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ZimDog News, can be accessed from: www.vanerp.net.

Zimbabwe Kennel Club:

The Zimbabwe Kennel Club office is closed until 16 January 2009  

On the left are some of the competitors and visitors of the Corgi Jumping and Obedience show on 14 December 2008. All the very best things All the whole year through Are wished right now Especially for you A Christmas that's happy And really content One of the very nicest times That you have ever spent MERRY CHRISTMAS

News:
The control on Chinese products going into animal feeds is going to be on an extra alert in Holland. They found melamine in an amount of Soya meal, which was delivered to various animal feed firms, to be used for dog food. Melamine has been used in China to hide the fact that milk has been mixed with water.
[I do hope S Africa is on the alert too] 

POISON Casualties

Two of Bakhari and Rambutan’s litter have been poisoned before they were 2 years. SO sad and I would like to appeal to all of you: Keep your dogs in the back yard or inside, especially during the night. It is so dreadful to loose your companion like this.

Wodan

Wanita

Corgi Dog Jumping and Obedience show on 14 December 2008

All flying leaps during the jumping competition. Geraldine’s dog was only too keen to get off the Pause Table!

	Left Maryanne Pitman with her Labrador Above Linda Lamb with her Border Collie
Geraldine McLaughlan and her Dobermann Right Athena Bowen Davies and her German Shepherd

Hi Jan cashel, This is pretty common. A dog owner calls a vet or emergency clinic because they think their dog is making some strange choking-type noise. And he is doing it over and over. They describe some weird noise their dog is making- it's not quite a choke, it's not vomit, it's not a cough and it's not a sneeze. Most dog owners describe it as being more like a sudden and repeated gag. What the dog is actually doing is called a reverse sneeze . It can be normal for some dogs and scary for pet owners that have never seen it. We have a video of what it looks like in the article. During a reverse sneeze, your dog will make rapid inspirations, stand still with his elbows spread apart, extend his head, and his eyes may bulge. He'll make a loud snorting sound, which might make you think he has something caught in his throat. Many dog owners think their pet is suffocating during a reverse sneeze episode. Each reverse sneezing occurrence generally lasts for less than a minute up to two minutes. It can be normal in some dogs but can be abnormal if it occurs a lot. Go to the article and click on the video to see what a reverse sneeze looks like in a couple of dogs. It can look and sound a little different in different dogs so you may want to watch both videos. Go to Reverse Sneeze in Dogs. This article also has tips on how to stop it. Until next time, Dr. Jon

Hi Jan cashel, I had someone ask me the other day if dogs really wag their tail because they are happy.

What happened was that they were in a situation where a dog was wagging his tail and then....it attacked someone. And they wondered if dogs wag their tails other times besides when they are happy. A dog's tail is a part of a dog's body language and allows them to communicate. The answer is yes; dogs wag their tails when they are happy but also when they are feeling "alert" or "agitated". A dog's tail is part of a complex system of body language that the domestic canine uses (along with "verbal" cues such as barking, growling or whining) to communicate. A wagging tail indicates excitement or agitation - but whether he means it as an invitation to play, or to warn another dog or person to stay back, depends on other body language. A wagging tail that curves down and backs up into a "U" usually indicates a relaxed, playful dog. If his ears are erect and pointing forward, and he is in the classic "play bow" position, he's inviting you to play.

A tail that is held higher, whether wagging or not, indicates dominance and/or increased interest in something. If the end of the tail is arched over the back, and is twitching back and forth, you may be faced with an aggressive dog. The tail is a purely social indicator for other living things. A dog doesn't usually wag his tail when alone. For instance, say you pour your dog a bowl of food. He may wag his tail excitedly at the prospect of eating. But if he comes upon the bowl already filled - without anyone being around - he most likely will not wag his tail. He may still be happy to eat, but there's no one around to whom he can communicate his state of mind. A dog's body language is very interesting. Learn more about your dog and read this article - "What is Your Dog Saying - A Key to Canine Body Language". I think you will find this article interesting and will help you to get to know your dog better. Until next time, Dr. Jon

Hi Jan cashel, When you hear the telltale "click-click-click" as your dog walks across the tile floor, you know it's that time again - time to trim the toenails. Trimming your dog's nails is not just a part of grooming; it's important for your pet's health as well. You should remember that untrimmed nails could cause a variety of problems including broken nails, which are painful and bleed profusely.

While some dogs don't seem to mind when you're trimming their nails, others just plain don't like it. Make trimming time fun and not a struggle. If your pet is not used to having his nails trimmed, start slowly and work up to it gradually. Following these suggestions for a proper nail trim might help you give your dog a more pleasant pedicure.

Start young. The earlier you start clipping your dog's nails, the better used to it he will be. Frequent trims when your dog is young will help diminish any fear. Have your veterinarian show you how to do it the first time.

Learn the anatomy. Within the centre of each toenail is the blood and nerve supply for the nail called the quick. In clear white nails you can see the quick, a pinkish area in the middle of the nail. Unfortunately, the common black nails do not allow an easy view. Cutting into the quick will result in pain and bleeding. You cannot see the quick on dark coloured nails, making them more difficult to trim without cutting into the quick. Cut dark coloured nails in several small cuts to reduce the chance of cutting into the quick.

Until next time,Dr. Jon