Brief Magazine

PHOTO BY PINAKI RANJAN BERA
The
Editor
Karan Verma
O
SURVIVING
WINTERS
You probably have a
yearly routine to prepare
yourself for the season
change. Don’t forget to
take precautions to
keep your dog warm
and healthy.
ne would look at this bear-like
bundle of joy lying at my feet
and assume he could easily live
outdoors in the most frigid temperatures. That’s what most people who
meet him outside during his morning walks ask me. The slobber even
prompted a little schoolboy waiting for
his bus to ask, “Uncle, what if the drool
freezes”? Agreed that temperatures
aren’t quite low enough to convert the
goobers to ice, but 4.2 degrees in Delhi
can be bad enough for domesticated
dogs to stay out regardless of coat
type. According to physics experts, the
freezing point of saliva is typically between -30 to -40 degrees. So the drool
will survive, but what about the rest of
the dog? Given the severe temperature, I decided to dispel some common
myths about pets’ resistance to bitter
cold. There are some breeds that are
designed to withstand cold temperatures, such as Alaskan Huskies, Malamutes, and even German Shepherds.
Those breeds have a double coat
consisting of a coarse outer coat and
a thick, woolly undercoat. Their double
coat protects them from the cold by
trapping air between the layers of hair,
thus creating a “barrier” between the
freezing cold air outside and the dog’s
skin. Labrador Retrievers do not have
this type of coat. They have a short
stock coat, which is highly water repel-
lent (they were bred to be water dogs,
after all), but does not protect them
as well against the bitter cold. Aside
from the coat, the other thing that
makes your dog unsuitable for staying outside in the cold is his age. Very
young dogs as well as very old dogs
cannot withstand harsh temperatures
as well as normal, healthy adult dogs.
It’s the same with people ... children
and the elderly are much more at risk
in extreme climates (cold and heat)
than healthy young adults are. While
paw pads contain a thick layer of fat
they are by no means freeze-proof. All
extremities (nose, ears, paws, tail) are
subject to cold-related problems during
sustained periods of exposure. Thankfully, there’s no ice in Delhi but wherever
there is like Shimla, Uttarakhand and
Srinagar, ice and road chemicals can
cause paw pads to crack and bleed.
Wipe and examine paws after every
journey outside. If pads are dry or
cracked, apply bag balm or other emollient. Have cold weather pet care tips
of your own? Please share them with
other readers on Facebook, or write to
us on [email protected]
as the worst of winter has yet to come.
Also, as you take all steps to ensure
your pet is safe and secure against the
cold, think about the homeless dogs
around you. Help them as much as you
can. God bless.
DISCLAIMER: Buddy Life takes no responsibility whatsoever for – and makes no warranty with respect to results that may be obtained from the use of any of our
features, or recommendations contained within our articles. We present these articles solely for informational purposes, and these articles do not replace licensed, hands
on, professional, pet-specific, veterinary care. The information in our articles are subject to interpretation and no two pets will react exactly the same to any form of
treatment. If you have any questions about the information contained within, especially as to decisions you may wish to make concerning the health or well-being of your
pet, please consult your local veterinarian. If your pet is seriously ill and especially if there is a potentially life threatening emergency involving your pet, do not wait. Take
your pet immediately to a trained veterinarian or animal emergency centre in the city in which you live.
How to contact us
EDITOR
Karan Verma
Karan puts Buddy Life together
and is the person to speak to
regarding editorial policy and
commissioning features.
Chairperson:
Pratibha Agarwal
CEO & Publisher:
Priti Bajaj
4
BUDDY LIFE
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- March, 2015
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CONTENTS
My dog has been vomiting occasionally
this week. I can’t tell if he’s sick or if he’s
reacting to all the food our baby has
started tossing on the floor. How can I
tell when stomach issues are worrisome
enough to take him to the vet? _
Chandan Arora, New Delhi
12
20
SIRIUS ABOUT DOGS
Bibek Debroy, one of
India’s most respected and
admired economists and
Professor at the Centre for
Policy Research, is happiest
when talking about his pet,
Sirius, or just about any dog.
His book Sarama and her
Children: The Dog in Indian
Myth splices his interest in
Hinduism with his love for
dogs.
Cover Photo By Pinaki
Ranjan Bera
20
26
SAVING LIVES IS
THEIR PET PROJECT
36
36
Sally and Kannan Narayanan
of Thrissur’s Save A Life
are dedicated to rescuing
abandoned animals no longer
wanted by their owners and
nursing them back to health
and then finding truly loving
homes.
30
LET’S CATCH APP!
From phone apps to
household gadgets,
technology is making life
easier and more enjoyable
for you and your dogs. If
we missed your fave, post
a comment so that we may
include it in a future story.
MARSHALLING THE
TROOPS FOR ANIMAL
RIGHTS
Maj Gen (Dr) R. M. Kharb, AVSM,
is the Chairman, Animal Welfare
Board of India (AWBI). He has
spent nearly four decades
breeding, rearing, training and
treating dogs and also authored
Dog Care Made Easy – a musthave practical guide for all those
toying with the idea of keeping a
dog as a pet.
42
Making Sense Of A
Wellness Exam
Just what is the veterinarian
looking for when they stare and
gently push, pull, and poke
your dog during a visit? Here’s
a breakdown of the major body
systems they’re checking out
and what they’re looking for (and
hoping not to find)
52
46
66
46
SEE IT ALL: FROM THE
EYES OF A DOG
58
A HEART-WARNING TALE
Well-bred Boxers have the
potential to live long and happy
lives. However, if we don’t take
enough care, it is possible for the
breed to be afflicted by either of
two hereditary heart problems
–Cardiomyopathy and Aortic
Stenosis, which can turn fatal
64
Scarcity of well-equipped animal
diagnostic clinics and trained
staff forces Kolkata pet lovers
to pool in resources and fund a
state-of-the-art facility
Unlike many other people with
disabilities, a student at Houston
carries on with her normal life all
thanks to Kim, a guide dog from
The Seeing Eye
52
PASSION PLAY
63
DOGS ON THE HILLS
Picturesque Munnar gets its first
all-breed dog show, courtesy
Kottayam Kennel Club
WAITING TO GO HOME
Even as Noida battles the
homeless dog menace, a handful
of the city’s professionals try to
spend as much time as possible
at the SPCA shelter that currently
houses 400-odd dogs waiting for
their rightful homes
66
CHERISHED COCKERS
Though largely bred to be a live-in
companion, Cocker Spaniels still
retain the genes of their hunting
ancestors, making them equally
sporty and cuddly. With a Cocker
in the house, you have a dog that’s
got the toughness and ingenuity of
a hunting dog and the sensitivity
and kindness of a household pet.
dog news from
around the world
LIFE WITH DOGS
T
he first ever pre-nuptial agreement for pet
owners has been introduced in Cambridge,
UK. Blue Cross announced the launch
of the Pet Nup, the pet equivalent of a
pre-nuptial agreement. The charity is
encouraging pet owners to consider their beloved
cats and dogs and sign up to this specially created
document to plan for the pets’ future to avoid further
heartache should their relationship come to an end. A
recent report carried out by the charity revealed that
more than one in four divorced couples in the UK has
argued over the ownership of their pets when they
split. Blue Cross figures show that marital conflict
and relationship breakdown has been the cause of
almost a thousand pets given up to Blue Cross’s rehoming centres over the past five years – an average
of four a week. The leading pet charity has partnered
with divorce lawyers, Lloyd Platt & Company, in an
attempt to stop the numbers of pets getting caught
up in marital disputes around the country and lessen
the stress and heartache for owners and pets alike.
8
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
Warring couples
in Cambridge can
now get a pre-nup
for their PET for
the first time
It comes as almost two thirds of those questioned
revealed that arguing over treasured pets had added
to the emotional turmoil of a divorce. And 66 per
cent admitted that a pre-agreed written agreement,
stipulating at the outset who would get ownership
of pets and who would pay for what in the event of
a divorce, would have made the process a lot less
upsetting and they would have argued less about
it. Vanessa Lloyd Platt, divorce lawyer, said: “Pets
are part of the family so in the event of divorce who
gets to look after the pet, as with children, is sadly all
too often the grounds for much dispute. We handle
more than 400 divorces a year, many of which have
a prenuptial agreement involved, and whilst they are
always emotional and hard for those involved, the
pre-nuptial agreements definitely take the conflict
out of them and speed up the process. Just as with
the house, the car, and the gadgets, it makes sense
to agree right at the outset who gets ownership of
the dog, horse or the chinchilla in the event of a
relationship breakdown or divorce.”
Puppy
Love
Science gives a glimpse of
what dogs really think
Y
ou probably already believe that your
dog loves you — it’s evident from the
way your dog reacts as if your arrival
home is the best thing that has ever
happened in the history of the world,
and the way your dog always chooses your
shoes as the most preferable shoes to chew
on. But beyond those clues, you could never be
quite certain what dogs really think. But science
now confirms that puppy love is real. And this
puppy love goes even deeper than just affection
and loyalty. Scientists say that dogs actually
view their owners as family. While humans have
been relying on dogs for companionship and
protection for around 30,000 years, dogs have
been relying on humans for exactly the same.
According to Brain Mic, the direct brain-based
and scientific evidence to prove that dogs
love their humans was found in a recent study
using neuroimaging to study odor processing
in the canine brain. Using dogs trained to lie
very still in an MRI machine, animal cognition
scientists at Emory University used functional
magnetic resonance imaging to measure the
response in a dog’s brain to the smell of people
and other dogs, both familiar and unfamiliar.
And if smelling doesn’t seem to equate love,
consider this: Dogs use their sense of smell to
filter everything. It’s the way dogs move through
the world, and the sense they rely on the most.
Because of that, scientists say that the way
dogs process smell actually gives a great insight
into their social behaviour. And of all the smells
the dogs smelled during the MRI, it was only the
scent of the dogs’ owners that triggered activity
in the caudate nucleus of the brain — otherwise
known as the “reward center.” This indicates
that, of all the many smells dogs constantly
process through their ultra-sensitive noses,
dogs love even the hint of their humans’ scent
above anything and anyone else. The results of
the study focusing on smell preferences in dogs
seem to support other canine neuroimaging
research, such as the study involving canine
brain activity in response to different human
and dog sounds. The study showed that
dogs, just like their human counterparts, show
“brain sensitivity to vocal cues of emotional
valence.” In other words, there are remarkable
similarities to the way dog and human brains
react to emotional sounds, whether happy or
sad. So when it seems as though your dog
is sympathizing — or rejoicing — with you,
chances are, you are right.
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
9
The story
of the dog
with no
front paws
is actually
adorable
M
eet Derby. He was born
with small forelegs and
no front paws. A cart
just wasn’t giving Derby the full
movement he so clearly craved.
But thanks to the kind actions of
his foster owner Tara Anderson
and the wonders of modern
technology, he has been given
a new lease of life. Because
Anderson just happens to work
for 3D Systems, which, as the
name suggests, is a 3D printing
company. So, after a lot of
science, he was given prosthetics
that allowed him to run to his
heart’s content. Derby has
now been adopted properly by
Dom and Sherri Portanova, and
judging by his Facebook page, is
enjoying life a lot.
Woman battles snake
to try to save dog
S
ure, snakes have to eat
too, but who wouldn’t do
everything they could to save
their dog from becoming a python’s
dinner? One man in Karnataka did
just that, and so did a woman in
northern Australia. Sadly, however,
while the man could save his dog,
the woman lost her Fox Terrier to the
lethal grip of the python. In the first
case, a man found his dog being
slowly encircled by the gigantic
python. In order to save him, he
grabbed a leafy tree branch and
started hitting the snake. At first it
seemed like the swatting did little
to even annoy the python, but the
10
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
man did not give up, and soon the
snake began to uncoil itself. The
dog quickly scrambled to get away
as the snake slithered off into the
woods. The dog started barking as
if to say, “that’ll teach you to mess
with me when my dad’s around!”
In the other case, Joelle Verfurth of
Cairns rushed into her back garden
when she heard her puppy yelping
in terror to find a 4.2m scrub python
coiling itself around the little dog.
She grabbed whatever she could
and threw it at the massive snake.
“What ended up getting it to let go
of the dog was actually throwing
heaps of water on to it,” she said.
She didn’t want to harm the snake,
just stun it so it would let go of
her puppy, Kate, she said. Locals
raced in to help her and the python
uncoiled itself from around the dog,
but it had been crushed to death.
They carried the python deep into
nearby bush and let it go unharmed.
“It was only a little fox terrier, and
would have just been a snack to the
python. Even just wrapping around
it once would have been enough to
kill it,” Verfurth said. Scrub pythons
are Australia’s largest snake and
can grow up to eight metres, and
have been known to crush and eat
wallabies and pigs.
Did You Know?
An estimated 1,000,000 dogs in the US have
been named as the primary beneficiaries in
their owner’s will?
This dog’s story has
a happy ending
W
hen a team of animal welfare workers
in Rajasthan found this poor dog he
was stuck to the ground and unable
to move after falling into a vat of hot
tar. But after three hours of gently
massaging vegetable oil into his skin, the team from
Udaipur-based Animal Aid Unlimited were delighted
to see the pooch back on his feet and healthy again.
“We received a call on our helpline that a dog was
stuck in a pool of tar behind the Town Hall,” says a
volunteer. “We immediately sent our ambulance to
find a young dog completely covered in a pool of tar
that had leaked out of a container. We could see his
eyes darting back and forth in a panic, but otherwise
he couldn’t move a muscle.” The tar was nearly rock
solid, but still warm enough for them to pull the dog
out of the tar so that they could take him to their
shelter for treatment. After pulling him out of the pool
he was still covered with a thick layer covering the
whole side of his body and much of his face as well.
At the shelter several care-givers got to work rubbing
vegetable oil into the tar. After about 15 minutes of
gently massaging in the oil, the tar began to heat up
and melt at their fingertips. Slowly but surely, after
nearly two hours of rubbing the oil, he was ready for
his first bath. “90% of the tar washed out in that first
bath and we waited till the next day to start another
round of oiling. The poor guy was exhausted and
needed to rest and eat,” says the volunteer. Over the
course of the next several days, they did more oiling
and bathing sessions and by day 5 he was totally
free from the tar.
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
11
E X P E RT A D V I C E
Does your dog have a pesky habit or two? Send your
behaviourial questions to [email protected]
for a chance to receive some expert advice in our next issue!
