Innholdsfortegnelse for May - June 2015 i Dogs Life

DIG-IN DIGESTIVE GRAVY POWDER Dig-In Digestive Gravy Powder is an all-natural, food-based health supplement which can be simply added to your dog’s dinner. It has been scientifically developed to aid with the common symptoms of food allergies, in particular targeting digestive repair and skin and ear irritations. For more information, visit dig-in.com.au 4CYTE CANINE 4CYTE Canine is a unique advancement in joint health containing Epiitalis, a plant oil extract patented for its ability to proliferate chondrocyte cells for cartilage regeneration. The product is suitable for use after joint damage or surgery, or, even better, use it as a preventative treatment for high-risk large breeds, working or athletic dogs. For more information, email info@interpath.net.au or visit 4cytevet.com BISSELL SpotClean The BISSELL SpotClean portable deep cleaner is a necessity for pet owners.…

DID YOU KNOW? There are always at least 24 active GPS satellites circling earth! The humble dog collar has come a long way in recent years. What was once a simple utilitarian device now comes in all manner of colourful and creative designs, materials and sizes. Not only that, our fondness for high-tech gadgets has also spread to the items we drape around our dogs’ necks. GPS tracking devices, HD cameras, sleep trackers, activity monitors etc … if you want to know more about your dog than ever before, chances are there’s a collar out there that can help. Take the Petrek GPS Pet tracker for example. In the past, if your dog went missing, you checked the local pound, put up flyers and drove the streets calling out his…

REPRODUCTIVE RISKS Dear Dogs Life, do female dogs go through menopause? Shaz, via FB Dr Michael Archinal says: This is a very common question and one that I get asked on a regular basis. One definition of menopause is the end of a woman’s monthly reproductive cycle. Unlike in humans, dogs do not go through menopause. Dogs do not have a monthly cycle, but go into oestrus (also known as heat) about every six months. The regularity of their reproductive cycle depends on the age, breed and individual. The time between heats may increase as your dog gets older, decreasing the number of times they go into heat each year. In one report, 18-month-old dogs cycled an average of 1.65 times per year, while seven-year-old bitches cycled an average of…

There has been much debate about the history of the English Springer Spaniel, but most clubs generally agree on the basics. One of the most reliable sources for the breed’s history is the English Springer Spaniel Club in the United Kingdom — and even that club only speculates on the exact origin. It is thought the birthplace of the Spaniel was Spain, due to the name of the breed. Documentation from the 14th century refers to a man by the name of Gaston de Foix, whose dogs were bred to act like the Springer Spaniel. In 1800, the dogs were split into two main categories. The larger animals were called Field Spaniels and English Spaniels, while dogs weighing 25 pounds or less were called Cocking Spaniels as they were used…

Dog walking leads to happier owners According to Lort Smith veterinarian Dr Samara Rao, people with dogs tend to be healthier and happier than those without, and this could be because dog owners tend to be more physically active. Benefits of having a dog include: lower blood pressure more energy denser bones stronger heart lower risk of depression Dr Rao suggests that before starting an exercise program, make sure you and your dog are both physically fit enough to handle it. 85% OF OWNERS STRUGGLE TO FIND A GOOD BOARDING FACILITY FOR THEIR PETS Now there is a new website that hopes to reduce this number. Founded by Gareth Brock, who is no stranger to the angst and frustrations experienced by pet parents when it comes to travel, Pet Check-In…

Just like us, our dogs age, and their once instinctive movements become a little more difficult. This is often the result of the damage done to their joints. Sasha, the beloved family dog of Dan and Corina Bright, was suffering from joint-associated aches and pains. Dismayed at the lack of natural treatment options with proven scientific research, the couple started their own company, Interpath, with the goal to develop a safe and effecctive treatment for their senior pooch. After the success of their first product, Sashas Blend, the couple launched 4CYTE CanineTM, the result of 10 years of research. 4CYTETM contains a newly discovered plant-active Epiitalis® (a conifer seed extract) — patented to actively stimulate the proliferation of chondrocytes, which tip the balance back in favour of the production of…

CHARLES ULM, GUIDE DOGS AUSTRALIA What is a Guide Dog? A Guide Dog is a working dog that has been highly trained to guide someone with impaired vision safely from one location to another. Why are Guide Dogs important? Guide Dogs enable people with vision impairment to get around independently and safely, and to participate fully in their communities. How many people have Guide Dogs in Australia? There are more than 800 working Guide Dogs in Australia. How much does it cost to train a Guide Dog? The process of turning a playful puppy into a responsible, working Guide Dog is quite incredible, taking almost two years and costing more than $30,000 — equivalent to the cost of a car. Guide Dogs are provided free of charge to people with…

