First Crossing: Mission Accomplished

We did it!.  We drove two days, and including the US state and Mexican states, Valentina was in 5 states. The first day she was in four -- Texas, Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, and the second day we were in Jalisco.  She was an absolute angel. There weren't even any puppy antics.  I'm trying to figure out why, and I can only guess what made the difference.  I built up the space between the two front seats with a bag of vegan dog food, a box of soy beans, two folded moving blankets and a kingsize bed pillow wrapped in a large blanket and topped off with a little flannel throw.  It put her on a visual level with us. She looked out the window, slept on and off, and alternated giving us hugs on our shoulders and putting her head on our legs. She ate some of her food, drank water from her portable bowl, and had a few bites of our vegan oatmeal cookies. There were no puppy antics! No chewing, no running around, just peaceful coexistence! She is a great traveler. Our trip was sweetened even further by a goodie bag of sweet and salty snacks that my neice Maria and her husband Mark had given us.  Having called ahead and reserved a hotel room for pets at Las Palmas Midway Inn, we found  a very nice room awaiting us.  A late start from Austin and a very thick fog between Monterrey and Saltillo delayed us a bit the first day.  The highway police stopped each car and told us to go no more than 40kph (about 24mph), with headlights and hazard lights. We got to Matehuala after it had turned dark. We set up Valentina's extra large tent crate, which we had set up at home as her regular bed for several weeks before the trip, so it was very familiar to her.  We ordered dinner in our room from the hotel restaurant. ( The menu is limited for a vegan, but you can still find something on their menu. We bring a cooler of food with us, anyway.)  We left early the next morning, two cups of coffee in hand from Las palmas Midway Inn Restaurant that is always open for breakfast, and, later,  as we passed through the last toll road gate, our friends Georgina and Peter called and said they wanted to feed us. We stopped at Secret Garden Vegetarian Restaurant in Ajijic for a wonderful dinner, and then left for home. We arrived exhausted.  Valentina collapsed in her bed as soon as it was set up,  and Tom and I collapsed in ours as soon as we unpacked the car.   Mission accomplished. The next morning we woke up to the sound of windchimes moving in the breeze accompanying a beautiful sunrise,  and a puppy stirring and beginning to make noises to go out to go peepee.

What’s All This Fuss About Enzymes?

I’ve been reading a lot of entries in forums about dog nutrition.  When the subject of vegan dog nutrition comes up, I frequently read the criticism that dogs do not produce amylase, and therefore they cannot break down carbohydrates (starches and sugars). Therefore, dogs should be fed an all raw, all meat diet and I am doing a disservice to my Great Dane puppy by feeding her a vegan diet. After having read the range of internet information and advice (much of it conflicting), I have come to the conclusion that a lot of people are misinformed or underinformed: humans produce amylase in the salivary glands and in the pancreas.  Dogs get their amylase from their pancreas.  And we all get amylase from the many fruits and vegetables that are available to us. (In the wild, dogs would also get amylase from eating some of the entrails of their prey.) All mammals need amylase, and  produce it in the pancreas, but only humans, primates, rodents, and lagomorphs produce it in the salivary glands.

Whether you are talking about dogs or people, it really doesn’t matter: we all need enzymes in order to live.  I must admit that, having been a vegan for almost 36 years, for most of those years, I have chosen my nourishment a bit by happenstance.  It was only about four years ago that I began looking into the basic elements of food and digestion. This is made possible by myriad nutrition websites. I’m not saying that my nourishment was poor.  Even before I became a vegan/vegetarian I adored vegetables, and always lived by the principle that if you eat a rainbow variety of colors of vegetables you are getting a wide variety of nutrients.  I always made sure that I ate protein, carbohydrates and some “good fats” every day. Having a thoracic surgeon father and a nurse mother, my exposure to the world of nutrition, science, biology, and medicine was ongoing as I grew up.   My mother always had a variety of fresh and cooked vegetables, carbs and protein as choices on the dinner table.  I guess you could say that as long as I’ve been a vegan, I’ve always been a partially cooked/partially raw vegan because I love raw foods. When I began researching the raw vegan diet – as a result of viewing the DVD Raw for Thirty: Reducing Diabetes in Thirty Days, and the DVD Raw For Life: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of the Raw Food Lifestyle – I began to really internalize the ultimate power of raw food, and why it must be an integral part of everyone’s diet. I became a green smoothie enthusiast (It reduces chewing, breaks down the cell walls and facilitates absorption of nutrients, and is just plain delicious!). I ordered my Excelsior dehydrator (actually two: one for the US and one for Mexico). I purchased one and then another Vitamix blender.  You get the picture.  I have no official degree in nutrition, but when I become interested in a subject, I dive into it. My bookshelf on the raw vegan diet is overstuffed – and growing! Many enlightened nutritionists frequently quote the ancient paradigm, “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine thy food.”  As I began to understand the number and kinds of nutrients that are destroyed in the cooking process over the temperature of 110 degrees F, I came to realize how important raw food is in the diet of all mammals, and how its lack in the diet can cause a plethora of problems.

