Heartworm

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As responsible pet owners sometimes, we just listen to our vet and do what they know is best for our pets. This is true with our heartworm preventative. Without this precaution we’d be risking our pets contracting more than some annoying parasite or bug, they would be facing a life-or-death situation. This is the condition of our latest fospice rescue Daisy. She will be living out the remainder of her life being heartworm positive due to the aggressiveness of the treatment and the uncertainty the effects will have on her already frail body. But this issue could have been prevented.  Heartworms are transmitted from a mosquito bite. It is suggested to give heartworm prevention year-round and to have your dog tested every 12 months. The treatment for heartworms can be aggressive and hard on the dog to go through. Making them sick and require bed rest for several months while going through treatment. This also can be expensive due to the number of injections and vet visits your dog will need.
This is another disease that can be prevented with regular medication and testing. This will help your dog live a happier and longer life. And give you the peace of mind that you are doing the best for your beloved pet so that you can have them around for many healthy and loving years.
Chastity Crowder, Fospice Mom and Board President

Benefits Of Adopting A Senior Dog

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Getting a new dog as a puppy has many rewards, and I love puppies too. However, senior dogs have so many qualities that make them much more appealing to many people who don’t want all the work of raising a puppy. I am most definitely one of those people. Yes, senior dogs are not with us as long as puppies, but the joy and love they share more than makes up for the lack of time. From the moment we adopted our first senior dog, I knew that senior dogs would from that point forward own my heart completely. Many people have asked me over the years why. There are so many reasons that I can’t put into words. Here are several that I have been able to.

1. Senior dogs are just calmer. They have outgrown the rambunctious puppy stage and the awkward teenage years. Senior dogs have moved on to a dignified stage where they know how to just relax and enjoy being with you, and they know when to leave you alone.

2. Generally already housebroken. This means very few accidents in the house and no headaches in trying to train a puppy to potty outside.

3. Have more training. Seniors usually know tricks such as sit and shake. But more importantly, they know not to jump on people, they know not to dash out an open door, and they know how to act when on a leash. These are all valuable time-savers if the dog already has these skills

4. Don’t chew on everything in sight. Puppies are great, but they can destroy a lot if left alone for just a few minutes. Seniors have left all this behind and are mature and well behaved.

5. You usually know what you are getting. There will be no surprises on how big your dog will become, what characteristics your dog will develop. The dog has already grown to an adult so what you see is what you get.

6. Actually less vet bills for “younger” seniors. Puppy shots are done, spay/neuter is behind you (if you are lucky), and no surgeries to remove that “foreign body” that your dog ate and ended up getting stuck in their digestive tract… For most “younger” seniors, all you have to worry about is annual check-ups, vaccines, and dental cleanings.

7. And for me, this is the best – what senior dogs can teach us. Puppies need to be taught everything while seniors already know it all. Instead, they have so much to teach us – what second chances look like, what it is to forgive past hurts, how to love unconditionally, how to show complete appreciation for the second chance. I have learned all of these from the senior dogs that come into my life. Each one has taught me something new and I wouldn’t trade those lessons for anything.

8. Yes, senior dogs are not with us as long as puppies, but the joy and love they share more than makes up for the lack of time.

Nicole Laber, Fospice Mom and Board Treasurer

Second Hand Smoke

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Most of us know that second-hand smoke can hurt those people surrounding anyone who smokes, but did you know that it can hurt pets too? Chance came to Laber of Love Pet Rescue from a home where the humans smoked very frequently. His coat took several baths to not have that smoke odor, and we were very worried that the long-term exposure to second-hand smoke would have left him with health issues. Those issues could have included lung and heart disease or lung, mouth, or nose cancer. When we picked up Chance we did notice some raspy and heavy breathing so we feared the worst. However, after breathing non-smoking air for a few weeks the breathing issues are virtually gone. The vet didn’t see any damage to his lungs or heart during his exam. Chance was lucky! Issues could still I’ll arise, but so far nothing has shown up.  If you smoke, will your pet be this lucky? How can you ensure your pets (and this includes dogs, cats, fish, birds, and other small pets) don’t suffer because of your secondhand smoke?  Please read the attached articles for important information straight from the FDA.
Nicole Laber, Fospice Mom and Board Treasurer

