By Meredeth Barzen

One of the team's custom doggie storage centers

If you’re an avid Sidewalk Dog reader, you should be convinced by now of the increasing role our pets are playing in our everyday lives. We’ve already organized our meals, our walks, our work schedules and our leisure time around our pooches—and now, we’re organizing our closets around them.

Jessica Hein is a locally based sales and design consultant at California Closets who helped develop a complete pet storage system for the store. The idea to organize the hodgepodge of supplies that our four-legged friends require came to her after a casual conversation with Kay Grobel—business development for California Closets—and Brenda Higgins, owner of Kitchen Comfort in St. Paul. “Clients more and more want to incorporate their pets into their daily lives and make sure there is a space for them too. When Brenda is working with a client on a new or remodeled kitchen space, the issue of ‘Where does the dog food go?’ or ‘We can’t change this because the cat likes to sleep there’ often comes up. So [Brenda and Kay] thought, ‘Why not create a custom storage space for pets?’ That’s where I came in—to meet with Brenda and discuss how we can create a doggy center that will house all pet needs,” Jessica says.

This doggie storage design was accessorized with products from local pet boutique Bone Adventure. You can check it out up close at Kitchen Comfort's St. Paul showroom.

The team brainstormed the things that follow dogs into our houses—food, treats, toys, medicines, bath products, leashes, clothes—”and, of course, a place for doggy to hang out,” Jessica says. In a design created for Brenda’s granddog Penelope, they allowed for a small space at the bottom of the unit for the dog to lay down or for dog kennel storage. On the side of Penelope’s unit is an elevated surface for her food and water dishes, with dog dish-sized holes cut into the top. There are drawers for toys and collars, open space behind doors for food and bath products, and space for Penelope’s extensive wardrobe.

“When you have the opportunity to remodel, build new, or add on to a space, a lot more thought goes into it because you are thinking about how you and your family, and yes, your pets, are going to be using the space on a daily basis,” Jessica says. “You get to design it for the way you live in it.” For instance, “A great solution for larger dogs is to have a pull-out basket near the bottom of the system for toys that the dog can slide out on its own to get the toys out,” she says. “However, [getting the dog to] put them away is another story.”

And the designs are cute as well as functional: “We have used hooks that look like dog butts for leashes, or drawer pulls that look like bones. This is a great way to personalize the space and add some humor,” Jessica says.

If you’d like to check out a custom doggie storage space, stop by Kitchen Comfort’s showroom in St. Paul. You might even run into Penelope, the most organized dog on the planet.

By Meredeth Barzen

Caden the Chug—that's chihuahua plus pug—gives a solid "sit" at A Great Dog Now.

As summer makes its debut with a hot, humid bang (remember that frost on Mothers’ Day? We don’t either), we’re thinking your pooch is going to be making a lot of public appearances in the next few months. Last month, we covered ways to get your dog physically in shape for the summer, and this month, trainer Jane Fallander of St. Paul-based A Great Dog Now (which offers a “Summer Skills” class—the next session starts June 13) shares some training tips to keep Lassie in line while you’re having fun in the sun:

On Walking: To really enjoy summer walks with our dogs, we need to polish up their leash manners and ensure they aren’t pulling our shoulders out of their sockets or trying to assault oncoming walkers or their dogs. I always take along a large supply of treats and my clicker when I take my dogs out for a walk. If I’ve got a young or untrained dog, I click and treat when they are walking next to me with some nice slack in the leash. What if there’s no slack? Then I change directions and click when they come up next to me. If I come upon a distraction such as some kids playing or a game of Frisbee, I’ll do what’s called “upping my rate of reinforcement,” meaning I’ll click and treat like crazy.

On Pulling: I’m also a huge proponent of such management devices as no-pull, front-clip harnesses (Sensation and Easy Walk are two good ones) and head collars (Gentle Leaders, Haltis and so on). I tend to push the harnesses a lot as I think in general dogs tend to accept them better than the head collars.

On Agression: If people have reactive or leash aggressive dogs, I recommend owners address that with a qualified trainer or behaviorist. With persistence, patience and guidance, there’s a lot that can be done to help these dogs.

On Greeting Friends: I like my dogs to be polite when I visit with neighbors, and sometimes I ask a friend to help me practice. I ask her to walk slowly toward me. With each step my friend takes, I give a corresponding click and treat to my dog to reward him for sitting quietly at my side. I instruct my friend to turn and walk away if my dog gets up to greet them. That way my dog learns that the quickest way to greet people is sit quietly at my side. I do this exercise a lot with my clients’ dogs.

On Coffee Shop Manners: I love seeing well-behaved dogs at the coffee shops and cafes. To get dogs ready for their coffee shop debuts, teach them to lie on a small mat or bandanna. You can use that object to help keep him anchored in a relaxed “stay” while you read your newspaper or visit with friends. To teach him to stay put, drop treats between his front feet. Of course, before you take him to an outdoor restaurant, you’ll want to teach him the cue “leave it” so that he isn’t grabbing everything in reach! I teach “leave it” by offering the dog a closed fist full of treats. At first he’ll lick and chew at my hand to get to the treats. As soon as he stops trying to eat through my knuckles to get the treats, I click (or say “good”) and hand him a treat. He quickly learns that if he wants a treat he needs to leave them alone. We call this “doggie Zen”: To have it, you must let it go. Next I use treats either under my foot or on the ground past my dog’s reach. When he stops trying to chew my shoe to get the treat or he stops lunging for the treat and instead looks at me, he gets a treat!