I am not a nutritionist, and can only offer my humble opinions on the subject, so I offer the caveat that you should definitely verify all this information yourself before changing your dog's diet.  I am only offering what I have gleaned from many sources I have researched.

 

Batteries Included

Simply stated, enzymes are like batteries for your body’s processes – without batteries your iPod, portable boom box, toys, cell phone, etc. will not work.  Enzymes produce the “spark” responsible for starting the necessary interactions in the body that keep it running.  Without enzymes, there is no miracle of life.  There are thousands of them in the body, and they each have their own functions. Some are responsible for interactions in the processes of cellular function and energy; some work in repairing the body; some help in concentrating various elements in the blood; some work in ridding the lungs of carbon dioxide; some aid in detoxifying the body of various wastes.  

 

Some enzymes are catalysts in the process of assimilation and digestion.  When a “shipment” of food arrives in the body, digestive enzymes  go to work, break it down into small, “decoded” parcels and send it to the necessary “departments” for utilization in the many other processes necessary for life. Metabolic enzymes at the cell level, like “biological translators”, take the “raw energy parcels” and translate them into usable energy for use in the body.  Nature has provided many of these enzymes that are necessary for digestion of the food within the food itself (batteries included!). In many cases, raw food not only provides the enzymes necessary for digestion, it provides extra enzymes that can refill the body’s stores of enzymes.  All these miracles happen automatically in your body.  You don’t have to do a thing other than supply the “batteries”.  If you don’t supply the batteries, your body will have to pull them from a precious store of enzymes stored within the body that it may need for other processes. And, it takes a great deal of energy for the body to do this.

I don’t know about you, but when I buy various electronic items, allowing for similar quality, I always look for the item that has batteries included.  And now, I do the same with food.

Viva Enzymes!

If you eat a food that has been cooked at a temperature above  110 degrees Fahrenheit, fry the food, cook it in oil , refine its carbohydrates (such as in breads and pastries), or denature, freeze, or pasteurize the food in any way, it has been degraded and made deficient in enzymes and other nutrients.  I understand that although a few vitamins and nutrients might remain, enzymes are very delicate and will be annihilated if the temperature goes above 110 degrees.  There are a few exceptions, such as careful steaming of vegetables such that the interior of the vegetable is barely cooked, so that some nutrients may remain. Enzymes are available in living food -- food that is raw, uncooked, or cooked in a dehydrator at 110 degrees Fahrenheit or less.

Different Kinds of Enzymes

Digestive enzymes break down different kinds of nutrients.  Amylase breaks down sugars and carbohydrates (Maltase breaks down malt sugar from grains and carbohydrates; sucrase breaks down cane sugar; lactase breaks down milk sugar.) Lipase breaks down unrefined fats, such as those in raw nuts and seeds and quality oils. Protease breaks down proteins. Cellulases break down cellulose. Metabolic enzymes, such as Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)  are found in all green plants (including young cereal grasses such as wheatgrass and barleygrass), sprouts and broccoli.

Valentina’s Diet

Sooo, what does all of this mean for Valentina, my Great Dane puppy, and for anyone’s dog?

