THERE WILL BE BLOOD...FOR A TRANSFUSION

No, this is NOT a sequel to the bloody movie from a few years ago, featuring the Oscar Award-winning performance by Daniel Day-Lewis. The main topic for this week in Questions On Dogs and Cats arose from a question that was sent in to the Phoenix newspaper, combined with some questions to this blog by our readers. More on this will follow below....

From time to time, Helpful Buckeye has been fortunate to be able to exchange information with other web sites and blog sites that deal with matters of concern to dog and cat owners. One of these sites, All About Dogs and Cats, http://www.allaboutdogsandcats.com/ , has published one of Helpful Buckeye's recent columns this past week. Go to this web site and right there on the home page under the heading, New Articles This Month, you'll see the topic of Seizure in Dogs, from one of our recent issues. All About Dogs and Cats provides extensive breed rescue information for dogs and cats, Dog Breed list ( 400 +), Health, Nutrition, and Pet Behaviour articles by veterinarians and animal specialists, as well as information on travel with pets and shopping. The site administrator offered this statement: "I am always interested in offering my visitors worthwhile information and advice on caring for their furry friends." Sometime this week, take a few minutes to check out this nice web site...there are numerous options for you to explore from its home page!

Even though this issue of Questions On Dogs and Cats is set to go out to the public late Sunday night, and most of you won't read it until Monday morning or later in the week, Helpful Buckeye has this great recap to offer about 2 nice bike rides over the weekend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feegxv4goKo Go ahead, turn up the volume on your speakers, and enjoy this hand-clapper and toe-tapper. It's a feel good song from 1972 and its infectious beat was running like an endless loop through my mind as I pedaled away the miles on Saturday and Sunday.

Speaking of an "infectious" beat to that song, it's time to review the difference between infectious and contagious. How many of you can describe the difference and what it might mean when characterizing a disease? Infectious is a term used to describe a disease that is caused by bacteria, a virus, a fungus, a parasite, or a prion...in other words, diseases caused by transmissible agents. Contagious is usually reserved for those diseases that can be easily passed from human to human, dog to dog, or cat to cat. If you feel you understand this difference, take a look at this week's poll question in the left column and test yourself. The poll will refer only to those dog and cat diseases that we have already discussed. Last week's poll question about which of the external parasites you or your pets have experienced was top-heavy with fleas, ticks, and ear mites being most represented. Sarcoptic mange was only mentioned a few times and Demodectic mange wasn't mentioned at all.

For those of you who are new to this blog site, you will find a listing in the left column under the heading of "Labels." These topics serve as an index of what we've covered the past year. Click on any of those topics and it will take you to the particular issue with that topic.

CURRENT NEWS OF INTEREST

1) In this news release from the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Environmental Protection Agency is increasing their scrutiny of topical flea and tick products: In response to more than 44,000 potential adverse reactions to spot-on flea and tick products reported in 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency is intensifying its evaluation of these products. No recalls have been issued at this time. The AVMA will continue to maintain contact with the EPA and monitor the situation, and updates will be posted as they come to our attention. For the rest of this release, go to: http://www.avma.org/aa/EPA_flea_tick_product_scrutiny.asp

2) By now, most of you have seen the new "First Dog" for President Obama's family. Yes, it's the Portuguese Water Dog, that will be known as "Bo." The AVMA has issued this press release about the occasion, along with a nice overall evaluation of the situation by one of our esteemed animal behavioral specialists, Dr. Bonnie Beaver: http://www.avma.org/press/releases/090414_obama_canine_in_chief.asp

DISEASES, AILMENTS, AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Now, for the question that was sent to the Arizona Republic columnist, Clay Thompson, this past week: "If your dog needs a blood transfusion, where do they get the blood?" To read Mr. Thompson's complete answer, go to: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2009/04/17/20090417clay0418.html

From time to time, dogs and cats may have need of a blood transfusion. This can arise as a result of either internal or external bleeding caused by trauma, hemorrhaging during surgery, ingestion of certain toxins, and many other diseases that can cause a pet to lose red blood cells and develop a life-threatening anemia.

Red blood cells, among other functions, incorporate the hemoglobin molecule which carries oxygen throughout the body. If their concentration level drops enough, then a transfusion becomes necessary. Blood transfusions must be given with care because they do have the potential for further compromising the recipient dog or cat. The diversity of blood groups in animals make blood-typing and matching difficult, but not impossible. The most serious risk from a transfusion is hemolysis (breaking down and destroying) of the red blood cells, which, fortunately, doesn't happen very much anymore, now that crossmatching is available and there are more accessible blood banks for dogs and cats.