TUMMY TROUBLES
12
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
My dog has been vom
iting occasionally this
week. I
can’t tell if he’s sick or
if he’s reacting to all th
e food
our baby has started
tossing on the floor. Ho
w can
I tell when stomach iss
ues are worrisome en
to take him to the vet?
ou
gh
_ Chandan Arora, Ne
w Delhi
irstly, we’ve all been there, either
finding pet vomit on the rug or
having the dog wake us up at 2
am begging to go outside. We all
empathize with our pets: anyone
who’s had food poisoning knows
how miserable gastrointestinal
distress can be. While most of
the time the issue resolves itself
promptly, without the need for
medical intervention, occasionally
a call to the vet is needed. First,
consider your pet’s health. If your
animal is diabetic, has advanced
kidney disease, has a history
of pancreatitis, or has been
diagnosed with cancer, call
your vet if he vomits or has
diarrhea. Yes, even if it was
only once. We guarantee
the vet or veterinary
technicians will want to
speak with you. Additionally,
if you have young animals
or elderly ones, they could
become dehydrated easily,
so don’t wait to call. Next,
examine the vomit or faeces
(disgusting but important).
Clear or white foamy
liquid in vomit, sometimes
gelatinous, is typical.
There may be food; note
digested or undigested. An
animal that has vomited
more than once may bring
up bile-tinged yellow or
light brown fluid. These in and
of themselves are not always
urgent. Dark brown vomit that
looks like coffee grounds could
be indicative of GI bleeding, as
could more than a few drops of
fresh blood – these warrant an
immediate evaluation. As for stool,
mucous or fresh blood means it
is large intestinal diarrhea. This is
not always serious, as the large
intestine has a terrific blood supply
and bleeds easily if irritated; use
your judgement and err on the
side of caution. However, if there
is a considerable amount of fresh
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
13
E X P E RT A D V I C E
Does your dog have a pesky habit or
two? Send your behaviourial questions to
[email protected] for a chance to
receive some expert advice in our next issue!
blood, or if the stools are dark ink-black
or dark green in colour, the pet should
be promptly examined. Look for foreign
material in stool and vomitus. Pieces of
fabric, stuffing, ribbon, other string-like
items, or pieces of something firm and
dense (like a corncob) should set off
alarm bells.
Next step: inventory! Is anything
missing? Socks, underwear, pieces
of toys, half the ribbon from your
child’s balloon…you get the idea. If
you’re positive you left a dish towel
out, but it’s not there now and your
dog is sick, call your vet. Inventory
also includes toxins: think medications
(yours and theirs), cleaning products,
and plants. Abrupt introduction of
new foods or treats (pet or human)
can cause GI changes. Some foods
can cause a pet’s stool to become
lighter or darker, change the frequency
of bowel movements, or cause the
stool to become firmer or softer. Very
soft stools or stools that are more
malodorous than usual could indicate
a problem. If you just opened a new
bag of the same food and now your
pet is sick, call the manufacturer. Now
let’s talk frequency. If your animal has
just been ill once, and none of the
issues raised above are concerning
you, don’t panic. If she continues to
vomit over the course of more than 6-8
hours, has diarrhea for more than 24
hours, or if he is becoming sick every
hour or every few hours, he should
be evaluated. Animals that are sick
consistently but sporadically, such as
the pup that vomits twice a week like
clockwork, should also be evaluated,
although their problem may be a less
urgent one. However, if the pet appears
uncomfortable, weak or lethargic,
14
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
bring him in even if you think he’s
only just gotten sick. First aid is
straightforward. Withhold food
and water from vomiting animals
for 8-12 hours. If the vomiting
stops, reintroduce small amounts
of water or Pedialyte (about 1
teaspoon per pound) every 3
or so hours. If that stays down,
offer additional fluids and small
amounts of boiled white rice
mixed with plain boiled whitemeat chicken every 3-4 hours.
If no vomiting occurs, gradually
increase the size of the meals
and decrease the frequency
over 2-3 days, and then slowly
transition back to their regular
diet over another 3-4 days if
they are doing well. This same
plan applies to diarrhea patients,
except you should not withhold
food and water to start. If your
pet does not want to eat, or
continues to have vomiting or
diarrhea, call your veterinarian.
Do not attempt to give over-thecounter medications without first
consulting your veterinarian’s
office. Just remember: if you are
unsure how serious of a situation
you and your pet are facing, you
can always call your veterinarian’s
office and ask.
E X P E RT A D V I C E
Does your dog have a pesky habit or
two? Send your behaviourial questions to
[email protected] for a chance to
receive some expert advice in our next issue!
TO TUG OR NOT TO TUG:
THAT IS THE QUESTION
16
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
t
ut there abou
o
n
o
ti
a
rm
fo
of misin
r dog. Dire
There is a lot
Tug with you
f
o
e
m
a
g
e
ke if
playing th
les abound, li
ru
ry
ra
it
rb
a
ecome
warnings and
dog he will b
r
u
o
y
h
it
w
ssion
g
you play tu
t retain posse
s
u
m
u
o
y
t
a
r th
e dog
aggressive. O
e game, or th
th
f
o
d
n
e
e
th
at tug,
of the toy at
t the dog win
le
u
o
y
if
t
a
in a
th
on. Also,
ominant. I’m
d
e
m
o
c
e
b
y
will think he w
d
are weak an
ing tug with m
u
y
o
la
y
p
k
h
in
it
th
w
l
il
d
a
he w
go ahe
ther I should
umbai
dilemma whe
ika Bansal, M
h
d
a
R
_
r.
o
d
Labra
Fortunately, these statements
are simply untrue. There is no
evidence backing any of these
ideas, and plenty of evidence
to the contrary. Tug is about
having fun and getting exercise.
It is also a great opportunity to
teach your dog important skills
like cooperation and impulse
control... and you can even let
him win.
TUG IS A COOPERATIVE
GAME. There have been at least
two studies done (Goodloe and
Borchelt, 1998; Rooney and
Bradshaw, 2003) on playing tug
with dogs that have shown there
is no link between the game
and an increase in aggressive
behaviour or dominance. In
fact, both studies showed that
dogs who engage in this type
of play with their owners score
higher on amenability (playful,
approach quickly when called,
lick owners frequently) and are
less likely to have separation
issues. They also demonstrated
that there is no difference in
dominance behaviour in dogs
after winning or losing at the
game, or whether the dog or
owner retains the toy at the end
of the game. Tug is a cooperative
game, not a competitive game.
When dogs play tug, they are
having a great time playing with
a friend, not vying for possession
of a resource. When you tug
with your dog and he wins,
does he run off with the toy,
congratulating himself on his
superior strength? Of course not!
He thinks, “That was great! Let’s
play again!” and immediately tries
to entice you to grab the toy for
another round. Playing tug with
your dog is an excellent way to
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
17
E X P E RT A D V I C E
Does your dog have a pesky habit or
two? Send your behaviourial questions to
[email protected] for a chance to
receive some expert advice in our next issue!
PULLING ON
THE LEASH
keep him exercised, occupied, and even teach
him important impulse control.
WHEN PLAYING TUG, KEEP THESE RULES
IN MIND: Teeth do not touch human flesh.
Ever. The dog must know that this is not okay
and learn to control his bite. If teeth touch flesh
during the game, immediately drop the toy like
it is on fire and walk away. The dog will quickly
learn that touching flesh with teeth ends this
wonderful game and take extra care about how
he uses his jaws. Put the game on cue. We
don’t want the pup to think that every time you
try to take something from his mouth it is an
invitation to tug, so make sure it is clear to him
when the game is on. You can do this by using
a designated tug toy, or by giving a verbal cue
like “Tug!” to initiate the game. If the dog tries to
tug when you haven’t given the cue, simply let
go as soon as he starts to pull, and pull back
only after you give the cue. The importance of
“Give” or “Drop It.” It is also an excellent idea to
teach your dog a strong “give” or “drop it” cue,
and use this game as an opportunity to practice
it. . Ask your dog to “give” while playing tug. If he
does, play again! If he fails to comply when you
ask him to give up the toy, simply end the game
by dropping the toy and walking away.
TUG TEACHES IMPULSE CONTROL. You
can take advantage of the Tug Game as an
opportunity to practice impulse control by
asking for calm, polite behaviour before you will
play. If you have the toy, wait for your dog to sit
calmly before you present it to him and give the
cue to tug. If your dog has the toy, require him
to sit calmly before you will take your end and
give the cue to tug. Practicing this consistently
throughout the game will help to teach your
pup to go from revved up and excited to calm
quickly, a valuable skill to have!
DON’T WORRY & HAVE FUN. Go nuts and
have some fun playing tug and bonding with
your dog! Not only is it a great time and great
exercise, but it fosters a spirit of cooperation and
is a great opportunity to teach your pup some
important life skills. Your dog will thank you for it!
18
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
I must admit that I don’t take
my dog on as many walks as I
should because I have problems
keeping him under control. No
matter how much I tell him to behave and
pull him towards me, he won’t listen and
drags me along wherever he wants to go.
What do I do? How do I train him not to
pull on the leash?
_ Umang Bhardwaj, Lucknow
ell the simple answer is they have never been
taught not to. It seems very obvious and probably
a little on the frustrating side but it really is the
truth. You have to remember that puppies and
even dogs, for that matter, were not born wearing
collars and leashes, and they really have no
idea what these contraptions are for, unless we
teach them. Dogs, like many people, are instant
gratification animals. If they see something they
want or are interested in, they go
investigate! Unfortunately if you are
connected to afore mentioned dog
via a leash, they simply drag you
along for the ride! A dog that pulls
has nothing to do with dominance
or malice; they simply don’t yet
understand what these tools are for
and why on earth you have chosen
to make them wear these weird
feeling things.
DOMINANCE THEORY?
Without getting into name-calling,
let’s just say some people in the
realm of dog training look at the
pulling on a leash as a direct
challenge to their authority and a way
for a dog to dominate them. Really?
Come on now, do you really think
dogs are in the “world domination”
business? Dogs do not have the
cognitive ability to make or even
attempt these grandiose power
grabs…at least in the way some
humans interpret them! Dogs, if left
to their own devices (without prior
training,) simply figure out what works
and what does not! We believe in the
fact that dogs will not do anything
that is not rewarding to them! Up till
now, in Fido’s life he has learned that
the fastest way to get to that “crazy
squirrel” is to save time and drag
Mom or Dad over there as well! It has
always worked in the past and Mom
& Dad must not mind because all
they do is hold on and yell (bark) like
crazy on the way.
TRY A NEW TACTIC
Have you thought that to the dog, it
might just appear you are having as
much fun as he/she is on the way
to see said squirrel? So how do we
go about teaching Fido not to pull,
you ask? Well in this guy’s opinion
it starts with wrapping the leash
around your waist, putting one foot
in front of the other and using a basic
obedience command! This does
NOT mean using choke chains, leash
jerk, raised frustration and increased
blood pressure for both you and
the dog! As we discussed earlier,
puppies/dogs have no idea what a
leash or collar are for and it is our job
to teach it right from the beginning.
So, let’s start simple and use the
idea of tethering to teach Fido that
being close to mom or dad is a good
thing! Start by cinching a 6-foot leash
around your waist and attaching
it to the dog! Now you have, in a
matter of speaking, an umbilical cord
between you and your dog! Not to
mention, and very important, you
have eliminated your hands from the
picture! In many cases we create
our own problems with leashes by
constantly tugging, pulling and jerking
on our dogs without even realizing
it! Remember Newton’s third law of
motion? Every action has an equal
and opposite reaction!
By putting pressure on the dog’s
neck, even without realising it, you
are the one creating the opposite pull
by the dog! By simply taking your
hands out of the equation you are
starting the learning process! The
next step in the process is asking
the dog for a sit! If you have not
taught your dog this command, stop
immediately and go back on this
command and learn sit! You cannot
continue leash training without this
basic command! Now, with the dog
attached to you via the leash, but
without the use of your hands, take
one giant step in any direction and
ask Fido for a sit! Once the dog is
sitting, CLICK, LAVISH WITH PRAISE
AND GIVE A FOOD REWARD! Again,
take one giant step, ask for a sit and
reward. Before you know it, you are
walking all over the house one step
at a time, while keeping the dog’s
attention and guess what…no pull!
As you get better, you will now take
two giant steps then up it to three
between sits; and as time goes by
the giant step become normal steps
and now we are walking. When you
get really good inside the house, take
this show on the road!
Remember however, that walking
in the living room and the front yard
are totally different ball games! The
distractions of the front yard are
really hard and you will probably
have to go back to the one giant
step stage for a while before moving
on! This sounds really simple and
it is, but it teaches three critical
aspects of dog training! First that to
walk a dog well, you need to have a
loose leash! The dog should follow
you and your movements not the
directions they feel on their neck!
Two, that by keeping a close eye
on their owner and paying attention
(see “watch me” command) Fido
is rewarded on a walk, and third
that anytime the human stops on a
walk the dog should also stop and
sit, waiting for what’s next! This is
the perfect way to teach a puppy
or young dog to walk nicely on a
leash. But what, if anything, can be
done with a dog who has already
learned that pulling is not only
allowed, but also rewarded? Don’t
worry, we can handle that one also,
and in many ways it will follow these
basic principles, just using different
techniques!
Be aware, it will take time and
practice to change bad habits. So,
get your walking shoes, your dog and
be willing to admit that it won’t be a
quick fix.
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
19
Debroy with wife Suparna and Sirius at
the neighbourhood park at Vasant Kunj
in South Delhi
20
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
Sirius
about
Bibek Debroy, one of India’s much respected and admired economists and
Professor at the Centre for Policy Research, who’s bestowed with a rare
gift to write as well as the capability to conduct innovative research, is
happiest when talking about his pet, Sirius, or just about any dog. Besides
writing several publications on economics, he has translated the Vedas,
Puranas, Upanishads and Bhagvad Gita into English. He is currently working
on an unabridged translation of the Mahabharata in 10 volumes, translated
from the Sanskrit, of which eight volumes have already been published. His
book Sarama and her Children: The Dog in Indian Myth (Penguin India)
splices his interest in Hinduism with his love for dogs. Here, he shares his
love for the canine kind with Madhavi Shree. Excerpts:
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
21
Were you always attached to
dogs?
For both of us, Suparna and I, there
have always been dogs in the house,
in our growing up years. Perhaps
those can be described as dogs that
belonged to our parents. So yes, both
of us have always been attached to
dogs, pets and “strays”. When we got
married, Suparna would continually
befriend strays, feed them, bring
puppies home and bathe them. These
were thus semi-adopted dogs, not
quite pets. I guess subconsciously, we
always knew we would have a proper
pet some day.
Sounds really interesting, but
it must have taken a lot of
research…
To write this book, I read a lot.
That was a bit like desk research,
but we did travel also. The book
is illustrated…it has photographs.