I don’t know anyone who actually calculates the totals on every aspect of nutritional analysis of the food they, or their dogs eat.  Some may total calories, or carbs, proteins and fats, but those who write down the totals on every milligram of every nutrient are few. It takes a lot of time, and we all have busy schedules! And, in addition, our bodies are so forgiving.  (What about that piece of nutritionally worthless birthday cake you ate at work in place of a nourishing lunch?)  What I’m trying to do with Valentina’s nutrition is go for the nutrient-packed foods, and provide supplements where they may help in the digestive process. This means I go for sprouts (nutrient-, and enzyme-rich), pineapple and papaya slice treats, nuts and seeds (not macadamia nuts – they are poisonous to dogs.) As I collect recipes for vegan dog food,  vegan kibble and vegan dog treats, I’m going to test them baking them in my Excelsior Dehydrator oven at no higher than 110 degrees Fahrenheit, so I preserve those delicate enzymes. (I’ll be sharing recipes that I test and ones that I modify on the blog.) So far, I have been adding the VegeDog supplement (Harbingers of a New Age, www.vegepet.com) for vitamins, etc., Nzyme supplement (Nzyme Sprouted Granules, www.Nzymes.com) or Prozyme Plus Supplement (www.vegepet.com) for enzymes, (BacPak by www.Nzymes.com) or PB8 (available in most health food stores) for probiotics, and yeast (nutritional) or VegeYeast (www.vegepet.com) to her food.  I have some Natural Balance Vegan dry dog food that I will be taking with us when we travel to Mexico, to use as an occasional back-up emergency food alternative.  I’m not counting on finding an ample supply of vegan dog food in Mexico, and, besides, homemade dog food is a lot healthier anyway.

Very Healthy, Happy and Energetic

We just took Valentina to the vet today for her rabies shot.  He gave her a full evaluation and pronounced her very healthy, happy and energetic.  She turns 12 weeks tomorrow and has more than doubled her weight since we got her at almost 7 weeks old.  She weighed 8.8 lbs. when we got her. She now weighs 22.8 lbs!

Traveling with Pets to Mexico

I've been combing over internet entries about traveling to and from Mexico with a dog.  And, few agree on the exact regulations and requirements for transporting a pet to and from Mexico.  This is partly because they may or may not ask for specific papers on a particular day at a particular port of entry, and because it appears that the regulations can vary from state to state .  Transporting a pet by air is much more complicated, and most say that by car is less complicated and much less stressful for the pet and owners.  Valentina is a puppy now (she weighed in at 16.8 lbs. when we last took her in to the vet on Oct. 16, 2012 -- 'shroom incident) and I'm sure she weighs more now.  But she is still small (considering).  Neither Tom nor I plan on transporting her via airline carrier.  I've heard horror stories about poorly pressurized luggage compartments. But, still, we want to have all the possible documentation that they might ask for when we cross the border.

A very nicely done website is: www.gringodog.com
It has a section on pet-friendly hotels in Mexico (as well as one for pet-friendly hotels in the U.S.). It has a series of Questions and Answers sent in and responded to over time about requirements, and experiences traveling to and from Mexico. The website authors are well-traveled with 2 dogs and have many solutions to challenges that the dog owner may face when traveling in Mexico.
A helpful Mexican website which contains what may be the latest version of regulations, (they may change frequently.), is :
Spanish:  http://www.senasica.gob.mx/?id=623
English: http://www.senasica.gob.mx/?Idioma=2&id=623
Today, the website states the following regulations:
If you are traveling with up to three pets you do not have to pay the import fee.  With 4 pets, the import fee for the import certificate for the fourth pet is 1,817 pesos. (Other sites say that two are free and there is a charge for the third pet.)
"In order to travel with your pet (dog or cat) to Mexico, you must present a Health Certificate issued by a medical veterinarian, in original and copy, at the Office of Agriculture Health Inspection (OISA) at your port of entry. This document can be in the form of a letter issued by your private medical veterinarian, on the medical center’s letterhead, including the license number (and, if you wish, a copy of the vet's license) and  the information required below:
1. Name and address of exporter and importer.
2. That the animal has been vaccinated against rabies, indicating the date of application of the vaccine and its valid expiration date. Animals under 3 months of age are exempt of this requirement.
3. Certify that the animal has been inspected and found clinically healthy prior to export."
(I read one response that said that they asked for two ORIGINAL Health Certificates instead of an original and a copy. One source recommends that the original be "signed and stamped" by the vet.Some sources recommend that you bring 2 copies, just in case.)
(There is also a warning on the SENASICA site that says the rules may be different at your port of entry.  -- I believe someone mentioned that it differs from state to state.)
Gringodog has a recommendation for the Health Certificate letter wording: "I certify that I have examined the above-named animal and have found it to be clinically healthy and free from external and internal parasites." They also recommend that the letter/health certificate state that the dog has undergone a parasitic prevention treatment, and then describe the treatment.
Many websites have recommendations for what to bring with/for the animal: pet identification tag for the collar, microchipping, first aid kit, current rabies tag for the collar, antibiotic cream, hydrogen peroxide (!) (to induce vomiting (!) in the event the dog eats/swallows something toxic.
Some internet sources state that the dog must be vaccinated for rabies within 12 months prior,  30 days in advance, or 15 days in advance, or,  just vaccinated before you cross.  
Most websites recommend a copy of the vaccinations info (there is a vaccination card that is frequently recommended.)
Some sites say that the health certificate is good for 10 days from the date signed.  Some say 5 days, some say 72 hours, and I have heard from others around the Lake Chapala area that the certificate is good for only 48 hours!
An alternative to the letter Health Certificate is  the Health Certificate that is USDA official format.  Some sites say that this form can be downloaded and printed off the internet.  If you get it directly from the USDA Office (by walk-in or mail,) it has an official folio number.  I read one story about a traveler at an airport who had a computer printed copy of the form that was actually filled out and signed as an original, but did not have a folio number.  The official was ready to reject the validity of the form until another offical came over and talked him into accepting it. They recommended getting the original form with a folio number and not using a printed out copy to be absolutely certain it is acceptable.