There are plenty of great trainers and resources in the Twin Cities for dogs who need a refresher course on manners, especially for summer. Here are a few:

On Cue Training and Behavior: Principal trainer Nancy Driver points out that May is Bite Prevention Month—“kids are getting out of school and having greater access to dogs in public,” she says. Visit www.doggonesafe.com for more info on this topic.

Just Paws Puppy Training: Just Paws, which specializes in puppy and adolescent dog training, has created a YouTube channel featuring new training tips for the season. Videos to be uploaded in coming weeks include “Kool ways to keep your puppy cool this summer” and “How to build your own puppy digging box.”

Bark Busters: Check out Bark Busters’ articles on thunderstorms, dog park safety tips and bite prevention.

The Enlightened Canine: Trainer Colleen Falconer reminds everyone not to leave dogs in hot cars—even if it’s only for a few minutes, even with the windows cracked. “If you’d like your dog to learn to swim, spend time just playing around and wading in the shallow end of the lake until your dog figures out how to doggie paddle on his own. Avoid pushing a dog off of your dock—though he’ll probably learn to swim that way, he’ll probably be afraid of the water from then on,” she says about canine aquatics. She also advises slowly reintroducing your dog to the crowds of people, fireworks, loud music and groups of screaming, running children typical of summer gatherings. And you might want to pack a few snacks or a yummy Kong for your dog to enjoy on a picnic so he’s not tempted to steal people food, she says.

For a complete guide to dog trainers, check out Sidewalk Dog’s directory.

By Meredeth Barzen

It’s official: The season of the dog is upon us. That means the reemergence of swimming, running, walking, patio dining, ball-chasing, picnic-mooching and more in your dog’s life. And since we all get a little couch-potatoey during those cold winter months, we at Sidewalk Dog wondered, “Do dogs need tune-ups to get back into shape for summer?”

No one’s comparing your Shih Tzu to your Schwinn, but … OK, we are. Just like your favorite bike, Spot might need to have his wheels greased, so to speak, to get back into the summer spirit.

Pet Crossing's Dr. Cheryl Roth with two of her fur kids.

“After six long months of hibernating, a spring physical is an excellent idea,” says Dr. Cheryl Roth, a vet with Pet Crossing Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic who’s credentialed in pain management (and one of only a handful of vets in the country to hold this distinction, though the field of pain management is growing.) “Let your veterinarian know about any changes you noticed over the winter—weight gain/loss, energy/activity, appetite, behavior—these may be related to medical problems and not just a change in the seasons.”

Adds Betty Waalk of Twin Cities Animal Rehabilitation Clinic (TCARC), which works with post-surgical, injured, old, arthritic, and physically weak animals to help them gain or regain strength: “Depending on the level of activity during the winter, spring can make us all a little crazy to be out and overdoing things. Warm seasons tend to offer more opportunity for the average pet—outdoor wildlife, hunting, Frisbee, games of fetch, long walks with owners, and playtime in the dog park, to name a few.” TCARC, headed up by the lovely and talented Dr. Julia Tomlinson, worked with Original Sidewalk Dog Luc to strengthen his back legs.

Dr. Julia Tomlinson of Twin Cities Animal Rehab Clinic

Waalk advises that pets, just like their people, need to slowly work up to full, exuberant exercise after a winter of sluggishness (though TCARC does offer a winter exercise program to prevent that in the first place). “Canine exercise should include warm-up and cool-down periods,” Waalk says. “We generally recommend a 10-minute warm-up period of a walk or slow jog, and a five-minute cool-down walk after exercise is complete. This applies to all strenuous activities.”

And remember that swimming is a strenuous activity for your pooch, Waalk says—no matter how easy and free Fido looks while paddling after a stick. Slowly work your way into the activity, being careful to look for signs that your dog’s tired.

Dr. Roth, who was part of the team that took such compassionate care of Luc toward the end of his life, also cautions against a legion of potential summertime hazards, including heartworm. “’Heartworm season,’ as it’s known in the biz, is notoriously busy for northern U.S. vets for a reason,” Dr. Roth says. “Heartworm testing is best done at this time of year, approximately five to six months after the end of mosquitoes the year before. Heartworm is spread from one infected dog to another by mosquitoes, and treatment of heartworm positive dogs is painful, expensive, dangerous, and potentially deadly.”

Sidewalk Dog loves Minnesota-based Stunt Puppy's hands-free leashes. This duo is sporting the Stunt Runner™.