The word “Bhairava” has different
meanings and manifestations. In some
of these, Bhairava is not equated with
Shiva. In one of these manifestations,
in Kala-Bhairava form, Kala-Bhairava’s
mount is a dog, a fact that is not
always known. Hence, there are plenty
of Kala-Bhairava temples, with images
of dogs, and dogs are worshipped in
22
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
these temples. We travelled around,
taking pictures of these. In the prehistoric cave paintings in Bhimbhetka
(circa 15,000 BCE), there is a black
and white painting of a man leading a
dog on a leash. We went there too.
When did you get your first pet
and tell us about him?
His name is Sirius. He is not a pet.
He is our son. He has been with
us since 2008. We had gone to
Mussoorie and found him in a shop
on Mall Road there. He was a puppy
then, about two months old. He is
brown and white, mostly white, with a
furry tail. Breeds are of recent origin,
and “foreign breeds” are even more
recent. Having said this, there are
four indigenous Indian breeds – the
Mudhol Hound, the Rampur Hound,
the Himalayan Sheep Dog and the
Rajapalayam. The Indian postal
department brought out four postage
stamps in their honour in 2005. So
you might say that these are proper
Indian breeds. Sirius is a Himalayan
sheep dog. These are mastiffs, not
hounds. There are two types of
Himalayan sheep dogs – Tibetan and
Bhutiya. Tibetans are larger. Sirius
is a Bhutiya, also known as “gaddi”.
Bhutiyas have thick fur, medium fur
You have even authored a very
interesting book Sarama and
Her Children about dogs with
reference from mythology.
How did you get interested in
the project?
I have always been interested
in Sanskrit and our sacred
texts. There is an impression
that Hinduism looks down on
dogs. I had translated the Vedas
in abridged form earlier. The
publisher wanted an unabridged
translation because he felt there
was a market for this. When I
began to re-read the Vedas with
that lens, I found that in the Rig
Veda, there is a reference to
dogs being used as beasts of
burden. In the Yajur Veda, I found
a shloka addressed to a dog.
Such references hadn’t registered
earlier. I began to read – the
Ramayana, the Mahabharata,
the Puranas, the Jataka stories,
Panchatantra and soon, a very
interesting hypothesis emerged.
You should read the book to find
out what that hypothesis is. The
book was published by Penguin
in 2008. Sarama is the dog of the
gods and the mother of all dogs,
which is why dogs are known as
“sarameya”. There are plenty of
references to dogs in our texts.
Here, I must tell you that the dog
that followed the Pandavas wasn’t
a proper dog. It was the god
Dharma, disguised as a dog.
and thin fur. Sirius has medium fur. It is
tough for dogs with thick fur to survive
in Delhi’s heat. Most Bhutiyas are grey,
black or tawny. His white complexion
is therefore somewhat unusual. He
looks a bit like a Retriever or a Golden
Labrador, but is neither. Bhutiyas were
meant to guard and protect sheep. As
dogs go, they are therefore not quite
domesticated pets and prefer to be
away from humans. Sirius is extremely
friendly now. But he wasn’t like that
when we brought him from Mussoorie.
We hired a car to bring him to Delhi.
(We had gone to Mussoorie by train.)
How many dogs do you have?
Which breeds and what are their
names?
Sirius is an only child. We have no other
dogs. He has several friends in the
neighbourhood, so-called strays. They
are fed and tended to. But they are not
quite proper pets.
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BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
Any particular reason for its
name?
Ignorant people think he is named
“Serious”. He is named Sirius, after
the dog-star, the brightest star in the
firmament, in the constellation of Canis
Major. When we named him, we didn’t
know there was a dog with the same
name in the Harry Potter series.
generally do. The routine also depends
a bit on the season. During the
summer, he suffers from the heat and
the AC is perpetually on. He doesn’t
like to go out that much, except in the
evening. He is happier during the winter
and in the evenings. Some of those
walks with Suparna are romps and
frolicking with Suparna in the park.
If you could share their daily
routine with our readers...
Daily routine is a bit difficult to describe.
Sirius sleeps with us, on our bed. He
gets up when we get up. Having had
his morning snacks (dog biscuits), he
goes out for a walk. He has a meal with
us when we have lunch. But his major
meal is in the evening, chicken and rice.
He goes out for a walk in the afternoon
and yet again at night. That walk in the
night is with Suparna and is fun and
games, saying hello to all his friends.
Other than walks, most of the day is
spent in sleeping, which is what dogs
Do you take your pet out of town
or to friends’ houses sometimes?
He loves riding in the car with the
window rolled down and his neck
sticking out. The front seat, next to the
driver, is reserved for him. He hasn’t
quite been out of town, except long
drives, even to places like Neemrana.
Part of the problem is finding places
that are dog-friendly and transportation
(other than a car) that is dog-friendly.
He has been to the houses of several
friends, who don’t have dogs. If the
friends have dogs, it doesn’t work out.
Dogs are extremely territorial and there
are fights. We tried it once with a friend.
It didn’t work out and we avoid it. See,
what’s important is not our pleasure,
but what brings him comfort. When we
travel, he is happier at home, with the
maid (who loves him enormously), in
his familiar surroundings.
Who is a better company: a man,
woman, or a dog and why?
This isn’t a question of trade-offs and
substitutes. Human relationships are
based much more on a quid pro quo,
explicit or implicit. For a dog-human
relationship, the quid pro quo is much
less. A dog loves you, regardless.
Your pet must’ve given you some
anxious moments. Please share
some interesting happenings
with our readers.
There are several. Sirius has now been
neutered. But before that, he was
very aggressive and wild, pursuing
all the female dogs in the vicinity and
fighting with all the males. There was
an occasion when Suparna took him
out for a walk and he fought with
a Dalmatian. Suparna managed to
separate them. (The owner of the
Dalmatian had given up.) Sirius came
back with a bleeding gash across his
face. Next morning, she took him to
the vet for his shots and reported to
the vet what had happened. The vet
replied, “I know. The Dalmatian was
here half an hour ago, with a torn
ear.” At that time, he would disappear
for hours on end. We would roam
around, searching for him. Neighbours
pointed to all the stray puppies born
in the vicinity and any puppy that was
remotely white and bushy was ascribed
to his parentage. At those times, he
used to be so restless and unhappy
that we got him neutered. After the
operation, when he came to his
senses, his expression of relief when
he saw Suparna was nothing short
of human. Like all human sons, he is
much more attached to his mother.
Do you send your dog(s) to the
groomer, or you prefer grooming
yourself?
He is groomed at home. When he goes
to the vet, his nails are clipped.
Where do you take him if he’s
sick or something? Do you
recommend your vet to other pet
lovers?
He goes to a vet named Dr R. T.
Sharma. He is very good. Yes, we have
recommended him to other pet lovers.
How do you feel about homeless
dogs? What do you think should
be done for their plight?
The world is divided into two kinds of
people – good and bad. Good people
like animals and dogs in particular.
Bad people hate dogs. There are
plenty of homeless and stray dogs in
our neighbourhood. The bad people
stone them and beat them. There have
been occasions when puppies have
been killed. The good people have
befriended them. They feed them and
put collars around their necks, so that
the municipal corporation doesn’t pick
them up. NGOs (our vet also runs
most dogs are still unleashed, pets or
otherwise. A dog doesn’t attack, unless
it has been provoked, or unless it is ill.
(Packs can be different.)
Have you ever lost a furry friend?
If yes, then how did you cope with
the loss?
Earlier (before our marriage), I have had
dogs and they have died. You miss
them and keep remembering them.
But the response depends on how
you look at death, human or canine.
Death is inevitable and a dog has a
much shorter lifespan than a human’s.
Compared to those earlier dogs, Sirius
is much closer to us. When it is his time
to depart, it is very difficult to visualise
how we will cope. When a pet dog dies,
Have you ever taken your pet to the
dog park? What was his reaction
seeing so many other dogs?
As I have explained, he is no longer
belligerent and aggressive. He has
a snooty attitude though. Except
for his friendship with the strays
in the immediate neighbourhood,
he looks down on stray dogs. He thinks they are
beneath his dignity. In parks, he is therefore friendly enough with
other dogs that are pets and are on leash, though they may have
temporarily been unleashed. He barely tolerates the strays. There
are occasions when there may be a pack of aggressive and
hostile strays. In such cases, he seeks refuge with his mother.
Before getting neutered, he would probably have fought.
one) pick up these stray dogs. They
neuter/spray them, vaccinate them
and release them back here. When
the municipal corporation picks them
up, no one knows where the dogs are
subsequently released. They never
return. Dogs have as much of a right
to remain alive as we do. These strays
in our neighbourhood perform a very
useful watch-dog function, especially at
night. They chase away outsiders. Not
every homeless dog can be adopted
inside the home. But they can be
adopted as semi-pets. The answer,
of course, depends on whether it is
an urban or rural locality. In rural India,
everyone says, “We won’t have a dog in
the future. It is too painful.” Eventually,
some years down the line, they keep
another dog. Perhaps that’s what we
will do too. But that day is far away.
Sirius is with us and will be with us, for
many years still. When he goes away,
he will wait for us in the world hereafter.
It was pure chance that we adopted
him, or he adopted us, in Mussoorie.
We had no prior intention of acquiring
a dog. Had we wanted to do that, we
could have done it in Delhi too. Destiny
brought us together. And destiny will
bind us together, in this world and in
the next.
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
25
Savinglives
is their pet project
Sally and Kannan Narayanan of Thrissur’s Save A Life are dedicated
to rescuing abandoned animals no longer wanted by their owners
and nursing them back to health and then finding truly loving
homes. The animals need their help and they need ours
TEXT: SALLY KANNAN
When Kannan Narayanan, a steel fabricator,
and I, a medical transcriptionist, got married
12 years back, we shared one thing
intensely: our love for animals, especially
dogs. Ever since our marriage, we’ve been
rescuing abandoned dogs. We foster them at
our home and give them treatment, love and
care and when the dogs are healthy, they are
given up for adoption to loving homes. From
early childhood, I was raised by my parents
to love animals. We had a lot of them at
home and I was very lucky to marry Kannan,
who has always supported my love for
animals. He is the one who looks after all the
four-legged kids at our home in Thrissur.
What we believe is that the most important
thing for an abandoned and rescued dog is
the will to survive. When they are abandoned
by their owners, they are in total depression.
We have to give them a lot of love and care
and make them feel at home. More than any
medicine or treatment, what they need is
love and care. When they get that love, they
automatically get a desire to live and then
they start eating and improving day by day.
Our first encounter with abandoned dogs
came in the form of Droopy. That was around
two-and-a-half years back. As we were on
our way back home from hospital where I
was admitted, we saw him running around
on the road - totally scared and looking
lost. He had a big wound on his leg also.
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BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
We opened our car door to see what was
wrong with him and he just jumped inside
and sat there. He is still with us.
Our love for animals drew us to PAWS
Thrissur, which was started by my friend
Preethi Sreevalsan, two years back and
we joined as volunteers. We didn’t have
the resources or the courage to start on
our own, but now after successfully taking
care of so many, we were confident that we
could do it. We wanted to set an example
for our son also - to start something that he
can later carry on - and this is how Save A
Life was born.
It is very surprising to see even educated
people deserting their pets. If they come
across even a small ailment, like a stomach
upset or a skin problem, which is quite
prevalent in Kerala, they don’t hesitate
dumping their pets for fear of the disease
spreading to them. Sometimes, the reason
for abandoning the pet could be as weird as
a marriage or a kid being born in the family,
relocation, or elders to look after and the
poor creatures are just left alone to fend for
themselves. If it is a stray, they can still take
care of themselves - if they are not hit by a
vehicle, or they are stricken with a disease
- but with pets who are shunted out, it is
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
27
When they are abandoned
by their owners, they are
in total depression. We have
to give them a lot of love and
care and make them feel
at home.
very difficult to survive because they
not only lose the love of their human
friends, but they lose the will to live as
well. They stop eating and responding.
Thrissur does not have much of
veterinary facilities. It has just one
government vet hospital and a vet
college. Now we need a private facility
with a 24-hour vet service to take
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BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
care of the rescued animals. It was
because of the absence of any such
facility that Kannan did the WVS India
Veterinary Assistant Course from
ITC, Ooty, run by Illona Otter, so that
he could be a qualified veterinary
assistant. Though we still take our
rescued friends to vets, but rest of the
care we try to manage at home. The
injections, drip, saline and everything
else, we are doing ourselves. The
ailing dogs are given hot chicken soup
every day. We buy the chicken waste
from the market, which comes for
Rs 30 per kg and make soup out of
it. They just love the nutritious soup.
Otherwise, we feed them Pedigree
Puppy Chicken and milk version, to
nurse them back to health. Leo is one such example of a
rescued dog, who was found abandoned on September
23, 2014, from a ditch near a temple at Arimbur, Kerala. A
few local people had called the PAWS helpline and informed
them of this Great Dane, who had his ear almost eaten
away by maggots and was in a totally starved and pitiable
condition. We rushed to the spot immediately and brought
him home where he was looked after and nursed back to
health. Leo was too weak to even stand properly and we
could count the bones on his body. It seemed like he was
hit by a vehicle also because he had a gaping wound on
his ear, which was filled with maggots and also wounds
on his back and hip area. In just a month’s time, however,
he improved so much that people could not recognise him
anymore. Leo is now totally healthy and is back with PAWS
awaiting adoption. It is very difficult each time to part with a
foster dog but there is no other option. Only when one dog
goes to a permanent home, do we have space to take in
another. We had fostered many dogs for PAWS, while we
were volunteers there. Leo was, of course, special to us and
unlike other fosters that we’ve had. We know it’s not good
to have a favourite like that, but Leo definitely was a special
one. We got too attached to him and wanted to adopt him
for ourselves, but if we did that, we couldn’t have brought in
other rescues or fosters. It is always very hard but we have
to let go. Because there are many more out there, in same
or even worse conditions than Leo, who need our help.
Though we do not have much space at home, considering I
have my husband, a six-year old son and a mother-in-law all
living together with my rescued kids, there are times when I
wish that we had more space, money and support to take
care of these abandoned children.
Let’s
App!
CATCH
A
From phone apps to
household gadgets,
technology is making
life easier and more
enjoyable for you
and your dogs. If we
missed your fave, post
a comment so that
we may include it in a
future story.
30
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
s any poochsmooching dog
lover knows, our
furry companions
are more than just
pets, they’re part
of the family. We put care into
picking their food, bed, toys, and
sometimes even clothes — but
what about apps? The App Store
is packed with puppy-loving picks,
starting with smartphone apps
that can recognise a dog’s unique
facial features to high-tech home
security systems that monitor and
protect pets at home to learning
about different breeds, finding
lost pups, and more. We’ve even
thrown in a few fun games that
feature digital doggies and even
put together some of the newest
and coolest tech tools and apps
that will bring you and your dog
into the modern day and looking
towards the future. With millions of
pet-owning households around the
world, it’s no wonder that the tech
industry has realised that the way
to our hearts (and wallets!) is often
through our furry family members.
