8 Things Every Dog Owner Should Know When Their Pet Crosses The Rainbow Bridge
Unfortunately, itâs the nature of pet ownership to lose your beloved fluff ball. The average human will live eight decades, but a dogâs lifespan is much shorter.
According to the American Kennel Club, dogs live for an average of 10 to 13 years, depending on the breed.
That means that every human who welcomes a sweet pup into the family will have to eventually face the tricky proposition of losing a furry best friend.
There are lots of beautiful ways to memorialize your dog after he crosses the rainbow bridge, but that isnât necessarily comforting in the days immediately before and after a pooch passes on.
In fact, it can be really hard to prepare for that moment.
Thatâs why we put together a list of important things all pooch-owners should know for the day their beloved dog dies.
#1: The Grief Will Hit Hard
Itâs easy to think that you will be able to cope with the death of your pet, but people often discover that they are just as devastated by the loss of their dog as they would be by any death.
Even though humans know intellectually that theyâll have to say goodbye to their beloved dogs eventually, it doesnât make it any easier to face the reality.
#2: You Might Feel Guilty
People worry that perhaps there was something more they could have done early, they worry that they made the wrong decision, or that they missed a sign that their pup was in pain or unwell.
These worries are totally normal, but try not to let them take you over. At some point, you have to trust that you did everything you could for your sweet pup, and he loved you for it.
#3: Your Vet Will Be More Of A Comfort Than You Expect
After you pup dies, the veterinarian might become your best friend for a while.
Thatâs because vets see this kind of loss every day, and they often know exactly how to support and comfort a grieving pet parent.
Vets can also help you with details like figuring out how to lay your dog to rest; many vets offer cremation services and memorial boxes.
#4: Grief Can Spike Unexpectedly
After you lose your dog, youâll probably spend a few days mourning before slowly starting to feel better.
When that happens, itâs easy to think that the worst of your grief is behind you, though that often isnât the case.
Sometimes, grief will reemerge as fresh and painful as the day your dog died. Know that the grieving process is long and complex, and let it take its natural course.
#5: You Might Have To Make The Choice
For many dog owners, the most difficult part of losing their pet actually comes before the pet passes on.
Many owners find themselves in the painful position of choosing to end the dogâs life, and having him put to sleep.
When you adopt a dog, you have to be prepared for the possibility of making this choice.
If your dog is elderly, in pain, and unable to comprehend whatâs happening, it might be your responsibility to help him avoid unnecessary pain and suffering.
#6: It’s Worth Asking For Paw Prints
After your dog passes away, your vet will usually offer to help with the remains, often by cremation.
Before that happens, you might want to ask the vet to take your dogâs paw prints for you.
Many vets are happy to help you through your goodbye by giving you one last memento of your beloved pup.
Even as you move on, having his paw prints is a lovely way to remember a loyal and beloved friend.
#7: If Possible, Be There
We donât always have a choice in how our dogs pass on.
If itâs an accident or completely unexpected, you might not be with your dog at the end.
However, if you can choose to be with your dog, definitely do it, though it might be painful for you.
Whatâs important is that your dog will feel loved and unafraid with you by his side holding his paw.
#8: Remember, You Gave Your Pup The Best Life
Eventually, as the weeks and months pass, youâll find yourself healing. Youâll never stop loving and missing your dog, but youâll know that your pup is in a better place now.
Most important of all, you will know that, while he was here with you, you gave him the best life ever.
He loved you to pieces, and we bet he wouldnât have traded one second of the life the two of you had together.
Canine Body Language Danger Signs
By Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA
The number of times a person has been bitten gives a big clue as to his capacity to read, understand, and respond properly to canine communications. Someone who has been bitten numerous times either doesnât pay attention to what dogs say, or doesnât respond appropriately.
Dogs almost always give clear signals â though the signs may be subtle â before they bite. A âbite without warningâ is truly a rare occurrence. Most of the time the human just wasnât listening, or didnât have any education about what the dog was expressing. I have worked with dogs professionally for more than 40 years and, knock wood, experienced only a handful of bites, none of them serious.
I remember with crystal clarity an incident from when I was a humane officer for the Marin (California) Humane Society, responding to a complaint of a Rhodesian Ridgeback who was at large â and reportedly aggressive toward people. I pulled up in my animal control truck, got out, and started up the sidewalk toward the house. Suddenly I saw a brown blur out of the corner of my eye, and realized the Ridgeback was charging at me from behind the house. I froze in place.