During the warm season, she runs into a greater number of “sports” injuries—ACL ruptures and sprains, for instance—as well as eye injuries, bite wounds from other dogs or wildlife, poisonings from newly lush gardens and the fertilizers that make them that way, and curiously enough, allergies, which are often spread through contact with their paw pads. “Seasonal allergies plague our four-legged friends as much as they annoy those of us on two legs,” Dr. Roth says. “Licking, chewing, or scratching could mean anything from fleas to a bacterial infection to allergies to pain.”

“If you don’t use it, you lose it,” Dr. Roth says. “This applies to all sorts of things in life, including muscle. The lazy lab who slept in front of the fireplace all winter is no more ready to run in his favorite 5K without working back into it, than I am …  well, maybe he is, but you get the idea. Start with some slow neighborhood walks, and work back into the crazy marathon season slowly. Some dogs know when they’ve had enough and will sit down and quit, but sadly, some just keep going and going to please us, and end up paying for it for days with bloody pads, aching joints, and sore muscles.”

So as you’re digging the running harness and the floatable bone out from storage, remember to take it slow.

Sidebar: Is your dog trying to tell you she’s in pain?

Did you know pain can even change your dog’s behavior? Dr. Roth told us a story about a Yorkie she treated who, due to pain in his spine, became “mean and bitey.” Once his illness was treated and his pain was gone, he became a happy, sweet dog again.

As an expert in pain management, Dr. Roth points out that it’s important to listen any signals your dog might use to indicate she’s in pain, such as:

• Being unusually quiet, listless, restless, or unresponsive
• Limping, stiff gait, shifting weight away from one limb
• Biting
• Constantly licking or chewing at a particular part of the body
• Acting funny and out of character, either aggressively or submissively
• Flattening ears against the head
• Having trouble sleeping or eating
• Seeking a lot more affection than usual
• Unable to get comfortable (constantly changes positions to find the most comfortable position)

If you notice any of these traits in your dog, it’s time for a visit to the vet.

By Meredeth Barzen

Sadie the Wonderdoodle stretches her legs on Duluth's Lakewalk.

One of the questions we get asked the most at Sidewalk Dog is “Where can I go when I want to get out of town with my dog?” That’s what prompted our recent Northwoods Getaways post, which offers six lovely local (as in Minnesota’s great Northwoods) spots to spend vacation time with your pooch. One of those resorts, Bluefin Bay, offered us the chance to take a closer look at Lake Superior living, with two nights on the house.** And since there’s nothing Sadie the Wonderdoodle (or her mom) likes better than fresh air, trees, and water, we didn’t exactly hesitate to say yes. Bluefin Bay is extremely dog-friendly, and we found a lot of ways to incorporate fun for Sadie into other aspects of our trip to make this weekend an official Dog-Friendly Northwoods Fun Bonanza. Here’s how it went down:

Checking for ships at Split Rock Lighthouse

After a bit of a struggle to get the Wonderdoodle into the car (as animal communicator Ilga Cimbulis once said, carsickness is Sadie’s burden to bear in life), we set out from South Minneapolis for the nearly five-hour drive to Tofte, Minn., treat bags loaded for both dogs and humans. Travel tip: Those fold-up water bowls are great for long car rides—gotta stay hydrated. Those first three hours from the Twin Cities to Duluth are a little on the dull side, so be sure to break it up with a stop in Hinkley at Tobie’s for a killer caramel roll. (Killer is not a euphemism. If you have heart problems, this might do you in—but what a way to go.) We also picked up some considerably healthier 7-grain oatmeal to cook up for breakfast one morning—Bluefin sent a blueprint of our room ahead of time, so we knew we had a full kitchen to work with.

Everyone in the car needed to stretch their legs by the time Great Gichigami was in sight (that’s Lake Superior in common parlance), so we ditched the car at Canal Park in Duluth and took a stroll along the shore. Lunch was a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel from Northern Waters Smokehaus (oh, what Sadie would have given for some of that smoked salmon, but alas, it was too good to share), after which we continued onward and upward—or, um, Northeast-ward.

Right at home in front of the fireplace at Bluefin Bay

From there, it was an hour drive along the beautiful North Shore Scenic Drive to Gooseberry Falls State Park. Sadie felt a lot better once she was able to get some of that good old rust-red Iron Range mud between her toes, but that good feeling dropped off once we got back on the road and her car-queasiness got the best of her. No matter—Scenic 61 has plenty of turnoffs overlooking the big lake where we could stop, clean up, get some fresh air and admire the view.

Just a hop-skip to Split Rock Lighthouse from there—another breathtaking view—and shortly after, we arrived at Bluefin Bay.

Marie at the front desk welcomed us with hiking and cross-country skiing recommendations, a special treat for Sadie and plenty of info on Bluefin’s extremely considerate pet policies. Special plastic mitts for poop disposal are strategically placed all over the property. Also, while many dog-friendly resorts don’t let you leave your dog alone in the room, Bluefin allows it, provided the dog is kenneled (the resort has kennels on-hand if you forget yours or don’t have one.) And, when you duck out for breakfast at the Coho Café or a short trip to Grand Marais, you can leave your cell phone number with the front desk, so if little Fifi or Fido gets nervous in your absence and starts barking or crying, they can give you a ring.

