7 Hot Weather Tips for Dogs

With the warmer weather coming, it is time to remind fellow dog lovers and owners to keep these hot weather tips in mind so that you and your canine companion can have fun in the sun:

1. Make sure your dog has had its yearly exam for confirm good health. Include heartworm and flea/tick control to your summer shopping list.

2. Never leave your dog alone in a vehicle! Heat stroke can be fatal - even with the windows opened. It doesn't take long for your car to become a furnace - even in the shade.

3. Carry a gallon of cold water when you travel with your dog. The fresh water will help him/her stay cool during your adventures outdoors.

4. The best time to play is during the cool morning hours or late in the evening after the sun has set. Not only is the can the air become too hot for your pooch but the ground as well. Paws can burn easier than most dog owners understand.

5. Bringing your pup to the beach is great - as long as there is a place for the dog to cool off in the shade. Bring plenty of fresh water and beach umbrella or two if there are no lining trees or shade.

6. If you keep your beloved canine companion outdoors, make sure there is plenty of fresh cool water and shade. A proper doghouse is usually best but it is even better to bring your dog inside during the hottest times of day to keep him or her cool.

7. When opening windows in your house, make sure that there are no unscreened windows or doors in your home that your pup can jump through and fall. Open windows can allow in fresh breezes but also sounds and smells from outside that can attract your pup to an open window or door.

For more information on how to keep your pet safe and healthy during the summer, visit http://www.aspca.org/pet-care.

Need a Better Dog Food

For years people that been asking me what I feed my own Labrador Retrievers. They have always had shiny coats, healthy skin, hardly any allergies, clean ears, good joint support and the list goes on. However, a few months ago that changed.

We noticed a slow progression of deterioration for all of the above over a period of several weeks. At first we shrugged it off to seasonal allergies but as Dakota’s eye discharge got worse and Cheyenne began to gnaw off her paws, we knew something was just not right.

It was a trip to our local pet food store this weekend that a light went on over my head and the “ah-ha” moment started.

Per the store clerk, another company recently purchased Eagle Pack and Wellness dog foods. Now, I cannot find any information on their websites or the ‘net to confirm or deny this statement but he stated the exact time when I started to noticed a difference in the health of the Lab Brats.

So, we began looking over the shelves of holistic dog food. We know how to read the labels and we know what is most important but most of the dog foods were loaded with fillers, synthesized vitamins and nutrients and loads of ingredients we couldn’t pronounce. Needless to say, it was making our heads spin to find the right one.

That was when a woman from Nature’s Logic Dog Food came over. She noticed our frustration and after asking a few questions about the Lab Brats, showed us her product to see if it was what we were looking for.

Yes! This was exactly what we were looking for! Just a comparison on the ingredients highlighted the huge difference between the foods:

Other “Natural” Dog Food Example
INGREDIENTS: Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Flaxseed, Tricalcium Phosphate, Eggs, Peas, Carrots, Lecithin, Choline Chloride, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Dried Kelp, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Artichokes, Cranberries, Pumpkin, Tomato, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale, Parsley (Note: This particular natural diet has 43 total ingredients; about 19 recognizable food ingredients and about 24 chemically synthesized vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.)

Nature’s Logic Dog Food Example
INGREDIENTS: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart, Egg Product, Animal Plasma, Flaxseeds, Montmorillonite, Cottage Cheese, Brewers Yeast, Cod Liver Oil, Egg Shell, Apple, Suncured Alfalfa Meal, Tomato Powder, Parsley, Blueberry, Cranberry, Apricots, Spinach, Artichoke, Broccoli, Carrots, Pumpkin, Kelp, Chicory Root, Rosemary.

You have to remember that when a dog hunts in the wild, they eat everything they catch – the entire prey. However commercial dog foods fall extremely short in their ability to match the quality of food found in the wild.

We are currently on a slow dog food transition to Nature’s Logic Dry Kibble – Beef. It will take a while to fully transition and see the full effects but I can honestly say that I have never, ever, seen my Labrador Retrievers react to food like that – they can’t get enough. Sure, Dakota normally drools like Niagara Falls when food is around but with this food, it turns into a monsoon! I can’t wait to see the end results!

(Do you feed Nature’s Logic? If so, we would love for you to comment on your experience with this dog food as well.)

