Other Victims of Foreclosure...The Ones We Don't Always Think About!

In this time of thousands of foreclosures, there are many many pets being given up by their owners who have lost their homes to foreclosure. Perhaps there should be a hotline for homeowners facing foreclosure to call. People are in depression and agony over their homes and at the same time are losing their beloved pets. Many rentals will not accept animals and they are costly to keep. Shelters have been inundated where foreclosure rates are high-from Florida to Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado, Arizona and California. In May, the number of animals turned into Los Angeles City shelters jumped 30 percent. Pets seem to be the silent victims of this whole economic downturn. The harsh reality is, as more animals come into the shelters, the more that have to be put down. If you are ready for a new pet, please take the time to visit a shelter and give one of these older, loved pets a new home.
Let's not forget these silent victims!

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Canine Melanoma

According to a recent article in the AKC Gazette by Betty Liddick, research is being done to help stop melanoma in dogs. There is work being done to produce the first cancer vaccine. It is in the beginning stages and there is high hope for it. Signs of Melanoma occur most commonly in the mouth. Affected dogs may lose weight, sneeze and develop bleeding, bad breath and face swelling. Round, dark melanomas can also develop in footpads, nail beds, lips and eyes. All dogs are susceptible but breeds with a lot of dark pigment seem particularly vulnerable.. These would Black Labs, Chows, Doberman Pinschers Flat Coated Retrievers, German Shepherds, Goldens, Setters,
Rottweilers. Scotty's, Standard Poodles and Vizslas.
The first clinic to investigate a melanoma vaccine is Katonah-Bedford Veterinary Center in New York.According to the article two more veterinary schools are investigating melanoma vaccines as well. The Univ. of Wisconsin and the Univ. of Florida.
So, if our dogs develop melanoma....first we should know how to recognize it and second where to go to investigate the possibility of help!


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Two Topics this Time: Cushing Disease and Smelly Homes!

Just a reminder to animal lovers that plan on selling their homes. When you have dogs, it is very easy to become accustomed to their doggy smell within the home. However, from personal experience in showing homes of animal lovers, I can tell you that there is often a leftover odor from Fido, even when FIDO is not present. Please bathe your dogs and wash their bedding often. Also, remember to shampoo anything used by your dogs and to clean the carpet before putting your home on the market. "Doggy Smell" can definitely turn buyers off.

Know the Signs of Cushing's Disease!
This glandular disorder strikes many older dogs, but owners may not recognize the symptoms until the disease has reached an advanced stage. The P's that make up the classic signs of Cushing's syndrome are:
Polyuria-urinating a lot
Polydipsia-drinking a lot
Polyphagia-eating a lot
Panting
Potbellied appearance

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Hyperlipidemia

High Fat in the Blood! This is a serious canine disorder that can cause death in dogs. According to Dr.Jeff Grognet, DVM, after a dog consumes a fatty meal, it is natural for the fat level in the blood to rise. Normally it quickly falls again. But in hyperlipidemia the high level is sustained. If a dog still has lipid in his blood 12 hours after his last meal, his body is either producing too much lipid or there is ineffective clearance of lipid by the liver, and the dog has hyperlipidemia.
Prolonged hyperlipidemia creates symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea as well as abdominal pain and distension. The dog goes off food, may have seizures, and fat deposits in the eye can cause vision loss. To diagnose have blood tests done and they will show persistently elevated levels of cholesterol and triglyceride.

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Pet Preferences

The AKC looked at the top 10 breeds in the nation's largest cities. Some interesting facts:
The Bulldog is most popular in Los Angeles, where it is ranked 2nd right after the Labrador
Detroit, Knoxville, Miami, Honolulu and Orlando are the only cities that do not have the Labrador in the top spot. Detroit and Miami favor the German Shepherd, while Orlando puts the Yorkshire Terrier in first place; Honolulu the Golden Retriever, and Knoxville the Boxer
Salt Lake City is the only city to place the Shih Tzu in a top spot.
Oklahoma City places the Miniature Schnauzer in top spot.
San Francisco and Los Angeles were the only cities to include the French Bulldog in their top 10 list.

Don't forget the big Westminster Dog Show is coming up this Monday and Tuesday February 11 and 12. Watch for it on television! Westminster was the only dog show in America in 2007 to have entries in every recognized breed and variety. See it on USA Network. Four newly recognized breeds will make their debut this year.
The Plott, the Tibetan Mastiff, the Beauceron and the Swedish Vallhund. Now there are a total of 169 different breeds and varieties in competition!

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AKC Web Site Holds Valuable Information

Check the American Kennel Club Web Site for upcoming symposia or go to www.akcchf.org/ to see what's coming up next for the Canine Health Foundation.
They do great work for our dogs, allocating more than $13 million in health research funds since 1995 to more than 275 studies in nearly all of the top diseases in dogs, which include cancer, eye disease,epilepsy, hip dysplasia, thyroid disease, heart disease, autoimmune disease,allergies, patellar luxation and renal dysplasia.

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Your Dog Wants To Live Here!!

Okay, I couldn't resist....this cute home is for sale in Ventura, California for $524,900. This is a great price for this home due to location and condition.

It is 4 bedrooms and 2 baths and in the Poinsettia Elementary School District!

Now the best part is that two Labradors currently live here and will be so disappointed if someone buys this home

and does not bring a new doggie along to enjoy it! So all of you dog fans out there, this is a perfect home for you. The yard is just screaming for another dog to live here.

Check it out on my website at: http://www.JanisCalkins.com