Email contact for questions or comments is: contacto@senasica.gob.mx

Even if you are not traveling to the Yucatan area, the website Yucatan Expatriate Services has a lot of good information: http://www.yucatanexpatriateservices.com/

 

Have You Seen This Beautiful Website?

The following website includes information about vegan dogs as well as poetry, compassion, and all things vegan.  It's a must-see.
http://www.veganpoet.com/index.htm

Dangerous, Deadly Substances

Years ago, I knew about only a few substances that could be toxic to dogs. Internet research has taught me that there are many (many!) substances that can be toxic to dogs. So far, I've found that the following are dangerous and, many times, deadly!

Flouride – Flouride can cause many nutritionally-oriented problems, according to Cusick.  I filter our drinking water, and Valentina's drinking water with Zero Water in the US to eliminate the flouride. In Mexico, we all drink bottled water. Our neighborhood in Mexico has its own wells, though, and I understand that although there is no fluoride put in the water, there is still chlorine added .
Vitamin C -- Unlike humans, dogs make their own Vitamin C in the liver. It is interesting that many dog foods use ascorbic acid as a preservative, just because it is cheap! According to Cusick, supplemental Vitamin C can aggravate skeletal disease in labrador retrievers, cause an imbalance in the pH in dog's kidneys, affect the use of other essential nutrients, can cause the liver to stop working as it should.
POISONOUS HOUSEHOLD  PLANTS
Lillies -- Can cause kidney damage
Marijuana -- Depresses the central nervous system causing incoordination as well as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, increased heart rate, and even seizures and coma.
Sago Palm -- All parts of Cyas Revoluta are poisonous, but the seeds or nuts have the most toxin.  Ingestion of one or two seeds can do serious damage: vomiting, diarrhea, depression seizures, and liver failure.
 Bulbs -- tulips narcissus (daffodils, paperwhites, etc.), -- Gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.
Azalea/ Rhododendron -- Contain gryantoxins, which cause vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness, depression of the central nervous system in animals. In severe cases: coma and death from cardiovascular collapse.
Oleander -- Contain cardiac glycosides: gastrointestinal irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia, and death.
Castor Bean -- Contains ricin, a highly toxic protein that can cause severe abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of appetite.  Severe cases can result in dehydration, muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, coma and death.
Cyclamen -- Contain cyclamine, with the highest concentration in the roots. Can produce significant gastrointestinal distress, intense vomiting, and in some cases death.
Kalanchoe -- Can cause gastrointestinal irritation, can seriously affest cardiac rhythm and rate.
Can cause gastrointestinal irritation, can seriously affest cardiac rhythm and rate.
Yew -- Affects the central nervous system. Causes trembling, incoordination, difficulty breathing, as well as significant gastrointestinal irritation, cardiac failure, death.
Amaryllis -- Can cause vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors.
Autumn Crocus -- Cause oral irritation, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage and bone marrow suppression.
Chrysanthemum -- Cause gastrointestinal upset, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, loss of coordination.
Ivy -- English Ivy, brnching ivy, glacier ivy, needlepoint ivy, sweetheart ivy, California ivy -- can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, and diarrhea.
Peace Lily --  Causes oral irritaion, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue.
Pothos -- causes mechanical irritation and swelling of the oral tissues and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
Schefflera and brassaia actinophylla  --                 Contain calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral irritation (mouth, lips, tongue), excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, and intense burning.
Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)  -- With its broad variegated leaves, the dieffenbachia is often recommended as an ideal houseplant for natural air purification.
Poinsettias --    
Aloe --  if you choose to have one in your home, be sure it's well out of your dog's reach. When eaten, it not only burns the mouth and throat but causes the esophagus to swell, potentially blocking the dog's airway.
Ferns    
FOODS 
Chocolate -- Theobromine in chocolate is toxic to dogs. Chocolate and cocoa contain a chemical called theobromide that can adversely affect the heart, lungs, kidney and central nervous system.  Pure baking chocolate is most toxic, while milk chocolate requires a higher quantity to cause harm. A 20 pound dog can be poisoned after consuming about 2 ounces of baking chocolate, but it would take nearly 20 ounces of milk chocolate to cause harm. Ingestion of cacao bean mulch can also be toxic.  Signs include excitement, tremors, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rate/rhythm, drunken gait, hyperthermia and coma.  Your vet may induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage. Treatment includes administration of activated charcoal and aggressive supportive care with fluid therapy and medications.
Peach Pits --  (This one I do not understand.  Cusick suggests giving an apple core to a dog as a treat. Apple cores are supposed to be a wonderful treat for dogs. ) Apple seeds , by the way,  are believed to be poisonous to humans because apple seeds contain  B-17. (This is true for bitter apricot pits, bitter almonds, etc.  In the molecule, there is cyanide LOCKED INTO the molecule.  According to Griffin, in his book A World Without Cancer, the cyanide does not unlock unless it encounters a rogue cancer cell, in which case, it unlocks and attacks it.  There is a very interesting video about this on YouTube, also entitled A World Without Cancer.
Grapes and raisins -- Can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys, possible resulting in death. Ingesting as few as 4-5 grapes or raisins can be poisonous to a 20 pound dog, though the exact toxic dose is not established.  Signs of toxicity include vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, decreased urine production (possibly leading to lack of urine production), weakness and drunken gait.  Onset of signs typically occurs within 24 hours (though they can start just a few hours after consumption).  Your vet may start by inducing vomiting, or the stomach might be pumped (gastric lavage). Treatment involves aggressive supportive care - particularly fluid therapy and medications.
Onions -- Onions can cause a form of hemolytic anemia called Heinz body anemia, a condition that causes the destruction of red blood cells. Kidney damage may follow. Toxicity may occur from similar foods such as garlic (I’m not sure, but I believe I have heard that raw garlic is toxic and cooked garlic is okay.) and chives. It is not clear what quantity of onions is poisonous, but the effects can be cumulative. Poisoning can result from raw, cooked and dehydrated forms. Avoid feeding table scraps and any foods cooked with onions (including some baby foods). Check your ingredients! Signs are anemia, such as pale gums, rapid heart rate, weakness and lethargy. Other signs include vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody urine. Treatment: blood transfusions and/or oxygen administration may be necessary, followed by specific fluid therapy.
Caffeine -- Caffeine is quite similar to the toxic chemical in chocolate. It can damage the heart, lungs, kidney and central nervous system.Commons sources of toxicity include caffeine pills, coffee beans and coffee, large amounts of tea, and chocolate.Signs typically begin with restlessness, hyperactivity and vomiting. These can be followed by panting, weakness, drunken gait increased heart rate, muscle tremors and convulsions.Your vet may induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage. Treatment includes administration of activated charcoal and supportive care with fluid therapy and medications.

