Dog Health: Man’s Best Friend Close to Doubling as His Best Man

At age 22, most young men would scoff at the idea of having a chaperone 24 hours a day.

But Mitch Peterson of Monmouth, Ill., said his seizure-response dog, London, gave him his life back.

“I have a lot more freedom than I used to,” said Mitch, who now enjoys living alone and working in his town’s high school library. “I don’t have to be watched 24-hours a day. When you’re a teenager, you didn’t want to be reliant on other people.”

Mitch began having epileptic seizures at age 14, and had to sleep next to a baby monitor during his high school years for his parent’s peace of mind.

Mitch’s mother, Vanya Peterson, said before her son received London, an energetic golden retriever-yellow lab mix, she questioned whether he was going to survive his seizures and seizure-related injuries.

“He was having 10 seizures an hour,” she said, “and could not be left alone. The ambulance was at our house more times than not.”

On Mitch’s 18th birthday, Vanya, desperate to help her son, contacted non-profit organization Canine Assistants, based in Georgia, and applied for a dog health service. This birthday wish was granted almost exactly two years later.

“Having London has completely changed our lives,” Vanya said. “After seeing our son in such a hard state and with his health deteriorating -- to see him turn around, be so positive and look forward to life -- it’s just a blessing.”

Prior to receiving London, Mitch followed the advice of doctors and had a vagal nerve stimulator implanted. This device is comparable to a heart pacemaker, except it’s for the brain, said Dr. Michael Smith, director of Rush University Hospital’s epilepsy center. It sends electrical pulses to help curb seizures.

If a seizure can be predicted, Smith said, the stimulator can be turned on at a higher rate. The stimulator is highly effective if it is triggered in anticipation of a seizure – a feat London and other response dogs have mastered.

“Over 95 percent of the dogs we have placed developed the ability to predict [seizure] onset,” said Jennifer Arnold, founder of Canine Assistants.

London wears a magnet around his neck that can trigger Mitch’s nerve stimulator. When the dog senses Mitch is going to seizure, he “cuddles” his owner, triggering shock waves that prevent or at least minimize the occurrence.

Arnold said she is convinced canines “predict onset through their phenomenal sense of smell – that the human body produces an odor of some sort before a seizure.”

Canine Assistants is undertaking a research project with pharmaceutical company UCB Pharma, with hopes of determining how dogs predict seizures. Arnold said it is her “life’s quest to find the answer … that if we can just determine how the dogs know, we can save a lot of lives.”

Mitch emphasized a dog’s sixth sense, and said he thinks canine intuition plays a large role in preventing owner’s seizures.

“There is a strong bond between the dog and person,” Mitch said. “They sense what’s going on inside the person – they have a feeling of connection with the person.”

Seizure-response dogs also play a key role in preventing masters from injuring themselves during a seizure, Smith said. The canines are trained to gently pull their masters to the ground before or during an episode, something Mitch has experienced with London.

“Seizure dogs literally save peoples’ lives,” Arnold said. “You just don’t realize that people seizure to death. In having the dog, at least you know you’ll be safe. They’ll be right there.”

Each seizure-response dog, which knows about 90 commands following an average of two years of schooling, is trained slightly differently depending on an owner’s needs. Most of them are trained to hit a home-based 9-1-1 switch in case of emergency.

In the 17 years the organization has placed help dogs, there has only been one 9-1-1 false alarm. A service dog hit the switch during a thunderstorm – “apparently he thought it was an emergency,” Arnold said.

If emergencies occur outside the home, bystanders can find instructions inside a service dog’s backpack, such as contact information for someone to call if an individual is confused after a seizure.

Seizure response dogs are predominantly golden retrievers, golden-lab mixes or golden-poodle mixes. These people-oriented breeds, said Arnold, have a natural instinct to use their mouth for all of the tasks that are needed for their owner, like tugging open a drawer.

Since people tend to feel comfortable with these particular canines, the dogs boost their masters’ mental health and lift their spirits by sparking conversations with others in the community, Mitch said.

“I’ve seen several people who’ve had epilepsy who don’t have great morale because they’re relying on other people for their needs,” Mitch said. “Even if they don’t have another friend in the world, they have their service dog health. They’ll always be loyal. They won’t leave your side.”

Although Canine Assistants has placed nearly 1,000 help dogs for individuals with epilepsy and other diseases, and has roughly 120 more in training, the waitlist for a such dogs tops 1,000. In greater Chicago, 13 individuals are waiting for Canine Assistants to provide them with a companion, 11 specifically for seizure-response dogs.

And it’s not first-come, first-serve. Applicants are ranked based on the appropriateness of canine placement and the degree to which it would provide help, Arnold said. The wait time ranges between one and five years.

“Basically, it boils down to not having enough money to expand,” said Arnold, who estimated each service dog costs an average of $20,000, including training.

While UCB Pharma currently sponsors all of Canine Assistants’ seizure response dogs, there are critics.

“Optimally, humans should be relied upon for support … ,” wrote Daphna Nachminovitch, vice president of cruelty investigations for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, “rather than working dogs. It is too common for animals to be exploited and abused.”

Working dogs are often used as a substitute for innovative non-animal programs that intelligently address human needs, Nachminovitch wrote.

But Mitch assures us for London and other service dogs, it’s not all work and no play.

“London can have playtime like other dogs and cats,” Mitch said, adding that after a long day, London prefers to wind down by chasing a soccer ball.