Sunset on the beach at Bluefin Bay

We were directed to a lovely room right on the lake—floor-to-ceiling windows, wood-burning fireplace, a deck, a full kitchen (as promised), a Jacuzzi tub and a hook in the front hallway for hanging up coats and leashes (hey, it’s the little details that count.) Yep, this’ll do just fine. We made a fire, Sadie took her Norman-Rockwell-esque place in front of it, and we relaxed after a long drive. A note for guests whose dogs have a territorial streak: While picturesque, those giant windows offer a clear view of other guests walking along the shore, right past your room. If your dog doesn’t like seeing others near its home—even a temporary one—Bluefin has some upper-level pet-friendly rooms that keep the lake views but shield Rufus from what he perceives as trespassers.

The next morning, with sunlight streaming in those big windows, we set out for a hike. Marie had suggested the Gitchi-Gami State Trail, which stretches all along the North Shore of Lake Superior, and functions as a safe alternative to Highway 61 for bikes. While the Gitchi-Gami wasn’t quite as cool as its name promised—it was totally paved, which is great for cyclists, but not so exciting for tree-huggers like ourselves—it ran past an entrance to the Superior Hiking Trail, a system that weaves 235 miles from Two Harbors to the Canadian border. No one in our small party—Wonderdoodle included—expected the incredible hike ahead through the Temperance River State Park. We paralleled the still-frozen river as it churned its way to the shore, rushing under broken ice in spots and dropping off waterfalls that got more dramatic as it approached Superior. Toward the end of the hike, we teetered along a great gorge and nervously peered down at glacial potholes that the river had gouged out millions of years ago. As an amateur geology geek, I was in heaven. Sadie—leashed the whole time, as much for our peace of mind as for the sake of following the rules—was a happy camper as well.

Overlooking the Temperance River

While walking the grounds of Bluefin Bay, we met a couple of other pooches taking advantage of the ample room to romp. Yoshi, the Shih Tzu/poodle mix enjoyed a long morning walk with his precocious young owner. Dude, the golden retriever, has been bringing his parents to Bluefin Bay for eight years—that must explain why he walked the smooth pebble beach like he owned the place.

But all good things come to an end, and so Sadie resignedly hopped back into the car and we made our way toward the cities on Sunday morning. A lunch stop at the Amazing Grace Bakery and Café in Duluth was invaluable, as it introduced us to The Best Sandwich in the World—thick, hand-sliced, house-baked bread, bright, lively vegetables, and solid construction—and a nice, long stroll along the city’s Lakewalk prepped us all for the remainder of the drive, which we’re happy to report was free of carsickness this time.

So, if you and your pup are into fresh air, sweeping vistas and, yes, truly awesome geology (or even if that last one isn’t really your thing), we’re happy to recommend a dog-friendly trip up to our fair state’s North Shore. For an in-state take on summer vacation, it can’t be beat.

**Editor’s Note: Though the accommodations were gratis, based on the good time we were shown and the number of happy dogs (and owners) we met in our short time there, we’d have nothing but nice things to say about Bluefin Bay regardless.

Jennifer Gibson showing Julius some love.

By Meredeth Barzen

The dog moms at Sidewalk Dog are always on the lookout for ways to make our pooches more relaxed, comfortable and happy, so when we heard about the pet massage movement, we decided to get the scoop from an insider—Jennifer Gibson, owner of Bits of Love Pet Massage.

First, the question on everyone’s mind: How is pet massage different from the belly rubs, ear squeezes and bear hugs I give my dog at home?  “I hear a lot of ‘I pet/rub/massage my dog,’” Jennifer says. “Of course, I think this is fantastic. Everyone should touch their dogs. We are our dogs’ first line of defense. However, having someone specially trained in dog anatomy, with a special understanding of their bio mechanics and different massage techniques can help your dog in so many more ways. There are times when massage is inappropriate, places where dogs shouldn’t be massaged and a trained pet massage therapist knows all about the contraindications.”

Even more so than your own (though still very valuable) affection for your dog, pet massage by a trained therapist can have some clear health and mood benefits for elderly, injured or terminally ill dogs, Jennifer says. “Massage releases endorphins for pain relief, helps nutrient absorption into the blood, maintains muscle tone, boosts the immune system, and massage can even help your dog with a transition, like welcoming a new family member, losing a family member, and even letting go of themselves. Dogs aren’t afraid of death, but they hang on for the sake of their owners even when it means they are living a non-quality life. Massage helps encourage them to let go and transition on,” she says.

Jennifer got into pet massage a few years ago when her rat terrier, Julius, was injured after jumping out of a car window. “Needless to say, over the next couple of years, his mobility diminished,” Jennifer says. After his accident—which Jennifer says was motivated by jealousy over a new dog in the family—Julius was having trouble walking, and couldn’t go up stairs or jump up on the bed anymore. Jennifer took both dogs to the PetMassage™ school in Toledo, Ohio, where students practiced massage on them, “Massage made all the difference in Julius’ life. He’s been running around ever since like nothing was ever wrong with him,” Jennifer says.