Blood is species specific, in other words, dogs can receive only dog blood and cats can receive only cat blood. Both species do have different blood types, therefore they require blood-typing and crossmatching before the transfusion can proceed. As with human blood donors, animal donors are tested to make sure certain blood values are high enough and no infectious disease is present before the blood is collected. Donor dogs and cats usually have to also meet minimum weight requirements, approximately 50 lbs. for dogs and 10 lbs. for cats.

The different blood components (red blood cells, platelets, and plasma) can be separated if needed. Red cells are given to a patient that may be anemic due to trauma or due to a treatable disease. Plasma is used to build up blood volume in situations where the animal is not making enough protein or is losing too much protein. Platelet-rich plasma is used for those patients whose platelets are depleted or dysfunctional.

Pet blood donation is an essential resource for veterinarians and their patients. Private veterinarians sometimes will use their own pet dogs or cats as blood donors when emergencies arise. Some animal hospitals will maintain a list of prospective donor animals from their regular clients as well. In addition, there now many centralized animal blood banks around the USA which can get blood to a needy patient very quickly.

For more information about pet blood transfusions or blood donation, talk with your regular veterinarian. For a really nice over-view of blood donations and blood transfusions in pets, spend a few minutes watching this very informative video from the Southern Arizona Animal Blood Bank: http://www.southernazvets.com/blood_bank2.htm Another web site, The Pet Blood Bank, has a well-presented set of "Frequently Asked Questions" about blood donations and transfusions at: http://www.petshelpingpets.com/faq.htm

Any questions or comments, please send an e-mail to: dogcatvethelp@gmail.com or make a comment at the end of this issue.

NON-MEDICAL CONCERNS

1) The American Kennel Club offers puppy training tips for both the White House and your house!

"All of America has been anxiously awaiting the pitter-patter of President Obama's Portuguese Water Dog in the White House. But now that the Obamas' new dog has arrived, how will they prepare him for his high-profile life in Washington? And, as the Obamas are not only a First Family but also first-time dog owners with the eyes of of the world upon them, what can the public learn from their experience?" (From the AKC) For a sometimes tongue-in-cheek training proposal for the First Family, read the rest of the AKC's list: http://www.akc.org/poll/special/white_house_tips.pdf

2) For the purpose of a nice review about ticks and your pets, listen to this AVMA podcast: http://www.avmamedia.org/display.asp?sid=136&NAME=Ticks_and_Our_Pets

3) The AVMA has also produced a podcast that helps the public understand all the different roles played by veterinarians in our society: http://www.avmamedia.org/display.asp?sid=137&NAME=Chew_on_This:_The_many_roles_of_veterinarians

BREEDS OF THE WEEK

For this week, just a few words about the Retriever breeds of dogs will be the subject. Retrievers are a part of the AKC larger group of Sporting Dogs. Naturally active and alert, Sporting Dogs make likeable, well-rounded companions. Members of the group include pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels. Remarkable for their instincts in water and woods, many of these breeds actively continue to participate in hunting and other field activities. Potential owners of Sporting dogs need to realize that most require regular, invigorating exercise. Of 27 breeds in the AKC Sporting Dog group, 6 are known as retrievers. These are the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Curly-Coated Retriever, Flat-Coated Retriever, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. A retriever is a type of gun dog that retrieves game for a hunter. Retrievers were bred primarily to retrieve birds or other prey and return them to the hunter without damage. To this end, retriever breeds are bred for soft mouths and a great willingness to please, learn, and obey. A soft mouth refers to the willingness of the dog to carry game in its mouth without biting into it. "Hard mouth" is a serious fault in a hunting dog and is one that is very difficult to correct. A hard-mouthed dog renders game unpresentable or at worst inedible. The retriever's willingness to please and trainability have made retrievers such as the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever popular as Service Dogs. Does this cartoon from The New Yorker illustrate the spirit and performance of a Retriever in the great outdoors?:

GENERAL INTEREST

1) The ASPCA has been observing April as its Prevention of Animal Cruelty month and it brings to mind this quote from George Bernard Shaw: "The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity."

