Crouching Kitten Hidden Tiger!

Fun stuff for dog lovers.

Here are some fun and interesting dog facts. See how much trivia you know about man’s best friend. Did you Know…

• A dog’s heart beats between 70 and 120 times a minute, compared with a human heart which beats 70 to 80 times a minute.
• A dog’s normal body temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
• A female carries her young about 60 days before the puppies are born.
• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the smallest dog on record was a Yorkshire Terrier in Great Britain who, at the age of 2, weighed just 4 ounces.
• The longest lived dog, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was an Australian Cattle Dog, named Bluey, who lived to be 29.
• An adult dog has 42 teeth.
• It is a myth that dogs are color blind. They can actually see in color, just not as vividly as humans. It is akin to our vision at dusk.
• If never spayed or neutered, a female dog, her mate, and their puppies could produce over 66,000 dogs in 6 years!
• The only sweat glands a dog has are between the paw pads.
• In 1957, Laika became the first living being in space via an earth satellite
• The world’s smartest dogs are thought to be (1) the border collie, (2) the poodle, and (3) the golden retriever.
• Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine (similar to caffeine) which can kill dogs or at the very least make them violently ill.
• Dogs’ sense of hearing is more than ten times more acute than a human’s
• More than 1 in 3 American families own a dog.
• Dogs don’t like rain because the sound is amplified and hurts their very sensitive ears.
• The ten most popular dogs (AKC, 2007) are in order:
  Labrador Retriever, Yorkshire Terrier, German Shepherd,
  Golden Retriever, Beagle, Boxer, Dachshund, Poodle,
  Shih Tzu, and Bulldog.
• Dogs were the first animals domesticated by people.
• A greyhound can run as fast as 45 miles an hour.
• Spaying/neutering your dog before the age of 6 months can help prevent cancer in your dog.
• Puppies acquire a full mouth of permanent teeth between four and seven months old.
• Small dogs live the longest. Toy breeds live up to 16 years or more. Larger dogs average is 7 - 12 years. Veterinary medicine have extended this estimate by about three years. However, some breeds, such as Tibetan terrier live as long as twenty years.
• Eighty percent of dog owners buy their dog a present for holidays and birthdays. More than half of them sign letters and cards from themselves and their pets.
• The dog name “Fido” is from Latin and means “fidelity.”
• The U.S. has the highest dog population in the world.
• Most pet owners (94 percent) say their pet makes them smile more than once a day.
• Dogs are mentioned 14 times in the Bible.
• It has been established that people who own pets live longer, have less stress, and have fewer heart attacks.
• All dogs can be traced back 40 million years ago to a weasel-like animal called the Miacis which dwelled in trees and dens. The Miacis later evolved into the Tomarctus,a direct forbearer of the genus Canis, which includes the wolf and jackal as well as the dog.
• Seventy percent of people sign their pet’s name on greeting cards and 58 percent include their pets infamily and holiday portraits, according to a survey done by the American Animal Hospital Association.
• A dog’s whiskers are touch-sensitive hairs called vibrissae. They are found on the muzzle, above the eyes and below the jaws, and can actually sense tiny changes in airflow.
• The origin of amputating a dog’s tail may go back to the Roman writer Lucius Columella’s (A.D. 4-70) assertion that tail docking prevented rabies.
• Dogs can smell about 1,000 times better than humans. While humans have 5 million smell-detecting cells, dogs have more than 220 million. The part of the brain that interprets smell is also four times larger in dogs than in humans.

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Nail Trims

Pets that do not have regular toenail trims are at greater risk for broken toenails and/or toenails growing into the paw pad.  It is extremely helpful to accustom your pet to having their feet handled at a young age. One method of accomplishing this is to gently play with or massage your pet's paws and toes regularly. This can be done while the pet is eating, or otherwise in a relaxed, comfortable setting such as on your lap watching TV. When first attempting nail trims, it can also be helpful to trim one or a few nails at any given time, followed by treats and praise.
To safely trim your pet's nails, follow these steps:
1. Have a helper. Until your pet becomes accustomed to nail trims, it will very likely be a team effort. Ideally, both people should be familiar to the pet. It is also recommended that you have your pet's favorite treat handy.
2. Have your helper gently hold the pet in their lap if size permits, otherwise kneeling next to the pet and keeping arms around the head and shoulders is sufficient.
3. Talk to your pet in a calm, gentle voice as you gently take one of their paws in your hand. If your pet keeps pulling their foot away, gently hold it for a few seconds and then give a treat as your pet relaxes. Repeat as needed.
4. Using pet nail clippers (guillotine-style clippers and human nail clippers are not recommended), quickly snip off the very tip of your pet's nails. After each cut, praise your pet generously and give a treat/head scratch.
5. Once you have trimmed all of the nails, again generously praise and reward your pet.
It important to make nail trims a positive experience for you and your pet. Ending on a good note is always advised, so use your judgment about when to stop or take a break so they can relax again.

What is Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care?

Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care is a veterinary specialty that could save your pet’s life! If your pet should become injured or suddenly develop an acute, life threatening disease, he or she will need prompt emergency care. In addition to requiring initial emergency treatment, many days may be needed for the disease process to run its course before recovery occurs. During this time, close monitoring and life support measures in the intensive care unit (ICU) may be needed. A vigilant team lead by a veterinarian who is specialty trained in emergency and critical care will improve the quality of care your pet receives during this crucial time, improving his or her chance for a good outcome

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What is a specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care? Does this involve additional training beyond their veterinary training?