The only tough part for London, Mitch said, is that nobody else can pet him because “he can’t be distracted from doing his job.”

This is one aspect about the man and his best friend that Mitch’s dog-loving fiancé, Heidi, had to get used to. But, as London’s tuxedo has already been purchased for their August wedding, it’s clear, Mitch said, the threesome will mesh just fine.

“To see the transformation in this young man,” his mother said, “this man has changed from someone who didn’t want to be around anyone -- despondent, depressed, isolated -- to someone who is outgoing, lives on his own and is getting married … I’m so happy for my son. He deserves a life.”

Source: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=86179

Dog Health: How To Help Build & Maintain A Healthy Immune System In Your Dog

An easy way to help boost the immune system is to use a good quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement daily.

Antioxidants are important to dog health because they help the immune function, by preventing oxidation of chemicals, and may help decrease the risk of infection and possibly cancer. They destroy free radicals which are reactive molecules that damage cells.

Damaged cells leave the body susceptible to cancer, heart disease and other degenerative diseases.

The most common antioxidants are Vitamins A, C and E and they are found in food.

Vitamin A is found in the liver and other tissues. It is most abundant in the fish liver oils. Carotene is found in plant material and dogs can convert carotene to vitamin A with an enzyme that is found in the intestinal walls. Vitamin A makes white blood cells which destroy viruses and harmful bacteria which help regulate the immune system. It helps the skin, mucous membranes, and urinary tract.

Vitamin C is manufactured in the liver and kidneys of dogs and is the most abundant water-soluble antioxidant in the body. Fresh fruits provide Vitamin C.

Vitamin E is in vegetable oils, cereal grains, greens, liver and eggs. It is the most abundant fat-soluble antioxidant in the body. It is very helpful in protecting against oxidation in fatty tissues.

Dog Health Care Insurance

Dogs are really man's best friend and I am sure all dog owners will agree me. The simple wag of its tail and the friendly lick that welcomes you every day can take those strees out after a days work. Taking your pet out for a walk or for a simple game with the frisbee can ensure a healthy workout for you and in the most enjoyable manner possible. The pet gives you silent company on lonely evenings and is more than happy to take a backseat when you are surrounded by your friends and family. The dog never complains if you have forgotten to give it a bath or perhaps you could not take it out for a walk due to some urgent work.

Considering all these facets of a pet it is our duty to ensure our dog health care. Dog health insurance can be one of the best ways to show that we care. The health insurance policies provided by various pet insurance companies cover a wide range of services starting from accidents, serious illnesses and even routine health care for the pets. Dogs of all breeds and ages can benefit and avail the advantages of such dog health insurance policies. It is not only easy on the pocket of the owners but also helps to provide the best care for them as such medical attention becomes easily affordable with the insurance.

As the facilities and technology in the world of dog health care are making major advancements in terms of providing superior treatment to the animals, the cost of such treatments is hitting the roof. Treatments like a hip replacement or kidney transplant which were earlier inconceivable in case of animals are now being provided for animals. Dogs too are prone to certain specific diseases like enlargement of heart, epilepsy, hip dysplasia which can be even be genetic. Also the symptom for these diseases occur in dogs only after a certain period of time and by that time the pet has already become an integral part of our families. Therefore helps the owner to provide the best treatment in such circumstances without feeling the financial pressure of providing the best health care for the dog.

Even on a regular basis them requires close attention to his health in terms of the best food, nutrients and hygiene. Regular check ups include expensive vaccinations, maintenance procedures such as ear and teeth cleaning, deworming, getting rid of unwanted mites and ticks and even minor infections. All these processes form an integral part of the dog's regular check up by the vet. A dog health insurance often covers the necessary processes thereby enabling the owner to provide the best care for his beloved pet. If such care is taken it will ensure a happy and loving association between themand his owner. So it is advisable to check with the other pet owners and companies providing such insurance and acquiring a proper dog health insurance for your precious canine.

Dog Health Care Importance

Health is very important to everyone, and dogs are certainly not an exception to this. Dog health is also a big concern. Healthy dog can help us at all times. To have a healthy dog, a breeder must have enough patience and love to take care of its necessities. All the basic necessities, from the puppy stage until the mature stage must be well observed.

To understand your dog better, you have notice the changes in the behavior of a dog. To note the behavioral changes one has to understand the symptoms of changes in a dog. His health should be given priority and one should take care with proper knowledge. Proper medication will ensure proper health of the dog. A regular veterinary doctor should be in contact to attend to the ailments required.

Dogs do show signs of discomfort. They have some symptoms to indicate that they are not healthy. One symptom is choking; the sound and gesture will be obvious. When a dog cries, trembles or has heavy breathing it is a sign of acute pain in the abdomen. If there is a bad odor from the ear, then it is ear infection or ear mites. Such symptoms should be noticed and medications should be done immediately. A dog’s normal temperature is 101 to 102 degree and the heart beat is 100 to 150 beats per minute. A dog health is comprised of everything from head to toe. It has to be taken care with intense love and affection.

One cannot tame a dog without proper knowledge. Dogs expect every attention from their masters. So the master should take pain to know about dogs, their habits, diets and possible health disorders. Sensing the difference in its health, one should guess its problem and explain it to the doctor and get the right medications.

Dog Health Care : The Amazing Dog

She has only two legs and walks like a human.
Some dogs with this condition could not survive. But in this situation, it was different.
This dog survive the challenges of having only 2 legs. Amazing!




This is a perfect example of the wonders that can be achieve if we take a good dog health care.