Pets can develop allergies, just like people.  Allergies are especially common in certain breeds of dogs, including several types of terriers and retrievers.
    An allergic response develops when the immune system "overreacts" to a particular foreign material, which is called an allergen.  Common allergens are pollens, molds, food proteins, and flea saliva.  In animals, allergens often enter the body through breathing or eating, or via flea bites.  Allergens can also enter directly through the skin; a common example in people is a reaction to poison ivy, but such contact allergies are unusual in pets.
    When an allergen enters the bloodstream, the body produces specific antibodies that "target" the foreign material.  This causes specialized white blood cells to release many substances that result in an allergic response.  One of the most common of these substances is histamine, which is why antihistamines (eg, diphenhydramine) are sometimes used for treatment.
    When people breathe in allergens such as pollen, they typically get hay fever.  When pets breathe in these allergens, instead of a stuffy nose or runny eyes, they get a condition called atopy, which results in skin irritation and itching.  Many allergic pets begin to show signs when they are as young as 6-7 months, and almost all show signs by the time they are 3-5 years old.  Typically, the skin irritation and itching begins as a seasonal problem in the spring or summer, but many pets eventually become allergic year round.  The location of the irritation and itching tends to vary depending on the cause.  Inhaled allergens usually cause problems around the face, feet, and "arm pits," although other areas of the body can be affected.  Food allergies usually cause skin irritation around the head and neck.  Flea allergy often develops first in areas where fleas are commonly found, especially the rump, tail, and groin areas.
    Allergies can cause your pet to lick and scratch incessantly, leading to skin rashes and serious infections.  You can help your veterinarian identify the cause of the problem by keeping track of when the problem started and how (if) it changes over time.  Once your veterinarian establishes the cause of the allergy, he or she can determine the best treatment for the allergy.  Antihistamines and corticosteroids are often used to combat itching and inflammation.  Your pet may need a restricted or special diet to avoid exposure to food allergens.  In some cases, your veterinarian may recommend a series of shots meant to gradually desensitize your pet to the offending allergen(s).

Q&A
What causes allergies?
An allergic response develops when the immune system “overreacts” to foreign materials (called allergens) such as pollens, molds, food proteins, and flea saliva. 

Do pets get hay fever?
Hay fever is a type of seasonal allergy caused by inhaling allergens such as pollens and molds.  Pets are often allergic to these same allergens, but signs of illness usually show up as skin irritation and itching, rather than runny eyes and nose. 

When do allergies usually start?
Many pets begin to show signs when they are as young as 6-7 months, and almost all allergic pets develop problems by 3-5 years of age.  Inhaled allergies usually begin as seasonal itching during spring or summer, but eventually may become a year-round problem. 

How is allergy treated?
Antihistamines and corticosteroids are often used to combat itching and inflammation.  Longer-term treatment involves eliminating the offending allergens via things like flea control or hypoallergenic diet.  If the allergen cannot be eliminated, your veterinarian may recommend a series of shots meant to gradually desensitize your pet to the offending allergen(s).


***Credit: Written and reviewed by John A. Bukowski, DVM, MPH, PhDand Susan E. Aiello, DVM, ELS***

    Understanding legal liability for dog bites and attacks is crucial if you own an aggressive dog. Each year, 800,000 Americans receive dog bites serious enough to require medical attention, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency room and about a dozen die. Half of those requiring treatment are children, and those in the 5 – 9 year age range comprise the largest subgroup of childhood victims. The Insurance Information Institute, an insurance industry trade organization, reports that the cost of the average dog bite claim rose from $16,600 in 2002, to $21,200 in 2005 (the most recent year for which statistics are available.)
    In light of these statistics, it is not surprising that litigation to recover damages for dog-bite injuries has become commonplace. States and municipalities have enacted a wide variety of laws and regulations concerning the liability of dog owners and handlers for the injuries caused by the animals under their care. Even the most responsible dog owner may, on occasion, fail to adequately supervise an aggressive dog or fail to appreciate the risk to others that their dog may pose. It is, therefore, important to be aware of the extent of your legal liability for injuries caused by your dog.
    Understanding the legal framework Dog-Bite law (yes, there really is such a thing!) is a surprisingly complex area of the law, with most – but not all – states and many localities having specific statutes that define the liability of dog owners for injuries caused by dog attacks.
    Beverly Hills attorney Kenneth M. Phillips – widely regarded as the nation’s foremost expert in this area of the law – maintains a detailed summary and compendium of dog-bite law on his Web site, from which the following information is drawn:

