed bacterial infections relates to infections that have more than one species of bacteria present.
A dog with repeat ear infections and infections that are hard to control may have an underlying problem such as a food allergy. This is not an allergy to a brand of dog food but an allergy to one or more of the ingredients contained in the food. With repeat infections, I typically suggest switching foods to a food that is grain free and has both a protein and carbohydrate source that is novel and/or not contained in the food that is currently being fed. It takes about six weeks for the system to flush out the antigen. If you make a food switch to see if that is the problem, be sure to feed nothing but that food for six to eight weeks and, do not give any treats. If a treat contains some ingredient that sparks the allergy, you’ll be right back in the same boat and think the new food is the culprit.
Hopefully, none of these symptoms will every show up in your pet.
Gary Ailes, DVM, has owned and worked at a local animal hospital for over 30 years. He presently co-owns and is a staff member of Sierra Veterinary Hospital in Carson City. He can be contacted at: (775) 883-0261
It has been a good winter so far. I’ve only had to blade the parking lot out a couple of times and we have a great load of snow/water sitting in the mountains. Translated, that may mean we can take showers all through next summer and our pets will have enough water for bathing and grooming.
Speaking of bathing, if your pet gets water in its ears during a bath and it does not shake its head enough to get all of it out, that can lead to infections. Not only do many of these smell bad, depending on the microorganism involved, but the infections can be more than troublesome.
Usually, a dog or cat with an ear infection will be shaking their head, holding the affected ear down causing the head to tilt or digging at the ear. Also, it is possible the only sign noticed will be a foul smelling ear. Acute ear infections are easier to treat than chronic long standing infections. The tissues of the ear are closer to normal in the acute infections while the chronic infections may have thickened skin with a cauliflower appearance. Once the skin gets this appearance, it is very difficult if not impossible to get it to return to the normal state.
Chronic ear infections may cause swelling of the ear canal to a point where the canal needs to be removed to relieve the pain and irritation present. Chronic infections may cause the eardrum to become thickened and allow infection to permeate through to the middle ear. Once an infection is in the middle ear, it is usually necessary to remove the entire ear canal, both the vertical and horizontal component, and the lining of the middle ear. Repeat ear infections that are poorly responsive to treatment may be helped with surgery to remove the outside of the vertical ear tube (canal) if the horizontal canal does not have chronic swelling already established.
To achieve control of ear infections, the type of infection should be established first. There are two typical causes of ear infections; yeast and/or bacteria. There are different products available to treat the infections. Usually, a product that will work against one of these types will not be effective against the other type. In cases of mixed infections, bacteria and yeast, a product that has both types of drugs is usually the way to go. Primary yeast (fungal) infections are typically better treated with products designed to treat the yeast. Bacterial infections and mixed bacterial infections may require oral medication as well as topical to achieve control. Mixed bacterial infections relates to infections that have more than one species of bacteria present.
A dog with repeat ear infections and infections that are hard to control may have an underlying problem such as a food allergy. This is not an allergy to a brand of dog food but an allergy to one or more of the ingredients contained in the food. With repeat infections, I typically suggest switching foods to a food that is grain free and has both a protein and carbohydrate source that is novel and/or not contained in the food that is currently being fed. It takes about six weeks for the system to flush out the antigen. If you make a food switch to see if that is the problem, be sure to feed nothing but that food for six to eight weeks and, do not give any treats. If a treat contains some ingredient that sparks the allergy, you’ll be right back in the same boat and think the new food is the culprit.
Hopefully, none of these symptoms will every show up in your pet.
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