2) Regardless of one's opinion of Rush Limbaugh, he does deserve credit for his sponsorship of these messages for The Humane Society of the United States: http://video.hsus.org/index.jsp?fr_story=63b8bbe59d872482559c1667e638a8fd839efe38 and http://video.hsus.org/index.jsp?fr_story=01f14a8cb1f4072456aa8bf2df1095db48bc4c86

3) The AKC has just recently begun a program designed for mixed breed dogs. "Our goal in creating a program specifically designed for mixed breeds is to share our passion for dogs and our sport," said AKC President and CEO Dennis Sprung. "AKC will broaden its legislative influence by representing more dog owners and achieve greater exposure for our responsible dog ownership messaging. But ultimately, the positive developments that this program creates will benefit dogs the most, and this is what we value above all." For the rest of the details of this interesting program, go to: http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3810

4) Walmart has gone "ORANGE" along with the ASPCA during April by offering certain pet supplies at discounts: http://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-april/aspcas-corporate-partners.html#Walmart_Goes_Orange_with_the_ASPCA Take a look at this list...you might find just what you've been looking for!

5) Under the heading of "What was she thinking?," a woman in Colorado was charged by police for taping her boyfriend's dog to their refrigerator! She obviously had issues with the boyfriend, but why does the animal always seem to be what suffers? Here's the whole story: http://news.aol.com/article/dog-taped-to-fridge/432937?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl1link4http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fdog-taped-to-fridge%2F432937

6) This past week, a 4-month old puppy is being credited for helping to save a 2-year old toddler who had wondered away from his house. As the article explains, the young boy was really fortunate to be found unharmed: http://www.parentdish.com/2009/04/17/puppy-saves-toddlers-life?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl5link5http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parentdish.com%2F2009%2F04%2F17%2Fpuppy-saves-toddlers-life

7) On 18 April 1775, young America was treated to the "Midnight Ride" of Paul Revere, during which Paul Revere was heard to be yelling, "The British are coming!" Enjoy a latter day version from Paul Revere & The Raiders, in this 1966 rocker: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9887UCYtW8

8) Also, on 18 April 1906, the San Francisco earthquake decimated the "City By The Bay." If Jerry Lee Lewis had been around at that time, he would have been singing, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On!" Join the Killer in this rock and roll classic from 1957: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yRdDnrB5kM

SPORTS NEWS

My former business partner and his wife have been in Boston over the weekend, enjoying a chance to see their beloved Red Sox beat the Orioles.

The LA Dodgers won their 8th game in a row today to take over 1st place in the NL West division. All 11 of our games so far have been against divisional opponents, which admittedly might not be the strongest teams in the National League. On Tuesday, we step out of the division, so we'll start to get a better idea of how good we really are.

The San Antonio Spurs lost their fist game in the playoff round, which was not entirely unexpected since Manu Ginobili is out for the rest of the year.

PERSONAL STUFF

Our reliable friend, Mark Twain, had this to say about possibly being sick: "....as far as being on the verge of being a sick man, I don't take any stock in that. I have been on the verge of being an angel all of my life, but it's never happened yet either." --Mark Twain, a Biography

Roger Caras, American wildlife photographer and writer had this to say about dogs: "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." How about a show of hands on this one? OK, just what I thought...it's unanimous!

Even though it was pretty windy over the weekend here in northern Arizona and tough on bicyclists, the warm temperature made the bike riding a real joy! It reminded me of a popular bumper sticker that I'll paraphrase: "Even a windy day biking is better than a calm day sitting inside and watching TV."

While biking on Saturday, Helpful Buckeye pulled up to a stop sign beside a motorcyclist who had a pug-type dog strapped to his chest by some form of harness. I hollered at the guy to ask him how it worked out with the dog strapped to his chest. He replied that the dog seemed to tolerate it without struggling at all. The harness looked pretty sufficient and the dog also had on a set of goggles. The guy then said that his dog used to be a smallish-sized German Shepherd, but after riding so many miles at high speeds had acquired the face of a pug! At that point, Helpful Buckeye realized that he had just been punked! Was this a conventional way of doggie transport? Probably not! Was the dog adequately protected? Probably....

To close out this week's issue, let's turn to Samuel Johnson, British writer, for this thought on remaining silent: "Silence propagates itself, and the longer talk has been suspended, the more difficult it is to find anything to say." Don't be silent when reading Questions On Dogs and Cats! If you have a thought or a question, please send an e-mail to: dogcatvethelp@gmail.com or make a comment at the end of this issue, just below.

~~The goal of this blog is to provide general information and advice to help you be a better pet owner and to have a more rewarding relationship with your pet. This blog does not intend to replace the professional one-on-one care your pet receives from a practicing veterinarian. When in doubt about your pet's health, always visit a veterinarian.~~

JUNE IS FOR VACATIONS, WEDDINGS, ......

and for...JUNEBUG!