Though there are currently no laws in place to regulate pet massage, Jennifer says it’s important to seek out a reputable, trained pet masseuse if you’re going to fork over your hard-earned cash for Fido’s well-being—there are a handful in Minnesota, she says.

And misconceptions still abound in this growing field. “I think many people just think about massage as being relaxing and de-stressing for people. I don’t think people have ever really thought about how beneficial it is for our pets and so many times they just blow off the idea as being frou-frou. In reality, massage for animals not only de-stresses them, but it boosts their immune system, restores range of motion and flexibility, maintains muscle tone, can correct behavior issues and much more,” Jennifer says.

Here’s a pet massage tip you can try at home, courtesy of Jennifer Gibson, Bits of Love Pet Massage:

“Just like humans, dogs have many acupressure points that send signals to the body. The ears contain a calming pressure point, usually near the tip. Massaging circles near the tips of the ears should get them nice and relaxed.”

By Meredeth Barzen

Have you ever thought about how your dog would be taken care of if (knock on wood) something happened to you? These days, as pets are becoming even bigger parts of our families, some owners are taking precautions and setting up trusts for their pets, says animal lawyer (that’s a lawyer for animals; not a lawyer who is an animal) Kortney Nordrum of Minneapolis-based Nordrum Law.

While still relatively uncommon, Nordrum says, pet trusts are gaining notoriety, especially after heiress Leona Helmsley left millions to her dog, Trouble—aptly named, considering the litigation that’s happening as a result of her last gift.

Those who have friends or family who can take care of an animal once they can’t may not feel the need to set up a trust for their pet, Nordrum said, but for dogs who have expensive special needs (like Original Sidewalk Dog Luc, as a virtue—or vice—of his lemony nature), a pet trust could help ease the financial stress for your pet’s next caregiver.

Here’s how they work: “When one is meeting with their attorney to write their will, they can also set up a pet trust,” Nordrum says. “In the trust, the person gives their pet and a sum of money to a trusted friend or a bank (this person is called the ‘trustee’) after their death. This trustee is then under a duty to arrange for the care of your pet, according to your instructions. This way, after you are gone, your pet’s caretaker has funds available, and directions as to how you would like your pet cared for.”

Some things to keep in mind about pet trusts:

If a pet trust isn’t right for you, consider drawing up a basic contract with someone to take care of your pooches once you are unable to. The drawback to this less-complicated option is that you can’t give as specific instructions to the caregiver, Nordrum says.

Laws on pet trusts vary from state to state. Here in Minnesota and in six other states, there are no laws on the subject. “Some states allow you to write a pet into your will, like a relative,” Nordrum says. “Many states, however, require a pet trust in order to assure the care of your pet once you are gone.”

For more information on pet trusts, visit www.pettrustlawblog.com and www.professorbeyer.com, sites on the subject run by attorneys.

“The purpose of a pet trust is to create a plan for your pets in the event you are unable to care for them. Each year, many pets are euthanized because their owners have become incapable of caring for them,” Nordrum says. “Pet trusts try to keep this from happening.”

Human meds can poison pets.

Now that holiday pet dangers have passed, it’s important to stay vigilant—many of the medications in your house that are good for people can give doggies an upset stomach, or worse. At Sidewalk Dog, we’re extra cautious—original Sidewalk Dog Luc once got into some human meds that luckily didn’t do much more than make him a bit sleepy. That’s why we were glad to see this list of human medications that are poisonous to pets from Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline. As always, if you think your dog has been sniffing around in your medicine cabinet, call Pet Poison Helpline right away at 800.213.6680.

Top 10 Human Medications Poisonous To Pets

1. NSAIDs (e.g. Advil, Aleve and Motrin)

Topping our Top 10 list are common household medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), which include common names such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil and some types of Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). While these medications are safe for people, even one or two pills can cause serious harm to a pet. Dogs, cats, birds and other small mammals (ferrets, gerbils and hamsters) may develop serious stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as kidney failure.

2. Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol)

When it comes to pain medications, acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) is certainly popular. Even though this drug is very safe, even for children, this is not true for pets—especially cats. One regular strength tablet of acetaminophen may cause damage to a cat’s red blood cells, limiting their ability to carry oxygen. In dogs, acetaminophen leads to liver failure and, in large doses, red blood cell damage.

3. Antidepressants (e.g. Effexor, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lexapro)

While these antidepressant drugs are occasionally used in pets, overdoses can lead to serious neurological problems such as sedation, incoordination, tremors and seizures. Some antidepressants also have a stimulant effect leading to a dangerously elevated heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. Pets, especially cats, seem to enjoy the taste of Effexor and often eat the entire pill. Unfortunately, just one pill can cause serious poisoning.

4. ADD/ADHD medications (e.g. Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin)

Medications used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder contain potent stimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate. Even minimal ingestions of these medications by pets can cause life-threatening tremors, seizures, elevated body temperatures and heart problems.