Pet Position The greatest fear
of any dog owner is that your
pooch will wander off and get lost.
Fortunately, advances in technology
and the rise of social networks
have made it easier than ever to
prevent dogs from going astray,
and to quickly bring them back if
they do. Pet Position (Free, iPhone/
iPod touch) maintains a database
of lost and found pets, and sends
push notifications alerting likeminded owners to be on the
lookout for Spot or Fido. The free
app also keeps track of how much
time you spend walking your dog,
and even displays all the relevant
pet-related businesses around you.
Keep Tabs Pet Position reminds
us of the tried and Tagg pet
tracker system, which is a handy
gadget and app that uses GPS
technology to allow you to keep
tabs on your dog at all times.
Simply attach the tracker to your
dog’s collar, download the Tagg
app on your smartphone and set a
“home zone.” If your dog wanders
out of bounds, you will receive an
immediate alert and can log on to
see his exact whereabouts.
Finding Rover Even high-tech
collars aren’t fail-proof, however, so
you might want to back this plan
up by registering your dog with
Finding Rover—an application that
uses innovative facial recognition
technology to help lost dogs
reunite with their owners. When
you register and snap a photo of your dog’s face, it’s
stored in Finding Rover’s database along with your
contact information. If you report your dog missing,
his unique facial features are instantly matched with
those of photos of lost dogs taken by a growing
network of shelters, veterinarians and fellow dog
lovers.
Whistle (Free, iPhone/iPod touch) works in
conjunction with a $129 Activity Monitor that
attaches to your dog’s collar and keeps track of how
much exercise and rest he’s getting. (Think of it as a
kind of FitBit for dogs.) Users can check in with the
app from anywhere there’s an Internet connection
(such as work or a five-star resort), and can even
document events with photos and notes.
Quests & Rewards is an application that is using
the power of social networks to help people locate
missing property, pets and even people after a
manmade or natural disaster. The app operates like
an electronic bulletin board, allowing anyone to post
a reward for missing property or pets. The real-time
map with coloured flags identifying missing items and
information is constantly updated to give local sleuths
vital information that helps them in their quest to help
you.
have to contend with other animals, but the app is a great
way to have fun with a new furry friend.
TAKE CARE
If the Internet puts the world at your fingertips, these next
pet-friendly apps are like putting a veterinarian in your
pocket. And while your smartphone should never take the
place of a veterinarian’s care or advice, these apps may help
keep you and your pooch safe until you can get to one.
VetFider Next to a lost dog, few things make pet owners
panic as much as a sick pooch. VetFinder (Free, iPhone/
iPod touch) makes it a snap to collect and carry around
the health data of one or more pets, and to search a global
database for a nearby veterinarian. The app can filter
searches based on specific needs, including office hours,
vets who make house calls, and emergency services.
Tick Finder (free) Download this app before your next
hike. Created by Schering-Plough Animal Health, this
app provides a simple interactive map which displays tick
infested areas reported by others users. You can also warn
Plan and Get Organised Smartphones have
truly transformed the way we plan, organise and
remember the important details of our lives. Now,
several companies are empowering pet parents to
get organised by providing apps that help track and
store important pet care information in an easily
accessible format. Many of these apps sync with
your calendar so you can set up reminders about
upcoming vet visits or health needs like administering
flea medication or heartworm preventative. Try Pet
Phone or MyPetMinder (both available on iOS) or My
Pet Record (available on Android).
Puppy Paws Thinking of bringing a new puppy
home? The Puppy Paws app gives you a leg up by
providing a platform to save and share information
about the puppies on your “shortlist.” Once you
choose your puppy and set a coming home date, a
countdown feature with checklists is activated to help
ensure that you and your home are ready for the new
arrival.
Puppy Coach 101. Once settled in, you might also
want to check out Puppy Coach 101—a user-friendly
app that helps you start the training process with
more than 30 video clips covering crate training,
grooming, teaching basic obedience, dealing with
behavioural issues and more.
Little Pet Salon. When we can’t cuddle with a real
dog, Little Pet Salon (Free, Universal) offers up virtual
pets to be bathed and dressed as though they were
our own. The breed selection is a little thin, and you’ll
Jan - March, 2015
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31
Sure, all you need to feel happy is a good
snuggle with the dog and maybe a nice
walk together. But a little technology
can help make your pet relationships
safer, more organised, and maybe a little
more fun as well.
others about tick infestations that you
uncover in your area.
Pet Poison Helpline If you’ve ever
worried after catching your dog
scarfing down something he shouldn’t,
the Pet Poison Helpline has an
app for you. When you download the
app, you get a portable, searchable
database of hundreds of toxic
household products and plants. The
app includes full-colour pictures,
detailed descriptions of symptoms
and one-touch direct dialing to the Pet
Poison Helpline.
Pet First Aid from the American Red
Cross is another lifesaver of an app
that helps you prepare for and handle
emergency situations with step-by-step
instructions, illustrations and how-to
videos on everything from bandaging
to administering medications to
performing emergency CPR. It also
allows you to store vital information
about your pet’s health and medical
history and email a summary to anyone
who may need it. Not quite sure what’s
wrong with your best bud? The petMD
Symptom Checker app will walk you
through a set of questions about your
pet’s symptoms and generate a list of
articles to help clue you in to potential
problems. Both of these handy apps
also allow you to quickly search for
nearby veterinarians in case you’re far
from home.
STAY HEALTHY
Exercise and good nutrition are
important for both the two-legged
and four. Dog Anatomy: Canine 3D.
You love dogs, but do you know them
inside and out? Dog Anatomy: Canine
3D ($4.99, Universal) offers an up-
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close, gesture-friendly visual reference
to what makes them tick. With more
than 300 anatomical 3D renderings,
this app goes under the fur to show
the inner workings of our favourite
hounds, right down to their muscles,
organs, and bones. The app even
features a brain-teasing quiz for future
vets.
Hungry Pet We know chocolate is
bad for fido but did you know that
raisins and Macadamia nuts could
also be trouble? This app allows
you to look up the health impact of
common foods on both dogs and
cats. The best part is the automatic
location detection (via GPS) for fast
access to nearby veterinary and
animal hospital.
The SmartFeeder currently in
development by Petnet, is a new
gadget that takes the guesswork
out of pet nutrition by allowing you
to monitor your dog’s caloric intake
and compare it to other dogs of
similar breed, age, weight and level
of activity. You can manage portion
sizes, eating speed and feeding times
from your laptop or smartphone. The
software alerts you when you are
running low on food, and even tells
you how many feedings you have
before the supply runs out.
SlimDoggy The SlimDoggy App let’s
you track your dog’s daily activities
(and calories burned) as well as their
daily feedings (and calories eaten).
You never again have to guess about
how much to feed your dog!
With MapMyDogWalk, you can
combine your fitness goals with those
of your favourite activity partner by
using your phone to calculate your
route, duration, pace, elevation and
calories burned. Or, let your dog do
the tracking with FitBark, an activity
monitor that is set to hit the market
soon. FitBark works like a pedometer
that attaches to your dog’s collar and
tracks active and rest time to tally
“BarkPoints” that can be measured
against daily, weekly and monthly
goals.And while you’re out exercising
with your dogs, remember to clean up
after them. The auggiedog automatic
pooper-scooper is one gadget you
will not want to leave home without,
especially if you are prone to run
out of (or forget!) your plastic bags.
The auggiedog is like a walking stick
that vacuums up poop—just push
a button to collect the waste and
another to release it where you want.
Not only is it environmentally friendly,
you’ll never have to stoop to pick up
poop again!
SECURE YOUR HOME
Gone are the days of leaving your
pup out of sight at home, thanks to
the development of cloud surveillance
technology and advanced home
security systems. iCam is an
inexpensive iPhone application that
pet owners are using to monitor
multiple live video and audio webcam
feeds from a phone or tablet. More
sophisticated cloud cameras on
the market offer greater flexibility of
placement as well as night vision and
motion-detection alert features so you
can catch your dog being naughty or
napping, day or night.
For even more control, you can
upgrade to an advanced system like
XFINITY Home by Comcast. XFINITY
Home is a 24/7 home security and
environmental monitoring system that
pet owners can customize to meet their
unique needs. Many dog parents use the
specialized features, including motion
sensors that are calibrated to a dog’s
size and weight to prevent inadvertent
tripping of the security alarm, as well as
indoor and outdoor security cameras that
keep track of pet activities. Personalised
codes can be set up for pet caretakers
to access the house in your absence,
and surveillance cameras with timestamp technology can alert you if sitters
or walkers don’t show up when they
say they will. In addition, environmental
controls like Internet-connected light
switches and thermostat settings that can
be adjusted remotely allow you keep your
home safe and comfortable, even when
you can’t be there.
Connect If your Facebook and Instagram
feeds are full of adorable pet photos, you
are not alone. Dog lovers enjoy nothing
more than showing off their best friends
and connecting with others who share
their passion.
Dog Land is one of the many emerging
social networking apps made just for
people like you. It combines the best
features of social media sites like Yelp,
Facebook and Instagram to connect dog
owners and the places they love. Users
can create personalised profiles,
follow other users, “mark their
territory” (check-in), and search for
and vote on nearby dog parks, pet
stores, veterinarians and dog-friendly
businesses. See something that
catches your eye? In Dog Land, you
don’t just like something—you
“dig it.”
Pupthat Another new photo- and
video-sharing mobile app for dogs
and their people is pupthat! “Not
only do I enjoy posting pictures of
my Miniature Pinscher constantly
to my social media channels, I am
also very entertained by photos and
videos that other owners post of
their own dogs,” says Washington,
D.C. resident Erika Gutierrez,
who co-founded the app with her
brother Carlos. And if you’re a
diehard Facebook fan, check out
PawsNPost, another brand new
social network meant to connect
pets and their parents around the
world.
Just For Fun Technology can be
just as fun as it is functional. Who
hasn’t imagined what our dogs
would say to us if they could speak?
According to Puppy Tweets, all
they need is a platform! A motionsensor tag attached to your dog’s
collar will pick up on what he’s up
to and send out one of hundreds of
humorous and heartwarming tweets
throughout the day. And if you need
a good party trick, download the My
Talking Pet app and bring your pet’s
photos to life. Sure, all you need to
feel happy is a good snuggle with the
dog and maybe a nice walk together.
But a little technology can help make
your pet relationships safer, more
organised, and maybe a little more
fun as well.
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APPLE CHIPS
Ingredients
Apples
Fruit flavoured gelatin, any flavour
Ground cinnamon
Instructions
Slice apples in uniformly thin slices
(1/8 of an inch or less) and place on a
parchment or silicone baking mat lined
baking sheet in an even layer. Slices
can touch each other, but try not to
overlap. Fit as many apples on a sheet
as you can (they shrink a lot!) If desired
sprinkle with cinnamon and gently rub
in. Alternately you can sprinkle with dry
fruit flavoured gelatin (sprinkle the dry
powder).
Bake apples at 170 for 6-8 hours, until
dry and slightly shriveled, and curled
up around edges. Turn off oven and
leave door shut until completely cooled.
Remove apples from baking sheet and
store in an airtight container.
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BUDDY LIFE
35
MARSHALLING THE
TROOPS FOR
ANIMAL RIGHTS
Maj Gen (Dr) R. M. Kharb, AVSM, is the
Chairman, Animal Welfare Board of India
(AWBI) - a statutory body constituted in
1962 by Parliament under section 4(1)
of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Act, 1960 (PCA Act). He has spent nearly
four decades breeding, rearing, training
and treating dogs and also authored Dog
Care Made Easy – a must-have practical
guide for all those toying with the idea of
keeping a dog as a pet. Written in a Q&A
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format, the book, which also includes
chapters on taking care of adult and
elderly dogs, and canine health, is
useful for both first-time and seasoned
dog-owners. Also, as a young Captain
of the Remount & Veterinary Corps
(RVC), he successfully commanded two
army dog units in counter-insurgency
operations. Decorated twice by the
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) with
commendation medals, and by the
President of India on 26 January
1996 with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
(AVSM). He is a fellow of the National
Academy of Veterinary Sciences, India,
and he also has the singular distinction
of introducing the versatile Belgian
Shepherd breed into the Army. Here
are edited excerpts of his interview
with Madhavi Shree:
What makes you so passionate about animals and
animal care?
I was born in a farmer’s family with several breeds of milk,
draught and pet animals. My grandfather reared champion
cows, buffaloes and bullocks who won several prizes in
cattle shows. He took great pride in looking after them
and I was totally influenced by his love and compassion
for animals. He treated them just like his children and each
animal responded to his/her name whenever called by him.
My love for animals made me join Veterinary College as I
wanted to be a Veterinary Surgeon. My father was also a Vet
and so is my son and also my daughter-in-law. So you may
say that compassion and love for animals runs in our veins.
After doing my Masters in Veterinary Medicines, I was
commissioned as Lieutenant in Army’s Remount &
Veterinary Corps (RVC), in 1962. I served in various
appointments in the Army for 38 years and retired as Head
of my service as a Major General. The role of RVC is to
produce, rear, train and issue all types of animals required
for the Army - be they mules, horses or dogs. The RVC is
also responsible for providing healthcare to all Army animals
and dairy cattle in Military Farms. During my tenure, we
also started to offer civic aid to animals belonging to civilian
population in remote and isolated areas where they did not
have access to medical help from State Animal Husbandry
as a welfare measure. Therefore, my entire life has been
intimately connected with animals and their care.
As a young Captain, you commanded two dog units
in counter-insurgency operations and were also
decorated by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Tell
us more about it.
Command of Army Dog units is given to those officers
who have successfully completed the Dog Training Course
for officers at RVC Centre & College, Meerut. This course
empowers you about dog behaviour, their feeding, care and
training in various disciplines such as obedience, tracking,
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
37
mentioned in the award. Now we try
and replicate similar models for helping
animals affected by Natural Calamities
under AWBI’s Natural Calamity grant of
Government of India.
guarding, patrolling and sniffing
explosives and mine detection. The
trainee is given to a 5- to 6-month-old
pup and is required to fully train him in
at least one discipline in six months’
time. Only those officers who excel
in this course are given command
of Army dog units, which are doing
tremendous work in our forward areas
to beef up security. Yes, you are right
that our dog units got commendations
of Chief of Army Staff for their
outstanding contribution.
What is your experience of
organising Veterinary Aid Camps
for animals affected by sickness
and by natural calamities with
the help of Army Veterinary Units
located in remote areas?
As I told you, I was the first Head of
RVC, who initiated the concept of
Veterinary Civic Aid programme for
animals belonging to civilians in remote
and border areas of our country who
did not have access to veterinary
help from their State Governments.