Macadamia Nuts -- Macadamia nuts, while generally not considered fatal, can cause your dog to experience severe illness. The actually toxin is not known, nor is the mechanism of toxicity.  Ingestion of just a handful of nuts can cause adverse effects in any dog. Signs include vomiting, weakness, depression, drunken gait, joint/muscle pain, and joint swelling. Onset of signs typically occurs within 6-24 hours. Dogs are typically treated symptomatically and recover within 24-48 hours. In-hospital supportive care may be recommend for dogs that become very sick.
Xylitol --Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener most often found in chewing gum and candy. In dogs, it stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin, resulting in hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Xylitol ingestion can also cause severe liver damage.  As few as two pieces of gum can be hypoglycemia to a 20 pound dog. A pack of gum can cause liver damage.  Signs of toxicity can occur within 30-60 minutes and include weakness, drunken gait, collapse and seizures.  Your vet may induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage. The affected dog will likely need to be treated intravenously with dextrose (sugar) and monitored closely for 1-2 days. Many dogs improve with supportive care if treated early enough, though liver damage can be permanent.
Alcohol and Yeast Dough -- Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol - a seriously toxic chemical compound that causes central nervous system and respiratory depression. Uncooked yeast doughs also produce ethanol.  Even small amounts of ethanol can cause toxic effects. Signs include sedation, depression, lethargy, weakness, drunken gait and hypothermia (low body temperature).  Ethanol is rapidly absorbed into the system, so it is important to seek medical attention quickly. It is not usually helpful to induce vomiting. Treatment includes aggressive supportive care with fluid therapy and medications. Under controlled circumstances, alcohol is used by veterinarians as an antidote for antifreeze (ethylene glycol) poisoning.
Fruit Pits and Seeds        Apple seeds, cherry pits, peach pits, and plum pits contain the toxin cyanide. Signs of cyanide poisoning include vomiting, heavy breathing, apnea tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, coma, skin irritation.  In some cases, antidotes are available. Other treatments include oxygen therapy, fluids and supportive care.  Also take note that the leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Also, the fat content is not healthy for dogs.
Rotten or moldy foods -- Moldy or rotten foods can cause many problems for your dog, some more serious than others. Any food that seems "past its prime" should be kept out reach. Be especially careful to keep your dog away from trash cans. Botulism, often from garbage, can cause paralysis, slow heart rate, constipation, and urine retention. An antitoxin is effective only if poisoning is caught early enough.
Rotten fruit produces ethanol, causing the same effects associated with alcohol or dough ingestion.
Moldy foods contain toxins that may cause muscle tremors, convulsions and drunkenness.  Therapy depends on the toxin. Your vet may induce vomiting. Sometimes, treatment includes activated charcoal. Supportive care with fluids and medications is often necessary.
Black walnuts-- Dropping from black walnut trees by the thousands, the nuts themselves don't contain anything that can harm your dog. But once they start to decompose, they grow molds that can cause tremors and seizures. If you have one of these trees in your yard and your dog seems attracted to the nuts, it might be a good idea to rake them up on a regular basis.
Mushrooms -- While there are plenty of great-tasting, perfectly safe mushrooms out there, dogs just don't seem capable of discerning the difference between the edible and the toxic. To be on the safe side, it's best not to allow dogs to eat any wild mushrooms at all, unless you can confidently identify the species yourself.  Amanita, Galerina and Lepiota species are especially dangerous because they contain toxins that cause a series of worsening symptoms, from vomiting to swelling in the brain. Amanita phalloides, the Death Cap mushroom, is responsible for most of the reported fatal mushroom poisoning cases in dogs. 
TOXIC CHEMICALS -- If you suspect your pet has ingested a caustic substance, do NOT induce vomiting. Caustic substances damage flesh on contact, and do fatal damage to your dog's innards within minutes.Seek emergency veterinary care immediately!!
Battery Acid/ Batteries, Bleach,                Carbolic Acid, Motor Oil               , Drain Cleaner,                Fertilizer, Glue,               Household Cleaners, Kerosene, Laundry Detergent/ Fabric Softeners, Turpentine, Plaster, Sidewalk Salt, Putty, Pine Cleaners, Paintbrush Cleaner, Nail Polish, Nail Polish Remover, Paint Thinner
Antifreeze -- Smells and tastes sweet and appealing.  It will kill your dog!
Mothballs -- Powerfull insecticide. Can cause central nervous system excitement and seizures. Can cause liver failure.
Mouthwash/ Contact Lens Cleaner/ Denture Cleaner -- Include boric acid, which is highly toxic to dogs.
MEDICATIONS --  Keep all medications away from your dog.  Never try to give a human medication to your dog. 
Tylenol/ Acetominophen (in most other countries: Paracetamol) -- As little as 2 capsules can kill your dog.  They do not have the liver enzymes to digest it.

 

 

 

Broccoli Bones!