On Cleaning Dog Ears

When we bring a Lab into our homes and hearts, one of the things that attracts us to this dog breed is its big floppy ears. However cute they may be, the shape of these ears (along with diet) makes this dog breed prone to very dirty and constantly infected ears if not properly maintained and cleaned.

Many owners of dogs with folded over ears get uncomfortable when talking about cleaning their dog's ears. Some bring their pups to the veterinarian's office every few weeks and spend a great deal of money to have them professionally cleaned because of the resistance their pup puts up.

So, how to give a dog ear drop or clean their ears when you practically have to sit on the pooch in order to pin him/her down while doing a sort of "twister" action to get a free arm to do to the deed with while he/she is putting up the fight of its life?

Simple question: What is your pup's most favorite thing in the world? Is it food? Is it a toy?

Use that thing to keep the pup still and reward the pup with it immediately after the ear drops are given. For us, it is a special dog treat we only use during the times we give ear cleanings or nail cuttings. Both Labs are highly food motivated but they are slowly becoming more relaxed when we do those things because the treat is right in front of their nose the entire time. When we are done, it goes right into their mouth.

I won't lie and say that the Lab Brats love to their ears cleaned but I can honestly say that they are not where as energetic in their protests as they once were. Dogs, especially Labs, need to have their minds and noses focused on something else to get their minds off of what you are doing to them.

Remember to stay calm through it all - you are in control and you are doing it because you truly love your dog and want to keep him/her healthy for many years to come.

Rain Won't Heal Dog Burned Grass

It has been raining non-stop for 3 days now and for some that would be depressing but, alas, I am a rain lover. The rain brings a clean feeling to everything around you and the growth that occurs from water is amazing; especially in the Spring.

Take for instance our grass - lush, alive, tall, green, yellow polka dots... err, yellow polka dots??

Yes, the greener our grass gets, the more predominant the yellow spots around our yard become. The markings left by dogs, especially large female dogs, during 10 months of a snowy winter pop up like an annoying mother-in-law in the Spring... they aren't so bad when you don't see them but then - BAM! - they not only visit but seem to multiply in the most annoying way!

That prompted a visit to our local pet supply store yesterday to check out the "urine supplements". Now, I am not one to give any medication to my beloved Labradors without having no other choice. I much rather give an herbal supplement or change their diet slowly but I have always been interested in these supplements and curious if they actually work.

Did we make a purchase? No, for a couple of reasons. First, I couldn't pronounce any of the ingredients on the bottle and that reminded me of an old ice cream commercial where they had people try to pronounce all the long complicated ingredients of their competitors. Second, both Lab Brats have already had stomach surgery in their short lives for ingesting a foreign material that came close to killing them. Do I really want to put some potential harsh ingredients, that I cannot even pronounce, into their sensitive stomachs?

So I will continue my search for a holistic treatment to help alleviate those ghastly yellow spots plaguing my beautiful lawn. Keep your paws crossed!

What is your take on "urine supplements" to stop your dog from burning your grass? Do you use them? What do you think about them? Do you have any recommendations to other dog owners?

Switching to Adult Dog Food

Question:
Our chocolate lab brothers are 12 months old. Do we continue with puppy food or begin to give them adult food? Do you think they are full grown or do they continue to grow until age 2? We neutered them at 8 months.


Answer:
Our breeder and veterinarian have both recommended that Labrador Retrievers be switched to adult food around the 1-year mark. They will continue to grow until age 2 but puppy food is too rich during their 2nd year of life. This is due to the growth phases in this particular breed and at age 1 they need less calories and a more stable and well-rounded diet.

Make sure that you gradually switch their food as to not upset their stomachs. To learn more, please read our Labrador Retriever Feeding Guide.

5 Reasons Dogs Won't Eat

Question:
My 9 month old female chocolate Lab has stopped eating for the pass 2 days. I don't know what to do or why she has stopped eating. Can you please [help] me?

Answer:
Every so often dogs will decide to stop eating for a variety of reasons.

1. The food bowl is not clean. If there is any bacteria or subtle scents coming from the bowl, then dogs may refuse to use that bowl. It is recommended that you use a stainless steel bowl as this is the most sanitary and is not porous.

2. The food is bad. Is it a new bag of food or a new brand of dog food? If so, your dog may not like it. If it is a new bag of dog food but the same brand, then it is recommended that you pick up a smaller new bag of that same dog food to see if the originating bag is contaminated with something. If it is a new brand of dog food then your pup may just not like the food at all.