The states fall into one of three categories:

• Strict Liability states
• One Free Bite states
• Negligence states
• Strict Liability states

The majority of states are Strict Liability states. In those states, you are liable for injuries caused by your dog, even if you haven’t been negligent in any way. This means, for example, that even if your dog has never bitten anyone before or shown any signs of aggressiveness, you are nonetheless liable. The idea behind these laws is that as between the innocent victim and the responsible owner, the law should protect the victim.
The following states follow the Strict Liability rule:
Alabama, Iowa, New York, Arizona Kentucky, Ohio, California, Louisiana,  Oklahoma, Colorado, Maine, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Michigan, South Carolina, District of Columbia, Minnesota, Tennessee, Florida, Montana, Utah, Georgia, Nebraska, Washington, Illinois, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Indiana, New Jersey, Wisconsin
One Free Bite States In so-called One Free Bite states, you are not liable for the first injury caused by your dog, with certain exceptions:
You knew or should have known that the animal was dangerous;
The injury results from your negligent conduct, e.g. letting go of the dog’s leash and allowing it to run unsupervised or inviting a guest into your home and then failing to supervise your dog;
Violation of a leash law or other local ordinance regarding the keeping of dogs.
The following states follow the One Free Bite rule:
Alaska, Mississippi, Oregon, Arkansas, Missouri, South Dakota, Hawaii, Nevada, Texas, Idaho, New Mexico, Vermont,  Kansas, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, North Dakota, Wyoming

Negligence States In virtually every state, a dog-owner is liable for injuries caused by his negligence. Negligence, in general, means doing something that a reasonable person should know might cause injury to another, or failing to do something that a reasonable person would do in order to prevent injury. Some examples would be letting your dog roam unsupervised outside your property, taking your Rottweiler into a playground, or leaving your backyard gate open, allowing your dog to escape and roam the neighborhood.
    Complications, complications As in so many areas of the law, the exceptions, conflicting decisions, as well as the facts of each particular case, make dog-bite law a much less straightforward area than one might think. For example, the number and scope of exceptions to the One Free Bite rule vary from state to state, and what exactly constitutes negligence is not always clear. The situation is further complicated by the various local dog ordinances that courts may be obligated to consider, in addition to the state statute involved.
    The bottom line is this: If you or a member of your family have been injured by a dog, or if your dog has injured someone else, and you want to know your legal rights and obligations, it’s best to consult an attorney in your area who can properly advise you and guide you through the thicket of this complex and evolving area of the law.

THIS INFORMATION  IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT AS LEGAL ADVICE. WHETHER YOU ARE A DOG OWNER WANTING TO KNOW YOUR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES, OR THE VICTIM OF A DOG ATTACK, YOU SHOULD CONSULT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR JURISDICTION FOR PROPER LEGAL COUNSEL.

****Adapted from WebVet.com****

The summer months can be uncomfortable—even dangerous—for pets and people. It's difficult enough simply to cope with rising temperatures, let alone thick humidity, but things really get tough in areas that are hit with the double blow of intense heat and storm-caused power outages, sometimes with tragic results.

We can help you keep your pets safe and cool this summer. Follow our tips for helping everyone in your family stay healthy and comfortable when the heat is on (and even if the power isn't).


Practice basic summer safety tips
Never leave your pets in a parked car Not even for a minute.
Not even with the car running and air conditioner on. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die.