Dog Dementia

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One of the worst feelings for me as a dog owner has been watching my pet’s mental decline. Their bodies were willing, but their minds were not able to process everyday tasks nor were they aware of their surroundings. Eventually, our boy Chewy didn’t even know who I was anymore. This decline was gradual, and as a pet owner, I noticed little things that made me look twice in the beginning but became more and more clear as time went on. I had no idea at first what it was but I did research and talked to my vet. The diagnosis – canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD). Or more commonly referred to as doggie dementia. This disease acts much like Alzheimer’s in humans and robs pet owners of many good years with their pets.  The good news is, there are ways that we can help our pets cope with CCD and also things that we can do to possibly keep it at bay for our pets. As always, we as the owners are the first line of defense as we know our pets and can spot the early warning signs. However, the assistance and proper diagnosis from a trusted Veterinarian are key as well; there are other diseases that can cause the same symptoms so a proper diagnosis is vital to making a proper treatment plan. A trusted Veterinarian can also help ease the symptoms for your pet and offer guidance and support for you, the owner. The most important thing to remember is to love your pet unconditionally as some of the symptoms are hard to love through, but your pet needs you during this time more than ever.  Please check out this article for key symptoms, how the disease is diagnosed, and possible treatment options.

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/canine-dementia/

Nicole Laber, Fospice Mom and Board Treasurer

Exercise

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There is no doubt we love our pets. The companionship they give us is irreplaceable. So taking care of them is important for a long, healthy, happy life. This month’s humane education health topic is exercise. Exercise is an important key to optimal health in all dogs. This is a valuable lesson I learned from my very 1st fospice love, Hope. Hope came to us hardly able to walk or get around. She was falling all over the yard at the shelter. We brought her home thinking she would rest comfortably until it was time to say goodbye. But with this spunky girl that was not the case. She got a little more pep in her step day by day and before long, after being fed a healthy diet and getting a spine adjustment at the vet, she was going on daily walks with our girls. She kept this up for 11 months until her body made her stop. I believe those daily walks were part of what kept her healthy and happy for the remainder of her days with us.

Please check out this article for more info.

http://pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-checkups-preventive-care/6-simple-tips-exercising-your-senior-dog

Chastity Crowder, Fospice Mom and Board President

Dental

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Did you know that your pet’s teeth can affect the overall health of your pet and lead to heart, kidney, or liver issues? Keeping your pet’s teeth and mouth healthy can help avoid so many issues and allow your pet to live a longer, healthier, and happier life. Over the years, we have seen many pets with dental disease, and this too can be prevented. Dental cleanings and extractions for elderly pets can be painful, costly, and even life-threatening. And oftentimes when they get to rescues like ours, it is too late to reverse the health problems that the dental disease has caused. Please help keep your pet happy and healthy by reading and following the advice in this article and working together with your vet to ensure your pet lives his or her best life!

Please check out this article for more info.

https://www.stfrancisvh.com/blog/7-reasons-why-dental-care-for-dogs-is-important/

 

Arthritis

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The first dog that became a Laber of Love Pet, Grace, joined us with many issues. She was mostly blind and deaf, extremely overweight, and had severe arthritis. Most of the issues Grace presented with were manageable, and Grace certainly had a will to fight. However, the arthritis was so severe that we felt that her pain was no longer manageable. After giving her a week and a half of love and pampering, the decision was made to end her suffering. It was a very difficult decision, but it was the best one for her. The part that was probably the hardest for her fospice mom was knowing that her pain was more than likely preventable. Some arthritis in dogs is unavoidable, but with weight management and early detection, much of the pain and suffering can be avoided. The pain that sweet Grace went through may have been lessened or avoided all together if her owner had been aware of the dangers.  Be sure to talk with your vet about how to keep your pet trim and fit.

To learn about this disease and its prevention, please take a look at this article.

https://www.thefarmersdog.com/digest/guarding-against-arthritis-in-dogs-awareness-and-weight-are-key/

Diabetes

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As we have shared, Laber of Love Pet Rescue recently took a dog into our care that was diagnosed as a diabetic. While we do not regret the decision to bring Layla into our rescue, her case has been an expensive one. Because she was in very poor shape when she arrived in our care, she was rushed to the Vet where she remained for 4 days. She is now on 18 units of insulin twice daily, a very large dose, in order to try to get her blood sugar levels under control. She is also on a special diet which is quite expensive. Laber of Love Pet Rescue and its supporters are now caring for and paying the expenses of a dog that someone chose to let get to this stage and then abandoned.  This disease is almost always preventable or, if caught early, managed. This ordeal and expense could have all been avoided for sweet Layla and many other pets.

To learn about the disease of diabetes and how to prevent your pet from being a victim please read this article.

https://wagwalking.com/wellness/how-to-prevent-diabetes-in-your-dog

These are easy but very important steps that you can take to keep your pet happy and healthy for years to come!