5. Benzodiazepines and sleep aids (e.g. Xanax, Klonopin, Ambien, Lunesta)

These medications are designed to reduce anxiety and help people sleep better. However, in pets, they may have the opposite effect. About half of the dogs who ingest sleep aids become agitated instead of sedate. In addition, these drugs may cause severe lethargy, incoordination (including walking “drunk”), and slowed breathing in pets. In cats, some forms of benzodiazepines can cause liver failure when ingested.

6. Birth control (e.g. estrogen, estradiol, progesterone)

Birth control pills often come in packages that dogs find irresistible. Thankfully, small ingestions of these medications typically do not cause trouble. However, large ingestions of estrogen and estradiol can cause bone marrow suppression, particularly in birds. Additionally, female pets that are intact (not spayed), are at an increased risk of side effects from estrogen poisoning.

7. ACE Inhibitors (e.g. Zestril, Altace)

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (or “ACE”) inhibitors are commonly used to treat high blood pressure in people and, occasionally, pets. Though overdoses can cause low blood pressure, dizziness and weakness, this category of medication is typically quite safe. Pets ingesting small amounts of this medication can potentially be monitored at home, unless they have kidney failure or heart disease. All heart medications should be kept out of reach of pets.

8. Beta-blockers (e.g. Tenormin, Toprol, Coreg)

Beta-blockers are also used to treat high blood pressure but, unlike the ACE inhibitor, small ingestions of these drugs may cause serious poisoning in pets. Overdoses can cause life-threatening decreases in blood pressure and a very slow heart rate.

9. Thyroid hormones (e.g. Armour desiccated thyroid, Synthroid)

Pets — especially dogs — get underactive thyroids too. Interestingly, the dose of thyroid hormone needed to treat dogs is much higher than a person’s dose. Therefore, if dogs accidentally get into thyroid hormones at home, it rarely results in problems. However, large acute overdoses in cats and dogs can cause muscle tremors, nervousness, panting, a rapid heart rate and aggression.

10. Cholesterol lowering agents (e.g. Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor)

These popular medications, often called “statins,” are commonly used in the United States. While pets do not typically get high cholesterol, they may still get into the pill bottle. Thankfully, most “statin” ingestions only cause mild vomiting or diarrhea. Serious side effects from these drugs come with long-term use, not one-time ingestions.

By Meredeth Barzen

Not to make you paranoid, but now that you’ve stocked up on gifts for the dog lovers in your life, the only thing left to do to ensure the holidays go off without a hitch is to make sure your house is free of common pet poisons. Here to share her list of the Top 10 Holiday Hazards for Pets is Dr. Justine Lee, board-certified emergency critical care veterinary specialist and associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline (PPH). Justine is dog mom to JP, a rescued pit bull; if you see her, ask her about the one time JP got into something he shouldn’t have—but be warned: It’s not a pretty story. And if your pet encounters any of the following items, don’t waste time reading about it. Call PPH immediately at 800.213.6680. Have a happy and safe holiday season!

Top 10 Holiday Hazards to Pets

1. Chocolate

Chocolate contains two main poisonous chemicals: theobromine and caffeine. In general, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous the chocolate! White chocolate has little “real” chocolate in it, so generally isn’t a problem. General symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea (what we fondly term “chocolate diarrhea”), an elevated heart rate, agitation, nervousness, hyperactivity, to even tremors or seizures with large ingestions. When in doubt, keep that wrapped gift of chocolate-covered espresso beans away from your dog and don’t keep them under the Christmas tree.

2. Poinsettias

Poinsettia

While we get called about Poinsettias a lot, don’t believe the hype—they aren’t that poisonous. They may cause a mild upset stomach, but most dogs avoid it thanks to its milky white, bitter sap.

3. Raisin-containing foods

Not sure who still makes fruitcake nowadays, but the currants and raisins within holiday desserts can cause kidney failure in your dog. Keep any grapes, raisins, currants, etc. away from your dogs, and don’t let your houseguests feed your pets any table food, as they may not know something as “benign” as fruitcake can be deadly to your pet.

4. Holly and mistletoe plants

Mistletoe sprig

While holly may look nice to decorate your house, those waxy, thick leaves with sharp points can result in a very upset stomach to your dog. In fact, holly leaves are difficult to digest, and massive ingestions can actually result in a foreign body obstruction (as they get “stuck” in the stomach). Other type of yule-time plants like mistletoe can cause profound vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and even heart arrhythmias when ingested in large amounts, so keep these out of reach.

5. Fire-starter logs

Most fire-starter logs aren’t poisonous, as they mostly contain compressed sawdust and wax, but this can get stuck in your dog’s stomach when he thinks these logs are chew sticks. This can result in a foreign body obstruction also, so when in doubt, keep these out of reach of your pets. Also, some types of fire-starter logs have heavy metals in them (to add a “sparkling” type of color to the fire), so when in doubt, call Pet Poison Helpline if your dog ingests them.

6. Tinsel

While tinsel itself isn’t poisonous, it’s dangerous—especially if you own a cat or a dog who likes to chew and swallow stuff. What looks like a shiny toy can prove deadly if ingested. Tinsel does not pose a poisoning risk but can cause severe damage to a pet’s intestinal tract if swallowed. Ultimately, pets run the risk of severe injury or rupture of their intestines and treatment involves expensive abdominal surgery. This is typically more a problem with cats, but for those of you with multiple species in your house and heart, avoid the tinsel.