NEW SOUTH WALES Michael and Rusty take a trip to Centennial Parklands to enjoy the natural beauty and serenity. I am privileged to let the wonderful readers of this magazine know what an enjoyable time Rusty and I had at Centennial Parklands. I didn’t realise just how big the areas were that are available for off-leash fun, but I was cautioned by some of the regulars that the local rangers were quite strict about where dogs “crossed the line” into the on-leash areas. This is because there are no fences between the go and no-go zones, so control of your four-legged friend is paramount. Unfortunately, we only had time to visit two areas as the parklands are quite large, but Rusty had the time of his life. In the largest…

@thegroundsofalexandria Kevin Bacon became famous when he went missing in 2013, along with Bradley the lamb, from Sydney cafe The Grounds of Alexandria. Luckily, they were found shortly after and all is well! @jamonthepig This little guy gets loads of snout kisses from his mum and has his own cartoon show in Brazil. @esterthewonderpig Ester is so cute! She even has her own website and fan club. @prissy_pig Priscilla and Poppleton are gorgeous pet piglets that love going to school with their mum every day…

When concerned daughter Sue Ritchie contacted Greyhound Rescue to say that her 91-year-old father, Syd Twist, a Gladesville local, had lost his beloved dog and he now “had nothing to get out of bed for”, the organisation went on a search to find him the perfect partner. As it so happened, Greyhound Rescue founders, Janet and Peter Flann, had a dog in mind — a 10-year-old senior dog called Cheeky — that was desperately searching for a home. “Sue’s story that Syd had lost his dog and ‘didn’t have anything to get out of bed for in the morning’ almost brought tears to our eyes,” says Peter. “But the thought that we could help by letting him adopt an older Greyhound was a good feeling. Not many people want to…

DR MICHAEL ARCHINAL “Dr Ark” has been a vet for 25 years and runs three busy practices with more than 50 staff . For more than a decade, Dr Archinal has appeared regularly on Channel Nine’s Mornings and has been on ABC radio talkback for 15 years. He is passionate about the human– animal bond and gets invited to lecture around the world. He has also written a successful book on the subject. He has been married for 24 years, and has three boys and many pets with attitude. PETA CLARKE Peta has trained animals professionally for 20 years. While her current focus is her lifelong love of working with dogs, she also has a long history training exotic animals for zoos and the film industry. Having studied psychology, Peta…

Dog tag & collar A fancy dog tag and doggy couture collar will have your pooch looking like a million bucks. While microchipping increases the chances of your dog being returned to you if it gets lost, a name tag provides an additional source of identification. Toys and accessories A new Frisbee or rubber ball for your dog is a great way for both you and your best friend to not only spend time together, but also get some exercise. And if you’re out in the sunshine, why not put a new pair of Doggles (sunglasses for dogs) on your pooch to protect its eyes? Pet loo For the city dwellers, you can now buy a backyard in a box that offers a mini lawn. This is a great alternative…

WE ASKED: What healthy snacks does your dog dig into? YOU SAID: “Bonnie loves apples!” Rachel Marie “Mine love salad.” Diana Leventhal “Banana, scrambled eggs and fish oil tablets!” Katie Bonanno “Opal (my 15-month-old Blue Roan Cocker) comes running when she hears the vegie peeler. She loves carrots, stone fruit (no stone, of course), lettuce and, when successfully sneaky, she eats the chooks’ grain, rolled oats and grass (she thinks she’s a chook and the chooks think they’re puppies!). I always do extra roast vegies, with gravy or no gravy (GF)! She loves apple cores and a raw beef bone that’s slightly thawed from the freezer.” Michele Williams “Our adorable Labrador, Kiko, has a healthy balanced diet and loves apples, carrots and liver cookies as his treats.” Ester-Sonia Las Gemelas…

Like humans, our pets can suffer from aggravating and itchy skin caused by allergies. According to Dr Rusty Muse, an expert clinical veterinary dermatologist specialising in aetiology and allergic skin disease management, the main allergies that affect dogs are split into three major types. “The most common allergies diagnosed in dogs are environmental (pollen or indoor allergies such as dust mites), flea, food allergies or a combination of these,” says Dr Muse. “Allergies are manifested as chronic itching and scratching and are often accompanied by skin and ear infections.” Clinically, pollen or environmental allergies are those most commonly recognised by veterinarians. They are usually manifested as itching to the paws, face, ears or armpit areas and may be seasonal or non-seasonal. “Secondary infections, which can be caused by either bacteria…