This photo of Junebug was submitted by Charlene and Ken, from AZ. Ken was an entomologist at Oklahoma State University, before retiring to northern AZ, hence the name...Junebug. She's a real cutie! More about her later.

CURRENT NEWS OF INTEREST

1) Just recently, a recall bulletin was issued by the Food & Drug Administration for a digoxin product that is frequently prescribed by veterinarians:

May 16, 2008
Digitek® Safety Warning and Recall Notification
Veterinarians who use the human drug Digitek® (digoxin tablets, USP) to treat their patients should be aware of the possibility that the tablet strength may be doubled in the product. This increase in tablet active ingredient could result in life-threatening adverse drug reactions in some animals. Digoxin is used in both humans and animals for the treatment of various heart conditions, namely atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and sometimes heart failure that cannot be controlled by other medication. Under the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994 (AMDUCA) veterinarians are allowed to prescribe extralabel uses of certain approved animal drugs and approved human drugs for animals under certain conditions.

If your pet is currently taking medication for a heart problem, your veterinarian may have already contacted you to let you know if this applied to your pet. If you're not sure about your pet's heart medicine, you should contact your veterinarian immediately for further information.

2) This past week, it was announced that a group of Dutch researchers have finalized the female human genome:

Dutch scientists claim to map female genome

Dutch scientists have said they have mapped the full genetic sequence of a woman for the first time. "It's the first woman in the world and the first European whose DNA sequence will be made public," the researchers at Leiden University Medical Centre in the western Netherlands said in a statement. "The DNA sequence and its analyses will be published soon, except for some private details," it said. "The sequencing of a woman allows a better understanding of the X-chromosome," the gene thread associated with female characteristics, said Gert-Jan van Ommen, head of the team that carried out the study. Four other genomes had been mapped previously, all of them men. The genome refers to all of the genes that characterise the human species, determining individual traits including a person's proneness to certain diseases.

The completion of the genomes of humans and of domestic animals opens up many avenues of further investigation that, hopefully, will contribute to better health for all of us.

DISEASES, AILMENTS, AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS

The definition of a disease is: A pathological condition of a part, organ, or system of an organism resulting from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, or environmental stress, and characterized by an identifiable group of signs or symptoms.

Diseases arising from infection (infectious), can be of the direct animal-to-animal type, which are normally spread by direct contact, coughing, or biting. Some infectious diseases do not require animal-to-animal contact; these would include:

• infections from organisms that naturally live in the environment, such as fungal infections like histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis.



• infections from arthropod-borne parasites, bacteria, and viruses. These vectors (mainly mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and lice) usually carry the infectious agent in their salivary glands or digestive systems and typically need to bite the host (dog or cat) to accomplish the infection.



• infections from coming in contact with or swallowing the eggs or infective larvae of intestinal parasites. This normally occurs from exposure to dog and cat stools that are not properly disposed of in a timely manner.

We will talk about all of these at some point in the future. For now, Helpful Buckeye is designating Canine Heartworm Disease as a main topic for discussion in next week's blog issue. Heartworm disease is carried by mosquitoes, which makes it an insect-borne problem. To get you properly prepared for this discussion, I would like to recommend a good book I recently read, called The American Plague, by Molly Crosby. This book deals with yellow fever and its history in the United States, concentrating on the devastation it caused in Memphis, TN in the late 1800s. The important part of this is that yellow fever is also carried by mosquitoes...stay tuned! For those of you who might not be thrilled with a reading suggestion, Helpful Buckeye will leave you with this quote from Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, British writer (1689-1762,): "No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting." As a tribute to the historical significance this disease played in the growth of Memphis, I give you:

This photo of "Memphis" was submitted by Nancy and Link, from PA. Doesn't she look regal? Almost like one of the Egyptian Sphinx statues located in the original city of Memphis in Egypt.

NON-MEDICAL CONCERNS

If any of you watched the "Groomer" show on Animal Planet that we mentioned last week, you saw some examples of professional grooming techniques and what is involved in making a dog look good (and true to its breed specifications). But, what about the mixed-breed dog or mutt you have that has hair long enough to get matted? You might not need to make it look like a French Poodle, a Scottish Terrier, or a Schnauzer; however, you would like to get rid of the matted knots of hair and have what's left be manageable, right? You have two choices: either find a groomer you (and your pet) feel comfortable with or do the job yourself.