She ran straight up to me and muzzle-punched me (hit me with her closed mouth). Although I had not received any in-depth training in understanding dog body language, I realized that this was a strong warning, and if I moved abruptly she would likely bite me. She stepped back a couple of feet, and I slowly backed up to my truck. Once there I was able to retrieve a control pole, gently noose her, load her into my truck and, unscathed, walk back to the house to talk to her owner. Phew!
The ability to read and react appropriately to dog body language can keep you safe with your own dog as well as others you may encounter. Here are four photos that present different levels of danger based on the dogs’ aggressive expressions.
This mother dog is giving the photographer a direct stare â and her eyes look somewhat âhard.â Her stiff, forward-leaning posture and ears, and slightly pushed-forward lips, are warning you to stay back. Sheâs not aroused, just guarding her puppies. It would be wise to heed her warning.
The next dog is also pushing her lips forward, in a slightly more threatening display. Her posture, tail, and ears are quite stiff, and her hair is standing up a little. Sheâs laser-focused on another dog, and not in a particularly friendly way. This dog hasnât aggressed yet, but sheâs starting to get aroused. Weâd give her a wide berth.
Here are two dog body language lessons in one photo. The adult dog is making a fearsome face, drawing his lips back in an impressive snarl, and holding his ears and tail up and stiff. But notice that heâs not leaning at all forward, and his eyes are not super hard (though itâs difficult to see from this angle). Heâs giving the puppy a stern warning to âDonât come near me!â and the puppy reads this loud and clear. Sheâs responded with a classic puppy grovel: sheâs lowered her body posture and leaned backward, and sheâs holding her ears back and wagging her tail. She wonât look directly at the adult, but looks away with soft, squinty eyes. Note that sheâs trying to appease the adult dog â sheâs acknowledging his warning â but she isnât terrified or afraid for her life.
This dog is dangerously conflicted. His lips are pushed forward hard, but his ears are pinned back; his eye contact is hard and direct but his tail is low. His posture looks like heâs leaning forward and back; heâs frightened and willing to come after you. This dog was being held following his (and another dogâs) attack on an elderly woman who was in her own yard. The dogs were untrained, unsocialized, and inadequately contained; both paid the ultimate price for their ownerâs negligence and irresponsibility.
Just Food for Dogs First Recall Ever
Recall notice provided by Just Food for DogsâŚ
Dear Friends, Customers, Veterinarians, Partners and Staff,
Honesty. Transparency. Pet advocacy. These are three of the Core Values that make JustFoodForDogs who and what we are. Most days, living up to these standards is pretty easy. We use only the best ingredients; we open our kitchens to the public; we treat every dog as if he were one of our own; and we regard every pet parent as family.
Today is more challenging than that. Today, sadly, I announce the only recall in the history of our company. And, in keeping with our core values, we will be providing the maximum (as opposed to the minimum) amount of information and guidance on this matter.
As of yesterday afternoon, we have confirmed that one batch of our Turducken special (made in our West Hollywood kitchen and code dated WH 11/18/18) tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. We found it because one of our diligent customers reported that the food had made her dogs sick for a day with diarrhea and vomiting. (The dogs affected have made a full recovery after switching their food to one of our daily diets; they did not receive veterinary care). To be clear, this was the only case of illness reported, and severe illness in dogs by Listeria is rare. When we get reports from customers or veterinarians about potential food-caused illness in pets, we always take them seriously and follow up with the appropriate action, including lab testing. In almost eight years, we have never, not once, had a sample come back positive for pathogens. This one was different and we wanted to immediately let all of our Turducken customers know about it. It should also be noted that this form of Listeria can be harmful to humans if consumed.
If you are in possession of Turducken from West Hollywood with the above date, please email or call us at support@justfoodfordogs.com or 1-866-726-9509 and we will provide an immediate refund. While we have no reason to be concerned that other batches of Turducken were affected, we completely understand if you have this product and would like to return or exchange it for any reason.
Today we are notifying all Turducken customers who may have been affected and we are simultaneously conducting a series of additional tests to better understand the situation â the results of which we will share with all of our customers in less than 72 hrs from now.
