Skin growths are lumps of tissue that are within the skin or can be felt under the skin. Dogs can develop small bumps (papules) or larger bumps (nodules) on their skin. These lumps and bumps are fairly common occurrences, especially in the older dog.

Very often the word “lump” brings the word “cancer” to mind. However, there are many other causes of lumps. A skin growth or mass may be a malignant or benign tumor, an abscess, a cyst, a hematoma (blood-filled mass) or a reaction by the skin to an allergen (hives). Lumps are often benign accumulations of fat called lipomas. However, all lumps should be evaluated for the possibility of malignancy.

What to Watch For

Any new lump or bump should be evaluated right away, especially a lump that is rapidly growing, is warm or painful, is ulcerated or bleeding, is irregular in shape or is well attached to the tissues under the skin.

Courage Update: Vet Kennel Attendant at Center of Animal Cruelty Case Terminated
Citing death threats from angry members of the public, hospital administrator Gilbert Velasquez of the Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital has confirmed the termination of Kimberly Nizato, the California woman charged with tying a German Shepherd out and leaving it to starve for five weeks. In a statement issued last week, Velasquez had indicated that the hospital intended to continue Nizato’s employment after she proclaimed her innocence in a private conversation. Hospital officials reversed that decision when evidence led to formal charges in the case and Velasquez began receiving death threat calls.

I need ideas on how to educate people about the advantage of pet adoption vs puppy mills. Do you know that there are still hundreds of people that have no idea what a puppy mill is? So this is short and sweet, just send me ideas and I’ll compose a blog and share it. I’ll also work on implementing all viable ideas. That’s it!! Put on your thinking caps.

Doggie Love

My dog Brooklyn is always there for me with unconditional love so I decided it was time for a new toy. I had seen the doggie bubble blower that blows bacon flavored bubbles..Yes, I said bacon flavored bubbles. What dog could resist? While watching the Animal Planet show “It’s Me or the Dog” I was amazed at how much fun the puppies were having chasing the bubbles as they sniffed away.

I set out to find the bubble blower for my dog. With help from facebook friends I found the site and immediately ordered it. Two days later it arrived. I was so excited. What fun Brooklyn and I were going to have. I opened the package as quickly as I could and began blowing bubbles in the air waiting for the fun to begin. OH no, after one sniff he looked at the bubbles as though they were aliens. He then looked at me as if to say, “What are you doing?” After a few more bubbles he got up and went outside. Mmm maybe he’ll like them if we’re outside and he can really run after them. So I followed him outside and began to blow more bubbles. Oh dear, he gave me that look again. Okay, I may not be as smart as my dog but I got the message: He HATES the bubbles.

Of course I was disappointed and I thought back to the Kong toy that he didn’t like either. All my pet sitting and dog walking clients like their Kong toys. That’s it!! I’ll use the bubble blower with my pet sitting and dog walking clients. My “other” dogs will like the bubble blower. I know my Labrododdles will love it. I’m still a little sad that Brooklyn won’t play with me but I know I’ll get to play with my other “furry friends”.

As a dog lover, you know that having a dog means having to deal with doggy odor on a daily basis. Young dogs, sick dogs and even old dogs can make mistakes. It is not uncommon for some older dogs to accidentally urinate in the house, or to have an episode of vomiting or diarrhea.

I talk about doggy odor a lot – mostly because it’s a big problem for dog owners. Doggy odor from drool or from your dog’s wet coat can make everything smell like dog – your furniture, your bed, your pillows … even your car.

Sometimes younger dogs can get sick or have house training problems. Older dogs can become confused. Sometimes they just can’t hold their urine as well as they used to. They can have accidents or leak urine in their bedding. It happens all the time.

Once they urinate in the house, it seem like the smell never goes away. And if you’ve had problems with your dog urinating in the house, you know that this is a smell that can be especially strong.

What can you do? Here are some tips:

1. Make sure to give your dog PLENTY of opportunities to urinate. Don’t test your dog. Take him out even before you think he needs to go.

2. Wash your dog’s bedding and blankets every week. Some older dogs will have trouble with leaking urine or anal glands … and their bedding stinks. That musty “wet dog smell”, dirt, drool and other odors can also get sealed in to your dog’s bedding, so wash it weekly.

3. Wash your dog. Some dogs need to be bathed every week while others only need to be bathed every few weeks to a month. If you can smell your dog, he definitely needs a bath! Make sure to bathe your dog on a regular basis.

4. Promptly clean all odors. If your dog vomits, has diarrhea or if he has an “accident”, quickly clean up the mess. Use white paper towels and clean/dry the mess as best you can. You can also use water.

5. Neutralize odors. Yes, doggy odors can be neutralized. A product called Zero Odor works very well to do just that. This product bonds with the odor molecule and changes it so it doesn’t stink. It is the only product we’ve found that will actually take away pet odor – for good. You can spray the floor, bedding, furniture, carpets and any areas where your dog (or any dog) may have urinated in the house.

6. We make sacrifices for the dogs we love, but living with daily doggy odor can be a real challenge. When your house smells like dog, life can get pretty miserable. And who wants to expose “outsiders” to that smell? It’s enough to make you cringe every time someone comes to the door.

Thanks to Dr. Jon

Feature: Protect Your Dog From Those Cold Winter Months: 9 Tips
That Can Help.

Cold, frigid weather presents the same problems for pets as it does
for some humans. If your dog is uncomfortable in the cold, expect
him to shiver or hold up his paws as he walks. Left outside for
extended periods of time, your dog can experience frostbite or
hypothermia.

Look for discoloring of the skin, especially on the ear tips and
other extremities. If you find any signs, contact your veterinarian.
Salt or other ice-melting chemicals as well as antifreeze can be
extremely hazardous and life-threatening for the dog that ingests
them. Road salt also can cause sores if it becomes lodged between
your dog’s footpads.

Dogs at risk from the cold and winter-related hazards, whether they
live indoors or out, need special care.

Here are a few tips:

1. Place a flannel sheet over your dog’s bed for extra warmth.

2. To keep warm, your dog may like to sleep on floor heating vents
that can catch the identification tags attached to his collar. If
your dog likes to snooze over a floor vent, put his tags in a Pet
Pocket, which attaches to his collar.

3. In cold weather, your dog will need more energy to fight the cold
in the form of extra calories, so don’t be afraid to offer him
additional food in the winter.

4. Be sure to wipe off your dog’s paws when he comes in from the
outside to prevent salt and other chemicals from sticking to his feet.

5. Keep antifreeze out of your dog’s reach, and be sure to clean up
any that may have spilled in the garage or driveway.

6. If your dog is accustomed to living the good life indoors, don’t
allow him to stay outside for extended periods of time in cold weather.

7. Make sure your dog has a warm, draft-free place to sleep. Since
warm air rises, offering him a bed off the floor will add extra
warmth and comfort for winter dreaming.

8. Don’t allow your dog to be off leash in a snowstorm or ice storm.
If he gets lost, he will not be able to use his sense of smell to
find his way home.

9. If your dog is short-haired, elderly, or sensitive to the cold,
even for short walks, consider purchasing a sweater for him to wear
in cold weather.
These are great tips from Adam Katz. You probably won’t need these if you live here in SoCal unless you travel to some place like Big Bear, but it’s good to know if you’re traveling with your dog to colder parts of the country.