3. The pup is pregnant or in heat. Although you have a young pup, is there a chance she may be pregnant? Pups in heat or pregnant can go through times of refusing to eat - which is normal for a few days here and there.

4. There is a bowel obstruction or digestive disorder. Is your pup still eliminating? Does your dog still take other food such as treats or human snacks? Is it vomiting? If your dog is even refusing the most delicious of treats and/or not eliminating, then there may be a bowel obstruction or it may have a digestive disorder. In this case, it is recommended that you get the pup to a vet ASAP.

5. The pup is just being stubborn. Have you brought a new person or animal into the home recently? Have you changed anything about the pup? Has the pup been through any trauma lately? If the answer to any of these is yes, then your pup may be going through emotional distress as it is unsure of its environment. Changes in lifestyle or routine can easily disturb a pup and cause it not to eat.

In the end, you know your pup the best and can best determine if your pup has a serious problem or not. My overall recommendation would be to call your vet if you notice any behavioral or physical changes in your pup. The veterinarian's office will give you free health advice over the phone and provide a more specific list of recommendations based on their past experience with your dog. If your dog has gone more than a couple of days without food, I would definitely seek professional assistance.

Best of luck and please let us know how it goes!

Hesitant to Alter Pup

Question:

Have you neutured them? Their coat is beautiful and shinny and they are not overweight. My mom is hesitant is neutering our female pup.

Many thanks.


Answer:

Yes, both of my Labrador Retrievers were spayed at the age of 6 months old. This did not have any negative effect on them at all. In all honesty, it is wise to neuter or spay dogs as it reduces the risk of reproductive system cancers and other diseases linked to the reproductive organs. As you can see in our dogs, their being altered in no way made them unhealthy or fat.

We had chosen not to breed our dogs because the risk of them being taken early from us was too great of a risk. The Lab Brats are our family and their health is the most important thing to us.

I highly recommend you read this article About Spaying and Neutering Your Labrador Retriever.

It is a personal decision that every responsible pet own must make. However, if your mom is not going to breed your pup because she wants to breed the pup responsibly (to better the line of the Labrador Retriever) then she is best to speak to your local veterinarian in regards to pros and cons of altering your pup.

The Old Dakota

It is my pleasure to announce that the old Dakota is back and better than ever!

Dakota's stitches came out last Friday and she is now on 100% solid dog food. Of course, we are still feeding her a little less than normal but we most definitely don't want to push her stomach too far too fast.

Dakota has had a couple of bouts of vomiting in the middle of the night but that was due to overfeeding too quickly. So, the "puppy feeding schedule" of small meals 4 times a day will continue for the next week or so. After that, we will move her to 3 meals a day and finally back to her twice a day feeding schedule.

Again, the Lab Brats family wants to thank each and every one of you for all your warm wishes and doggy prayers. When we needed support, you were there. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and, of course, if you ever need us we are only an email away!

Lab smiles and warm hugs!

Getting a Discount on Vet Bills

You want what is best for your pet but with the current economy, it is important to keep as much of your hard earned cash in your pocket. So how do you cut costs on your vet bill without sacrificing the care of your beloved canine companion?

A well hidden secret all comes down the business sense. Given that I am a small business owner, a simply thing came to me when I was ready to pay Dakota's huge vet bill for recent stomach surgery.

Upon leaving with my beautiful Lab, I was greeted with my outstanding bill. It was a whopping $1,302.90! When I first heard the amount, I thought I may need stomach surgery!

Then I remembered something... all businesses tack 3% on their bills! Did you know that every business has a 3% per transaction fee that they must pay to the credit card processing companies every time you use your credit card or debit card to pay for something at that business? This is how they are able to process credit card transactions.

So, I put away my credit and debit cards when the bill came due and calmly asked the lady if they pay 3% per credit card transaction. Upon confirmation, I smiled and said "Let's make a deal! Would it be possible for me to pay by check or cash and get a 3% discount on my bill considering you do not have to pay a transaction fee for cash transactions?" Her response: "Sure! Not a problem"... and my $1,302.90 bill was discounted by $39.00 to $1,263.81!!