As I sit here writing this memo with our executive team, it dawns on me that every recipient of this letter and all of us in this room have one very important commonality â we love our dogs and would always do what is best for them. Please know that, starting with my own Albert and Evelyne, we all continue to feed JustFoodForDogs with confidence. If you have any questions or concerns that have not been answered here please do not hesitate to email us at support@justfoodfordogs.com or 1-866-726-9509. If you prefer, you can reach me on my personal cell phone at (949) 378-2927. Or, if you would like to talk to our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Oscar Chavez, BVetMed, MRCVS , he can be reached on his personal cell at (714) 206-8751. Alternatively, if you would like to speak with our CEO, Carey Tischler, he can be reached on his personal cell at (847) 942-2692.
We sincerely apologize for any concern or burden this may have caused you. Despite this unfortunate incident, we want to assure you that everyone at JustFoodForDogs is, as always, 100% committed to helping pets Iive longer, healthier lives.
Shawn Buckley
Founder, JustFoodForDogs
And follow up message from Just Food for DogsâŚ
This week has been more challenging. A few days ago, a diligent customer reported that our Turducken special made her dogs sick with vomiting and diarrhea. The dogs made a full recovery after a day, once switching their food to one of our daily diets; they did not receive veterinary care. Less than 72 hours ago, after the returned food confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes, we informed our Turducken customers about the only recall in the history of our company. Since then we have worked tirelessly to conduct extensive testing and a thorough investigation to establish the root cause of this issue. We promised an update.
This is that update.
It is genuinely heartbreaking to report that we have just received preliminary test results that suggest our human grade green bean supply was sent to us contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Healthy dogs may experience no signs but some, including elderly or weakened dogs, may experience vomiting and/or diarrhea. Severe disease from Listeria in dogs is rare. Listeria monocytogenes is more concerning in humans, if consumed. The health of your dogs is always our primary concern. For this reason, and based on the preliminary results, we are proactively and voluntarily taking the following actions:
⢠Expanding the Turducken recall to all batch dates
⢠Recalling our only two other recipes that contain green beans: Beef & Russet Potato and
Fish & Sweet Potato
⢠Notifying the FDA as this likely affects a broader human food supply of green beans
If you have fed these recipes and your dog is not currently experiencing any problems, do not worry. If you have any of the food listed above, please dispose of it and do not feed it to your dog. We will provide an immediate and unconditional credit to your account for all purchases made of these recipes between November 1st, 2017 and January 14th, 2018, upon request.
To make it easiest on you and to avoid waiting on hold, simply email us at support@justfoodfordogs.com with the first and last name on your account. We will process your credit and reply with the confirmed amount within 72 hours.
We know that many dogs rely on and love these recipes. Therefore, we are immediately preparing Beef & Russet Potato and Fish & Sweet Potato recipes without green beans. We expect to have these available by Wednesday at all locations. Our veterinarians ensure us that this is an appropriate temporary solution. In the meantime, we have plenty of recipes available that are made without green beans, including:
Balanced RemedyÂ
Shepherdâs Pie
Chicken & White RiceÂ
Turkey & Whole Wheat Macaroni
Joint & Skin SupportÂ
Venison & Squash
Lamb & Brown RiceÂ
All Veterinary Support Recipes
These recipes are not covered by the recall and may continue to be fed to your dogs.
I am deeply sorry for this outcome. I spoke to one of our wonderful customers on Friday and she told me something that stuck with me â âwe donât expect JustFoodForDogs to be perfect Shawn, just perfectly honest.â Good or bad, you have our word that we will always be entirely transparent with our customers.
We founded JustFoodForDogs to increase the length and quality of life for as many pets as possible. While this issue may not be our fault, the safety and efficacy of every meal is our responsibility. As we work with our restaurant supplier, we will be implementing greater controls to prevent this from happening in the future. If you would like to speak to any member of our executive team, please feel free to reach us directly on our emails or personal cell phones (listed below).
⢠Amy Dampier, Vice President Retail Sales, amyd@justfoodfordogs.com
or cell 619-540-3484
⢠Ben Stickney, Vice President Operations, bens@justfoodfordogs.com
or cell 757-635-7660
⢠Dr. Oscar Chavez, BVetMed, MRCVS, Chief Medical Officer,
drchavez@justfoodfordogs.com or cell 714-206-8751
⢠Carey Tischler, Chief Executive Officer, careyt@justfoodfordogs.com
or cell 847-942-2692
Or you can reach me at shawnb@justfoodfordogs.com or cell 949-378-2927.