7. Holiday foods

With the holiday season comes a delightful variety of baked goods, chocolate confections and other rich, fattening foods. However, it is not wise (and in some cases is quite dangerous) to share these treats with your dogs. Keep your dog on his or her regular diet over the holidays and do not let family and friends sneak treats. Foods that can present problems:

• Many sugarless gums and candies contain xylitol, a sweetener which is toxic to dogs. It causes a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and liver failure.
• Leftover, fatty meat scraps can produce severe inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) leading to abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

8. Alcohol

Because alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, it affects pets quickly. Ingestion of alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and respiratory failure. Additionally, foods such as desserts containing alcohol and unbaked dough that contains yeast should be kept away from pets as they may result in alcohol toxicity, vomiting, disorientation and stomach bloat.

9. Holiday ornaments

When decorating for the season, consider your pets. Holiday decorations such as bubble lights may contain poisonous chemicals. If your pet chews on them the liquid inside could be could be dangerous to their health. Methylene chloride, the chemical in bubble lights, can result in depression, aspiration pneumonia and irritation to the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

10. Imported snow globes

Recently, imported snow globes were found to contain antifreeze (ethylene glycol.) As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze when ingested by a cat or a tablespoon or two for a dog (depending on their size) can be fatal. Signs of early poisoning include acting drunk or uncoordinated, excessive thirst, and lethargy. While signs may seem to improve after eight to 12 hours, internal damage is actually worsening, and crystals develop in the kidneys resulting in acute kidney failure. Immediate treatment with an antidote is vital.

By Meredeth Barzen

Loyal Sidewalk Dog readers might have heard last summer that Luc, the original Sidewalk Dog, had some medical problems that we wouldn’t wish upon our worst enemy (and that Luc wouldn’t wish upon his—shadows of any kind.) Thanks to Dr. Kate Knutson and the truly wonderful people* at Pet Crossing Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic in Bloomington, Luc’s doing better. And since he’s out of the woods, we’d like to tell you a bit about our experience at Pet Crossing and the importance of proper dental care for your pup.

Luc getting cuddled post-op by Pet Crossing's Dr. Kate.

Long story short, Luc had such advanced dental disease that his food was getting into his nose and caused a chronic infection. Our loveable little lemon got pneumonia as a symptom of his problems, and suffice it to say that he was not a happy camper for some time. Enter Dr. Kate, as she’s known by her patients—co-owner of Pet Crossing, Dr. Kate is world-renowned for her skill in animal dentistry, and loved by her patients for her caring nature (she habitually refers to pets as “four-leggeds.”) She sits on the board of directors for American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and co-authored their dental guidelines. (Incidentally, AAHA’s site HealthyPet.com is a great resource for pet owners, with FAQs, articles on pet health and a database of AAHA-accredited clinics.) Dr. Kate worked her magic on Luc, and he emerged with 31 fewer teeth and a lot less pain.

Luc is an example of what can go wrong if you neglect your dog’s dental care (see “The Truth about Tooths” for more on this.) Just like in people, dental disease run rampant can lead to heart, lung and kidney disease. “For people and animals,” Dr. Kate says, “if you have a healthy mouth, you live longer.” But she adds that many veterinarians are less aware of the importance of animal dentistry than owners are. “The general population has been educated and moves quicker than the vets,” Dr. Kate says.

She says that your dog’s first dental exam should be done at its first visit to the vet as a puppy, and that they should be examined under anesthesia when they go in to be spayed or neutered. After that, your “four-legged” should have a yearly wellness exam with an awake examination, followed by exam under general anesthesia every year (your pet has to be sleeping during this exam because it would be a very stressful experience—for all parties involved—if he were awake.) Once your dog is sleeping, his teeth have to be charted, cleaned and x-rayed, followed by a treatment plan for continued dental health. And don’t forget that you have to keep brushing those teeth in between exams.

Though more clinics are doing dentistry these days, Dr. Kate says that it’s important to do your homework to find the best care. Pet Crossing’s Web site has a great list of questions you should ask your vet before you sign your dog up for a teeth cleaning.

Eliza, a Pet Crossing nurse, helps Luc wake up from his dental surgery.

You’ll notice that Pet Crossing can answer “yes” to all questions on this list—a veterinary assistant monitors teeth cleaning the whole time to make sure your pet’s OK, and as a special touch, someone will massage your dog beforehand to relax him and cuddle with him post-op (if your lap is unavailable for whatever reason). Dr. Kate says that anesthesia and surgery are much easier for a dog if it’s relaxed before and after the event. For those helicopter dog-parents among us, Pet Crossing has an open-door policy, where you can watch any procedure or surgery done on your dog.