Watch the humidity
"It's important to remember that it's not just the ambient temperature but also the humidity that can affect your pet," says Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. "Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves, and their temperature will skyrocket to dangerous levels—very quickly."
Taking a dog's temperature will quickly tell you if there is a serious problem. Dogs' temperatures should not be allowed to get over 104 degrees. If your dog's temperature does, follow the instructions for treating heat stroke.

Limit exercise on hot days
Take care when exercising your pet. Adjust intensity and duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours, and be especially careful with pets with white-colored ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets, who typically have difficulty breathing. Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet's paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible. Always carry water with you to keep your dog from dehydrating.

Don't rely on a fan
Pets respond differently to heat than humans do. (Dogs, for instance, sweat primarily through their feet.) And fans don't cool off pets as effectively as they do people.

Provide ample shade and water
Any time your pet is outside, make sure he or she has protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. In heat waves, add ice to water when possible. Tree shade and tarps are ideal because they don't obstruct air flow. A doghouse does not provide relief from heat—in fact, it makes it worse.

Cool your pet inside and out
Whip up a batch of quick and easy DIY peanut butter popsicles for dogs. (You can use peanut butter or another favorite food.) And always provide water, whether your pets are inside or out with you.
Keep your pet from overheating indoors or out with a cooling body wrap, vest, or mat (such as the Keep Cool Mat). Soak these products in cool water, and they'll stay cool (but usually dry) for up to three days. If your dog doesn't find baths stressful, see if she enjoys a cooling soak.


Watch for signs of heatstroke
Extreme temperatures can cause heatstroke. Some signs of heatstroke are heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure, and unconsciousness.
Animals are at particular risk for heat stroke if they are very old, very young, overweight, not conditioned to prolonged exercise, or have heart or respiratory disease. Some breeds of dogs—like boxers, pugs, shih tzus, and other dogs and cats with short muzzles—will have a much harder time breathing in extreme heat.

How to treat a pet suffering from heatstroke
Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to her head, neck, and chest or run cool (not cold) water over her. Let her drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Take her directly to a veterinarian.

Sprains and strains involving the muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments are common in dogs and cats, just as they are in people.  These are often referred to as “soft-tissue” injuries, to differentiate them from damage to the bones.  Soft-tissue injuries are more common in dogs than in cats, and they are especially common in large, active dogs.

Muscles move the legs by contracting and relaxing, thereby moving tendons that connect muscle to bone.  Ligaments are strong, fibrous bands of tissue that connect bone to bone, stabilizing and protecting the joints.  Joints are further protected by fibrous joint capsules that surround and stabilize the joints, forming a reservoir for joint fluid, which lubricates the joints.

Soft-tissue injuries are most common in large or overweight dogs because more pressure is placed on these tissues during movement.  Falling, running, and jumping can stretch or tear the soft tissues, causing pain, swelling, and inflammation.  Pets will often limp or favor one leg, and they may cry in pain if the leg is handled.  However, when pets become excited or nervous, they may temporarily ignore the pain, so that lameness may appear intermittent.

Diagnosis will begin with your veterinarian performing a physical examination.  He or she will examine the affected leg, checking for warm, swollen muscles or joints, for the full range of motion of the joints, and for signs of pain or joint instability.  Your vet may also want to watch your dog’s gait as you walk it back and forth (in the hall or outside) to gauge the area of the leg involved.  Although soft-tissue injuries themselves do not usually show up on an x-ray, x-rays may be needed to confirm that there are no fractures and to look for signs of arthritis.

Often, the best treatment for soft-tissue injuries is rest and occasional use of anti-inflammatory medications.  However, never give your pet any medication without your veterinarian’s advice because many over-the-counter human medications can be harmful to pets.  Surgery is sometimes necessary to repair a torn or ruptured tendon or ligament.  For example, a torn cruciate ligament in the knee requires surgery to stabilize the joint and to minimize long-term damage and arthritis.