The moment Dr Sarah Boston felt a lump in her neck, she knew it was cancer. As a veterinary oncologist and an associate professor in surgical oncology at the University of Florida, in the USA, she has had plenty of experience palpating cysts, tumours and unusual growths in her canine patients. While dogs in her care would normally receive an ultrasound immediately, Dr Boston had to wait a week. And a week without knowing what sort of lump is growing inside you is a week too long. So what does a person with extensive experience in treating cancer do? She ultrasounds herself with her vet husband’s portable kit. Sure, that may seem a little extreme, but seeing the suspected cancer mass on the screen was Dr Boston’s first step in…

BRIGHT ANIMAL CUSHIONS These stunning animal cushions from Cushions Kingdom will make a great addition to any room and are perfect to snuggle with. Available in a large range of breeds, the cushions are 40cm tall and made out of a blend of 80 per cent cotton and 20 per cent polyester. Each cushion has its own name and personality, such as Ginger the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Teddy the Spoodle and Lulu the Dalmatian. Cushion Kingdom, cushionkingdom.com.au SAUSAGE DOG BOOKENDS These weighted bookends are made with a clay interior and wrapped in a matt PVC finish, while the base is covered in smooth foam to protect surfaces. They are the perfect weight to keep novels, cookbooks or reference materials upright and orderly. They’re also just the right size for…

Enter online at www.dogslife.com.au or send your photos, mailing address and why you love your dog in 25 words or less, to: Love’em Snapshots/Dogs Life, Locked bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670. Please only send reprinted images as the photos will become the property of Dogs Life Magazine and love’em and cannot be returned. Prizes will be delivered to street addresses only. Please visit www.dogslife.com.au for the terms and conditions. love’em - the healthy way to treat your dog…

Made famous in recent years by television commercials and Paris Hilton’s purse pal Tinkerbell, the Chihuahua is a dog with an interesting past. Some say the breed has been around since the Ancient Egyptians 3000 years ago, while other sources insist they are known as Chihuahuas because they come from a Mexican town with the same name. According to dogplace.com, the plausible theory is that the breed’s ancient roots are in Egypt or Sudan and that it migrated across the Bering Straits or was carried through the Mediterranean countries to Malta. The World Encyclopaedia of Dogs reports this happened in 600BC, when Carthaginian colonists took a few Chihuahuas from North Africa to Malta. This theory is supported by mummified remains closely resembling the Chihuahua that were found in an Egyptian…

Hey kids! How have you been? Did you enjoy your Easter? I’ve just been reading my favourite column from Sox and now I’m feeling pretty hungry. I usually wait around to get table scraps from my humans (I love trying to get on their laps while they’re eating!), but they always know that their food is not for me because it might make me sick. Read more about what you should be feeding your pooch on page 86. Sox is also really excited because his friend Robyn Osborne has released a new book! Find out more on page 88. I’m really eager to read it because it follows the life of a rescue dog. I love to hear about dogs that are rescued as there are so many out there…

Atticus Claw Learns to Draw Author: Jennifer Gray Publisher: Allen & Unwin Price: $12.99 The world’s greatest cat detective is back and is on the hunt for some art thieves! Not only does Atticus Grammaticus Cattypuss Claw have to catch the robbers, he’ll also need to learn to create his own works of art to lure them in. This funny novel will leave you on the edge of your seat right up to the end. Frankie Fox, Girl Spy: Ready, Set, Spy Author: Yvette Poshoglian Publisher: Lothian Price: $12.99 This new spy series follows 11-yearold Frankie Fox, who loves hanging out with friends and playing with her dog. After discovering she had been secretly trained as a spy, Frankie finds herself in some trouble when her billionaire inventor father goes…

IT’S OUR WINTER SPECIAL! • Winter 101: everything you need to know to beat the chills • Discover how to knit your dog a gorgeous jumper • Learn how your dog’s coat keeps him warm during the cooler months PLUS! • Fun indoor games to play with your pet • Check out some warm winter coats for your four-legged friend • Discover how you can help ease painful doggy arthritis AND MEET EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL BREEDS … Boxer | Husky | Pekingese ON SALE JUNE 18, DON’T MISS IT!…