And dogs aren’t the only ones in mind with Pet Crossing’s stress-melting environment: comfortable private waiting rooms (with coffee, tea, snacks and a comfy couch) and plenty of personal touches grace their state-of-the-art facilities. “It’s important for the dog’s health that it’s quiet and peaceful,” Dr. Kate says. “We want everyone to feel as comfortable as possible.” But she’s careful to point out that customers aren’t paying for the fancy touches—they’re paying for great care. And while that care isn’t cheap, pet owners have to be realistic about the cost of keeping their furry friends happy and healthy.

All Pet Crossing doctors are passionate about dental care, but each has a specialty. Dr. Steve Barghusen lends his expertise in opthamology, internal medicine and laser surgery, and Dr. Cheryl Roth works in pain management, and is one of only 17 certified pain practitioners of veterinary medicine in the U.S.

Pet Crossing stands apart from the crowd for more than just great medical care: The clinic works with Cornerstone (a local domestic abuse shelter) to take in animals from abusive households. It works with Animal Ark to find new homes for dogs and cats. Developmentally disabled adults from Partnership Resources Inc. are on staff to help with cleaning, laundry and other jobs. And there’s a general sense of peace, calm, and comfort at Pet Crossing (a cat named Prophet wanders the clinic, cuddling with patients and showing his support with some soothing purrs.)

Prophet the Pet Crossing Cat checks in with Luc.

Dr. Kate stresses the importance of having a primary care doctor for your pet, who sees them every year and is intimately familiar with your pet’s health, and can then refer you to specialists for special needs. Dr. Kate says that especially in a dog with special medical needs (and Luc is the poster-dog for that group), vets can get distracted by those issues instead of addressing the pet’s holistic care. “With human health care,” she says, “a rampant problem is that as people get older, they go to specialists who are good but don’t speak to each other. This happens with veterinary medicine, too.”

And even though animal dentistry is overlooked, Dr. Kate says, “All we can do is educate. There’s never shame cast over clients or other doctors.”

*Special thanks to Lisa, Eliza, Carrie, Nicole, Rachel, Bev, Trish, Jamie, Brittany, Vicki, Dr. Steve Barghusen and Dr. Cheryl Roth.

By Meredeth Barzen

Hundreds of thousands of dogs around the country are afflicted by an easily preventable condition. We’re not talking about rabies or fleas or accidental chocolate ingestion—we’re talking about Black Dog Syndrome. Luckily, someone’s here to help.

This very literate black dog obviously reads Sidewalk Dog.

Black Dog Syndrome is a catchy phrase to describe a common problem in animal rescues and shelters: Black dogs are often overlooked by potential adopters, and—much like some bully breeds—are harder to place in homes than their lighter-furred peers.

Though no statistics on black dog adoption rates exist, a San Francisco Chronicle article from last August stated that in a July 2009 survey by Petfinder.com, 54.2 percent of respondents said that they had experienced “Big Black Dog Syndrome” and had found large black dogs harder to place.

The problem isn’t that the dogs are black—it’s that potential adopters often don’t see these dogs’ full potential in poorly lit shelters and grainy, out-of-focus photos. And unlike many breed-specific rescues who focus their resources on the dogs they represent, black mixed-breed shelter dogs don’t have special advocates. That’s why Heather Rosenwald, a local marketing expert, created Start Seeing Black Dogs, which provides free PR and marketing tools to shelters and rescue organizations.

Luna, one of Heather's inspirational black dogs

Having read about Black Dog Syndrome, Heather—dog-mom of three, two of which are black rescue dogs—did some research and learned that many rescue groups had successfully used PR and marketing to save more animals’ lives. Inspired by Sugar and Luna, her rescued black mixed-breeds, she decided to focus her efforts on black dogs. Now, she helps make black dogs more adoptable by offering tips and tools to make them shine—including placing them in better lighting in shelters, avoiding what she calls “Black Blob Syndrome” with photography pointers and creating special black dog adoption events.

If you’d like to help, here are some ideas from SSBD’s website:

1. Volunteer for a rescue group or no-kill shelter: Most rescues and shelters have a variety of volunteer opportunities such as helping to update their Web site, assisting with adoption and fundraising events, offering to walk and socialize dogs as well as becoming a foster family. Not sure how to get in touch with groups in your area? Just enter “animal rescue group”, “no kill shelter” or “no kill rescue group” into a search engine.

2. Consider adopting a black dog.

3. Help raise awareness about Black Dog Syndrome: Share information with friends and family members. If they are planning to add a companion animal to their family, suggest they consider adopting a black dog. Explain why and forward them links to Web sites such as startseeingblackdogs.com and blackpearldogs.com. Start a “Black Dog Card Campaign.” Add links to black dog Web sites to your Facebook or Myspace pages, or give us a few tweets on Twitter!

4. Donate to a rescue group or a no-kill shelter: Veterinary care, food, supplies—all these things cost money. Your donations will help rescues and no-kill shelters pay for these expenses, allowing them to free up resources to help even more dogs.

5. Start a Black Dog Walking Group in your area: Want to raise awareness about Black Dog Syndrome, have fun with your dog and get a little exercise at the same time? Start a “Black Dog Walking Group.” Click here to learn how to start your own group.