What's New at AustralianCattleDog.com

Request for rehabilitation assistance

From: Randy Hale <jrhale@lafayette.in.gov>

Deb,

   I have a short story for you, as many people who contact you usually do but here it is anyway.

   I am a retired Police Officer with the Lafayette Indiana Police Department where I gave thirty two years of service. About the time I was retiring, Lafayette was starting it’s own Animal Control Department. I was asked if I would like to supervise the department as a retirement job. Being an animal advocate and lover, I accepted the position.
   Now to my story. While working the streets last October 2007, I was sent to a house where the complainant had reported two dogs getting into his garage and eating the dog food he had there for his own dogs. This had been going on for quite a while so he closed the walk in garage door on them one day, trapping them inside. I arrived and used a small leash to first catch the female blue and put her in my truck. I captured the male red and he bit through the leash just as I was getting him to my truck. He ran off and for the next five months he ran free in the north east end of our city. Two to three times a week we would get a report from citizens of a little red dog running the north end. I would even see him while off duty, under a railroad trestle waiting for traffic to clear on a four lane highway, so he could cross into a residential area. He had apparently set up house keeping around a large lake at the north edge of the city limits. The lake
was owned by a contracting company and it was off limits to the public making it an ideal area for those not wanting visitors. We set up traps for him but he managed to get out of them and one winter day we found a discarded deer carcass in the area where he was staying and we could see his footprints around the carcass in the snow and gnaw marks on the bones where he had been eating on it.
   I was finally able to gain entry around the lake where he was staying and set up another trap and I watched it closely from a distance using binoculars as I wanted to pick up the trap as soon as he got into it and before he was able to get out. My perseverance paid off and I checked on the trap while off duty later that evening and found the dog in it. I loaded the trap into my personal truck and transported to the shelter at 10:30pm that night. I was proud of my accomplishment, catching this dog after it’s surviving the winter in the open and we would not be getting anymore calls of it running the north end of town. However, my elation was short lived when it was discovered that the dog had become extremely unsocial able. The shelter could not give him medications, check for heartworm or administer inoculations as he would attack the kennel enclosures from the inside. It was decided, after several weeks that he was becoming more aggressive and
they would have to put him down.
   I could not live with this. I was responsible for this escape and I was responsible for his freedom being taken away. The little female he was with on my first encounter was found to be pregnant and had a litter of puppies that were most likely his. She was eventually adopted out. I could not believe that five months on his own would turn this little dog feral. The shelter assistant director granted me a special favor and told me that she would not allow anyone else to foster the dog but she would give me a chance. All my peers recommendations, were that I allow the dog to be put down. I went ahead and took the little dog home. It took a half hour to transfer him from the kennel to a cage. He was named “ Marshall ” that night.
   He took up with my wife much sooner than he took up with me. He probably remembers the horrible time I had getting him from the dog trap to the kennel the night he was trapped. I had to use a control stick, resulting in him rolling and choking himself and biting the stick until his mouth was bloody. (The reason I only use them as a last resort).
   To date he has progressed to the point where he stays in our house with our two pugs and a lab mix. We do keep him in the garage while we are away at work as he and the male pug have scent marking parties while we are away. He plays a lot with the little female pug though he and the male pug occasionally don’t get along. We live in a semi-rural area and he can be allowed out in our large yard with the other animals and will not run off. We have taken him and the other dogs for nature walks with no worry about him fleeing. He wants to belong. His only problem at this time is that he is protective of my wife; he totally adores her and will “Nip” at me and bark sometimes when I approach her while he is near. I know that Cattle Dogs are known for the nipping and I have not determined my best course of action to take for the problem other than reassuring him that I mean no harm to her. The dog that no one could approach will now come into my lap
seeking attention from me and roll over for me to scratch his belly. He has made tremendous progress. He has been taken to a vet and had his shots but tested positive for heartworm. At this time, we are waiting to determine if he can be taken to a facility in another nearby town for the heartworm treatment. The facility has to be assured that he will not bite before they will take him and with his nipping issues we are not sure how to handle it. Once his heartworm issues are taken care of, he will be neutered and his dew claws removed. (He has two dew claws on each back leg.)
   Me question for you is, where can you help me with his little guy. I am afraid that he will never be completely rehabilitated enough to be adopted or treated for the heartworm. I would not hesitate to place him in a home right now with a single female. He still is a little weary of strange men. We are running out of options keeping four dogs in our house is playing havoc with our home life. The cost of furniture, carpet and drape cleaning is going to be astronomical. I knew what I was getting into when I took on the task, I just have reached an impasse and I’m looking for some guidance. I would like to find someone to take over his rehabilitation at this point or someone to tell me what I need to do to further rehab him. We have had him with us for about six weeks but we have no intensions of keeping him permanently as it would not be fair to our other dogs. All our time and energy is spent with Marshal. Any guidance or help you can provide will
be greatly appreciated.

Randy Hale
Supervisor
Lafayette, IN Animal Control.
Work Phone: 765-80-1295/Cell: 765-479-3258
Home Phone: 765-463-4124/Cell: 765-430-1907

Technique Used In Human Ankle Injuries Modified To Treat Dogs' Knees

Link: Technique Used In Human Ankle Injuries Modified To Treat Dogs' Knees.
Technique Used In Human Ankle Injuries Modified To Treat Dogs' Knees
ScienceDaily (Jun. 16, 2008) —

A common sports injury in human knees is even more common in dogs.
Each year, more than one million dogs suffer from cranial cruciate
ligament (CCL) deficiency, which is comparable to the anterior cruciate
ligament (ACL) injury in humans. The common method of treatment by many
veterinary surgeons involves cutting the tibia bone to stabilize the
CCL-deficient knee in these dogs.