We have even used this "let's make a deal" with our local domestic control office when applying for the Lab Brats' new county dog tags - it saved us $0.70 for the two tags. Now some of you may think that is chump change but that can really add up when you have one or more pets and especially if you have such big ticket expenses such as animal emergency visits or surgeries. Hey! $39.00 is still $39.00!

The trick is to use this new gifted information when doing business with privately owned companies or non-profit organizations as they are able to strike such deals. Remember, it never hurts to ask - the worse they can say is "no". *wink*

Still a Sick Puppy

It is amazing how "healthy" Dakota looks on the outside. A bundle of joy, happiness and a willingness to play until she cannot catch her breath.

However, on the inside still lurks a very sick and very slowly healing stomach after her Canine Stomach Obstruction Surgery.

In the middle of Friday night, we awoke to Dakota scratching on her crate. She had vomited once again. Immediately I felt bad as I realized that I must have fed her a little too much of the bland beef/rice and bit of kibble mixture. I thought her stomach could tolerate her normal amount of food (broken up into 3 small meals 30 minutes apart) but I was wrong. So, back to the drawing board.

Then this morning we were greeted again by the same site inside her crate. This time it was dry as a bone and just the leftovers of last night's dinner. Sure, I gave her half of her normal amount of food (broken up again) but it seems the rice expanding in her stomach was too much for her. How do I know it was the rice? Simply because it was bone dry which means the rice soaked up all the moisture in her stomach.

So, this morning is it still half of her normal amount of food (broken up of course) but less rice/beef mixture and more kibble and baby food. I also plan on giving her a very small meal is afternoon so that she is getting the nutrients she needs but not overloading the stomach. In essence, we are back to the days of puppies - 3 small meals a day - breakfast being the largest and dinner being the smallest to allow for proper nutritional intake while being easy on the stomach.

The vet told us this may happen and that it is nothing to worry about as long as it is not continuous. She had a lot of damage to her stomach and even though she may want to eat the whole bin of dog food, we must do what is best for her and limit her intake - giving her stomach time to heal properly... even if she makes it the most difficult thing to do when she turns on those sad puppy dog eyes...

Puppy prayers are still most welcome.

New Puppy Questions

Question:
Hi - my husband and I adore your blog with all of its videos, info and 100s of pics on flickr. Our Lab puppy will be ready to come home in two weeks and I have a few questions for you.

1. What is the best puppy food?
2. Did you crate train and if so, what size crate did you buy?

We are trying to prepare as much as possible before Kirby arrives. My husband and I grew up with dogs but never raised a puppy. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. This is all so very exciting. We look forward to hearing from you.

Answer:
First, major congrats on the new puppy. This is definitely an exciting time and applaud how responsible you are to do research online before even bringing your new puppy home!

To answer your questions:

1) What is the best puppy food? Well, people who read my blog know that I am head over heels in love with Eagle Pack Holistic dry dog food. They have a very well balanced and high quality Eagle Pack Holistic Select® Large & Giant Breed Puppy Formula that I would definitely recommend for the first 6 months to a year. If you find that your puppy has chicken allergies (which can happen in Labrador Retrievers), then I would recommend what we use: Eagle Pack Holistic Select® Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon Meal Formula. Make sure though that you gradually switch the puppy from the food your breeder used to any new food you decide to go with. For more information, check out our article on Feeding Guidelines for Labrador Retrievers.

2) Did you crate train and if so, what size crate did you buy? When I was younger, I used to think crate training was barbaric. However, I have to admit that I now *love* crate training and will vouch that this is the reason our Labs were housebroken so fast and are so well trained/behaved. Our recommended crate is the Midwest Life Stages dog crate. We have the Life Stages - Single Door 42" as this is the perfect size to grow with your large breed Lab. Our main reason for choosing this crate: folds easily for moving, has a divider panel that allows the crate to grow with the pup, has a plastic pan on the bottom for easy clean up (especially during housebreaking), chew resistant metal (Labs can easily chew plastic crates) and loads of openness for airflow and to be part of what is going on around them. To help, check out these articles on Crate Training Your Labrador and Housebreaking Your Pup.

Best of luck and be sure to send us pictures of the new pup!

Dakota's Monday Update

Got a call last night from the veterinarian. He said Dakota was doing very well 24 hours after her stomach surgery - she was up walking and going potty. At that point, he was still on schedule to give her a bit of food this morning and see if she handles it well. If so, she can come home later today!

