For the last few months, rumors have circulated on the Internet that a big asteroid will slam into Earth near Puerto Rico, between wreaking widespread destruction throughout coastal regions of the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and northern South America.

Don't believe the hype. There's no reason to fear a devastating asteroid strike next month, NASA experts say. We are being assured there are no rocks that big headed our way anytime soon, at least not for centuries. Just as well, I probably would not have noticed if one hit. I have more important issues to deal with closer to home. Sweet Vicky and her battle with Kidney Failure.

Vicky, is now 10 and a half and incontinent. We plan on celebrating her 11^th birthday in Feb. This was the month she came into my life. She has been a faithful companion. Actually my dog’s age could be anywhere between 10-14 years old. We are not really sure because she was passed from her first owner who moved, to the owner before me, who passed through to heaven’s gate.

She has to wear a diaper now, and has countless warts that disfigure her but cause no actual harm. I’m approaching the moment when the decision will be forced upon me. The other day, I simply wondered whether I could “put down”, i.e. kill, my beloved Vicky. There will surely come a point when compassion demands it. Over the last year Vicky has been losing weight, drinking a lot of water and would throw up. I took her to the vet. Blood tests showed no kidney failure. When throwing up became very bad, I took her back to the vet. A urine test was able to establish Vicky was in 75% kidney failure. Some medication was given, but she has become increasing worse. We followed a strict diet and all the advise our vet gave us. She gave a long fight.
The vet gave her IV fluids and told me to take her home, say my goodbyes and to call him later in the week. He did say to make sure she drinks water and to feed whatever she'll eat.

I am trying to decide. My little girl’s quality of life and her always wanting to please is not fair to her. To prolong the inevitable for something that may not work is not fair to her or me. I have made an appointment for tomorrow. My hand shakes as I put down the phone. Tomorrow will the 9th of Feb. Happy Birthday Vicky.

She perked up when the vet came in, because he had been working with hamsters and his hands and shirt smelled so awesome. So, she was weakly wagging her rear-end and smiling when we invited her to sit on the floor, which she did not want to do. So, I sat on a bench in the room and placed her on the bench next to me, wrapping her favorite blanket gently over her. There she laid next to me touching my leg. As the first serum was injected, Vicky just leaned on me more and more and ended up with her head in my lap. Her eyes closed. The vet applied the second injection. It was really a very peaceful and sweet way to die. The vet told me afterwards that he wished every pet owner would stay with their pet at the end, because when they leave the room, the pet gets agitated and it’s harder for the staff to keep them still, making the whole process so much more stressful for the pet and hard on the staff. He did not say that, I saw it in his eyes. He also said that the women always stay, but only about half of men do, which I thought was interesting. It is so, so hard to say goodbye to a wonderful dog.

As many of our readers have come to notice the subject of many of our articles is the searching for solutions for problems we face with our dogs. Solutions are gathered from asking our friends how they have coped, what actions they have tried, and the results of their experiences when dealing with their own Bostons. While we must recognize that their results may not be the same for our dogs, their sharing has given many of us some great ideas to work with. And so with the topic of “Obsessive Licking”.

Photo of Tyson provided by Amanda Burlingham

MIND OVER MATTER
 Several months ago we were reading about a female Boston with anxiety, this was a very bad case, "almost to the point of self-destruction". A case of Canine acral lick dermatitis (ALD), also known as lick granuloma, is an injury to the skin caused by chronic licking.
One reader suggested that the owner consider the fact that there might be something neurological going on here. The advice given was to – first, please get her an exam with the vet to rule out any neurological problems. Second, if there are no neurological issues, consider a holistic vet who can perform acupuncture and massage on her to help her relax. Third, try water therapy or swimming for dogs. We need to help her soothe the mind before we can even begin to work on her dog obsessive licking behavior. A treadmill may help as well, but you need to take it slow and steady. A daily walk might work wonders.

Once you work on helping her to relax, and without knowing any other details about your situation, keep this in mind -- dog anxiety is usually caused by a lack of exercise or release of energy.
In order to stop her obsessive licking, she needs to be properly exercised and fulfilled. She has become fixated on licking, and you need to help redirect that frustration into dog exercise and ultimately, balance.

It was also suggested that the owner might have been rewarding the dog, without being aware for displaying the behavior.

In another discussion it was reported that the Boston in question
“...only does it when the kids are loud, when we take her somewhere, when there is just too much commotion.”

It was then suggested “A frozen kong with peanut butter or another tasty treat saved for those times when a diversion might be needed and a quiet room or a crate might also help. Maybe a long walk to tire her out, before the kids get wound up.”

In addition to physiological causes, incessant licking is also a common obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in dogs. The act of licking may trigger the release of endorphins (natural substances that promote a sense of well-being). The dog learns that licking brings about this pleasant feeling, and keeps on licking.

Crating or otherwise confining a large breed dog for several hours every day is asking for trouble – especially with dogs who are already displaying anxiety-based behaviors like incessant licking. If you’re gone from home for long periods during the day, consider doggy day care or a dog walking service to give your pet opportunities for companionship and exercise while you’re away.

SO I CHOOSE TO EAT THE DARN THING

There can also be psychological factors involved in obsessive licking, including boredom, stress, and separation anxiety. It is important to determine the cause of the licking so it can be treated effectively.

While the dog has no behavioral abnormalities other than constant licking, while the licking may escalate into an obsession over time, chances are it isn’t rooted in OCD or another psychological disorder.

To keep your dog’s mouth away from the wound while it heals, an Elizabethan (E-collar) (The CONE  of SHAME ) or BiteNot collar may be required. The collar can also be useful in curbing the behavioral component of obsessive licking by breaking the cycle.