This concept was approved by Chief
of Army Staff and Army Veterinary
Units located in forward areas treated
thousands of sick and injured animals,
which improved the relationship of
Army and civil population besides
providing the much needed help to sick
animals. I was awarded Ati Vishisht
Seva Medal (AVSM) by the President
on January 26, 1996, and this was
one of my several other contributions
Do you think your experience
with the Army as well as civilian
dogs is helping you to improve
the quality of homeless dogs in
the country?
Definitely, yes. I fully understand
the general behaviour and welfare
concerns of dogs whether they live
off the street or pets, having myself
been trained and commanded Army
dog units. Besides being a Veterinary
Surgeon having specialised in surgery, I
have been able to upgrade the surgical
protocols of ABC/AR programme and
have issued a Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP) on the subject for the
guidance of NGOs / SPCAs / AWOs
engaged in Spay / Neuter programme
of street dogs. This has brought major
improvement in proper implementation
of the programme. In order to improve
the technical skills of Vets, Paravets
and Dog Catchers engaged in ABC/
AR programme, we have for the first
time introduced skill upgradation
programmes for them so that minimum
trauma is suffered by operated dogs.
How does your Army background
help you in implementing your
dream projects?
In RVC we are trained to treat all
animals employed by Army as our
friends as companion animals with lots
of compassion, care and kindness.
Therefore, one has already had the
background of rendering service to the
needy animals and having respect for
life. Also, we had a very well laid out
procedures and drill to follow, a well
disciplined way of life which is quite
different from being a Chairperson of
AWBI in an Honorary capacity. My
Veterinary background has definitely
been very useful in upgrading the skills
of NGOs / AWOs in providing care to
ownerless animals which indeed is very
challenging.
How are you planning to improve
the quality of homeless dogs’
care?
The ABC/AR programme is, in fact,
a street dog welfare promotion
programme. We want to enlarge the
scope of this programme so that
street dogs are not abused by public
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Jan - March, 2015
due to the fear of getting Rabies infection
from them. We have also recently issued
guidelines to the RWAs, civic bodies about
the Do’s and Don’ts for treating street and
pet dogs to address the street and pet
dog welfare issues. We have also issued
cards to several hundred animal activists
for permitting them to feed street dogs and
check instances of cruelties against street
dogs.
What is Animal Birth Control (ABC)
that you introduced?
Animal Birth Control / Anti Rabies (ABC/AR)
programme deals with humane sterilization
(Spaying and Neutering) of street dogs
and their anti-Rabies vaccination postsurgery. The concept involves catching
of dogs, bringing them to the shelters,
pre-surgery preparation, ABC surgery,
anti-rabies inoculation and post operative
care for three to five days and releasing
the operated and vaccinated dogs to
their original habitats. This is a humane
and scientific concept of addressing
the overpopulation of street dogs and
controlling high incidence of Rabies deaths
in India as 98.6% human and animal deaths
due to Rabies take place after a rabid
dog bite if no post-exposure prophylactic
treatment is administered. This Central
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BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
Sector Scheme of the Government of
India was started in the year 2001 under
Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules 2001 of
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960
(PCA Act 1960). It was started much before
I took over as Chairman of AWBI in 2006.
How you are going to implement this
ABC policy?
The ABC/AR programme is being facilitated
by Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)
with the help of NGOs / AWOs / SPCAs
and civic bodies. The AWBI provides
the financial grants to the organisations
for carrying out the sterilization of street
dogs through the civic bodies under the
new concept of participatory ABC/AR.
Funding for the programme is equally
shared by local civic body and AWBI. This
has been done to enlarge the scope of
ABC/AR programme as sterilizing only
a few thousand dogs every year makes
no impact at the national level either to
control the overpopulation of street dogs
or the incidence of Rabies given the street
dog population of over 30 million in India.
WHO has approved this concept and has
recommended that 70% of street dog
population must be sterilized within a year
to make a positive impact.
How does the extended support
of the Government to the
Universal Declaration on Animal
Welfare (UDAW) help to reduce
the pain and suffering of millions
of farm animals and birds in the
country?
India is one of five nations who were
promoting and supporting the concept
of Universal Declaration on Animal
Welfare (UDAW). However, the main
initiative and push for this project came
from a UK-based International NGO –
World Society for Protection of Animals
(WSPA) -whose Chairperson, Maj Gen
Peter Davies, is again very passionate
of getting some Animal Rights Bill
passed in the UN to protect animals
from abuse. After he relinquished office
three years back, the concept is lying in
the cold storage.
What is ‘Rabies Free India’
programme? How far it has
become successful?
The AWBI had organised a
National Workshop on Controlling
the Population of Stray Dogs and
Road Map for Rabies Free India in
collaboration with National Institute
of Communicable Diseases and
Dept of Animal Husbandry, Ministry
of Agriculture, at National Institute of
Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi.
The workshop made recommendations
on the strategies to control Rabies
in dogs and to expand the scope
of ABC programme. The workshop
strongly recommended registration
and vaccination of pet dogs by civic
bodies and to frame necessary rules for
the same. We had coined the slogan
“Rabies Free India” way back in 2006.
The aim was to address large number
of human and animal deaths due to
Rabies, which causes huge financial
burden to the country besides loss of
life. We wanted to enlarge the scope
of Animal Birth Control Programme
for street dogs to make an impact to
control their population and Rabies
at the National level. The programme
needed intensive scale sterilization
and vaccination of dogs as was being
done in Jaipur, Chennai, Ooty and
Kalimpong where we had succeeded
in controlling the population and
incidence of Rabies. But it was only
now that after a long struggle finally the
Ministry of Health has agreed to finance
a Pilot Study for Animal Component
as part of their National Rabies Control
Programme in Haryana for Mass
Vaccination and Sterilization of street
and pet dogs in the 12th Plan. The
AWBI will be implementing the animal
component of the National Rabies
Control Programme. Thank God, our
efforts to sensitize the Government
have succeeded finally to at least start
a Pilot Study to make Rabies Free
India. It is a massive challenge, given
the huge population of street dogs in
India and the reluctance of civic bodies
to implement the Animal Birth Control
(Dogs) Rules 2001.
Tell us about your book ‘Dog
Care Made Easy’…
Dog is a very unique and special
member of our Animal Kingdom.
It is also the first animal that was
domesticated by man. Nature, or you
may call it the Almighty has bestowed
some amazing qualities to the dog.
It is the only creature who provides
unconditional love and unconditional
acceptance to human beings. I have
been fascinated by dog behaviour and
his qualities and decided to pen down
and share my feelings and experiences
in the book so that this very special
animal of our animal kingdom gets
better looking after and care by his
human masters. In fact, all animals
have made immense contribution from
time immemorial for the wellbeing of
human beings. In India, we have a
rich tradition of Ahimsa (non-violence
towards all creatures), love and
compassion for animals, from the
time of King Ashoka the Great, Lord
Buddha and Lord Mahavira. Humans
share this planet with other species of
animals and many forms of life and all
co-exist within an interdependent Ecosystem of nature. Man’s survival on
this planet depends on maintaining the
delicate balance in the co-existence
between man and animals. As man
is evolving, he is getting more and
more conscious and aware about his
obligations towards them as he now
fully understands that by addressing
the animal welfare concerns, he is
actually taking care of human welfare.
Tell us about your concept of
Modernization of Goshalas. How
you are going to achieve this?
Modernization of Goshalas is a big
challenge. We need to transform all
Goshalas as Model Goshalas so that
they are in a position to fully explore the
huge potential of bio-mass (cow dung)
for production of bio-gas, bio-fertilizers
and bio-pesticides. Energy is vital
for development and progress. Use
of bio-energy (gas & electricity) from
bio-gas can herald great revolution
in meeting the energy requirements
of rural India besides improving the
economy of Goshalas and farmers.
I firmly believe that Goshalas can
re-establish the local proven cattle
breeds such as Tharparkar, Gir,
Rathee, Kankrej, Sahiwal and Haryana
with Indian farmers with their active
participation with the help of State
Animal Husbandry Departments.
AWBI had also conducted a National
Seminar on Gaushala development/
modernization at Karnal, Haryana,
to educate/sensitize the Goshalas
on modernization concepts where
delegates from Punjab, Himachal
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana
and Delhi participated. The AWBI
is also extending financial support
to approximately 1250 Goshalas
registered with it for maintenance
of cattle, providing animal shelters
(including in-house dispensary to give
veterinary treatment to sick and injured
animals) and for purchase of animal
ambulances.
Jan - March, 2015
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41
MakingOfsense
WELLNESS EXAM
Just what is the veterinarian looking for when they stare and
gently push, pull, and poke your dog during a visit? Here’s a
breakdown of the major body systems they’re checking out
and what they’re looking for (and hoping not to find)
ost of us are aware of the routine. You reach
the veterinary clinic for your dog’s annual
wellness exam and after the exchange of
pleasantries, the receptionist hands you a
form for you to fill any changes or questions
since your last visit. After a quick stop at
the scales for a weight check, you and your
canine companion, who’s visibly shaken as
most dogs are at the clinic, are taken to an
exam room and greeted by the vet. Yet, as
you observe the doctor examining your pet,
you may think not much is happening. The vet
looks at the animal, runs his hands over his
fur, and lifts his lips and tail. In fact, other than
him putting a stethoscope on the dog’s chest,
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Jan - March, 2015
you don’t see much examining going on at all.
So what exactly occurs during a veterinary
wellness exam? A lot more than meets the
eye! Because your furry friend cannot tell
you what he’s feeling or experiencing, our
pets’ medical exams differ—and are in many
ways more comprehensive—than a human
exam. Now every veterinarian has their own
examination methods of course, but here’s
a quick look at what most of them do during
the physical exam. This will help you interpret
what your veterinarian is doing and encourage
you to ask questions and involve yourself in
the process. “Veterinarians need to engage all
of their senses during canine wellness visits,”
W
hile it’s still important
to take your pet for a
professional exam at your
vet’s clinic at least once a year, you
can keep watch on your pet’s health
in between visits by getting to know
what’s normal, and what’s not, for
your beloved four-legged.
STEPS FOR PERFORMING AN
AT-HOME PET EXAM
Perform the exam in a relaxed
environment when your pet is not
stressed or excited, or after an
exercise session or nap (when
they’re likely to be sleepy and ready
to relax). Start with the tip of their
nose, and work your way to the tip
of their tail.
Nose: First check the nose for
debris and take note of whether it is
wet or dry. Your pet’s nose will not
always be wet - it will typically vary
from moist to dry throughout the
day, depending on your pet’s body
temperature, activity level
and hydration.
Eyes: Then, take a look to see
whether there is abnormal eye
discharge. Again, you will likely
know what is normal for your pet.
For instance if your dog never gets
eye discharge and suddenly has
it, it’s a sign that there could be a
problem. Next, check whether your
pet’s pupils are symmetrical and
look at the whites of their eyes.
Red sclera (the part of the eye
that is normally white) could mean
inflammation of the eyes.
Mouth: If your pet is not
accustomed to having its mouth
Tested
At Home
Regular at-home physical
exams can help you learn
what is normal for your pet’s
body, and therefore allow
you to detect when something
is not normal.
examined, slowly acclimate him
to facial massages so that you
can eventually check their mouth,
gums and teeth. When you can,
check inside their mouth for lesions,
swelling, and bad breath. Their
gums should be pink, their teeth free
of tartar and plaque, their tongue
clear and the roof of their mouth
clean and free from debris. Next,
check the jaw line to see if it
feels normal.
Ears & the rest: Check the ears
for debris, odour and cleanliness.
Brush back the hair and look at the
skin and coat. Check for excessive
flakiness, lumps and bumps on
the sides of the spinal cord, and
evaluate muscle tone and weight.
If you feel your pet is carrying extra
weight, increase his daily activity
and feed a species-appropriate diet
(a meat-based, carb-free living
food diet).
Claws & feet: Look at their claws
and the pads of their feet, there
should be no debris between their
toes. Check for heat and swelling
over your pet’s body, and test
the range of motion of the joints;
do the joints move freely, without
resistance or difficulty?
Belly, bottom: Gently palpate their
belly to look for lumps and notice
if your pet seems to experience
discomfort. This is a good time to
also gently check both mammary
chains (do this for male dogs, too).
Even if you don’t know the names
of all the parts you are touching, if
you examine your pet regularly you
will begin to know what is normal
for your companion. When there are
changes you will notice them quite
quickly because you are familiar
with the terrain of his or her body.
Also examine your pet’s bottom for
cleanliness.
START A BODY CHART FOR
YOUR PET
If you notice an unusual lump,
bump, wart or so on during your
home exam and you don’t think it
warrants immediate attention, it’s
a good idea to start a body chart
for your pet. Simply draw a simple
diagram of your pet’s body and
note whatever you’ve found in the
appropriate place on the picture. Be
sure to include exactly where it was
found, when you found it, how big
it is and whether you’ve noticed it
getting worse. If you notice a lump
that has gotten worse a day or two
later, that warrants a trip to your vet.
Remember, in order for you to know
what’s abnormal about your pet you
first need to know what’s normal.
Performing regular at-home exams
is a simple and very effective way
for you to keep a close eye on your
pet’s health.
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
43
says Noida based Dr Jimmy James
Rappai. So now, let’s follow along
with him through a typical canine
wellness exam. Dr Rappai says
normally, a veterinarian’s exam begins
even before he places his hands on
the patient. He watches the pet move
around the room to make sure he
can see well, has good balance and
is not limping. “We also watch for
behavioural cues that indicate anxiety,
pain, itchiness or other abnormalities,”
he informs. This is also a good time
for doctors to review history forms
and discuss changes or questions
owners may have since their last visit.
Next, with the help of an assistant,
the pet is gently restrained so the
vet can begin the hands-on portion
of his exam, starting from the tip of
the nose, working back to the tip of
the tail. The eyes are checked for the
ability to see, pupil function, and for
abnormalities such as cataracts or
corneal ulcers. The lips are lifted to
check the mouth for plaque, loose
or sore teeth, ulcers and masses.
The ears are examined for debris
and itchiness, and the nostrils are
checked for symmetrical appearance
and air flow. “At the same time, we
are smelling the animal—infections,
skin conditions, and dental disease
all give off distinctive odours. For
example, an unpleasant sweet smell
on the breath might be a clue the
animal has kidney disease,” he says.
Following the examination of the
head, the vet moves down to the
neck and body. “Here, we palpate
the lymph nodes under the chin, in
front of the shoulders, and behind
the hamstrings. While running our
hands over the pet, we also feel for
strong pulses, as well as lumps,
skin irregularities and sore areas,” Dr
Rappai says. “Next we listen to the
heart and lungs with our stethoscope.
It is important to make sure that the
heart has a normal rate, sound and
rhythm; the lungs should have only
faint breath noises.” After he puts
the stethoscope away, he performs
abdominal palpations—to feel the
abdomen for tenderness, enlarged
44
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
or irregular organs, and masses.