On a side note - I was going to take the opportunity to visit her at the vet this morning but decided to do what is right rather than what is easy. Sure, I am positive she would be happy to see me but she needs rest, not excitement. So, instead of giving into what would make me happy, I have to think about her first and her health is more important of course.

So, no visit to the clinic this morning. Instead, I will be a good human and wait by the phone for our morning update and let my precious Dakota heal well without mommy getting her all excited.

(will post with update as soon as Dr. calls)

Dakota Morning Update

Vet just called and gave us an update on Dakota.

She is alert, sitting up, and hasn't vomited since the surgery. Everything is going well.

He is going to keep her off food and water today to give the stomach time to heal from the inflammation as well as the surgery. If she still has not vomited by tomorrow, he will give her a small bit of water and some baby food in the morning (Monday). If it continues to go well, we can bring her home Monday evening.

From what he said, she is following the same post-surgery routine as a dog that ingested a foreign object. Right now the most important part is to let her stomach rest from all the trauma.

He also said that I can visit her in the morning so I will be there shortly after they open their doors. We all miss her terribly!

All the prayers are working - keep it up!

(next vet update scheduled for this afternoon/evening)

Difficult Night Without Dakota

No update this morning yet but it is not even 8am....

Cheyenne had a difficult night and we have been giving her loads of attention. Last night my hubby went to a mini high school reunion and I elected to stay home with Chey. Once I went to bed, I heard Chey roaming the house, knocking into things, looking everywhere for her sister before she would go to bed herself. She is quite lost but slowly adjusting.

We remain positive that tomorrow (Monday) Dakota will come home to us. She just needs to keep down some food and water today in order to get the green light. Of course, I will be making a load of boiled ground beef and rice to prepare for her return. :)

Thank you all for the well wishes, doggy prayers, and virtual hugs. I will post an update as soon as the vet calls today.

Dakota Surgery Update

Sorry for not updating sooner... between keeping Cheyenne busy and being too upset to even talk, I couldn't get to my computer.

So, the vet called and there was not an obstruction. What he saw was major inflammation of her stomach wall. Half of her stomach has loads of swelling and is one huge mass. He took a biopsy and sent it off - need to wait a week for the results on that.

He said it can be a few things.

1) It could be stomach cancer and, if it is, there would be nothing he could do for her. We won't know until the pathology comes back.

2) It could be something she ate that irritated her stomach - something very bad like getting into antifreeze or something. Who knows - her ball could have come into contact on the ground with ice melter at some time... we are always careful but we just don't know.

3) She has a virus/infection that isn't showing up on the blood tests.

Right now she is still at the vet where they are giving her IV fluids to rehydrate her, anti-nausea medication, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotics. The vet will continue to give me updates throughout the weekend and hopefully, with everything he is doing, he can get her to hold down a bit of food and water - which means she would come home the soonest of Monday. If she continues to have problems with eating/drinking, he will keep her until she does improve or finds out the results of the biopsy so we know where to go from there.

Needless to say, I am going to remain optimistic that it was either a virus or irritation and will be taken care of with the medications and some well deserved rest. We are not newbies to vomiting spells as just 2 years ago, our Cheyenne was in a similar mess after she ingested some microscopic yellow reflective material and had inflammation of her pylorus, which almost killed her. I believe that in a couple of days, she will be home with us and soaking up all the love and attention - just like Cheyenne did. And, like Cheyenne, she will be back to new in no time.

Again, we will happily accept all puppy prayers that Dakota has the same miraculous turn-around like Dakota. We miss her terribly and just want her home with us.

I will continue to post updates, as I get them.

Thank you so much for the well wishes - it means a lot to us.

Dakota Needs Prayers

Oh my poor puppy! Dakota has been throwing up once a night for the last week - until this morning. Upon cleaning up last night's mess, she began throwing up and wouldn't stop. An emergency run to our vet confirmed that Dakota was extremely sick and needed help immediately!

An x-ray showed something "U" shaped in her stomach. She is now dehydrated and still cannot stop throwing up. We had no option but to agree with the vet that she needed immediate surgery to get that thing out of her.

So, our sweet Dakota will have surgery in the next couple of hours to remove whatever it is. My heart is aching because our 4-year old Lab never eats anything without permission... how in the world did this happen? *sigh*

Please keep her in your prayers... the vet will call this afternoon with an update.