A specialist in emergency and critical care is a specially trained veterinarian who is dedicated to treating life-threatening conditions. Yes, they do have additional training! They must first be a graduate of a recognized veterinary school, then receive a minimum (or equivalent) of 3 additional years of intense training in emergency, surgery and critical care through completion of an American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC)-approved training program. This intense program is referred to as a “residency” in emergency and critical care and focuses on the most up-to-date techniques for diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening disease processes in an emergency, and for the critical time while the animal is recovering. The emergency and critical care residency is supervised by mentors who have been through similar training programs and are themselves board-certified Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (DACVECC).
Once the veterinarian has completed these years of specialty residency training, the individual must then pass a tough board -certification examination given by the ACVECC. Upon successful completion of the training and passing of the examination, the veterinarian is a Diplomate of the ACVECC, is termed a “specialist”, and is board-certified in veterinary emergency and critical care.

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How do I know if a veterinarian is a specialist in emergency and critical care?

The veterinarian will be a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (DACVECC). You can find out if the veterinarian is a Diplomate of the ACVECC by asking the veterinarian or looking for the ACVECC credential (DACVECC). The credential may be listed on stationery, or be on a displayed Diplomate Certificate issued by the ACVECC. You may also check with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). You may also check our ACVECC web site where all ACVECC Diplomates are listed.

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How can I find a specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care for my pet?

Diplomates of the ACVECC may work in an emergency practice, a referral practice with other veterinary specialists (surgeons, internists), in industry, or in an academic setting such as a University that has a Veterinary School where they treat sick pet animals and teach veterinary students.
There are several ways for you to find an ACVECC Diplomate in your area. First, you may consult the ACVECC web site, where Diplomates are listed according to geographical location. Second, you may ask your veterinarian if the emergency practice in your area is led by a veterinarian that is an ACVECC Diplomate. Third, if your veterinarian refers your pet to a specialty practice for non-routine surgery, medical care or diagnostics, you can inquire whether there is an ICU with a life support team headed by a specialist in emergency and critical care, should your pet require intensive care and life support. A fourth way is to inquire at the Veterinary School in your area. You may ask if they have a fully staffed Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit that is headed by an ACVECC Diplomate. If so, your critically injured or ill pet will be in the care of a fully-trained specialist.

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How do I know if my pet needs a specialist veterinarian in Emergency and Critical Care?

First, ask your veterinarian. Any pet that is seriously ill might benefit from this type of care. Animals that have sustained trauma or bite wounds are an obvious example, but a number of other problems are commonly treated. The following is a sampling of the type of patients that routinely benefit from care by an ACVECC Diplomate:

• Trauma patients, including those hit by cars, bite, bullet, knife or burn injuries
• Any animal that is having trouble breathing
• Animals that need a blood transfusion
• Any patient that is in shock (signs of shock can include weakness, pale mucous membranes in their mouth, cold extremities, and an abnormal heart rate)
• Animals that are having trouble urinating, or are not producing urine
• Dogs and cats that need specialized nutritional support because they are unwilling or unable to eat on their own
• Animals in which an abnormal heart rhythm is causing problems
• Animals with life-threatening neurologic disease such as coma or severe seizures that are not responding to medications
• Patients that have had surgery and are not recovering well from anesthesia or are having trouble in the first few post-operative days

More information here

About Pet Portals

So, what’s a Pet Portal?

Pet Portals are private websites that give you secure online access to your pet’s health information. We provide Pet Portals free of charge to all clients who have active e-mail addresses.

How can I get a Pet Portal?

Just give us your e-mail address and you’ll receive a password by e-mail.
Here's how you can get your Pet Portal:

• Click this "Get a Portal!" link.
• Visit our hospital. Just give the receptionist your e-mail address.
• Call us on the phone and give us your e-mail address.

Once you provide us with your e-mail address you’ll receive your password by e-mail.

How do I view my Pet Portal?

You view your Pet Portal by visiting our website and using your e-mail address and password to sign in. You must have “cookies” turned on in your browser in order to sign-in. You can bookmark the sign-in page, but not your Pet Portal, since it exists only when you are actually signed in.

What do you do with my e-mail address?

We use your e-mail address as your Pet Portal sign-in name. You have the option of receiving your pet’s service reminders (vaccinations, exams, etc.) by e-mail.
We also use e-mail address to contact clients about practice updates and important health news, such as information about West Nile Virus.
If you’d prefer not to receive e-mails from us, you can use your Pet Portal to change your e-mail preferences. You will still be able to use your Pet Portal, even if you choose not to receive e-mails from us.

Do you sell your mailing list?

We do not sell our mailing list. We do occasionally work with animal health companies to offer discount coupons and other promotions for products and services that we believe are beneficial to our patients. We do not disclose your personal information.

How much do Pet Portals cost?

Pet Portals are a service we provide free of charge to all clients with active e-mail addresses.

What can I do with my Pet Portal?

You can use your Pet Portal to manage your pet’s health care and medication schedule, communicate with us online, and learn more about your pet’s individual health and life-stage issues.

Do I need a separate Pet Portal for each pet?

No! Your Pet Portal contains health information for each pet with an active file in your account with us. Remember, in order to have an active account, your pet must have visited our hospital.
(If you see any information about your pet or account that needs to be updated, you can use the Pet Portal to let us know)

How secure is my Pet Portal?

Your Pet Portal resides on a secure server protected by a fire wall. Your personal information cannot be accessed by other Pet Portal users.
Your Pet Portal is created each time you sign in. When you are not signed in, your Pet Portal does not exist. This means that it’s impossible for someone to find and view your account on the open Internet. Only you (and anyone with whom you choose to share your sign-in name and password) can see your pet’s information.

Visit our site for more information: http://www.friendshiphospital.com/aboutpetportals.html