I had several comments after my recent column about internet pet
sales. In it, I talked about the pitfalls of purchasing via the
internet
– getting a pedigree dog or cat from someone in another state or
country.
I had several comments after my recent column about internet pet sales. In it, I talked about the pitfalls of purchasing via the internet – getting a pedigree dog or cat from someone in another state or country.
This is always a bad idea because all too often these animals are misrepresented and end up with serious health or behavior issues. But several readers asked why I would want to encourage someone to buy a pedigree in the first place.
Marty called it “just plain bad advice.” Carolyn sounded disappointed and suggested that I should be an advocate for rescue groups and not breeders.
Truth is, I’ve always championed shelter and rescue adoption programs, and I’ve recommended them numerous times in previous columns. But let’s face it. Some folks want a purebred dog for a companion. And those are the people who need to buy directly from a reputable breeder, not from some cute picture on the net.
Listen, I believe that everyone, including President Obama, should strongly consider a mutt for a family companion. (I hope Michelle and Barack do the right thing and pick a mutt.) But if someone wants to buy a purebred, buyer beware. Do some homework and be careful where you buy your next family companion.
Q:
We live in San Martin and own a small dog. Every afternoon I take him for a walk down our street (leash on), but some other dogs are allowed to roam free. These dogs dart from their front yard, creating plenty of confusion and scaring us. Do leash laws apply in the country? If so, who do I call?
A:
This is a problem in a lot of communities, but I think it’s worse in rural areas. San Martin and all other unincorporated areas fall under the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County Animal Control.
They’ll tell you it’s illegal to allow a dog to run loose (off leash) in any public area. People who let their dogs roam freely are in violation of the law. So unrestrained dogs should be reported to proper authorities because they could potentially cause someone harm or do damage.
Too many people think that rules in the “country” are more relaxed, and it’s okay for a dog to roam freely. But untethered, wandering dogs present a hazard to people and other animals.
If you are confronted by a loose dog, and you can’t (or don’t wish to) talk to the owner, call County Animal Control. Their phone number is (408) 465-2920. And if you feel immediately threatened by someone’s dog, use your cell phone and call 911 immediately.
Q:
Our old dog, Marble hasn’t been himself lately. He just lays around and never seems to have very little energy. We took him to the vet and they found an infected wound under his tail that was really gross and smelly. There were fly eggs and maggots under his fur and the vet said he had become sick from the skin infection and these maggots. He wants to put him to sleep. We don’t think that’s fair to Marble. What do you think?
A:
This is a tough question that only you and your vet can decide. Older dogs are more prone to skin problems like Marble’s. And if a wound gets attacked by flies, things can only get worse.
Fly eggs eventually hatch into larvae and these so-called maggots do a lot of damage to the skin. They’ll literally penetrate the skin and tunnel, causing havoc and further infection wherever they go. Canine victims of fly-strike can easily become toxic without prompt treatment.
I can’t be sure about Marble’s case. But if his skin is too severely damaged, or if he’s toxic with this skin condition, recovery may be not be easy for him. Most veterinarians will run a blood panel to determine the overall health of a dog like Marble.
And if his blood panel is within normal limits, aggressive treatment with intravenous fluids and intense antibiotic medication might pull him through.
But if tests indicate that he has diseased kidneys or liver disease, or if he has some other health issues, you may have a difficult decision to make. Good luck.