“Depending on the type of pet, certain
additional physical manipulations may
be done.” For example, many small
dogs have loose kneecaps, so we may
take a few moments to check these
areas in particular. In senior dogs, a
rectal exam is commonly performed
to check for masses in the anal
glands and rectum. “Finally, we check
each leg, paw, and toenails and trim
long nails, if needed,” says the vet.
According to him, the physical exam
is the most important diagnostic tool
in veterinary medicine. “In performing
hundreds of exams a year and utilising
all of our senses, we are able to detect
even subtle changes that may reveal
developing diseases or abnormal
conditions,” he says. At your dog’s next
checkup, take notice of the doctor’s
actions. If it seems your vet is extra
curious to sniff your pet’s fur (or breath!)
and seems particularly interested in their
movements around the exam room, just
know it’s all a part of good preventative
care to keep our beloved pets happy
and healthy!
Fun
POOCHES HAVE ALL THE
The country’s first ever fun-filled pet convention - Pet Fed - is a
huge hit with both pooches and their human companions with a
record number of more than 9,500 visitors!
T
aking a cue from the
overwhelming response to
various consumer initiatives,
like Comic Con, Auto Expo,
Book Fairs etc., a bunch of enterprising
Delhi youngsters hit upon the brilliant
idea of holding India’s first pet
convention. An initiative of Mydea
Ventures Private Limited, the first pet
convention held on November 1, 2014,
at Dilli Haat was a runaway success.
Over 9,500 pet lovers visited the
popular exhibition grounds opposite
INA, which for once was the cynosure
of all eyes for something other than
handicrafts. Exciting activities were
planned for both the canines and
their human companions. There were
unlimited possibilities for pampering
your pet and even if you didn’t have
a pet, there were enough reasons to
instantly fall in love with little puppies
up for adoption at the event. While pet
lovers had a fantastic time with their
pooches (and shopped for adorable
pet supplies for their loved four-legged
babies,) all proceeds from the event
were marked for animal welfare.
According to Akshay Gupta, all of 21,
who founded Mydea Ventures, along
with Aishwarya Tandon and Ravdeep
Anand, the lack of such initiatives for
pets spurred the enterprise Pet Fed,
where people can have a good time
with/without their pets. He says, “The
pet industry is growing at a substantial
speed and people are also getting
receptive towards animals, still we
lack such platforms. Pet Fed aims to
achieve multi goals, including engaging
and bringing together all the pet
owners and animal lovers and providing
them with dedicated pet care services.”
Pet Fed’s other motive is to create
awareness about the atrocities that
stray animals have to go through every
day and how it can make a difference.
“People are more responsive towards
engaging and lively platforms, so
we wish to make people aware and
motivate them to do their bit through
such fun-filled events,” he adds.
Promoting adoption is also one of most
important vision of Pet Fed. A number
of NGOs, including PFA, SPCA, ICUC,
Adopt a pet, Everything MEOW etc.,
participated at Pet Fed for the same.
Another major attraction of Pet Fed
was Puppy Therapy where people
could come and play with homeless
puppies. This activity ensured people
understand that homeless dogs are as
good as pure-bred dogs and thereby
encouraging them to adopt. For pets
there were a number of games and
productive activities, like fetching,
agility, fashion show (without props),
obstacle course, sessions from vets
and animal behaviorists, free vet
check-ups and grooming sessions,
free dog confectionery and a lot more.
A number of companies from the pet
industry participated and showcased
their products and services to pet
companions.
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
45
SEE IT ALL:
from the
eyes of
a dog
Unlike many other people with disabilities,
Abhiruchi Jain’s fellow student at Houston carries
on with her normal life all thanks to Kim, a guide
dog from The Seeing Eye
46
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
First look at UHCL (University of
Houston-Clear Lake) - the land of
hawks - and you’ll fall in love with the
welcoming campus buildings, greenery
and wildlife (we have deer, raccoons,
and hold your breath, alligators!).
That’s right, alligators. At least I did. In
my very first week, I felt safe and nice
being here and exploring the place.
It felt like home, away from home. I
loved how I got to meet people from
different places and came to know
about their stories. That’s where I
met Eva Bergara, a graduate student
doing her Masters in Humanities. She
did her Bachelors in Generic Special
Education from Texas Southern. But
she has a unique story. Unlike many
other people with disabilities, her vision
loss hasn’t stopped her from pursuing
her goals in life. The Seeing Eye has a
major role to play in that. Now, what
is The Seeing Eye? It is the oldest
existing guide dog school in the world.
“They started in 1939. And I like the
fact that they’re kind of rigid and have
a routine. Some people think that their
methods are old, but I think it sticks
and they’re doing something right,”
Eva tells me. They have a one-month
course if you are a beginner and a
two-and-a-half-week course if you’re
what they call a Graduate student,
which means you’re going to get a
replacement dog. Eva’s first dog was
Bixby. She worked with him for five
years, but he retired early. She explains
us why. “You know how some of us
get into jobs that we don’t like, and I
think that’s what happened with him.
He hated vehicles. He’d whine a lot.
But he has retired and is having a good
life in Sugarland, Houston!” She plans
on returning him to The Seeing Eye,
who would place him back with his
puppy raiser family. (The puppy raisers
are the ones that teach them their
basic obedience.) Eva now walks the
UHCL campus with Kim, a very docile
three-year-old Labrador. She got Kim in
April 2013. “I had requested a German
Shepherd, I really wanted one, that’s
on my bucket list! They said that they
almost had one for me, but I walk too
fast for the one they had. Shanon, my
trainer, told me that they wanted to give
the best dog for me and so she said
that Kim is a better match. And I’m
happy because she’s a great match!
She’s just so good and quiet and low
key,” Eva smiles, while patting KIm.
The Seeing Eye looks at one’s lifestyle,
personality, what they do, their walking
speed etc., before finding the right dog
for them. Getting to classes and going
places isn’t a cakewalk though. Eva
elaborates: “Sometimes people think
that oh, Kim can find your classroom
if you go into the building and you say
History class. But that’s not the case.
She can get me there if I give her the
right directions. So I have to remember
that I go up, go into the door, go into
the elevators etc. I have to remember
which way I’m going. Once I turn
right, she has pretty much got it. But
I have to make sure that she’s turning
right because she can get distracted,
they’re dogs first. They’re just like
children, they get easily distracted.”
Smart as most Labrador dogs are,
Kim understands instructions like left,
right, straight, sit down, rest, leave it,
find it. I noticed while walking with Eva,
how she would stop before each stair
to let Eva know she needs to take a
step. Pretty brilliant, eh? During Eva’s
classes, Kim would simply lie down.
She knows that when the harness is
on, it’s business. Whenever it’s taken
off, she can play. While playing, Kim
can play a mean game of tug-of-war.
She eats Wellness dog food and enjoys
chewing on nylon bones. “It’s pretty
unique. She would find the bone and
bring it to me so that I don’t have to
She’s really good for the most part.
Every once in a while she gets out of
focus. I joke around and say she has ADH
disorder. No, but she’s a good girl.
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
47
go find it,” says Eva. “So she’ll show it
to me which I think is neat. I use treats
for rewards, like whenever she finds
my classroom.” Eva tells me how the
courses at The Seeing Eye are pretty
intense and I witnessed that myself
when I noticed how well trained Kim
is. “At the Seeing Eye, you have a set
schedule,” she says, adding, “You get
up at 5.30 am. Then you have to feed
start with quiet streets and adjusting
you to walking with them.” There are
lectures throughout the day on dog
food, traffic, care tips like grooming,
lecture from the vet etc. They talk about
how to deal with going home and
adjusting to the new dog. Eva tells me
how the first time she did the course,
she couldn’t even figure out how to put
the harness on. But the second time,
When I got kim there, since her birthday was
may 14, she was only one at first and then she
turned 2 in class. We both had birthdays, but mine
was first. And they actually made a cake. It was so
nice. (Talks to kim) do you remember that?
your dog. And by 5.40 am, you want
to be outside because you take them
outside to use bathroom. It’s for relief,
as they call it. Once you go back and
take your breakfast, you have your
morning and afternoon working trip
with your dog where they make you
she got through it fairly quickly and had
a phenomenal trainer, Shanon, who
had been training for 15-16 years.
Eva has to update The Seeing Eye and
give them Kim’s vet report every once
in a while. If they start slowing down
or their eye sight starts to fail, just like
us, they start to age. “So if they start
showing those signs, it’s better to let
them go ahead and retire,” says Eva.
“It’s not fair. I have seen some other
guide dog users with dogs that are 11
or 12 yrs old. And they have to pick
them up and enter the bus. I don’t
like that. I mean they’re old and have
arthritis. But that’s just my opinion.” Eva
says if you say ‘Seeing Eye’ it means
you actually did receive the dog in New
Jersey in the school that she received
her from. “But guide dogs is a general
term. If they graduated from any other
school, since there are 12 different
guide dog schools in the United States.
So it’s just like picking a college.” Eva
shares her opinion on the retirement
of pets. When discussing life at UHCL,
Eva shares some of her memorable
incidents she has had with Bixby and
Kim. “Someone was having Cheetos
and Bixby started sniffing and they gave
him one. And I was like “Hey you’re
not supposed to feed my dog”. I was
really mad at him that time but it seems
funny now. With Kim, whenever I’m
walking on campus and she sees my
friend Linda, she would go there. She
knows her scent. I think that’s because
Linda has dogs and she recognises
where she has been on campus. So if
I pass her, I can’t pass without saying
hello because Kim finds her!” It takes
courage and persistence to get what
Eva has achieved. Her unstoppable
nature is really inspiring and a story
worth sharing! I hope when people read
this, they realise that dogs are not just
a pet in the house, but smart intelligent
creatures that can be a great support
system in one’s life.
- Abhiruchi Jain is our US
Correspondent
THE PIONEERS
MORRIS FRANK & BUDDY
Since 1929, The Seeing Eye has partnered with people who
are blind and seek to enhance their independence, dignity,
and self-confidence through the use of trained dogs
M
ore than 16,000 of these specially bred
and trained dogs have brought a new level
of mobility, safety, and self-sufficiency to
over 8,000 men and women. In 1927, a young man
named Morris Frank read an article about dogs being
trained as guides for blinded veterans of World War
I. Frustrated by his own lack of mobility as a blind
person, he was inspired to write its author for help.
Dorothy Harrison Eustis was an American training
German Shepherd dogs in Switzerland, and when she
received Morris Frank’s letter, she agreed to help him.
He promised he would return to the United States and
48
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
spread the word about these wonderful dogs. Morris
Frank knew a guide dog would change his life. As
soon as he met Buddy in 1928, his first guide dog, he
knew Buddy would “Give me back the freedom that I
so long desired to come and go as I please.” Having
completed instruction in Switzerland in the same
year he arrived in New York City, proving the ability
of his dog Buddy before throngs of news reporters.
His one-word telegram to Mrs Eustis told the entire
story… “Success.” The Seeing Eye was born, with
the dream of making the entire world accessible to
people who are blind.
MAGA ZINE DISTRIBUTION POINTS
Get your copy of Buddy Life Magazine here
Pets & Bytes
14 - A, Aurobindo Place Market
Hauz Khas, New Delhi - 110016 Ph: 9311128809
Scoopy Scrub
Shop No-12, Dda Market, Neeti Bagh
New Delhi-49
Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre
Near Shivaji College, Raja Garden
New Delhi-17
138, Dda Flats, Pocket-1, Sector-13
Dwarka, Phase-1, New Delhi-87
Sicons
17a/60, Ajmal Khan Road, Karol Bagh
Delhi-110005, Ph: 011-41450176
Avi’s Fish World
487/124, Shop No.1-2, Mangal Bazar
Road, National Market, Peeragrahi
New Delhi-87, Ph: 716021230
Pet Clinic
B-7/17, Aditya Complex, Preet Vihar New Delhi-110092, Ph: 9810755225
Bahrison
Booksellers Opp, Main Gate, Khan
Market New Delhi - 110003
Ph: 011-2469 4610
Pet Gallery Lg- 28f, Sushant Shopping Arcade
Sushant Lok-I, Gurgaon, Haryana
Ph: 9818591005
AOV Pet & Care
Shop No-J-18, Sector-18, Behind
Mcdonalds Noida-201301
Ph: 9311028809
Nehru Clinic
Nehru Bhawan, Indrapuri Colony
Dayalbagh, Agra-282005
Ph: 9897161000
Pet Clinic Modern Dog Care
148, Civil Lines, Opp. Pwd Bareilly
Bareilly, Ph: 9837066113
Friends The Pet Shop 107/301, Brahm Nagar
Kanpur - 208012, Ph: 9336342208
Pets Clinic
B-34/3232, New Tagore Nagar Ludhiana-141001, Ph: 417052480
Pets Clinic
42, Gurmeet Nagar
Model Town Jalandhar,
Jalandhar-144003, Ph: 9814258726
Pet Destination
Bunglow-20, Dastak Opp-Bhullar
Studio Gate No-1, Near Yoga Ashram
Next -2 Dana Pani Bij Mudh Marvaya
Road Malad (W), Mumbai-400061
Ph: 9769995347
Loony Dudes
G/229, Behind Malkani Hall
Opp Juhu Gymkhana Next To Bmc
Market Juhu Church Road, Juhu,
MUmbai - 400049, Ph: 9820158161
Pawfect
Shop As 10, Anand Nagar Bldg
Next To Johnson N Johnson Office
Forjepp Street, Tardeo Mumbai – 400034, Ph: 9820625092
Pets Gallery
8/4, Karve Road, Bennali Apartment
Pune-411004, Ph: 9822545583
Scoopy Scrub
A-13 Sunshree Suntech, Off Nibm Road
Pune-411048, Ph: 923403375
Corona
N.B. 5 & 5/1, New Market
Near Flower Range, Under Clock
Tower
Kolkata-87. Ph: 033- 2252
5498
Plot No.44, Sector-B E.M. Bypass
Metropolitan Bus Stop, Kolkata-700105
Ph: 3323232094
Animal Planet
Bd-463, Near Bd Market
Sector-I, Saltlake, Kolkata
Kolkata-700 064, Ph: 9331919101
Pet Bounding
No-199, 13th Cross West Of Chord Road
2nd Stage, Mahalakshmipuram
Bangalore-560086, Ph: 9886296097
Wagging Tails Pet Care Pvt Ltd
10th Main 100ft Road
Hrbr Layout, Kalyan Nagar
Above Wildcraft Shop, Kalyan Bangalore-560043, Ph: 9342241734
Glenands
#35, Church Street, Bangalore - 560001
Ph: 9845001449
Pets’ Planet Dog Hospital
B/90, Langar Toli Cheek Lane
Near Pancha Shiv Mandir
Patna-800004, Ph: 9835443099
Just Dogs Store And Spa In Satellite
Floor, Nehrunagar-Satellite Road
Nr Nehrunagar Brts Bus Stop Ahmedabad – 380015, Ph: 9725220077
Jaipur Pet Shops
227, Sindhi Colony, Kalidas Mg
Bani Park, Jaipur - 302006
Ph: 0141-2281535
Vickvins Kennels Road No.14, Opp Sri Venkateshwara
Temple, Swarna Heavens, Plot No-102
Banjara Hills, Hyderabad - 500034 Ph: 09701213339
Life Line Veterinary Clinic Piller No143, Opp Golden Palace
Restaurant, Nr Pochamma Temple,
Lane Beside Usha Mohan Hospital,
Attapur,
Hyderabad - 500048, Ph: 66048053
Pets Mall
18/404a1, Temple Road, Kottayam
Kerala 686001, Ph: 9809000990
Marshall Pet Zone & Kennel
10-12-6/92, Old Jail Road Near Pages Ramaraju Towers
Rednam Gardens, Visakhapatnam –
530002 Ph: 9866099786
Dr. P.K. Sharma
Zoo Narangi Road
Guwahati -781021
Ph: 09613897400
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
49
in-up
P
pups
Paws for
A POSE
We all need a work break from time to time and what
better way to de-stress and refocus than by looking at
an adorable, fluffy photo? Personally speaking it always
makes us smile and instantly puts us in a better mood. So,
inspired by the soothing nature of pets, we’ve decided to
print pictures of our beloved canine companions in each
issue of Buddy Life. Every dog featured here automatically
gets an entry into our haloed ‘Buddy Hall of Fame’! We
know how much everyone loves photos... because so do
we! We have HUNDREDS of photos sent to us from our
readers, and we’ll be adding these to this gallery all the
time, so hurry up.