Shawn Buckley
Founder, JustFoodForDogs
Primal Dog Food Recall – December 2017
https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/primal-dog-food-recall-december-2017/
Fundamentals of Shaping Behavior
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Dr. Jean Dodds – Dog Vaccine Protocol
The following vaccine protocol is offered for those dogs where minimal vaccinations are advisable or desirable. The schedule is one I recommend and should not be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. Itâs a matter of professional judgment and choice.
9 – 10 weeks of age
Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV
e.g. Merck Nobivac (Intervet Progard) Puppy DPV
14 â 15 weeks of age
Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV
18 weeks of age
Parvovirus only, MLV
Note: New research states that last puppy parvovirus vaccine should be at 18 weeks old.
20 weeks or older, if allowable by law
Rabies â give 3-4 weeks apart from other vaccines
Mercury-free (thimerosol-free, TF)
1 year old
Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV
This is an optional booster or titer. If the client intends not to booster after this optional booster or intends to retest titers in another three years, this optional booster at puberty is wise.
1 year old
Rabies â give 3-4 weeks apart from other vaccines
3-year product if allowable by law; mercury-free (TF)
Perform vaccine antibody titers for distemper and parvovirus every three years thereafter, or more often, if desired. Vaccinate for rabies virus according to the law, except where circumstances indicate that a written waiver needs to be obtained from the primary care veterinarian. In that case, a rabies antibody titer can also be performed to accompany the waiver request. Visit The Rabies Challenge Fund for more information.
W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Hemopet / NutriScan
11561 Salinaz Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92843
Dr. Jean Dodds – Feline Vaccination Protocol
2013-2016 FELINE VACCINATION PROTOCOL – W. JEAN DODDS, DVM
Approximately seven years ago, the American Association of Feline Practitioners(AAFP) sponsored and conducted a groundbreaking study on feline vaccines. The panel – which included Dr. Doddsâ colleague, Dr. Ron Schultz – divided the vaccines into core and non-core. Just this year, the AAFP published updated feline vaccination guidelines. Dr. Dodds agrees with the panelâs findings, with the exception of giving feline leukemia vaccine to kittens that will be kept strictly indoors. She also prefers a more minimal and delayed vaccination schedule to offset potential adverse vaccine reactions and feline vaccine injection site-associated sarcomas. Additionally, Dr. Dodds considers factors such as presence of maternal immunity, prevalence of viruses or other infectious agents in the region, number of reported occurrences of the viruses and other infectious agents, how these agents are spread, and the typical environmental conditions and exposure risk activities of companion animals.
2013-2016 Feline Vaccination Protocol
Note:Â The following vaccine protocol is offered for those cats where minimal vaccinations are advisable or desirable. The schedule is one Dr. Dodds recommends and should not interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. Itâs a matter of professional judgment and choice.
8-9 Weeks Old:
Panleukopenia (feline parvovirus), Calicivirus, Rhinopneumonitits Virus (feline herpesvirus-1)
(FVRCP)
12-13 Weeks Old:
Same as above
24 Weeks or Older (if required by law):
Rabies (e.g. Merial Purevaxâ˘, recombinant)
1 Year:
FVRCP booster (optional = titer)
1+ Year:
Rabies, same as above but separated by 2-3 weeks from FVRCP
Perform vaccine antibody titers for panleukopenia virus every three years thereafter, or more often, if desired. Vaccinate for rabies virus according to the law, except where circumstances indicate that a written waiver needs to be obtained from the primary care veterinarian.  In that case, a rabies antibody titer can also be performed to accompany the waiver request. Visit Rabies Challenge Fund.
W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Hemopet / NutriScan
11561 Salinaz Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92843
DARWIN’S PET FOOD RECALL
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Training Tip from the Whole Dog Journal
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AAHAâs Canine Vaccination Guidelines – 2017
From the American Animal Hospital Association
Top 10 things you need to know about AAHAâs Canine Vaccination Guidelines
Vaccination is one of the easiest and most important ways to protect your dogâs health. Yet in this age of âovervaccinationâ scares and âDr. Google,â some pet owners are hesitant to vaccinate their dogsâeven when itâs in the best interest of their beloved pooch.
To provide fact-based leadership about this issue, AAHA published the 2017 Canine Vaccination Guidelines, a regularly updated online educational resource for veterinary teams and the clients they serve. Here are the top 10 things you need to know about these guidelines:
- Get a rabies vaccine for your dogâitâs the law. Rabies is a fatalâand preventableâdisease that can be spread to humans by contact with saliva, so itâs mandatory in all 50 US states. Your veterinarian is bound by law to give your dog a rabies vaccine to protect you as well as your pet; if an unvaccinated dog is scratched or bitten by a wild animal, it can lead to your pet being quarantined or euthanized. Learn the specifics about the rabies laws in your state at rabiesaware.org.