Best Food for Allergic Dogs

Question:
Hi! I was so excited to come across your site, it's very cute and informative. I am also completely in love with labs, in particular our (almost) 3 year old chocolate lab, Kaya. We have been going through several medications in attempt to resolve her itchiness only to have the vet conclude that it's likely a food allergy. The vet suggested prescription diet Z/D which has been fine as long as she is on the Trimeprazine. As soon as we lower the dose of that, the itchiness is back. So, I was wondering if there are any foods that you have come across that are Chicken, grain and soy Free? It's such torture to see her so uncomfortable so any help would be greatly appreciated!


Answer:
Ahh! We have run into a similar problem with the Lab Brats. Both of our girls were allergic to everything we fed them. Common symptoms were dull wire-like fur, loads of dandruff, itchy skin, rashes, gnawing at their paws, red itchy ears, discolored eye goop, and more. That was until we found the right food and have been recommending it to everyone we meet - and they all have seen dramatic differences as well.

Before I go any further, I must point out that I do not work for any dog food company nor do I get "kick-backs" for recommending any products. I am speaking from my heart and what I have seen with my own eyes. Good, now that is out of the way - let's continue.

Our best friend is the Eagle Pack Holistic Select® Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon Meal Formula!!

Let me tell you why:

* Harvested from cold ocean water, they are put on ice, processed and preserved naturally (DOT & CG Permits on file). (No contaminated food here!)

* Ideal for less active dogs and for weight management. (Perfect for Labs since they can easily get overweight)

* Allergy affected dogs will benefit from our single source, hypoallergenic, animal protein. (Bingo! Easy on the stomach and no allergies!)

* Antioxidants - Vitamins A, C, E and Beta-Carotene are added to enhance the immune system and slow cell deterioration. (Everything a dog needs to stay healthy)

* Glucosamine - This nutrient occurs naturally in the joints of humans and animals. Guaranteed levels are added to this formula. (Perfect for keeping those large breed hips and joints healthy)

There is no chicken or chicken by-products which is what a good portion of Labrador Retrievers are allergic. No soy and no bad grains. Just the healthy stuff to get those allergies cleared and who knows - maybe get your Kaya off of any allergy medications down the line (with a vet's approval of course).

Best yet is that they have a Dog Food Satisfaction Guarantee. They even have a FREE Holistic Transition® offer to aid your dog in making the transition to their dog food as changing dog foods can upset a dog's stomach. Remember that the transition should be slow and it will take a few weeks to a couple of months to see improvements.

There is a wealth of information on their website that you can check out other testimonials and gather more information. I would recommend making the switch as I have seen the results first hand. Don't believe me, just look at the picture below in this post of the Lab Brats!

Best of luck and keep us posted!

Is Pet Insurance Worth It?

You can spot a true dog owner and lover a mile away. They treat their dogs like little (or big) furry children and go the extra mile to make sure their dog has everything it needs to live the healthiest and happiest of lives.

An eager topic of discussion from such canine lovers is pet insurance. Sure, human children have medical insurance or why not our furry ones?

Pet insurance is a very tricky subject when it comes to our canine companions. Upon a recent visit to our own veterinarian, I happened upon a handful of pet insurance brochures and started to compare and contrast the plans they each offered. Sure, they looked great on the surface but once you start to follow those little asterisk (*) that lead you to the find print, you realize that most won't even cover your dog's aliments.

Let's take the Labrador Retriever as a prime example of a dog breed that is mostly not covered by pet insurance programs. Why? Simply enough, they have what are deemed "pre-existing conditions" in their genes. No insurance program that I could find offered coverage for canine hip dysplasia, retinal detachment, OCD, skin allergies, etc. which are all found in this specific dog breed.

Coverage usually only means that routine vaccines, annual vet visits or an emergency procedure (such as eating a sock) are covered. In order to get medications at discounted rates, the monthly premium prices sky rocket.

If a dog owner is looking for coverage in those areas of greatest concern, they are best putting money away each month into a savings account for those problems associated with their breed. If that times never comes, then they have money to put towards other medical vet visits or a ton of new shiny squeaky toys for their beloved puppy.