Buddy Life Bonus: Tips to Click the Best Photo!
We love photos of pets looking us straight in the eye. Be
sure pictures are close-up and don’t contain humans—
we’re all about fuzzy friends!
Talk the talk
How old is your pet? What breed? What makes him so
lovable? The more info you provide, the more likely we are
to spotlight your canine pal.
For Click the Cutest
Clear, horizontal photos work best. Be aware that busy
backgrounds, crazy costumes and, yes, humans in photos
are distracting. Remember, your pet is the star!
Anil Datkhile with his pet
Daniela Sterie with
her furry friend
Ajay Mathur with his pet friend
50
Biju Sebastian with his German Shepherd
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
Mr Volker with
his pets Lamua
and Gretel
Sangeetha Pra
dip
with her pupp
y
Dr Chandan M
itra’s pet Rocke
t
Sano Bhuyan
iend
with her pet fr
t
Krishnan’s pe
Jan - March, 2015
BUDDY LIFE
51
HEART-WARNING
TALE
Well-bred Boxers have the
potential to live long and happy
lives. However, if we don’t take
enough care, it is possible for the
breed to be afflicted by either of
two hereditary heart problems
–Cardiomyopathy and Aortic
Stenosis, which can turn fatal,
says Karan Verma
52
BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
It’s something every Boxer
companion should be aware of.
My elder bother lost his four-yearold female Boxer, Obo, recently
and the family, who was very
attached to her, is still trying to
cope with the grief. “She was
always so excited and full of
energy,” my brother remembers.
“I’m staying late in office because
what’s the point of going home
early when I know she won’t
be there,” he says. “She was
super-fit just like her parents…
why would she die of a heart
attack?” he asks. “She showed
no symptoms until she collapsed
playing in the lawn and didn’t
get up. By the time we reached
the vet, she had breathed her
last. She was absolutely fine
otherwise.” Now, who would
tell him and hundreds of other
human companions to Boxers
that fitness levels have nothing
to do with whether a dog carries
a gene for a heart condition that
can lead to sudden death. It is
not like the stereotypical image
of someone with heart problems
that we see on telemovies. Dogs
can be strong and active until
they collapse - Obo died from
Boxer Cardiomyopathy certainly
was a picture of good health
until the end! It’s one of the most
common causes of sudden/
unexpected death in Boxers both young and old – and dogs
with cardiomyopathy often show
no symptoms until they have a
cardiac arrest. Obo was a happy
dog just like all dogs that are
well cared for and there wasn’t a
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single lazy bone in her lithe frame. Kids in the
Army cantonment where my brother lives,
often complained about Obo running away
with their ball. Of course, she had her own,
too, but she preferred to be part of the larger
kids’ team. “She was a carbon copy of her
father, a hero dog who died six months ago
after snatching up a cobra as it was slithering
dangerously close to the family home,
suffering a deadly bite on his tongue from the
snake in the process,” my brother tells me.
“The dog didn’t let go of the snake and it was
still in his mouth when the poison finally killed
him.” Obo’s mother, of course, is still alive
and kicking and now has a pug for company.
What the grieving family can’t figure out is
how come the vets in Pune, Chandigarh and
now Delhi couldn’t figure out that she suffered
from a heart condition. “Our regular, local vets
didn’t mention any specific tests because I
guess they weren’t even familiar with Boxer
heart conditions,” says my brother, who’s
now fully familiar with Boxer Cardiomyopathy.
“She was mostly hyper around the house
chasing squirrels and now I recollect, she’d
sometimes opt out of her regular games for
some time as if she was trying to catch her
breath.” None of the vets ever suggested an
electrocardiogram (ECG) or an ultrasound of
the heart and/or abdomen to rule out any of
the diseases, like Aortic stenosis, Blockage
of the aorta, any other cardiac or abdominal
disease. “They did not even recommend a
thoracic radiograph to determine whether
there is enlargement of the heart, or any other
evidence of heart failure,” says my brother.
Come to think about it now, a human with a
specific hereditary heart condition is likely to
be referred to a cardiologist who is an expert
in human heart conditions. Why would we
expect that a local vet (the equivalent of a
GP) would be an expert in treating a heart
condition in our dog, especially a condition
which is only now getting thorough research
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done on it? What makes it complicated is that Boxer
cardiomyopathy is different from cardiomyopathy in other
breeds. Unless the vet is a specialist cardiologist, who has
read the latest research on Boxer Cardiomyopathy, it’s wrong
to assume they have all the information on the condition.
So what exactly is Boxer cardiomyopathy? As we know it
consists primarily of an electrical conduction disorder, which
causes the heart to beat erratically (to have an arrhythmia)
some of the time. If the erratic beats occur infrequently and
singly, the dog will probably not have symptoms of heart
disease. If the erratic beats occur in sequence, weakness,
collapse or sudden death may result. These arrhythmias
may or may not be detected by listening to the heart with a
stethoscope. Whether or not they are detected depends on
the frequency of the abnormal rhythm. If frequent, they can
easily be heard with a stethoscope. The arrhythmia usually
consists of VPCs (ventricular premature contractions) that
are heard as an extra beat or a skipped beat that do not
have a corresponding pulse. To identify these, the listener
must therefore have one hand on the stethoscope holding it
to the chest and one hand feeling for a pulse (usually at the
femoral artery on the inside of the hind leg). In the normal
functioning heart, there is a pulse for every beat that is heard.
When a VPC occurs, a beat is heard through the stethoscope
(and it sounds like a stutter as it is not in the normal rhythm
sequence of the sinus beats), but there is no pulse to go
with it. These VPCs have a characteristic pattern on an ECG
and this is the way they are confirmed. Often this is the first
abnormality noticed in a Boxer with cardiomyopathy. Usually
the dog is having no symptoms of
heart disease when these are noticed
by a veterinarian during a routine exam.
If the frequency of these irregular
beats increases, the animal may
suffer “fainting” spells (called syncopal
episodes). This happens because
these abnormal beats do not pump
the blood effectively (no corresponding
pulse) to the vital organs like a normal
beat does and the brain becomes
oxygen deprived while the abnormal
beats are occuring. Usually when an
animal faints, they are having what
is known as a run (several in a row)
of VPCs. If the heart corrects itself,
the animal regains consciousness
in a matter of seconds to minutes.
If the run of VPCs continues, this
is termed ventricular tachycardia
and can lead to the development of
ventricular fibrillation which is fatal
if the rhythm is not converted. This
ventricular fibrillation (V-fib) is the cause
of sudden death in most Boxers with
cardiomyopathy. There is no blood
being pumped through the body when
the animal is in V-fib.
How is it diagnosed? The best way
to evaluate a Boxer for arrhythmia is
to use a 24-hour ECG called a Holter
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monitor. While an ECG can pick up
arrhythmias if they are very frequent,
the Holter is much better at doing
so. It will tell you if your dog has
VPCs, whether they are frequent or
infrequent, single or multiple, from
a single focus in the heart or from
several sites. Not enough Boxers
have been studied to know if a small
number of VPCs may be normal, but
what is known is that most Boxers
that go on to die of cardiomyopathy
have many VPCs in a 24-hour period
(hundreds to thousands) and that they
have runs of ventricular tachycardia.
The Holter monitor allows us to identify
dogs, who may have problems due
to these runs of VPCs. For example,
most asymptomatic animals have single
VPCs interspersed with their normal
beats throughout the 24-hour period. If
a Holter shows many clusters or runs of
VPCs, this means that this animal may
be at higher risk for syncope or sudden
death and can affect how the dog is
treated (with anti-arrhythmic drugs, for
example).The disorder is believed to
be inherited as an autosomal dominant
trait with variable penetrance, meaning
it may be transmitted by the sire or the
dam, and the extent to which offspring
are affected is individually variable.
Males and females are affected equally.
No coat colour is associated with a
higher or lower likelihood of developing
arrhythmogenic right ventricular
cardiomyopathy.
The Treatment. It is a geneticallytransmitted disorder and as such, the
underlying cause cannot be reversed.
Medications are used for stabilizing the
rhythm of the heartbeat (including such
antiarrhythmics as sotalol, for example)
and for offsetting some of the process
of cardiomyopathy (such as with
omega-3 fatty acids). These treatments
are oral medications that can be given
at home, and a good response to
treatment consists of a decrease or
disappearance of symptoms. The
medications can provide a normal
quality of life and this may continue for
weeks, months, or occasionally years in
dogs who respond well to treatment.
Breeding advice. Boxers with
arrhythmogenic right ventricular
cardiomyopathy should not be bred.
Current standards include screening
potential breeding stock using Holter
monitoring; a specific cutoff remains
elusive, but generally dog with <100
PVCs/24 hours are considered
fit to breed and dogs with >1000
PVCs/24 hrs should not be bred. The
intermittent and highly variable nature
of PVC occurence means that annual
follow-up of beeding animals is very
important, as is close evaluation of
offspring if an adult later is found
to have developed arrhythmogenic
right ventricular cardiomyopathy after
initially having been cleared on earlier
screening.
You can make the difference
in the life of a dog
VOLUNTEER
FOSTER
ADOPT
Contact your local animal shelter or
rescue organisation to see how you
can help to make a difference.
SAVE MORE LIVES.
THE MUST READ FOR EVERY DOG COMPANION!
PASSION PLAY
Scarcity of well-equipped animal diagnostic clinics and trained
staff forces Kolkata pet lovers to pool in resources and fund a
state-of-the-art facility, reports Shubham Dasgupta
M
uch to his owner Riya’s disappointment, the
investment banker’s two-year-old Golden
Retriever, Kajol, died of canine distemper within
ten days of catching the dreaded disease.
“She was perfectly fine just a few days ago,
but I realised something was wrong when she didn’t want to
be outdoors,” recalls Riya. “She started falling sick very often
and gasped for breath after even a five-minute stroll.” The Salt
Lake resident took her to the veterinarian who wanted some
specific tests done on Kajol. “I could not find a single specialised
diagnostic centre for animals in the vicinity,” she says. Clueless,
she took Kajol to human hospitals for diagnosis and faced
harassment from staff, who refused Kajol’s entrance until she
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BUDDY LIFE
Jan - March, 2015
was registered under a random
human name. All the time spent
on locating a path lab took its toll
on Kajol’s health and she died
after nine days of ailment. “If
only her problem was detected
early she would’ve survived,”
says Riya. Such incidents are
regular in cities, which have a
considerable number of pet
lovers, but no proper diagnostic
facilities and expert care. “Even
if there are, I didn’t come across
any advertisements for any such
facility,” says Riya. However,
such adversities prompted ten
Tollygunge Club members to
start Kolkata’s first private animal
diagnostic clinic named Paw Path.
Within two-and-a half years of its
existence, Paw Path has filled,
to some extent, a long standing
gap in the availability of veterinary
diagnostic services extending to
all pets and animals, including
dogs, cats, rabbits, snakes and
even eagles! An initiative out of
passion, the partners of Paw Path
- Laila and Ayesha Mallik, Manoj
Michigan, Paramita Das, G. P.
Thakur and Nirota Thakur, Sumeet
and Malini Panjabi, Ronen Roy
and Chandrima Roy - have found
time from their work schedules
to address the cause of animal
healthcare. Being pet lovers
themselves, they sympathise with
the pain a pet faces and strongly
feels that they have equal rights
to be taken care of as a part of
the family. Fitted with X-Ray and
laminar flow machines, calorie
meters, a centrifuge machine, a
bacterial incubator, floating water
baths and computers, Paw Path
also provides electrolyte testing,
skin scraping examinations and
plans to introduce ultrasonography,
endoscopy, immune chemistry,
cytology for Smears and many
more clinical facilities. According
to consultant orthopedic surgeon
and Paw Path partner Ronen
Roy, all the members have faced
trouble in getting tests done
for their pets at some point of
their lives. “We had to enter into
hospitals, literally through the back
door. Unnecessary enquiries and
investigations have humiliated us
a lot. We came across organised
animal diagnostic clinics in Gurgaon
and Chandigarh for the first time that
strengthened our resolve,” he says.
When asked about the functioning
of Paw Path, Paramita Roy says,
“We don’t keep in-house veterinary
surgeons. A pathologist is always
on board to run the services. Our
charges are slightly higher as per
the government standards as all the
machines are state-of-the-art and
are imported under specific medical
guidance. We have separate facilities
for dogs, cats, horses, rabbits,
cows, pigs, buffaloes, sheep and
goats.” Chief pathologist Partha
Sarathi Mandal says biopsies are
conducted to identify various tumors,
stool examination is done to look for
parasitic larvae while skin scraping
is done to detect fungal infections.
Manoj Michigan, film director and
Paw Path member, says that unlike
government veterinary hospitals, Paw
Path has two-way traffic, both form
patients and veterinary surgeons.