- Not all dogs need every vaccine. Your veterinarian will ask you questions about your dogâs lifestyle, environment, and travel to help tailor the perfect vaccination plan for him. AAHAâs Lifestyle-Based Vaccine Calculator uses factors such as whether your dog visits dog parks, groomers, competes in dog shows, swims in freshwater lakes, or lives on converted farmland to help you and your veterinarian develop your dogâs individualized vaccination plan.
- There are âcoreâ and ânoncoreâ vaccines. Vaccinations are designated as either core, meaning they are recommended for every dog, or noncore, which means they are recommended for dogs at risk for contracting a specific disease. However, your veterinarian may reclassify a ânoncoreâ vaccine as âcoreâ depending on your dogâs age, lifestyle, and where you liveâfor instance, in a region like New England where Lyme disease is prevalent, that vaccine may be considered âcore.â
Core Vaccines
Noncore Vaccines
- Rabies
- Combination vaccine:
- Distemper
- Adenovirus-2
- Parvovirus
- +/- Parainfluenza
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Bordetella bronchiseptica
- +/- Parainfluenza
- Leptospira
- 4-serovar
- Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease)
- Influenza (H3N8 and H3N2)
- Crotalus atrox (Western Diamondback Rattlesnake)
- Titers, or quantitative antibody testing, can help determine your dogâs protection from some diseases. Titer testing can be useful when a dogâs vaccination history for distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus is unknownâa positive result typically means he is considered protected. However, no test is 100% accurate, so in areas where these diseases run rampant, your veterinarian may still recommend vaccinating. While titer testing for rabies is available, the law still requires that the dog be vaccinated since this is a fatal, zoonotic (i.e., can be spread to people) disease.
- Some vaccines only need boosters every three years. For example, the distemper vaccine, a combination of distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus vaccines that protects against very serious diseases, can be given every three years after a dog has completed his initial series of inoculations. However, a dogâs immunity is as individual as he is, so if you want to have more certainty that heâs protected, have a titer performed to measure the amount of antibody response he has to these diseases.
- Protect at-risk dogs annually from certain complex diseases. If your veterinarian believes your dog is at risk for Lyme disease, leptospirosis, influenza and/or Bordetella (kennel cough), youâll want to vaccinate him every year instead of every three years because of the differences in how a dogâs immune system responds to these specific germs.
- Serious vaccine reactions are rare. The risk of contracting a dangerous disease by not vaccinating a dog outweighs the potential for vaccination side effects. Still, seek veterinary attention if your dog begins vomiting and scratching, develops bumps (hives), facial swelling, or has difficulty breathing within a few hours of being vaccinated. Long-term side effects, like behavioral changes, immune-mediated diseases, and other complex conditions, have not been formally linked to vaccinations. Studies continue on this topic.
- Donât administer vaccines to your dog by yourself. While vaccines are available through sources other than your veterinarian, they may not protect your pet against disease unless they are properly stored, handled, and administered. Your veterinary team is trained to do this correctly. Itâs important to note that in many states and provinces, it is against the law for anyone other than a licensed veterinarian to give a rabies vaccine.
- AAHAâs Canine Vaccination Guidelines are based on science. A task force of five expert veterinarians created them, along with 18 contributing reviewers, based on practical clinical experience and 123 references to scientific evidence. The guidelines also underwent a formal external review process.
- Communicate any concerns to your veterinarian. You and your veterinary team should have the same goal: to provide the best possible care for your pets. If, say, you are worried about a puppy or small dog receiving too many injections in the same visit, ask if there are noncore vaccines that can be postponed. Your veterinarian will offer a recommendation based on knowledge of your dogâs specific circumstances and veterinary medicine.
Questions to ask your veterinarian:
- Why are you recommending these vaccines for my dog? What risk factors does he have that lead you to those recommendations?
- Can you discuss the risks and benefits of titer testing with me? How accurate is it?
- Is the vaccine less expensive than the titer test?
- How often does my pet need to be vaccinated for rabies by law?
- What additional side effects should I watch for after my pet is vaccinated?
- Will you please document the injection site and vaccine type in my dogâs medical record?
- My dog is small. Is there a vaccine we could delay until a later time or is now best?
- When will my dog need a booster to stay protected?