________________________________
Now, a new minimally invasive technique with less severe
complications than previous methods has been developed by a University
of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine researcher.

Unlike humans, CCL injuries in dogs typically do not occur because
of a single trauma to the knee but are the result of a degenerative
process that leads to early and progressive arthritis. For this reason,
and the unique biomechanics of the canine knee, techniques used to
repair the injury in humans do not work well for dogs.  The new
technique, known as Tightrope CCL, is modified from a technique used in
human ankles and allows placement of a device that stabilizes the
CCL-deficient knee through bone tunnels drilled using very small
incisions. MU veterinarian James Cook worked with Arthrex Inc. from
Naples, Fla., to develop and test the Tightrope device for dogs.
“Other current techniques require major surgery that involve cutting
the bone, which can potentially lead to severe complications, such as
fracture, implant failure and damage to the joint,” said Cook,
professor of veterinary medicine and surgery and the William C. Allen
Endowed  Professor for Orthopedic Research. “This new technique is
minimally invasive, relatively easy to perform and cost effective
compared to other techniques. The dogs in the preliminary trial study
experienced fewer and less severe complications with outcomes that were
equal to or better than those seen with the bone-cutting technique.”
Cruciate ligament tears are five times more common in dogs than
humans and cost U.S. pet-owners more than $1.3 billion each year. The
new technique is not for every dog. Because surgeons must be able to
drill tunnels in the bone, dogs must weigh at least 40 pounds for the
Tightrope CCL method to be feasible.  In addition, dogs that cannot
follow a physical rehabilitation protocol after surgery and dogs with
limb deformities are not candidates for this technique. The 10- to
12-week rehabilitation period is very important for any surgical
technique for CCL deficiency in order to optimize successful return to
pain-free function and reduce complications, Cook said.

“The times the Tightrope CCL technique has failed are when owners
did not give their dogs the full rehabilitation period and let their
dogs run, play or traumatize the joint before the knees were ready,”
Cook said. “A successful operation is dependent on postoperative care
so that the dog can heal well and build muscle for long term function.
The Tightrope CCL technique is designed to allow this to happen with
less surgery and less risk of a major problem arising, and so far, it
has been successful.”

Take Your Dog to Work Day - June 20

Take Your Dog To Work Day

June 20, 2008

Annually, pet parents from across the United States pay tribute to and celebrate the loyal companionship they receive from their dogs by taking them to work on Take Your Dog To Work Day (TYDTWD), presented by Pet Sitters International. This year’s special day, when thousands of businesses will open their doors to employees’ dogs, will take place this Friday, June 20.   TYDTWD’s purpose is not just to pay tribute to “man’s best friend,” but to encourage adoption of shelter animals by coworkers who may not have pets, but may consider it after witnessing the loving bond between other pet parents and their dogs.

While this day is exciting and fun for both employees and dogs, it can also be a stressful and frightening experience for all parties involved. Comfort Zone®, makers of Comfort Zone® with Dog Appeasing Pheromone (D.A.P.®), an all natural tool to help relive stress in dogs, is a headlining sponsor of TYDTWD and is here to provide a few tips to ensure your dog’s office visit goes smoothly.

• Be Prepared – It is imperative that you plan ahead for any needs your dog may have throughout the day. You will want to be sure to bring a water bowl, leash, items to clean-up accidents, a bed for them to sleep and toys.

• Keep Them Leashed – Keeping your dog leashed, especially when initially arriving, will help keep your pet calm and avoid disturbing others.

• Respect Coworkers – Despite the lovable nature of dogs not everyone appreciates their company. Be prepared to make sure that your dog does not disturb coworkers who may dislike or fear dogs.

• Minimize Stress – While it is fun for your dog to spend a day at work with you it may also be stressful for them to visit a foreign environment. When arriving at the office, spend time walking them around and provide extra attention to assure them they are in a safe environment.

Utilizing pheromone based products like Comfort® Zone with D.A.P.® is also helpful in minimizing stress in dogs. If you would like to speak with a spokesperson from Comfort Zone® regarding TYDTWD, pet friendly work environments or Comfort Zone® products please contact me anytime. For more information on TYDTWD visit: www.takeyourdog.com, or for information regarding Comfort Zone® with D.A.P. visit: www.petcomfortzone.com.

Thanks,

Eric Kardesh
480-505-4509

Timberwolf Organic Recall

Link: News and Events.

Dakota Bison/Ocean Blue Reported Issues

Timberwolf Organics Customer,

Due to recent reports from some customers, we have ordered that two formulas from three specific dates be pulled from the shelves. These are:

Dakota Bison with 'best by date' of 12 Feb 2009
Ocean Blue with 'best by date' of 20 Feb 2009
Ocean Blue with best by date' of 8 March 2009

The reported symptoms include dogs refusing to eat, diarrhea or vomiting. While the problem is inconsistent (not every dog eating food from those dates/bag show the symptoms and not every bag), to err on the side of caution have decided to pull the formulas produced with the above dates. Initial testing has come back negative for problems and further testing is pending results.

As soon as the cause of this reported problem is determined procedures will be put into place to ensure that an event like this cannot happen again. Please be assured that no other formulas and Ocean Blue and Dakota Bison with dates other than ones listed above are not affected.

We apologize for any inconvenience or problems that this may have resulted in. If you do have a bag with those dates please contact the retailer you purchased it from for an exchange or credit.

If you purchased it directly from us please give us a call or email us at customer.support@timberwolforganics.com.

Thank you for choosing Timberwolf Organics.

Sincerely,

Timberwolf Organics Team