Although we can't cover all possible emergencies in this article, there are a few situations which occur quite commonly, and you should familiarize yourself with how to handle them.
Labradors are very gentle dogs, but they may still snap or bite if they are hurt. A soft piece of string wrapped around his nose and tied behind his ears makes a good emergency muzzle. It is very effective in preventing him biting you as you provide basic first aid.
When he is muzzled, remove him from danger. If he has been hit by a vehicle, he needs to be moved off the road to avoid him being hit again. To do this, slide a blanket or large piece of cardboard under him and use it to lift him into a car for the trip to the veterinarian.
Your rough and tumble Labrador Retriever may get a cut or deep wound on his skin. If there is bleeding, put pressure on the wound with a folded piece of clean cloth. Don't remove it, even if blood soaks the cloth, as this will dislodge the blood clot that's forming, and bleeding will worsen. Just apply another cloth on top and maintain even pressure, then take him to your vet to see if he needs sutures.
Abrasions and scratches can be cleaned with either saline, or a dilute iodine solution. Watch for any signs of infection, such as an increase in discharge, or reddening at the edges of the wound. If you're in any doubt, take him to your vet for a checkup.
Dog fights are very frightening, and both dogs can come out of it a bit worse for wear. Bite wounds always need to be checked by your vet. Even a small puncture wound can have quite severe muscle damage under the skin. They're very painful, and can easily become infected. Antibiotics and pain relief can have your Labrador smiling again very quickly.
In the summer months, high temperatures can lead to heat stroke. Dogs can only disperse heat from their body by panting. They don't have the same type of sweat glands that we do. Labradors Retrievers love to play, and often don't know when to stop. This can cause overheating, lethargy and disorientation. Gentle hosing with tepid water will help to get his temperature down, but heatstroke can lead to internal organ failure and there may not be any indication of this in the early stages. This is another instance where it's absolutely vital to take your Labrador to your vet for follow up care. It could save his life.
It's a rare Labrador Retriever that doesn't eat everything in sight, and this can put him at risk of being poisoned. If you think he has eaten something toxic, take him and the packaging, if you have it, to the vet as soon as you can. That way, he can identify the ingredients in the poison, and start treating your dog with the appropriate antidote. Don't induce vomiting unless your vet advises you to do so; some poisons are very irritant and can do even more damage to your dog as they are vomited back up.
There are dog first aid courses available in many areas, and although you may never need to use that knowledge, it's a comfort to know that if anything did happen to your Labrador, you'd know just what to do to help him.
This guest post is brought to you by Dog Fence DIY's staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY has a large variety of electric fence for dogs at the best available prices. This system will also include the proper installation needed as well as the training for your pet.
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Army Sgt. Clay Rankin’s dog, Archie, was named 2009 Dog of the Year by the ASPCA.
Rankin suffered spinal injuries in Iraq, and Archie, who has been his service dog for four years, helps him cope with the aftermath of his war experience – post-traumatic stress disorder, physical challenges and difficulty with crowds, according to the Dallas Morning News.
“I think it was well deserved,” Rankin, who lives in West Virginia, said after accepting the award in New York City on behalf of Archie, an 8-year-old black Lab. “I think he’s Hero of the Year.”
“Archie’s loyalty and perseverance in helping Sgt. Rankin accomplish his daily tasks has allowed the veteran to regain his confidence and independence, move forward with his life and continue serving the country he loves,” the ASPCA noted.
Others recognized at the ASPCA awards ceremony were four men from Missouri who worked on the frontlines of the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history; Alayne Marker, who along with her husband, Steve Smith, runs the Rolling Dog Ranch for disabled animals in Ovando, Montana; and Monica Plumb of Powhatan County, Virginia, who raised funds to purchase pet oxygen masks for fire departments across the country.
I know it doesn't at first appear to be 7 dogs, but when you look closely, you can see C.J. in the very back, behind Mavis (her hat is on the SIDE of her head, and C.J.'s hat is on TOP of his head).
We bbq-ed hamburgers and hotdogs for all. We had a pinata full of pigs ears, squeaky toys, and live squirrels (just kidding about the live squirrels). We love our beautiful labs!
Photo from: Ellie (USA)
Great photo Ellie. Got your hands full! Thanks!
To see a larger size of the photo, click on the photo and then click on "All sizes" above the picture.
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I’ve got a few things planned for this blog in the next few weeks.
I’m going to recount the history of the origins of the golden retriever again. I will probably do it in daily installments.
The reason why I am doing the rewrite is because I don’t think the early ones were as good as they need to be.
Plus, I don’t think my newer readers have read them before.
I’m going to start with a general history of the retriever dog. This origins story will be followed by a general history of the wavy-coated retriever, which then will be followed by the development of golden and flat-coated retrievers. It is impossible to write a good analysis of the history of one retriever breed without considering how it fits into the whole.
I hope you don’t mind that these posts will appear to be repetitions of earlier posts, but it is the only way I can really do these posts any justice.
It will probably take me until the end of the month until I get finished.
As for my non-retriever-owning readers, I promise to have no more than one post on this topic per day.
When my counter resets at 7 P.M. Eastern tomorrow, this retooled series will start.
However, if you don’t want me to do this again, I will simply leave this story alone. (Well, I mean I’ll just occasionally mention it.)
1. A three generation pedigree tree should be provided at minimum. This means that your breeder should know who your puppy’s parents, grandparents and great-grandparents are on both the side of the bitch and the sire. Most reputable breeders are in business for long periods of time and can typically trace the bloodline back much further.
2. Titled Champions should be in the bloodline. Somewhere in the puppy’s pedigree there should be a sporting, working, or conformation title winner. The puppy would preferably be a direct descendant, within the first two generations, of the title winner.
3. The hips and elbows of both parents should be certified as “Good” or “Excellent” by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals on both parents. Joint problems including osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia are often hereditary and dogs with these problems should not be bred because it will almost certainly pass along to the offspring. These conditions cause extreme pain in the dog himself and are expensive to treat as well.
4. Eyes should be certified free of genetic abnormalities. Eye disorders and diseases such as glaucoma, inverted eyelids and progressive retinal atrophy are hereditary and dogs with these conditions should never be bred. While some eye disorders are mere inconveniences, others can be serious and require continued treatment.
5. You should have a guarantee that your dog is free from inheritable diseases and conditions. There should be language in the agreement that allows for the replacement of the dog or refund of the fee in the event that your dog is diagnosed with an inherited disease.
6. A good breeder should also include language in an agreement regarding care of the dog if you should no longer be able to. If there is ever any reason that you are unable to keep or care for the dog then the breeder should always offer to take the dog back. This protects you and also makes sure that the breeder gets “their” dog back.
7. Any help or advisement that you need to help you become a better dog owner. Every breed has its own characteristics and special needs and your breeder should act as a guide and confidant.
8. Your breeder should also provide proper care and grooming information. They should be able to tell you what disorders to look out for, how many hours of playtime they need and what their specific grooming requirements are. They are an expert on the breed and should be able to tell you exactly what you need to do to ensure proper care, training and socialization.
9. Sample of the currently fed food, generally enough for the first few days, or more. This will give you time to find the specific brand of food your puppy is used to while letting him remain on his current diet. Switching foods often and suddenly can cause stomach upset and diarrhea so it is best to maintain the same diet if it is nutritionally sound.
10. A dog with a good, even temperament who is a good match for your home. Your breeder should have done their back ground check on you and should be able to tell after the interview and application if the dog will fit well with your family dynamic and life style.
Provided by Vanessa Werth of www.pet-super-store.com: Where you can find a great selection of indoor dog gates and wooden dog crates.
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