The best way to prevent soft-tissue injuries is to keep your pet in good physical condition and at a healthy weight.  Pets that are overweight or out of shape have a much greater risk of injury.

***Adapted from webvet.com***

Your dog makes all sorts of noises, and a lot of them probably sound like human coughs. In fact, a flu-afflicted person is often described as having a "barking" cough. But dogs can actually cough too, often sounding like you do when you're congested and have a cold, or as though they are sneezing in reverse, since they may try to draw in a lot of air instead of forcing it out in a loud "Ah choo!" There are many possible causes for doggy coughing, according to Lynelle Johnson, DVM. She is an associate professor at the University of California at Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. Here is her canine coughing compendium, which includes some of the primary causes for dog coughs, along with associated conditions.

• Kennel cough This illness often results from a combination of viral and bacterial intruders in canine airways. If your dog has a dry, hacking cough, sometimes accompanied by a white, foam-like saliva, it could have kennel cough. The most common airborne bacteria linked to kennel cough tend to spread in close quarters, such as dog kennels, boarding facilities, dog parks or other similar areas. This condition generally lasts one to two weeks and is treated with antibiotics and other prescription medications. Confine your dog until it's recovered to avoid infecting other animals. And if you must go out during your dog's recovery period, try using a harness instead of a collar and leash to discourage coughing reflexes.
• Chronic bronchitis This illness is characterized by excessive mucus in the airways that is triggered by inflammation. Smoking can cause canine bronchitis, so if you smoke, never do so near your dog. Pollution, dust and grains in the environment can also lead to inflammation. Ask your vet about corticosteroids to treat symptoms.
• Tracheal collapse This tends to occur in miniature and toy-size dogs that have a flat trachea, instead of a round or "C-shaped," one. "When pressure changes within the airway during respiration, it collapses. Sometimes dogs can get infections or bronchitis in addition to airway collapse," Dr. Johnson says. Treatment may include medication, surgery, or a combination of both.
• Heart disease Congestive heart failure can cause dogs to accumulate fluid in the lungs, which could lead to coughing, especially at night. Heart enlargement may also cause coughing. Dobermans, Boxers, Cocker Spaniels, and small dogs seem to be more vulnerable to heart disease and related coughing.
• Fungal infections Fungal infections can cause coughing, breathing difficulty, weight loss and fever. Your dog may require antifungul medications for extended periods, according to Dr. Johnson. Keep canines away from bird coops and droppings, as these can be fungal breeding grounds.
• Parasites Parasites, such as heartworm and roundworms, may also cause your dog to cough. These may be treated with dewormers, preventative pills and topical medications that your vet can provide.
• Foreign bodies Dogs can ingest a variety of substances and objects, like sticks or foxtails, which can lead to bouts of coughing. These plants may lodge in the gums or rear of your dog's throat. If that happens, usually a vet's help is needed to remove them.
• Lung cancer Coughing can be a symptom of this type of cancer, but it is rare in dogs. Nevertheless, it is good to have your veterinarian rule it out as a possibility. Canine lung cancer frequently will metastasize, or spread, from a tumor elsewhere in the body. If your vet suspects that your dog may have this disease, you could be referred to an oncologist, who can provide more specialized treatment.
• Pneumonia This serious illness is marked by "soft" coughing, heavy breathing and mucus. Pneumonia requires immediate attention, including antibiotics and fluids.
• Influenza A virus causes the flu, which is a relatively new disease in dogs. It is a very contagious respiratory infection that in its mild form includes coughing. In severe form, signs of pneumonia are present.
• Distemper Again, coughing may be a sign of this devastating, highly contagious viral disease that is transmitted from an infected dog's respiratory secretions, urine or feces. It is easily prevented by vaccination.

If you think your dog may be experiencing one of the above issues, contact your veterinarian to make an appointment. Make sure you let your veterinarian know about your dogs cough so they know to examine your dog in the car, as to not contaminate the veterinarians office if the cough is contagious.