OK...you need to get yourself a few grooming tools from any well-supplied pet store and start practicing! A grooming brush(the kind with the tiny metal needle-like bristles), a pair of grooming scissors, and an electric animal clipper set (with a couple different sized blades) will get you started. You will need an extra set of hands to properly hold your pet still and to minimize any accidental damage you might cause with the grooming tools. Don't try to be over-bearing, but be firm. Brush out what you can to get started...be gentle...matted hair can be really uncomfortable to an anxious pet. Sometimes, the mats are easier to remove by using small cuts with scissors...ALWAYS keep the cutting edge of the scissors away from the skin and visualize the hair you are cutting BEFORE making the cuts. Working your way around the base of the mat in this manner, you should be able to take care of most of the smaller mats. For larger or more densely-packed mats, the electric clippers will probably work better. Again, aim the tips of the clipper blade away from the skin and gradually work your way around the base of the mat. Don't worry about leaving a large area without much hair...the hair will grow back. Don't try to do the whole body in one swoop...take a break periodically...both you and your pet will feel better that way. What if you've tried to do this yourself and it's just not working out?

Every town has numerous pet groomers and you should be able to find one that both you and your pet feel comfortable with. Check with your friends or your veterinarian for suggestions. Have the grooming done, after being specific about what you would like. If you're satisfied with the job and your pet isn't too traumatized, you've found a "keeper"...however, if a problem arises, it's better for all parties if you try a different groomer the next time. If a groomer says they cannot handle your pet, rather than fight the situation, try somebody else. One dog which was "expelled" from a big-store groomer was:

Yes, you've seen her before...this is Junebug, not even 10 lb., and she was too much to handle! Charlene and Ken found a new groomer, Junebug was a model citizen, and everybody is happy now.

Regardless of whether you do your own grooming or have a professional do it, you will be much further ahead in keeping your pet comfortable and looking good if you do regular brushing in between the groomings. Especially if you start brushing when your pet is young, you both will feel a lot more at ease. Give a "treat" as a reward...they remember that!

WORD AND DEFINITION OF THE WEEK

"Anthropomorphism"--Noun. Ascribing or assigning human form or attributes to a thing or a being that is not human. You've already seen an example of this in the reference to the Sphinx, which usually had the head of a human and the body of a lion. It's OK to go ahead and admit doing this with your dog or cat...most of the time you don't even realize you've done it. You treat them like members of the family, right? I've included some fairly explicit examples of anthropomorphism...view them with caution!

ANECDOTE OF THE WEEK
First of all, an anecdote is a short account of an incident or event of an interesting or amusing nature, often used as an instructive illustration. During my first year of practice, I needed to dispense some medication to one of our clients for her dog, which was going through a tough bout of allergic dermatitis (skin allergy). Her dog had developed a large area of very irritated skin over its rump. At that time we were using a clear gel capsule full of medicated granules that was meant to be given orally. After discussing the significant points of the diagnosis, I told her to give two of the capsules every other day to her dog until they were gone. When I saw her two weeks later for a re-evaluation, the dog was no better and I asked her if she had given the medication as directed. She shook her head in dismay and said, "Doc, I tried my best but I just couldn't keep the tiny granules from falling off the skin." She had been opening the capsules and sprinkling the granules over the irritated area! We all need to realize that some people take things very literally and account for that when we give instructions or make a statement. If you're not absolutely sure about something you hear from your veterinarian, take a minute to ask a question and clarify what is intended.

GENERAL INTEREST

This past week, on May 26th, 8 years ago, Canadian medical researchers reported they had transplanted insulin-producing cells into eight diabetic patients, freeing them from insulin injections...a whole new approach to diabetic management that may have applicability to dogs and cats.

A close friend recently had a death in her family and learned that another friend had sent a memorial contribution to what I feel is a very worthy cause. Dogs for the Deaf, Inc., headquartered in Oregon, places trained dogs with hearing-disabled people all over the country and has enjoyed quite a lot of success in their endeavors. Consider this option when you are thinking about a charitable donation. Their web site is: http://www.dogsforthedeaf.org/

Another birthday was observed on May 28th. On that day, in 1892, the Sierra Club was founded by famed naturalist John Muir.

