Bark n Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk Polly ReQua

Mission K9 Rescue primarily has Contract Working Dogs (CWDs) available for placement. These incredible canines perform the same vital tasks as Military Working Dogs (MWDs) but are not owned by the Government.
We also occasionally place MWDs and retired police dogs for adoption, but it’s unpredictable when they may become available. We rescue these dedicated canines as we become aware of them and work diligently to find suitable placements afterward. 
We’ve opted not to post photos of available dogs to avoid mismatches and save everyone valuable time. Instead, we review your application thoroughly and send you pictures of dogs that suit your situation, if any. This process helps us ensure our dogs find their forever homes with the right families and that the adoption process runs smoothly. 


Learn About Our Mission

Whether you're potty training a new pup or struggling with positive reinforcement, you might want to consult a qualified dog trainer and/or enroll your pooch in a class.
“A lot of people say ‘I know how to teach a dog to sit. Why would I go to a class?’ And it's so much more than that,” says Lindsay Hamrick, director of shelter outreach and engagement at the Humane Society of the United States and a certified professional dog trainer herself. She advises dog owners to “reach out for help anytime they don't know what to do.” 
Animal behavior websites can vary greatly in quality, Hamrick adds, but dog trainers can too—so here are some tips to get you started! 


Starting the search Start your search for a dog trainer at the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, which makes locating a qualified dog trainer near you as simple as plugging in your zip code. You might also try searching "canine behaviorist" and "dog behavior consultant."
Making a match Contact potential dog trainers to see if they’d be a good fit. Trainers’ websites typically describe their expertise, allow you to submit a form explaining the concerns you have about your dog’s behaviors and give you an idea of the cost. It’s also important to determine if they have the bandwidth to work with you.
Good dog trainers “know what they can and can't handle,” Hamrick says. Some don't work with aggression cases, for example, and focus solely on obedience training or non-aggression behavioral challenges.




 




Setting realistic expectations Remember that dog trainers aren’t miracle workers, and behavior change takes time. “If you are talking to a trainer and they think they can fix your issue in a 30-minute television show … you should find somebody else,” Hamrick says.
However, while a single session may not solve the challenges completely, we know that access to behavioral support can be pricey unless you have a low-cost option in your community. One consultation can still be helpful in identifying the root causes of your dog’s behavior and some initial ways to help them choose new behaviors.
And just like when you were in school, homework matters.
“If you only practice during those training sessions, it's not going to stick,” says Jessica Simpson, a senior companion animals public policy specialist for the HSUS. A consistent approach is necessary to help dogs generalize the new behavior from the classroom to the home.  
Virtual training Online dog training options have exploded in COVID’s wake. It's possible for dog trainers to size up a dog’s issues through virtual chats with the owner and videos of the dog’s behavior. After an initial video consultation, trainers can give the owners homework and then watch videos tracking the dog’s progress. GoodPup is a great online program for those looking for this approach.  
Red flags Ideally, you’ll find an affordable, certified dog trainer who’s knowledgeable about your dog’s issues, practices humane techniques and is available either in person or online. But if the training sparks concern, you can simply leave.  
“If you don't feel good, then remove your dog,” Hamrick says. “If you go to a local obedience class, and the trainer is yanking on leashes or making your dog scared, if your dog is not excited to go to class, then you absolutely have the right to cancel and remove them. You will do more damage by trying to be nice and stay.” BY JAMES HETTINGER

