Questionnaire to help investigation into New Forest dog deaths

Following a number of dog deaths in the New Forest, Hampshire the Animal Health Trust is asking for dog walkers to fill out a questionnaire to help with investigations as to the cause.

"A recent spate of dog deaths in the New Forest in Hampshire has prompted our scientists to assist in an on-going investigation into this mystery dog illness.

Dog owners are advised to look out for wounds or lesions on the limbs or face of their dog which will not heal. Affected dogs then go on to develop signs of severe depression, loss of appetite, and vomiting, quickly accompanied by acute injury to the kidneys, which is understood to have proven fatal in all but two cases to date.

If you have walked your dog in the New Forest Fordingbridge area since the beginning of 2013, please complete this questionnaire, even if your dog has not been affected. 

The actual cause of acute kidney failure, and its link to the initial wounds, is a mystery. This forms the focus of the current investigation which is being led by Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists in Winchester in collaboration with Forest Veterinary Clinic in Fordingbridge - the area which has been most affected. Lynwood Vets is also closely involved with the investigation, as it has seen a number of cases.
David Walker, Head of Internal Medicine at Anderson Moores, said: “We are working with a number of veterinary and medical colleagues in the UK and the US to try and identify the cause of this concerning cluster of cases as quickly as we can. Pet owners should seek veterinary attention if they identify a wound on their dog’s legs or face. “

Dr Richard Newton, our Head of Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology, said: “Input from dog walkers is essential to progress the investigation, even if their dog wasn’t affected. The questionnaire will provide vital information to help in identifying areas of highest risk, and possibly factors that contribute to the condition in this area of the New Forest.”

It is important for dog owners walking their pets in the New Forest to be vigilant. If your dog develops the clinical signs as mentioned above, seek advice from your local vet immediately.

If you are a dog owner and have any concerns or questions, please direct your enquiries to Forest Veterinary Clinic on 01425 652221 or by emailing: forestvetsAKI@aol.co.uk If you are a vet, please direct your enquiries to Anderson Moores on 01962 76792 or by emailing info@andersonmoores.com.
A hard copy of the New Forest questionnaire can be provided by emailing info@aht.org.uk."

Dog Wants a Kitty

Lone Dog by Irene Rutherford McLeod

I'm a lean dog, a keen dog, a wild dog, and lone;
I'm a rough dog, a tough dog, hunting on my own;
I'm a bad dog, a mad dog, teasing silly sheep;
I love to sit and bay the moon, to keep fat souls from sleep.

I'll never be a lap dog, licking dirty feet,
A sleek dog, a meek dog, cringing for my meat,
Not for me the fireside, the well-filled plate,
But shut door, and sharp stone, and cuff and kick, and hate.

Not for me the other dogs, running by my side,
Some have run a short while, but none of them would bide.
O mine is still the lone trail, the hard trail, the best,
Wide wind, and wild stars, and hunger of the quest!
                                                                              ~ Irene Rutherford Mcleod

Image of a Hunting Dog 12th century, Southern Song Dynasty, ink and color on silk via Wikimedia Commons.
 

Dog Tutus Anyone?

 Tutus for dogs

 these ones are hand tied on a soft and stretchy waffle crochet waistband, with triple layers for maximum fluff.

The maker Jen Rasmussen of Ellie Grace Crafts says that the waffle waistband is lightweight and most dogs barely notice they're wearing it.

Vintage Suitcase Dog Bed

A repurposed vintage suitcase can make a really comfy pet bed, the one illustrated made by Kirsten Schueler of Hershey Is My Baby , won a Design Sponge DIY contest.

If you fancy having a go at making  a suitcase dog bed yourself there are a few tutorials out there including these:

Vintage Suitcase Dog Bed Mox & Fodder
Vintage Luggage Pet Bed Chaotically Creative
DIY Project Vintage Suitcase Dog Bed Houzz
Vintage Suitcase Chair & Pet Bed DIY Gramkin Paper Studio

Let us know if you make one, we'd love to see the results.

Make a dog coat from a recycled sweater

Cute isn't it?
Brook shows you how to make a dog coat from a recycled sweater (or sweatshirt) sleeve over at her blog Babbles by Brook, click for full instructions.

Newborn puppies video

Newborn puppies are so adorable, here's a Naughtland Working Labradors video of their latest litter of Labrador puppies filmed just a few hours after they were born. 

Dog Bed made from half barrel

This is a pretty stylish dog bed, crafted from a recycled half barrel by Gift to World it's available to purchase from their Etsy shop.

The correct names for the different anatomical parts of the dog

 

The correct names for the different anatomical parts of the dog

1. Stop
2. Snout (teeth, tongue)
3. Dewlap (throat, neck skin)
4. Shoulder
5. Elbow
6. Forefeet
7. Highest Point of the Rump
8. Leg (thigh and hip)
9. Hock
10. Hind feet
11. Withers
12. Stifle
13. Paws
14. Tail

Image:Caronna via Wikipedia

Dog Postage Stamps

Dog loving philatelists, or artists who like to include postage stamps in their work, can find instant collections of canine postal stamps at  Tanja Bedenknecht's Etsy shop Stamps and More.

Dognapping - watch out for the letter K

K

National newspapers recently reported that dognappings have gone up by 17% in the UK with an estimated 3,500 dog thefts reported last year. This figure could actually be much higher as many thefts go unrecorded due to the police being reluctant to issue a crime number unless an owner has evidence of a crime and can prove the dog has been stolen.

Dogs are being stolen "to order" by organised gangs who will watch and wait, sometimes for weeks, for an opportunity to steal. One paper reported that the letter K has been found chalked near properties where dogs have been taken. 

What Makes Chocolate Poisonous to Dogs?

You do know that chocolate is incredibly poisonous to dogs don't you?

Dogs and chocolate do not mix. Although dogs, like humans, love the taste of chocolate for them consuming it can result in vomiting, diarrhea,  hyperactivity, tremors, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, seizures, respiratory failure, internal bleeding, cardiac arrest and death.

This is because chocolate contains an alkaloid called theobromine, a stimulant found in the cocoa bean which affects the central nervous system and heart and unfortunately for dogs they can't metabolize it as fast as humans can resulting in theobromine poisoning.

Image: Aka via Wikimedia Commons