Ask Dr. Rollinschitz
Posted: Mon, Mar 15th, 2010 at 8:12 PM by Cynthia Cherry-Schif
Dear Dr. Rollinschitz,
What’s the deal with dogs not being able to eat chocolate? My neighbor’s Pug ate an entire bag of chocolate kisses during the holidays. He was sick but he’s okay now. Please explain.
Confused in Naperville
Dear Confused,
What can I say? The Pug’s constitution is heartier than a pit bull steam engine, but its survival has more to do with the ingested cocoa being the milk rather than the dark chocolate variety.
Generally speaking, plan on a visit to the vet if you’re concerned or if your dog (or your neighbor’s dog) has eaten 1 ounce per pound of total body weight.
You see, the darker the chocolate, the darker the prospect of survival. Dark or baker’s chocolate has higher amounts of a toxin called Theo bromine, which has proven deadly to us of the happy four-footed pal species. May your neighbor’s dog only snack on carob-coated goodies from now on!
Bone-appetite!
Dr. P.
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Tags: confused in naperville
Ask Dr. Rollinschitz
Posted: Mon, Mar 15th, 2010 at 8:10 PM by Cynthia Cherry-Schif
Dear Dr. Rollinschitz,
My Greyhound, Savannah, and I love a good run together, but she hates the cold, snow and rain – for obvious reasons. I’ve tried the coat, booties and blanket route with no luck. Any suggestions?
Stymied in Buffalo Grove
Dear Stymied,
Tell that aqualine pup of yours she’d never make it as a postal worker! However, do not fear, for when foul weather strikes, I believe dual treadmills may just be the answer!
Believe it or not, canine treadmills are available at www.jogadog.com
Expect to pay $1,095 or more – but I always say, “What price, canine contentment?” It’s at least worth checking it out.
Keep on keeping on!
Dr. Pucci
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Tags: stymied in buffalo grove
Ask Dr. Rollinschitz
Posted: Mon, Mar 15th, 2010 at 8:08 PM by Cynthia Cherry-Schif
Dear Dr. Rollinschitz,
My dog is just a few months old. He sometimes gets out of control when playing with my children. What can I do?
Wild in Wyoming
Dear Wild,
I have two questions for you:
1. Have you not established who the Alpha (dog) is in your home?
2. Do you not have a crate for this beast of the living room?
Worry not, my clueless friend for I was a wild pup myself once and know just what to do! When your children are playing with the puppy, I’m assuming everyone is having a good time. Somewhere along the way, it starts getting too rough for the children, but the dog has no idea he’s playing too hard. Consequently, he plays until someone inevitably gets hurt and everything has to be shut down.
Have your children tell you when play with your young pup becomes unacceptable. Then have the Alpha (male or female parent) calmly grab the pup by the scruff of the neck. Be sure to make eye contact and say “NO!” Then immediately put him in the crate, if you have one, for no more than a few minutes.
He won’t like being separated from the family. Consequently, it won’t take long for your puppy to learn what the acceptable boundaries are for playtime.
Good Luck! (But luck has nothing to do with it, of course.)
Dr. Pucci
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Tags: wild in wyoming
Ask Dr. Rollinschitz
Posted: Mon, Mar 15th, 2010 at 8:06 PM by Cynthia Cherry-Schif
Dear Dr. Rollinschitz,
My dog has, on occasion been sprayed by a skunk. My question is simple: Will Rubba Dub Dog work on skunk?
Stinkin’ in the Weeds
Dear Stinkin’,
Ewwwww, Stinkin’! I have myself had the misfortune of being sprayed by an unhappy little neighborhood skunk named PeeYoo Pewster! I must say, a bath is in order and then...perhaps another bath! Beyond that, this is my best advice:
First, let’s take a look at the origin of the skunk scent. It’s oil-based…so a warm bath will help dissolve and disperse the oil. Then consider using Rubba Dub Dog to augment the elimination of the skunk odor once your dog’s coat is still damp from the bath. Its base works on both oil and organic scents, helping to absorb and remove more and more odor with each application.
I’ve heard many products can dull the scent, but none (not even tomato juice) can destroy the scent entirely. But something I recently heard may be of some assistance. A combination of peroxide, baking soda and Dawn dishwashing liquid may help you attain the sweeter smell you’re in search of. At least the lady hound I spoke to swore by it!
I’m sorry to say, the jury is still out on this one, Stinkin’, but I encourage you, as well as other readers, to let me know how the stink goes!
Best,
Dr. Pucci
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Tags: advice
"Weekly Woof" Dog Blog
Posted: Wed, Feb 3rd, 2010 at 4:38 PM by Cynthia Cherry-Schif
February 3, 2010
I'm planning a summer friendship garden. It will be on the border of our property line that we share with our neighbors. The garden will have four separate areas, divided by strips of grassy area and decked out with a tee pee of Black Eyed Susans and a table and chairs in the middle so I can enjoy the view with my neighbor kids. Right now, though, it is a series of sketches...a black and white blueprint looking for warm weather to bring it to life.
Making garden plans this time of year, reminds me of the promise of spring and the first day I lean on the deck railing and look to the ground to find an exquisite array of color bursting up at me. The surprise that life is renewed and hope really does spring eternal.
I wonder if my dogs dream of spring melting into summer and the days they spend most of the time outside, rolling in the grass, running with the kids and panting on the deck during their own special days of summer? I do know they smell it on the way, right now, just a tease on the breeze.
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Tags: spring, smell
"Weekly Woof" Dog Blog
Posted: Fri, Jan 29th, 2010 at 11:44 AM by Cynthia Cherry-Schif
January 29, 2010
Baby, it's cold outside! I try to be a good dog mama, and take my dogs out for a run almost every day, but it's been so cold here, that if the least little breeze kicks up, my face feels as though it's being shredded by needles.
Living with an older dog, who is ailing with ACL pain, and another in the prime of her life poses a daily wrestle with my own guilt. One dog needs a heavy workout. The other a quiet walk around the neighborhood. And I'm not sure I want to do either one!
My own achy back and joints make it difficult to horse two big dogs on leashes through the snow. So we take the mid-ground and head to the dog preserve, where Sophie can run like the wind and I can keep Rosco's damage to that pesky ACL at a minimum by doing the leash walk thingie.
The good news is, it can't stay cold like this for too much longer. When the weather breaks, I'm psyching myself up for two walks a day. One with the athlete and one with the geriatric. At this point, I'm not sure if that means me or the dog!
Woof,
Cynthia
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Tags: weekly woof, dog blog
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