Exposure to winter’s dry, cold air and chilly rain, sleet and snow can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin, but these aren’t the only discomforts pets can suffer. Winter walks can become downright dangerous if chemicals from ice-melting agents are licked off of bare paws. To help prevent cold weather dangers from affecting your pet’s health, check out our top 10 cold weather safety tips from our experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC). 
Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death. Keep your home humidified and be sure to towel dry your pet as soon as they come inside. Repeatedly going into the cold and then comin back into a warm home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Pay close attention to their feet and in-between their toes and remove any snow balls from between their foot pads to prevent and treat skin irritation in the winter.  Massage petroleum jelly or other vet-approved paw protectants into paw pads before going outside to protect from salt and chemical agents. Booties can provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter. A longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, simply trim them to minimize the clinging ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals that can dry their skin, and don’t neglect the hair between their toes. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting them a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. After each walk, make sure to wash and dry your pet's feet and stomach to remove ice, salt and chemicals. Don't forget to check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes. You may also want to bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws.  Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pooch must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse. Thoroughly clean up any anitfreeze spills. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Additionally, cold weather chemicals like ice melts can be dangerous when ingested, so always be mindful and keep chemicals up and out of paws' reach.   Feed your pet a little extra in the winter months. Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feeding them a little bit more can provide much-needed calories, and making sure they have plenty of water to drink will help keep them well-hydrated and their skin less dry. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect. Never let your dog off leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm. Dogs can lose their scent in the snow and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure your dog always wears an ID tag.  Be sure to keep these tips top of mind this winter so that you and your furry friends can stay warm, cozy and safe. 

At WINPRO, we're dedicated to helping dogs live their best lives. Our range of plasma-powered health products are backed by scientific evidence and a money-back guarantee. Our vision is to support the health and well-being of dogs through the use of innovative and effective products.
Visit Winpropet.com
Tim's contact:
 
timm@winpropet.com
 
Tim's Linkedin:
 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-mitchum-a7671117/

 
Main Website:
 
https://winpropet.com/
 
Links To More Science Info:
 
https://winpropet.com/pages/our-production-process
https://winpropet.com/pages/scientific-proof
https://winpropet.com/pages/our-story
https://winpropet.com/pages/letter-from-founder
 
WeeklyWag Newsletter: 
 
https://winpropet.com/pages/weekly-wag
 
Social Links:
 
https://www.facebook.com/winpropet
https://www.instagram.com/winpropet/
https://www.tiktok.com/@winpropet
https://www.linkedin.com/company/winpropet/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTy_NP3sHlahOaNXghZJnFQ
 
Coupon Code 

BARK20 (works on one time purchases & 1st order of a subscription)
 

A mystery dog illness that spread across the U.S. last year and can lead to serious or fatal respiratory problems is still under investigation, but cases are starting to slow, experts say.
The illness, which started to spread more widely in the summer and fall of 2023, causes coughing, sneezing and fatigue, among other symptoms, and can progress quickly to pneumonia. The dogs suspected to have it test negative for all of the typical causes of respiratory symptoms and often don't respond to treatment.

In a statement to TODAY.com, the American Veterinary Medical Association says that based on "conversations with various sources ... the number of cases are declining," adding that an "ebb and flow" of respiratory illness in dogs over the course of the year is common, similar to cold and flu season in humans.
The statement also explains that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has so far not seen that the rise in respiratory illness in dogs is linked to a new virus or bacteria.
A statement from the Animal and Plant Inspection Service, part of the USDA, confirms to TODAY.com that the state-led testing that the agency is helping coordinate "has not indicated the presence of a novel pathogen or single infectious cause among these cases."
Numerous veterinary diagnostic labs across the country are investigating the outbreak, from Oregon to Kansas to New Hampshire.
The APHIS spokesperson adds that the illness is not regulated by APHIS and therefore the branch doesn't have data on case numbers.
The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association also shared in an Feb. 14, 2024, update that "cases seem to be waning, if not back to normal," citing veterinarian Dr. Scott Weese's Worms and Germs blog.
At last count, at least 19 states had reported cases of the illness, according to various expert groups. The AVMA explained in an earlier statement that the mystery dog illness is difficult to track because there's no national surveillance system.
In November 2023, veterinarians in critical care settings told TODAY.com that they'd seen dozens of cases since the fall.
Late last year, multiple groups — including the Colorado and Oregon departments of agriculture, the AVMA, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health — issued warnings about the mystery illness in dogs.
“We don’t know what is causing this situation, where dogs are presenting at veterinarians with what private veterinarians would call kennel cough,” Rhode Island's state veterinarian Dr. Scott Marshall told NBC affiliate WJAR. “What’s different about this situation is that dogs are presenting with little bit more severe signs, not responding to usual treatments, and unfortunately had a small number, still a number, of dogs that have succumbed to them.”
“It seems to happen very, very quickly — to go from this cough that’s just won’t go away ... and then all of a sudden they develop this pneumonia,” Dr. Lindsey Ganzer, veterinarian and CEO at North Springs Veterinary Referral Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, told TODAY.com. She said she treated over a dozen dogs with what she believes is the condition between October and November 2023.
If your dog develops a cough, do not panic, the AVMA advises. But stay vigilant about its progression and your pet's overall health, and contact your vet right away if anything seems off.
What is the mystery dog illness? Dogs with this mystery illness usually have coughing, sneezing, eye or nose discharge, are abnormally tired, and do not test positive for any common causes of canine respiratory illness, the Oregon Department of Agriculture noted in a Nov. 9 press release.
Typically, dogs with respiratory illnesses have a cough for seven to 10 days, but some vets saw an uptick in dogs with coughs lasting weeks to months that don't respond to treatment, the Colorado Department of Agriculture said in a Nov. 22 statement.
One of the distinguish

