Health News ALERT... TODAY'S PET TIP Are Pennies Toxic?   Pennies minted after 1983 have a high amount of zinc, which is toxic to dogs.   If a penny is ingested, the stomach acid will erode the copper coating and expose the zinc center.   The zinc can then be rapidly absorbed into the system. Zinc toxicity results in a potentially fatal blood disorder in which the red blood cells are destroyed and the pet becomes anemic.   Zinc toxicity in dogs may result from ingestion of as few as 1 to 3 pennies.      8 common signs of illness Today I want to talk to you about 8 common signs of illness you should be able to recognize in your dog.  Many signs are nonspecific and can be associated with several different diseases. Each of them is significant and should prompt your concern.    Let's to through each of them so you know what are potentially problem signs: 1. Lack of appetite - Anorexia is often one of the very first signs of illness in dogs. It can be difficult to determine if you feed your dog dry food only and keep the bowl full. For this reason, some veterinarians recommended feeding dogs a scheduled feeding at the same time every day so that you accurately assess their appetite. 2. Less active - Dogs that don't feel well are often less active. Many times this "less active" sign is mistaken for "getting older".  If your dog is less active, the safest thing to do is have your vet check your dog out. 3. Weakness - Weakness can be displayed as either being "less active", having a lethargic appearance, or by displaying a loss of balance and coordination.  All of these are potentially serious signs and should prompt immediate evaluation by your veterinarian. 4. Lethargy - Lethargy is a general lack of interest in the environment.  It is a very common symptom and can be an early or late sign of illness depending on the severity. 5. Weight loss - Losing weight is another common sign of disease or illness.  Sometimes it is difficult to notice weight loss, especially in longhaired dogs or dogs that you see every day and may not notice subtle changes.  If your dog feels bonier, lighter, or you can easily feel the ribs, this could be a problem. 6. Increased water consumption - Drinking more is often associated with a few diseases including kidney disease and diabetes mellitus.  If you notice your dog is showing these symptoms, see your veterinarian. 7. Not grooming - Dogs that don't feel well don't groom or you just notice a dull lusterless coat. If your dogs coat changes, have him or her evaluated by your veterinarian. 8. Bad breath - Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can result from dental disease as well as other metabolic disorders. As you have heard from me (and probably your vet as well) it is a good idea to have your dog examined periodically (a physical exam is a must). This can help look for problems early. Prevention is the best cure.  Feed your dog a high quality diet and give him plenty of exercise. Watch your dog carefully for any sign of illness. If you notice any of these signs in your dog, please contact your veterinarian or veterinary emergency clinic as soon as possible. Dr. Jon   Sugar-free sweets are no treat for your dog. Xylitol, a sugar-free sweetener commonly found in candy and gum, could quickly cause low blood sugar, impaired muscle coordination, and seizures in dogs. Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect your dog has ingested this substance. To avoid a trip to the vet, keep bags, backpacks, and the other places you stash xylitol-sweetened treats out of reach. One Pet's story about Xylitol Link to the original article: http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/sep04/040901c.asp ****** Making Sense of Microchips   Sometimes, dogs stray. An ID tag on your pet's collar can be helpful, but it doesn't guarantee a return, especially if the tag falls off or your pooch escapes the collar. That's when a microchip is invaluable. Made of silicon and no larger than a grain of rice, the chip is placed just under the skin between a dog's shoulder blades. An identifying number embedded in the chip can be "read" by a scanner at an animal shelter or vet's office. Chips vary from $30-$80 -- certainly money well spent.

Editor's note: Microchips are a personal choice, and do not need to be used to the exclusion of other forms of identification.  A dear friend, who is a "dogcatcher" with Franklin County Animal Control told me that they usually will scan a found animal 3 times to keep looking for a chip, trying to locate an owner.  We use Avid brand chips, and wouldn't have a pet without one.  One story from the New York ASPCA, told of a cat who was returned home after a 9 year absence, when he was identified by his microchip.  It's worth thinking about. S.Patterson

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The next stories are From the HomeAgain Pet Finder Team.  HomeAgain is one of the companies who produces microchips for animals.  These are some of their stories.

Tashatu, female Rottweiler
Tashatu was stolen over a month before turning up at the dog pound. Before Tashatu was euthanized, they scanned a HomeAgain microchip and we called the owner. The owner was thrilled and said without the microchip she would have never gotten her dog back!

Matthew, male Beagle
We received a call on January 18, 1999 telling us that Matthew had been found. A lady found Matthew on Halloween night of 1998. When she found him, he had no collar or tags, so she kept Matthew and took great care of him. When she took Matthew to the veterinarian to have a check up, the veterinarian scanned him for a microchip. Matthew did have a HomeAgain microchip. The lady had found and cared for him unselfishly gave us a call. When we spoke to the owner, she told us that her 5-year-old son had been wishing their dog would come home. He got his wish!

Bucc, male Labrador Retriever
We receive many calls about lost Labrador Retrievers. This is our most recovered dog breed by far, with over 5,000 successfully recovered Labs and counting. In one recovery, Bucc had wandered approximately 40 miles until he was found in Valrico, Florida. The owner was in St. Petersburg, Florida, and she was amazed. So were we.

Sydney, female Golden Retriever
Sydney recently had a litter of puppies. Her owner took her for a special duck-hunting trip as a reward for doing such a good job with the delivery. Once up in Susanville, California, he lost her in the woods. Exactly 24 hours after she ran off, a call came in that she had been found. We were unable to reach the owner in person, so we called the alternate contact and she was thrilled. A few minutes later, Sydney's owner called and told us that they were on their way to pick her up.

Nick, male German Shepherd
Nick was found in Lakeville, Minnesota, but his owner lived in Costa Mesa, California. When we called the owner at work, we found that he no longer worked there. When we tried his home, we got his answering machine. When we called the alternate number, we got another answering machine. When we called the second alternate number, we were told that the owner was traveling with the dog, but that I should call his parents. It turns out his parents were not at home either; they were on vacation in Las Vegas, NV. We did get the name of the hotel and we looked up the number on the internet and called the front desk. They rang the room and woke the parents up well before their wake-up call. They were happy to hear from us and were able to reach their son, who got his dog back just one hour later. He was thrilled that we would go to the extra mile to find him. We were thrilled that the person who found Nick was able to hang onto him while we did our detective work. 

Buddy, male Jack Russell Terrier
Buddy and his owner were at a gas station. While Buddy's owner was pumping gas, Buddy had his eye on the grocery store across the street. When Buddy's owner went inside the station to pay, Buddy escaped in search of the pet food isle. Our 800 number was called from a pay phone at the grocery store and Buddy's shopping experience was over when his owner drove over to pick him up.

Texas, male Labrador Retriever
The owner lost his dog, Texas, while he was out of town over the weekend. He searched all night in the woods of Plainville, Texas before he returned home to Highlands Ranch, Colorado. The next day, some hunters who found the dog lying in a field near the road called us. Texas had been hit by a car and was badly injured, so they took him to the veterinarian. Texas needed immediate attention, but survived. His owner drove back to Plainville after we told him that Texas had been found. Texas is scheduled for surgery on his leg but is expected to make a full recovery.
 

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