The key to remember is that pet insurance is really only good for emergency, non-breed specific problems and not for maintenance of your pet's health. It is important to read the fine print before signing up for any insurance plan to make sure your money is well spent to ensure a long life of health and happiness your fur child. It's your money and your dog - make sure both are protected.

Knee Mend

A yearly checkup with the veterinarian has confirmed that Cheyenne is still on the mend for a stretched ligament in her back left knee.

After a handful of yearly vaccines, our vet still could not get Cheyenne to comment on her knee problem. The twists and pops of her knee in his hands didn't even get a glance from our 3-year old chocolate Labrador Retriever. Nope - our pup loves to use "avoidance" when something bothers her and even a broken toe during her puppy days didn't come to light until she was 2 years old and an x-ray done to diagnose Canine Osteochondritis Dessicans (OCD).

So what do we do now? We have 3 choices: 1) wait it out to see if she gets better or worse, 2) have the vet sedate her so that he can palpitate the joint freely without resistance or 3) have him perform exploratory surgery. After weighing the risks and Cheyenne's overall health and happiness, we decided to wait it out. Since it comes and goes, she is not in any pain so it may be on the mend all by itself. The good news is that we have x-rays from a couple of months ago to look back on should she seem to be getting worse and need further x-rays.

The prognosis is - if we continue to keep an eye on it and gets x-rays every few months, we can see if there is any arthritic change and decide what is best for Cheyenne as we go along.

For now we will continue to have playtime that limit any abrupt halts in running (such as running after a balls, stick, etc.) but let her continue to play, run, and have fun for her name is Cheyenne and she is a true Labrador Retriever!

What are Brindle Labs?

It seems that there are many new Labrador Retriever owners that are confused about what denotes a purebred Lab. Some believe that any mismarks, brindling or mosaic coloration demonstrates a mixed Lab breed or a non-reputable dog breeder. This, however, is not entirely true.

My own purebred chocolate Labrador Retrievers are from a long line of purebred sires and dams. Both lines were responsibly bred with both black and chocolates to keep the chocolate line pure and a beautiful shade of mocha. They come from highly reputable Cricket Hollow Farm that has built their reputation on almost 2 decades of breeding this specific dog breed. My breeder goes above and beyond with health guarantees, AKC limited registration papers, biosensoring, socialization, puppy aptitude testing, microchipping, dew claw removal, and if you should ever have to get rid of your dog, they make you sign a contract that says you will return the pup/dog to them so that it does not end up in a shelter or put to sleep.

They have also had brindled puppies!!

How do I know? Well, my girls are from the same line - just two separate litters and although the first litter came out dark chocolate, the second had number of brindled pups. Yep! Brindled pups from a very pure Labrador Retriever line and a highly reputable breeder. Cheyenne showed no sign of brindling when we brought her home even though almost her whole litter was brindle. The ironic thing is that even though both had no brindle at birth, the brindle is quite obvious after a summer laying out in the sun. My girls become a beautiful reddish-brown all over and Dakota's tail and Cheyenne's legs will become a awesome red. Beautiful cannot even begin to describe it - and I promise you that they are all Lab!

So, to answer some questions about brindle Labrador Retrievers:

1) What is brindling?
"Brindle is a coat coloring pattern in animals, particularly dogs, cats, cattle, and, rarely, horses. It is sometimes described as "tiger striped", although the brindle pattern is more subtle than that of a tiger's coat." Labs with brindling have tan speckling on their forelegs, muzzles, and chest.

2) How does brindle happen?
It is all in the genetics. Why do two human parents with black hair have a brown haired child when there is no one else in the family with brown hair and it is not in their family line? Genetics.

3) Can brindle Labs be shown?
Short answer - no. The AKC only recognizes three coat colors: black, chocolate, and yellow. They allow for very little mismarking (if any) on the Labs in order to be in competitions.

4) Does this mean the Lab is sick or is more predisposed to illness?
No way! A brindle, mismarked, or mosaic dog is just as healthy as any other dog without color variations. It is only fur deep.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with brindle dogs - they make awesome canine companions and are as healthy as any other dog out there. However, keep a couple of things in mind when thinking about purchasing a brindle pup. 1) If you plan on showing the pup or breeding, look for another pup without color variations and 2) If a breeder tries to sell you a brindle pup for more money or advertises the pups as "special" or a "brand new color" run away very fast as that breeder is not reputable at all!