In last week's issue of Questions On Dogs and Cats, Helpful Buckeye suggested using the Cool 'N Dry Pet Shammy from Super-Cool-Products as part of your prevention and/or treatment of heat exhaustion in your dog. This company also has numerous other products that are very useful in cleaning up where pets sleep, where they track in mud or dirt from outside, or where they have had urinary or diarrhea difficulties. Go to their web site for further information (check out the selection of sponges, mops, and buckets): http://www.super-cool-products.com/automarinepet/petcareproducts.html

An interesting video was sent to me this week that should help satisfy the cat lovers who feel they have been slighted on this blog so far. From EVTV1 comes a very unhappy "cat": http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=834

Also, since you're already enthused with a "wild" cat, consider these energetic cats, also from EVTV1: http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=10696 If Helpful Buckeye had to keep up with those cats, he would need a lot more than a mountain bike!!!

All this evidence to the contrary, there are some pretty nice and special cats out there:

This is Tippy, part of Marilyn and Terry's family, in CA. Thanks for the photo, guys!

Also, on May 26th, the death of Earle H. Hagen was reported in California. Earle Hagen co-wrote one of the all-time great jazz pieces, Harlem Nocturne, in 1939. Most of you would recognize the melody, even if you didn't recall the name of the song...it has been recorded by a bunch of musicians. Check it out and listen to the Ray Anthony Orchestra at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-2MPKDR4VU In addition, Mr. Hagen not only wrote the theme song for the Andy Griffith Show, but also whistled it before each episode. Hear it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JA1BbxrPa4 Earle H. Hagen was 88 when he died.

It has come to my attention that some of you, after viewing these clickable web sites and videos, are clicking on the "X" to exit the site. This move then takes you away from the blog site and you have to re-enter it anew. You can avoid this step by clicking the "reverse" icon, the "<", on your browser, usually right above the web site in question. This will simply remove the web site and put you right back where you were on the blog. Try it...it's easy!

In closing this section for this week, Helpful Buckeye would like to respectfully disagree with Mark Bauerlein, who is out this month with The Dumbest Generation. He blames this "dumbness" on the digital age, which he says stupefies young Americans. The digital age has allowed things to happen that would have been considered miracles in years past. One of those miracles is being able to communicate with each other through different media, like we are doing in this blog!

SPORTS NEWS

Well, the LA Dodgers have become the team that everybody wants to play. We've been giving away games that were, for all intents and purposes, already won...we have been snatching defeat from the jaws of victory! We lost 3 straight to the Cubbies, followed by 3 out of 4 to the previously stumbling Mets...we have become the medicine for the ills of other teams. And, even with all that negativity, we are still only 4.5 games behind the Diamondbacks. We head home now for a couple of series...ah, home cooking...I can almost smell some wins!

The San Antonio Spurs were not able to keep up with the youth and vigor of the Lakers and lost that series without much of a statement. I'm sure the networks are drooling at the thought of the upcoming NBA Finals between the Lakers and the Celtics...a lot of NBA history has been forged around these 2 teams.

PERSONAL STUFF

I finished out the month yesterday with a nice, 35-mile bike ride. Along the way, I saw 2 elk, 6 mule deer, a coyote, and numerous prairie dogs...and had NO near-accidents like what almost happened last week! How lucky can a guy get?

A lot of people have asked me over the years, "What's a buckeye?" Of course, the obvious answer would be: any person who went to Ohio State University...however, a buckeye is also any native or inhabitant of Ohio...in addition to the Horse Chestnut tree, which bears the fruit/seed for which the tree is named. There are many Buckeye trees planted on the campus of OSU in Columbus. Their fruit/seed is considered slightly poisonous, but the best example of any difficulty with a buckeye would be the fact that Michigan has choked on an Ohio State buckeye 6 of the last 7 years in football!

Helpful Buckeye would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have taken the time to read this blog and pass on your comments to me, most of which have been very positive and quite helpful. I have really enjoyed my part in bringing this information to all of you and I hope that you will get to the point at which you really look forward to Monday mornings and the new weekly issue. Remember that our e-mail address for the blog is DogCatVetHelp@gmail.com or you can click on "e-mail me" in the Profile section.

I'll leave you with another quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupery (French author of The Little Prince and Night Flight,)...1900-1944: "True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new." I can definitely feel the zest of creating a new thing...how well that deed will be done depends a lot on my readers and how we are able to interact.

Until next week, keep your nose to the wind and your tail held high!

~~The goal of this blog is to provide general information and advice to help you be a better pet owner and to have a more rewarding relationship with your pet. This blog does not intend to replace the professional one-on-one care your pet receives from a practicing veterinarian. When in doubt about your pet's health, always visit a veterinarian.~~