Sometimes “out of sight, out of mind” also works, so applying a light, nonstick bandage may keep your dog from licking the wound. However, most dogs choose to eat the bandage, so don’t take this approach if your dog will ingest the bandage! The most important point: the dog cannot lick the wound.

THE PAW DID IT
 
“If it is her paws she may have allergies. Turmeric is a naturally anti-inflammatory and antifungal herb. You can sprinkle turmeric powder on your pet’s skin if you see it scratching to help calm and heal the skin.”

Persistent licking causes the skin to become inflamed, and over time, it thickens. The area can’t heal because of the constant licking. Also, the licking and inflammation cause itching, which causes more licking, which creates a vicious cycle of itching and licking.

Secondary problems that can result from ALD are bacterial infection, ruptured hair follicles (a condition called furunculosis), and ruptured apocrine glands (a type of sweat gland in dogs). Any of these secondary conditions can make the itching worse and perpetuate the itch-lick cycle.

Baking soda also has a neutralizing effect on the body. Adding baking soda into your pet’s water will eradicate the fungal infection and help to establish a more appropriate balance of bacteria in your pet’s system. To use baking soda, add 1 teaspoon soda to 1 liter of water and use the treatment for 5 to 7 days.

The most common (though not the only) location for a lick granuloma is on the front side of a front leg between the elbow and toes. The condition is seen most often in middle-aged, large-breed dogs.

Many veterinarians believe itchy skin triggers excessive licking. It is also thought a painful condition can set it off – perhaps there’s been trauma to the leg, a fracture, post-surgical discomfort, osteoarthritis, or peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves of the peripheral nervous system).

A bacterial or fungal infection can also trigger itching, as can the presence of skin mites.

Epsom salt has a natural balancing effect on bacterial growth in the body. If you notice that your pet is developing a yeast infection, try using Epsom salt to eliminate a breakout before it really starts. You can treat your pet with 1/16 teaspoon of Epsom salt in 1 liter of non-chlorinated drinking water for 2 to 3 days.

THE PREVENTING MIGHTY DUST MITE

Yes Dust Mites!  This one was a new angle for me..

Dust mite allergies are extremely common among dogs and cats (and humans), but because house dust mites are microscopic, many pet owners think they couldn’t possibly present much of a problem.Here is the source if you want to check this out.. healthypets.mercola.com

 
No matter how clean a home is, dust mites cannot be totally eliminated. However, the number of mites can be reduced by following the suggestions below.

Use a dehumidifier or air conditioner to maintain relative humidity at about 50% or below.
Wash all bedding and blankets once a week in hot water (at least 130 - 140°F) to kill dust mites. Non-washable bedding can be frozen overnight to kill dust mites

If possible, replace wall-to-wall carpets in bedrooms with bare floors (linoleum, tile or wood) Use a damp mop or rag to remove dust. Never use a dry cloth since this just stirs up mite allergens.

Use a vacuum cleaner with either a double-layered microfilter bag or a HEPA filter to trap allergens that pass through a vacuum's exhaust. And remove fabric curtains and upholstered furniture.

Dust mites enjoy warm, moist environments such as the inside of your dogs bed mattress, your pillow or seat cushion on your couch. They make meals of dander (which is human and animal skin flakes), so they thrive in places where there are both people and animals.

Fortunately dust mites don’t bite,  they do not spread disease and usually don’t make their home on people or pets. They are harmful only to people and pets that become allergic to them. Source: dog-allergy-info.com/dust-mites-dogs-and-allergies

You might liike to read these articles also:

How Do I Keep My Dog Mentally Stimulated?
EXCESSIVE LICKING: Causes and Prevention
Why Does My Dog Chew His Paws? The search is on part 2 of 2

 Sources: 

salubriousexclamation.com   a natural ingredient dog bath wash.

Sometimes when we  feed our dogs dry kibble from the list of best commercial foods we still want to add a touch of our own. Even the best kibble can be improved.

By decreasing the total amount of food you feed your dog to about a fourth of the food calories you when you add appropriate variety of fresh food you will not have to worry about unhealthy weight gains.

I believe that dogs benefit from variety in their diet like humans do.

Some of the foods you can try are:

Eggs. Some suggest that egg whites are more easily digested when cooked and egg yolks have more nutritional value if fed raw. Many people who add eggs to their dog food soft-cook, or scramble them. A nice treat to add to their kibble once a week.

Yogurt is another usually low-fat or nonfat plain is used since the flavored varieties have more sugar added than you Boston would need.  Use yogurt with live and active cultures. Varieties that contain more than just Lactobacillus acidophilus may provide additional benefits to the digestive tract.

Don't forget the Berries like Blueberries, and fruits like bananas, melon, pumpkin watermelon and apples,

Green beans, spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini slices, frozen peas, small amounts of broccoli

Even Sardines  packed in water not oil, small portions of jack mackerel or pink salmon. always adjust the amounts to the size of the dog.

Okay so we have been told often by our veterinarians "no human foods", they  discourage giving leftovers to dogs, but as long as you stick to healthy foods and limit portions, there is no harm in sharing your meals with your dogs.(my opinion).  Feed the same foods you eat yourself, such as meat and vegetables, not fatty scraps that lead to weight gain and have little nutritional value. Keep amounts small, or reduce meal size to accommodate the extra calories. Here we are only talking about occasionally not the main meal...

Add cottage cheese make your own chicken broth, Do you feed your dogs something different?

Do you want to try making your own kibble? Here is a link with a recipe you might want to try.

http://dogcare.dailypuppy.com/make-baked-dog-kibble-2975.html