I continue to search the internet for research and info on diet for the Great Dane.  One of the first books I ordered several months ago, long before Valentina whelped/was born,  was, Canine Nutrition and Breed Specific Diets: The Best Diet for a Great Dane, by William D. Cusick. (www.wdcusick.com)  In his books, which are each breed specific, he discusses the background and history of the breed as well as the necessary nutrients a dog needs at various stages of life, and offers recipes for making the dog food at all of these stages. (Although his recipes are developed for a carnivorous Great Dane, I wanted to make sure I was supplying all the necessary nutrients to my future dog's diet.) He warns against feeding dogs commercial dog food and states that commercial dog treats are extremely toxic for dogs. The book costs $30, but I think it's well worth it. I learned of Cusick's book on the Great Dane diet when I found the internet article "Dead Dog Food" by Carrie L. Clayton. http://www.users.qwest.net/~carrielc/dogfoods.html Carrie Clayton's article should be required reading for any dog owner, present or future.  It explains exactly what those ingredient terms mean. I have learned a lot from just these two sources, and add in all the internet resources for vegan dogs/Great Danes, and I must admit, although I've learned a lot, I still have sooo much to learn.

One of the ingredients in Cusick's recipes is fresh broccoli.A few days ago, I was cutting up a few stalks of broccoli to oven roast the florets for Tom and me.  (A little olive oil spray, a little salt and pepper, 20 min. or so at 400 degrees, just until the florets start to turn crispy brown on the edges. If you haven't tried it, you'll be surprised by its nutty flavor!) I pulled off a raw floret for Valentina, and to my surprise, it was the hit of the evening. Valentina loved it. I decided to keep the raw stalks I had cut off, washed one, made a fresh cut off the dried end and gave it to Valentina. It lasted about 2 days; not a single piece was left on the floor.  She loved her broccoli bone.  It was soft and crunchy enough to be soothing to her puppy teeth. She's working on her second broccoli bone now. Whodathunkit! Broccoli bones!

Emergency

Oh my! I was out picking up a few things at the store yesterday, and my husband called, explaining that Valentina was sick.

“Sick?! What do you mean 'sick’? What are her symptoms?!”  

Tom told me she was weak,  lethargic, trembling, her eyes looked bloodshot, she had thrown up several times on the back porch and was fussing and whining a little.  I asked him to call the vet.  In the meantime, I drove home while Tom got an appointment with the vet.  When I arrived, Valentina was already doing better. A noticeably more peppy puppy greeted me at the door.  I examined the “scene of the crime” (a.k.a. the vomit).  It appeared that the first time she threw up was on her pillow in her dog house.  I found what looked like a piece of brown mushroom.  Then I looked at her bed that is out on the porch in the open.  I found several small pieces of the same kind of mushroom.  I put the mushroom pieces in a sandwich bag and scooped up the vomit and put it in a larger bag. Really.  My husband took pictures of the vomit to show the vet. Really. (He’s a biologist.)  We rushed Valentina off to the vet.  It appears that I diagnosed the problem correctly.  The vet put a tube down Valentina’s throat, filled her stomach with charcoal to absorb any toxin that remained, and gave her an injection of Cerenia, an anti-emetic for dogs so she would not throw up the charcoal.  He warned that the next 24 to 48 hours, we should watch her closely for further lethargy, and other symptoms, in which case further action would have to be taken.  And he also warned us that her poopie would be very black for a short while due to the charcoal, and not to be alarmed. We walked out of the vet hospital with a peppy puppy, and  $104.72 poorer.

I had been walking the yard for days, finding four different kinds of strange-looking mushrooms and removing them from the yard, but because of the recent rains, they, as well as the mosquito population, have been flourishing.  One kind of mushroom looked much like a light tan-colored rock , no stem,  just a conical end with roots at the point, and was embedded in the dirt, so I had to dig a little to get it out.  Another mushroom was similar, but was darker brown.  One that was also flush to the ground,  looked like a medium-size, dark brown dead flower with a large brown center and brown petals surrounding the center.  Another grouping of small thin, long-stemmed mushrooms was an orange color. At least one of these types of mushrooms, or all of them, was poisonous.   I had obviously missed at least one poisonous mushroom in my hunt because our puppy was very sick. Thank goodness she threw it all up. Determined to find them all,   I scoured the yard again after returning from the vet and found six more! Everyone has seen toadstools crop up overnight.  First there’s nothing there, and then, they seem to magically appear overnight. I tried to research which mushroom might be poisonous, and after an internet search I concluded that, after all, it didn’t really matter.  Any brown mushroom is most likely poisonous. The skinny orange ones could be poisonous, and who knows what that brown, flower-like fungus could do if consumed! I just need to be even more vigilant and get them out of reach.