Liver shunts (technically called portosystemic shunts) are not that common in dogs, but if you are an aficionado of certain breeds or if your dog develops liver disease, you may find yourself in desperate need of information. Read on to learn all about liver shunts in dogs.
What Is a Liver Shunt? First, we need to review some canine anatomy and physiology. A network of veins (called the portal system) drains blood away from the digestive tract. This blood carries nutrients, hormones, and waste material and is supposed to enter the liver before it travels to the rest of the body. The liver takes what it needs to function properly and also detoxifies the blood before sending it onward.
A shunt is defined as a passage “that allows the flow of materials between two structures that are not usually connected.” A portosystemic shunt is, specifically, an abnormal blood vessel (or vessels) that connects the “portal” system draining the digestive tract to the “systemic” circulatory system feeding the rest of the body, thereby bypassing the liver.
Causes of Liver Shunts in Dogs Liver shunts can be divided into two categories: those that are present at birth (congenital shunts) and those that develop later in life (acquired shunts).
Congenital shunts are most common, being responsible for approximately 80 percent of cases. Dogs are usually quite young (less than 3 years old) when they start experiencing symptoms. A genetic cause is known for some breeds and suspected in others. Breeds at higher than average risk for congenital liver shunts include the Yorkshire Terrier, Dachshund, Maltese, Miniature Schnauzer, Lhasa Apso, Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, Havanese, Toy and Miniature Poodle, Pekingese, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Irish Wolfhound, Old English Sheepdog, Samoyed, Irish Setter, Labrador Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Golden Retriever, and German Shepherd.
Acquired shunts typically develop when blood pressure within the veins connecting the digestive tract to the liver becomes elevated—most often because of diseases that cause liver scarring (cirrhosis). Dogs with acquired liver shunts tend to experience symptoms when they are older in comparison to those diagnosed with congenital shunts.
Symptoms of Liver Shunts in Dogs Dogs with liver shunts generally have some combination of the following symptoms:
Poor growth (congenital shunts) Poor appetite and/or eating unusual things Weight loss Increased thirst and urination Difficulty urinating or blood in the urine due to the formation of bladder stones Vomiting, which may contain blood Diarrhea, which may contain blood Behavioral changes like mental dullness, staring vacantly, poor vision, unsteadiness, circling, and head pressing   Diagnosing Liver Shunts in Dogs These symptoms are obviously not unique to liver shunts. A veterinarian will start the diagnostic process by taking a complete health history, performing a physical examination, and running some basic tests such as blood work and a urinalysis. If he or she thinks that a liver shunt is likely, additional testing will be necessary to reach a definitive diagnosis. Possibilities include bile acid tests, blood ammonia levels, abdominal X-rays, abdominal ultrasound, and advanced imaging studies. Your veterinarian can discuss the pros and cons of each test with you based on the specifics of your dog’s case.
Treatment for Liver Shunts in Dogs The type of liver shunt that a dog has and their age and overall condition determines what type of treatment is best. Most small breed dogs who have congenital shunts have just one abnormal blood vessel that is located outside of the liver. These are the most amenable to surgical correction. A single shunt that is located within the liver itself is more common in large breed dogs. These are still usually best treated with surgery, but the procedure is a little more difficult. Dogs with acquired shunts tend to have multiple, abnormal