Charmed Ones Kennel

As the weather warms, we find ourselves and our beloved pets, outdoors more. Unfortunately, summer brings out some dangerous creatures. I am going to discuss a few and what to do if you’re pet comes in contact with snakes, spiders, and bees.

Poisonous snakes are out now. In the US we find Coral snakes in Arizona and New Mexico and others along the Gulf Coast. Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, and Water Moccasins are here in the south east. The first thing is to be able to identify them. Coral snakes have alternating band of black, yellow, occasionally white and red. If the head is black and the red touches the yellow then it is a coral snake. I have read that they cause only a little risk Remember the old saying “red to yellow you’re a dead fellow”. Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, and Water Moccasins are all pit vipers. These deadly vipers cause about 99% of all snake bites each year. They have facial pits, retractable fangs, elliptical pupils, and a triangular head. Rattlesnakes can meter their venom. They usually strike dogs in the head and face with a deadly dose of venom. THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY!!! The single most effective therapy of a rattlesnake bite in dogs is IV administration of purified Crotalid antivenin. I have also read that there is a vaccination for this also, but the dog may still require Crotalid.

My next creepy crawly subject is spiders. Spiders prefer dark, quiet, and draft less places. I will start with the Black Widow whom lives all over the USA. The females are black in color with a spherical abdomen and the red hourglass marking on the bottom. She is larger and more deadly than the males. Although, the immature females lack the spherical abdomen and take on the color of their last meal, they are equally deadly. Gram for Gram, it is 100% more potent than rattlesnake venom. It is a good thing their size limits the amount of venom delivered. A bite frequently goes unnoticed. There is little swelling or tissue change. The area around the bite may be red and the region may be dully sore. Classic signs are abdominal muscle rigidity and tenderness. The dog needs antivenin from the vet. I am not sure of the antivenin’s name. The Brown Recluse, also know as the Fiddleback or Violin spider, are usually found in the southern half of the USA. The initial bite may go undetected, however, hours later the bitten area will have a mild stinging sensation, generalized soreness, and will itch. As time goes on the area will become red with a dark non-healing center which is dying. Surgical removal is usually recommended.

Dogs may have allergic reactions to bee stings. If your dog is stung; remove the stinger immediately! 100% of the venom is delivered in the first 60 seconds after being stung. Then apply a cool compress. An antihistamine and a cool bath may help to control the swelling and pain. Please call your vet to see what antihistamine to give and the amount. If you notice any respiratory distress call the vet, your dog need help! Most deaths occur within 1 hour of being stung.

These are just a few summer dangers to watch out for and learn what to do before you ever have an encounter. I wish everyone a safe summer.

-Angel Lobo, Charmed Ones Kennel

Coccidia are small protozoans that multiply in the intestinal tracts of dogs and cats, usually pets under six monthsor in adults whose immune system is suppressed or in animals who are stressed from things like - a change in owners. As a puppy ages it tends to develop a natural immunity to the effects of coccidia. Adults tend to carry coccidia in their intestines, and shed the cysts in the feces, but experience no ill effects.

A puppy is not born with coccidia. It is frequently exposed to its mother's feces.The puppy ingests them and coccidia will develop within their intestines. Since young puppies have no immunity to coccidia, the organisms reproduce in great numbers and parasitize the young animal's intestines, having severe effects.

From the time of exposure to the onset of the illness is about 13 days. Most puppies become ill around two weeks of age and older. Although most infections are the result of spread from the mother, this is not always the case. The puppy is contagious to other puppies.

The primary sign of an animal suffering with coccidiosis is diarrhea. The diarrhea may be mild to severe depending on the level of infection. Blood and mucous may be present, especially in advanced cases. Severely affected animals may also vomit, lose their appetite, become dehydrated, and in some instances, die from the disease.

It should be mentioned that stress plays a role in the development of coccidiosis. It is not uncommon for a seemingly healthy puppy to arrive at its new home and develop diarrhea several days later leading to a diagnosis of coccidia. Your vet can do a fecal test and prescribe the appropriate antibiotic to treat your pup.

July 4, 2005

Because the most critical time in a puppy's life is the move from breeder to new owner, I intended to write a long blog on why, based on my own experience, I strongly recommend your new pet travel home in the car with you rather than in the cargo bay on an airline. Instead, I found an ASPCA News Alert that explains why quite well. I also found pet travel tips written also by the ASPCA.

As a breeder, I firmly believe that pets get better care if they are transported with and by their owners. if you buy from Charmed Ones Kennel, I will drive to meet you halfway, rather than rely on airplanes. One of my older children will accompany me on the trip in order to play, feed, and observe the pet at all times as it travels in style, seat-belted for safety in our spacious pet taxi. You will receive your puppy clean and untraumatized.

Whether you're buying from Charmed Ones or another kennel, please read the articles above. I would love to hear your ideas, suggestions, and stories. I would love to get a conversation going - it will help inspire me to continue blogging, something my web doctor has recommended.

(If you are new to BLOGGING as I am, click "comments" below this post. It will take you to the next page where you have to set up a user account. This only takes a minute. It is like setting up the password for your email. Then place your comments.)

Angel Lobo, owner, Charmed Ones Kennel