The day ended with a sigh of relief, a prayer of thanks, and some pondering…Valentina’s only ten weeks old.  First it’s ‘shrooms; what next? Parental worries began to set in.  She’ll probably check herself into detox for substance abuse by the time she’s 8 months old, be pregnant by her second heat, and flatly refuse to go to college, never reaching her full potential, condemned to entry level positions the rest of her working life. Sheesh! What’s a mother to do?!

First Canine Encounter

Yesterday, Valentina had her first "socialization experience".  She visited with her cousin, my sister and brother-in-law's dog Spencer.  Spencer is a rescue dog, who, if he had any trauma in his past,  appears to have been wonderfully rehabilitated.  He's a medium-sized terrier mix, as far as I can tell, and has a sweet temperment.  Spencer is very happy in his new home.  But, you never know what can happen.  I watched carefully as Spencer came near Valentina.  The first indication of how the two dogs were taking this encounter was a pair of wagging tails.  Spencer was very gentle with Valentina, and Valentina was very enthusiastic and ready to play.  I breathed a sigh of relief.  As the encounter came to an end, Spencer was lying on the floor next to my brother-in-law and Valentina was casually draped over Spencer in the same way she had done with her Dad when we went to get her. Her first canine encounter was a very positive one! Valentina loves her new cousin!

Life with a Great Dane Puppy

My first posting will be a quick summary of our life-with-puppy-up-until-now.

 Saturday, Sept 22, 2012, I found the most adorable puppy on the internet.  We called to see if she was available and arranged to see her at the breeders the next day.

Sunday, September 23^rd, 2012, we drove 3 and ½ hours to the breeder to see if Valentina was the right puppy for us.  The breeders seemed like good people, and the dogs were well taken care of. Her Dad, a European Great Dane,  weighed about 180 pounds, and her Mom, an American Great Dane, weighed about 150 or 160 pounds.  Both canine parents were laid-back, easy-going. Valentina was even more adorable than her pictures and had the sweetest demeanor.  And …she had a black nose --my favorite kind of Harlequin! After stopping at a nearby pet store to purchase a few basic necessities, we drove back in about 4 hours, including peepee stops.  Valentina slept most of the way on a pile of moving blankets set between the two front seats.  We hoped this was a sign that she would travel well in the car in the future.

 The first two nights were virtually sleepless, and the rest of the week was a blur.  I had made a box for her next to our bed, using a large corrugated box that the dehydrator oven came in.  I placed a pillow wrapped in a familiar-smelling towel that the breeders had given me and a soft blanket covering the bottom and sides of the box, and slipped in a clock that made a loud ticking sound.  She cried practically all night.  Every time she started to cry, I took her on a peepee run to the back yard. Looking back on it, I think the box made her feel as if she was in a black hole.  She was used to sleeping with her Mom and her siblings, and suddenly she was required to fall asleep alone, and without visual cues surrounding her.  The third and fourth night, we put her and her bed in a back section of our Master Bath, using a dog pen.  Even though she had numerous toys and chews, she was not happy.  We closed the bathroom door and let her cry for a while.  She eventually went to sleep.  The fifth or sixth night, we placed her by our bed again, this time enclosed  in four sections of the dog pen, making a 24 by 24 inch enclosure which made everything and everyone in the room totally visible to her – success!  The enclosure kept her in, on her bed, with her toys, but with no room to peepee. The seventh night we added a crucial element to her/our peaceful wellbeing: a Kong with peanut butter to keep her busy at night until she gets sleepy.

 Now, she wakes up about 7AM, whines a little to let us know she’s awake, yawns, and Tom hurries over to lift a soft sleepy puppy to his shoulders, and, as he heads for the stairs, she places one big paw on his shoulder and the other on his head and kisses his ear as he descends the stairs with her.  Soon she’ll be too big for Tom to pick up, and we’ll have to get her used to running quickly outside in the morning.

We’ve had two visits to the vet already – one, the next day after we got Valentina, for a wellness check and her heartworm med, and the other for the next vaccinations and a microchip. On the first visit she weighed 8.8 pounds, and two weeks later on the second visit, she weighed 13.3 pounds!  She’s growing fast.  On her third visit, she’ll be vaccinated for rabies.