Dog Tails or Tales?

Myth or not?

Are dog tails more sensitive than the rest of their bodies?

But evolutionary reasons may be hard-wired into animals, making them uncomfortable having vulnerable body parts handled. Some dogs do not like having their feet touched. It might be that dogs may feel threatened by having their tail touched.

If you handle your dog's tail while petting her, you can increase her comfort level. When grooming the tail, carefully comb knots to minimize any pulling on the dog's skin. Patience and gentleness is advised when brushing your dog's sensitive areas. After all, we ask our dogs to put themselves in vulnerable positions when we groom them.

PTSD in Dogs

Military dogs have served on the front lines, sniffing out explosives, tracking down enemy fighters, and parachuting out of helicopters. They have become invaluable on military missions.


Now, like the soldiers they assist, military dogs are developing post-traumatic stress disorder. According to a December story published in the New Your Times, about 5 percent of the 650 canines deployed by American troops suffer from canine PTSD. Of those, about half will likely not recover enough to return to service, says Walter Burghardt Jr., D.V.M., chief of behavioral medicine for the Holland Military Working Dog Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.

Symptoms of canine PTSD include dramatic temperament changes such as sudden aggression toward the handler, increased timidity or neediness, or an unwillingness to work.

Since dogs cannot articulate the cause of their distress, canine PTSD can be difficult to treat especially since it is a relatively new concept among military veterinarians. Sometimes a break from duty is enough to get a dog to snap back. Other times the dog needs desensitization to the stimulus that causes a reaction...similar to treatment for humans. Veterinarians sometimes prescribe anti-anxiety drugs such as Xanax as well.

Probiotics and Prebiotics in Dog Food?

Are prebiotics and probiotics worthwile food additives
in dog food?

Good question!

Probiotics are microorganisms that help tip the balance of bacteria in the digestive tract toward the types of bacteria that maintain a healthy internal environment in the gut. They are popular supplements in both the human and veterinary markets, and more dog food companies are adding them to their kibble.

Prebiotics are fibers that stimulate the growth and function of the good bacteria and also rank as popular additions to food and supplements.

According to most veterinarians, the problem with adding them to food is that they are hard to quantify. There is no way to know how many are in one diet versus another, or whether the bacteria have survived processing, storage, and stomach acid. Since the amount and efficacy of probiotics in food is hard to measure, pet owners who what to give their dogs probiotics may look to giving them in supplement form.

Sounds similar to our unregulated vitamins issue. How do you know what is on the vitamin label is what is in the bottle or in the right quantities as well as good quality?

Research from Nestle Purina suggest that probiotics boost immunity in young puppies and dogs under great stress, such as working and performance dogs in harsh climates.

Apparently, no one know for sure if the probiotics in dog food are effective.

Natural Animal Health Product

Today, I learned from a reader's comment about a natural health product which would keep a dog from licking a wound.

Unfortunately, you can only buy it from certain veterinarians, but the website will find one for you when you insert your zip code.

The product is called LickGuard

There is an increasing trend in the animal health industry toward using natural alternatives in place of synthetic products. This trend has been in response to an increased awareness of issues such as antibiotic resistance, drug residues, and overall environmental impact. According to Van Beek who manufactures LickGuard, naturally-based products are safe for livestock and companion animals and help improve their health and performance. They use the best available ingredients from around the world when formulating products to be sure that the full benefits desired from the ingredients are realized in the final product.

Yes, no more cone collars!