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BUDDY LIFE
59
“We learn a lot from practicing
surgeons who tap the increasing
demand for their service through
us. Simultaneously, patients come
to know of Paw Path through
those surgeons. We organise
dog shows and distribute letters,
mailers and brochures. This
has benefitted Paw Path with
newspaper coverage. We are
advancing towards our goal
of accurate diagnosis.” Manoj
maintains. Ayesha Mallik shares
the story of Shakti, a Narcotics
squad sniffer dog who could not
get up during her drills one day.
A whole year of therapy and care
by the squad brought negligible
movement and it was Shakti’s
visit to Paw Path for an X-Ray
that led to a lasting relationship
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Jan - March, 2015
between the clinic and the dog.
Since Shakti’s hind legs scissored
quite often, she was retired from
her service and Ayesha welcomed
her in her new home where she
is happily running around. During
our visit to Paw Path, we also
came across Guddi, who had
come with her human companion
for an X-Ray. She also felt at
home as she played with her
newly found friends who visited
Paw Path for similar reasons. The
environment was comfortable and
reassuring, as was the initiative
taken few years ago. Kolkata
has a lot to learn in terms of pet
care and Paw Path, for obvious
reasons, has set an example as
an indispensable destination for
pet health care and welfare.
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Dogs on
the hills
Picturesque Munnar gets its first all-breed
dog show, courtesy Kottayam Kennel Club
M
unnar doesn’t need an introduction. Considered
as the Kashmir of South India, this small picture
book town in Kerala is one of the most popular
hill stations in the country. Layer after layer of tea
gardens, mountain mist, waterfalls, neela kurinji
flowers that carpet the hills during the flowering cycle, winding
lanes and forest sanctuaries make Munnar surrealistically beautiful.
No wonder visiting Munnar is always high on the tourist’s itinerary.
Besides the natural bounty, now another reason to visit Munnar is
a dog show. Like the one organised by the High Range Kennel Club
at the High Altitude Sports Training Centre on Sunday, November
23, 2014, which was attended by 160 dogs and their human
companions. High Range Kennel Club secretary Jayakumar said
this was for the first time a dog show was organised at Munnar.
It had participants from all over the country, but only those dogs
that were certified by the Kennel Club of India took part. Shyam
Mehta and Rajiv Shandilya judged the show which had a record 40
Chihuahuas participating in it. Pet dogs, hunting dogs, costly ones
and the smallest were all at the show, which was inaugurated by
ADGP Arunkumar Sinha. The dogs from the Kerala Police units
in Idukki, Kottayam and Ernakulam presented the skills at the
show. Though this was the first time Kottayam Kennel Club held
a dog show at Munnar, the Club conducts an annual Dog Show in
Kottayam, Kerala. Abraham Kurian is the president of Kottayam
Kennel Club, while George Jacob is the secretary and Josen
George the treasurer.
Jan - March, 2015
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63
Waiting
to go
home
Even as Noida battles the homeless dog menace, a handful of the city’s
professionals try to spend as much time as possible at the SPCA shelter
that currently houses 400-odd dogs waiting for their rightful homes
Text: Abhiruchi Jain
T
hey’re an odd mix of IT professionals, a high
court lawyer, a fashion designer, an event
manager and a veterinary surgeon. But they
have one thing in common. They share a
love for the abandoned, abused, sick and
traumatized animals left at the shelter. Every Saturday
and whenever called, they come together to spend time
with their ‘furry’ friends. Feeding them, caring for them
and helping them in whichever way they can. Says Sajal
Srivastav, “It is heart rending to witness the trauma these
abandoned dogs have been through. At times they are
found tied outside the shelter, while some have been even
pushed out of moving cars!” Initiated in the year 2000,
the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
shelter was actually set up only in 2005. Countless strays
and pets used to die unavoidable deaths, but today the
facility sprawls across nine acres in Sector-94 of the
city. It has an animal hospital-cum-shelter that houses
impounded animals and provides veterinary treatment
to all rescued, abandoned and sick animals. With an
operating theatre in place, the complex was recently
equipped with a new kennel facility constructed by
IRCON International Ltd. This new wing of the SPCA
building has 18 separate enclosures along with an
open one with each kennel. These kennels can house
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approximately 30 dogs at one time
and will help increase the number of
animal birth control (ABC) operations
that can be taken up every month.
“Our kennels are being used not only
to house strays, but are also occupied
by injured or sick dogs, or dogs that
have been confiscated due to neglect
or abuse,” informs Says Anuradha
Dogra, a managing committee member
of SPCA. “In the near future, we plan
to convert a few kennels into hostels to
provide boarding and lodging for pets if
required,” she adds. “In addition, a new
outpatient department (OPD) is being
built which will help us reach out and
treat many more animals in distress.”
SPCA is always looking for volunteers
as well as people who want to adopt or
foster a homeless animal. “Come adopt
a stray - they are a breed apart!” says a
member of the group. Although funds
do come in for the SPCA from various
organisations, the NGO continues
to be dogged with problems. As per
the SPCA members, they cannot
do anything unless the citizens and
various corporate organisations come
forward to assist them in their task.
Says Dogra, “What we need is support
and help from the community at large.”
Recently, a handful of corporates
fulfilling their social responsibility
donated an ambulance while another
helped pave all the inner roads of the
SPCA animal hospital and shelter which
were earlier made of kuccha bricks.
“This has ensured a better approach
to the various facilities in the nine-acre
compound,” observes SPCA’s Anjali
Sharma. “Moreover, it is now easy to
maintain and keep the premises clean.”
Not long ago, fences were erected in
the hospital enclosure, which has been
helpful in ensuring segregation of the
animals according to the treatment to
be given to them. A 25KVA generator
has also found a place in the complex.
This helps SPCA to continue with
operations and treatment, unhindered
by power cuts. The generator also
helps run the refrigerator, which
keeps the medicines and vaccines
from spoiling. “The SPCA is open
24x7 and is willing to take calls at any
time of the day,” says Vidhi Shukla,
in-charge of the facility. You can call
either 9810114617, or 9810704826
if you want any assistance or want to
report or bring in an abandoned pet or
animal which is injured or sick. “Also, if
you are a dog lover and want to adopt
an abandoned pet or a stray, you can
log on to http//.sites.google.com/site/
freedogadoption and help some animal
find a home,” she says.
BREED PROFILE
Though largely bred to
be a live-in companion,
Cocker Spaniels still
retain the genes of their
hunting ancestors,
making them equally
sporty and cuddly. With
a Cocker in the house,
you have a dog that’s
got the toughness and
ingenuity of a hunting
dog and the sensitivity
and kindness of a
household pet.
CHERISHED
COCKERS
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Noted for their silky coats and long ears,
Cocker Spaniels have small, sturdy, wellbalanced frames. Their clean-cut heads
have wide muzzles, square jaws and upper
lips that hang over their lower jaws. Their
ears are long and feathered, their eyes are
dark and almond-shaped and their noses
are either black or brown depending on the
coat. They have long necks, deep chests,
short backs and (usually) docked tails that
are carried in line with the back. Their coats
are silky, wavy and easy to comb. They
come in black, black with tan spots, light
cream, dark red and other combinations.
Overall, Cocker Spaniels have a balanced,
alert stance
A well-bred Cocker Spaniel is a joy to own. Gentle and
loving, this beautiful creature wants nothing more than to
please his master. Cockers love their humans, and want to
be with them as much as possible. So if you aren’t planning
to have your new pup become a member of the family,
and if you don’t want a dog who wants to be your best
buddy, a Cocker is not for you. Also, if you are a clean freak
and don’t like dog hair, there could be a problem because
cockers have hair – lots of hair. No doubt about it. And let’s
not forget about the muddy paws and nose prints on the
windows of your house and car, etc. If you are a confirmed
neatnik and won’t be able to relax about this, both you and
the dog will be miserable.
Cockers are small dogs, fitting comfortably into a car,
apartment, or a small home. They make wonderful therapy
dogs, too. But even if you are simply looking for a dog to
hug and curl up with on the sofa, a Cocker Spaniel can fit
the bill perfectly. They are, by nature, companion animals,
but being a popular pet for several decades, Cocker
Spaniels have suffered from over-breeding, which has
caused a number of health and personality issues—e.g.
aggressiveness, shyness and roaming—that are not typical
of the breed.
There are three varieties of Cocker Spaniels: Black (including
black and tan), ASCOB (an acronym for “any solid colour
other than black” – meaning buff, brown, silver, etc.), and
particolour (black and white, brown and white, red and
white, and tri-colour). Another important characteristic
of a Cocker Spaniel is that they are foodies. They will eat
anything and everything in sight, left to their own devices.
Some have even been known to make their way onto the
dinner table when their humans are not paying attention,
gobbling down everything available right down to slice of
butter!
COCKER HISTORY: The word spaniel means “Spanish
dog,” and it’s generally believed that they indeed originated
in Spain. By the 1800s, Spaniels were divided into two
groups: toys (primarily companions) and large hunting
dogs. Hunting dogs were further divided into land and
water spaniels. The Cocker Spaniel was named so for
his excellence in the field hunting woodcock. In England,
spaniels were a functional category, rather than an individual
breed of dog, for several hundred years.
SIZE: Males stand 15 inches tall, females 14 inches tall.
Males and females weigh 24 to 28 pounds.
PERSONALITY: The well-bred Cocker Spaniel has a sweet
temperament. He is affectionate and cuddly and loves to
participate in family activites. He is playful, alert, and active,
enjoying all kinds of exercises like brisk walking to running.
The Cocker is known to be a sensitive dog, mentally and
physically. He has a “soft” personality and does not
respond well to harsh treatment, sometimes turning
to growling or snapping when he’s in pain or afraid.
Early socialization and training is essential to teach the
Cocker appropriate canine manners. He needs to be
handled carefully and kindly to bring out the best in his
personality.
HEALTH: Cockers are generally healthy, but, like all
breeds of dogs, they’re prone to certain conditions and
diseases, like allergies, idiopathic epilepsy, canine hip
dysplasia and eye problems can strike the Cocker in a
number of ways, including progressive retinal atrophy, a
degenerative disease of the retinal cells that progresses
to blindness. If you notice any redness in your Cocker’s
eyes, or if he starts rubbing his face a lot, take him to
the vet for a checkup.
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CARE: The Cocker Spaniel is well suited to living in an
apartment or condo — though of course he loves to
share a house and yard. Although he doesn’t need vast
space to roam, he does need daily activity. A daily romp
in the yard along with a brisk 30-minute walk can keep
him happy and trim. Then bring him inside with you —
the Cocker is not pleased to be left alone outdoors for
the day, and he may respond by digging or barking to
keep himself amused. He’s most content when he’s with
his family, participating in the group’s activities. Despite
his beautiful locks and cute, round eyes, the Cocker
Spaniel is a hunter at heart. He is also a good candidate
for many canine sports, especially agility and obedience
competitions, hunt tests, flyball, or tracking. Like most
dogs, the Cocker is better behaved when active than
when he’s allowed to get bored, which can lead to such
behaviour problems as barking, digging, and chewing.
HI GH LI GH TS
The sensitive Cocker Spaniel can
be a
bit nervous, even when he’s from
a good
breeder and has been properly soci
alized.
Don’t be surprised if your Cocker
exhibits
submissive urination (peeing when
excited).
Cockers can be barkers, so response
to a
“Quiet” command should always be
part of
this dog’s repertoire.
The Cocker is eager to please and
likes to
be close to his family. But rememb
er, he was
bred to be a hunting dog. Don’t be
surprised
when he chases birds or other sma
ll animals
when you’re out on a walk. Keep
your
Cocker on a leash whenever you
aren’t in a
fenced area.
The Cocker has a “soft” personality.
Harsh
training methods will make him fear
ful, so be
sure to use gentle, consistent train
ing to get
the best results.
A Cocker Spaniel’s long ears are both
a part of his beauty and a potential
health
problem. Be sure to check your Coc
ker’s
ears every week for infections.
Keeping the Cocker coat beautifu
l is
expensive and a lot of work. Plan
on paying
a professional groomer and on brus
hing the
coat every day.
To get a healthy pet, never buy a pup
py
from a backyard breeder, puppy mill,
or pet
store. Find a reputable breeder who
tests her
breeding dogs for genetic health con
ditions
and good temperaments.
FEEDING: As mentioned above, the Cocker Spaniel has
a hearty appetite, and he will overeat if given the chance.
He’s especially skilled at melting your resolve with his big,
brown eyes as he begs for tidbits. But don’t give in — an
overweight Cocker is an unhealthy Cocker. However, how
much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build,
metabolism, and activity level. Dogs are individuals, just
like people, and they don’t all need the same amount of
food. It almost goes without saying that a highly active
dog will need more than a couch potato dog. The quality
of dog food you buy also makes a difference — the better
the dog food, the further it will go toward nourishing your
dog and the less of it you’ll need to shake into your dog’s
bowl.
GROOMING: There are few breeds as handsome as
the well-groomed Cocker Spaniel. His thick, sometimes
wavy coat is short on the head and back and long on the
ears, chest, belly, and legs. Grooming is an intense —
and potentially expensive — proposition for the Cocker
Spaniel. Most owners opt to have a professional groomer
bathe, brush, and trim their dogs’ coats every six to eight
weeks, and prices are high for this time-intensive breed.
Daily brushing at home is also necessary to keep the
coat free of tangles and mats. If you are hesitant about
a breed that requires substantial grooming, the Cocker
is not for you.
Some owners opt to clip the coat short to make care
easier. Even so, trimming and bathing every six to eight
weeks is necessary to keep the Cocker clean and the
coat short. The Cocker Spaniel must be introduced
to grooming early so he will grow up to accept it as a
normal part of his life. Given his sensitive personality,
an early introduction is advisable so that he learns to
accept the handling, brushing, noise of electric clippers,
scissoring, ear cleaning, and all the rest of the tasks
involved in keeping him looking good. The nails need
to be trimmed once a month (or at grooming sessions),
and the ears checked once a week for dirt, redness, or
a bad odour that can indicate an infection. The Cocker
Spaniel is prone to ear infections, so it’s essential to
be vigilant. Wipe the ears out weekly with a cotton ball
dampened with gentle, pH-balanced ear cleaner to
prevent problems. It also helps to use deep, narrow
bowls to for the Cocker’s food and water. This way
he can eat and drink without getting his ears damp
or soiled with food. Some owners even put a snood
on the Cocker while he eats, for extra ear protection.
Children and other pets: One of the reasons the Cocker
Spaniel is so popular is that he makes a good family
dog. He gets along well with children — as long as he
is raised with them and the kids are kind and respectful
to animals. But because he is a sensitive dog, all
interactions between the Cocker and children should be
supervised by a responsible adult. The Cocker Spaniel
also gets along with other family pets (given proper
training and introductions), including dogs, cats, and
small animals.
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RNI No: UPENG/2009/31021