Shiba Dog Family Tree

My Shiba Baby Dog's Family Circle

"Tensi"
This is my baby dog's birth father. He is a Shiba and is from Japan. He has interesting face and stocky body. He is one of kind pedigrees in Japan.

"Penny"
This is my baby dog's birth mother. She is also a Shiba Inu from Japan and is one of kind pedigrees in Japan. She won many awards from dog shows.

My baby dog Pookie.
She got her mother's look but her body looks more like her father. I am not sure where she got her personality but she is very stubborn and extremely smart. She willl be 3-years old next month. I love her more than anything, anyway.

This is when she was 8-months old.

This picture was taken when she was 2-1/2 years old.

This also was taken when she was 2-years old.

This was taken when she was 2-1/2 years old.

Heartworm and Traveling with Your Dog

Dog owners, be aware of the following:
Alex, a Labrador retriever, lives in a heartworm-endemic state. He has heartworms, but his owners don't know it because the disease is not easily detected until its later stages. Alex travels with his owners on vacation to states where there are fewer incidences of heartworm disease like Alaska. While in Alaska, Alex is bitten by a mosquito, which picks up the heartworm larvae from his bloodstream. Later, the same mosquito bites a healthy local dog, infecting him with heartworm. The cycle continues.

A problem can also result if a dog from a low-incidence state like Alaska travels into a state where heartworm disease thrives, is bitten by a mosquito and then brings the disease back home.

What Does This Mean For All Dog Owners?
Now that greater numbers of people are traveling across the country with their dogs, on vacation or visiting friends and relatives, no state is entirely heartworm-free. Heartworm disease continues to pose a threat to dogs across the United States. Because heartworm disease is potentially fatal, owners should visit their family veterinarian to learn how easy and convenient prevention can be.

When Traveling, Help Protect Your Dog from Heartworm Disease

• Many states require that owners traveling with their dogs obtain an up-to-date health certificate from a licensed veterinarian.
• As a part of the examination, your veterinarian may check for heartworm disease. If your dog is not infected, the veterinarian can recommend preventive measures. Prevention is the key to protecting a dog both at home and away.
• Upon returning home from a trip, owners should revisit their family veterinarian for an examination to make sure their dog did not pick up any parasites, either internal (e.g., heartworm, hookworm, roundworm) or external (fleas and ticks).
• Remember, annual heartworm tests are important whether or not your dog is traveling.

Source: AVMA.org (www.avma.org)

Pooch Paws

Would You Like to Kiss My Paws?

How to Take Care of Your Pet's Bad Breath?

Pets At Risk: Bad Breath Isn't Funny Anymore
Frisco caught the guest by surprise in the living room. He planted a big, breathy smooch on her face. "Ugh! Dog breath!" The room erupted in laughter.

It wasn't so funny the next day when Frisco had his yearly check-up. The 2-½-year-old dog was diagnosed with gum disease, and he was in danger of losing a tooth if he didn't begin a regular dental care program.

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, Frisco's case is not unique. Studies show that more than 80 percent of dogs by age three and 70 percent of cats by age three show some signs of gum disease. Bad breath could be an early warning sign of the dangerous gum disease gingivitis.

Pets Need Dental Care, Too!
During National Pet Dental Health Month each February, pet owners are reminded that dogs and cats need good oral care. An educational campaign to consumers, sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Dental Society with an educational grant provided by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., helps pet owners understand the importance of regular dental care for their pets.

Particularly at risk are small dog breeds, such as Pekingese and Shihtzu. Experts say these breeds are more likely to develop tooth problems because their teeth are crowded into small mouths. This can create a haven for plaque buildup.

Cervical line lesions (CLL) are the most common dental disease of domestic cats. Studies show that about 28 percent of domestic cats that veterinarians examine have CLL. Because the lesions often begin beneath the gumline, owners usually are unaware that there is a problem until the tooth is seriously damaged.

Prevention

Prevention is the key to helping pets maintain good oral health. The American Veterinary Dental Society recommends that pet owners follow three important steps:

1. Visit Your Veterinarian
   
   Just as dental visits are the cornerstone of a human dental program, visiting a veterinarian is the key to ensuring the health of your pet's teeth. A veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination of your pet as part of the dental evaluation.
   
2. Start a dental care routine at home
   
   Removing plaque regularly from your pet's teeth should be part of your pet's home dental care routine. Ask your veterinarian about the procedure for brushing your pet's teeth. Dog owners also may feed specially formulated dietary foods that help reduce the accumulation of plaque and tartar from teeth when the pet eats. Your veterinarian can offer more information on dietary options.
   
3. Get Regular Veterinary Dental Checkups
   
   The family veterinarian needs to monitor the progress of your pet's preventive dental care routine much the same way a dentist monitors your teeth. Regular dental check-ups are essential.

Once a pet's teeth display the warning signs — bad breath, a yellow brown crust of tartar around the gumline, pain or bleeding when the pet eats or when you touch its gums — gum disease may already be present. For a professional dental check-up, call your veterinarian today!

Source: AVMA, www.avma.org

Dogs' Stories

Do I look spoiled?

I know I am spoiled but I am not rotten. I am only pet my mommy has and she takes me everywhere. I have traveled many different countries but I love the most is to stay

at home with mommy. I am a queen at home.

I'm a Shiba.

I was born in Japan and called Shiba Inu. People treat me like a royalty. I had two children my own but my owner gave them away. I assume they were adopted by loving families because my owner wouldn't give them away otherwise.

This is our play time.

We play rough with each other. We are twin brothers. We live in the wild and are happy. Once in a while, we fear a danger but we can handle as long as we are together.

We are best friends.

We were adopted by a couple whom we call mommy and daddy. We both used to live in an adoption center but we don't remember how we got there. Fortunately, we met our mommy and daddy. They love us very much and we love them. We hope other friends at the adoption center be adopted by a good family like ours.

How to Tell Your Pet Has a Toxoplasmosis?

What You Should Know About Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a microscopic parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. It is not a new disease, having first been discovered in 1908. Since its discovery, toxoplasmosis has been found in virtually all warm-blooded animals including most pets, livestock, and human beings. Nearly one-third of all adults in the U.S. and in Europe have antibodies to Toxoplasma, which means they have been exposed to this parasite.

How do people become infected with Toxoplasmosis?There are 3 principal ways Toxoplasma is transmitted:

1. Directly from pregnant mother to unborn child when the mother becomes infected with Toxoplasma during pregnancy.
2. Consumption and handling of undercooked or raw meat from infected animals.
3. Ingestion of food or water or inhalation of dust contaminated with a very resistant form of Toxoplasma called the oocyst (pronounced o-o-cyst) during a period called Stage F.

Pigs, sheep, goats, and poultry are sources of meat commonly infected with Toxoplasma. Toxoplasma in meat can be killed by cooking at 152ºF (66ºC) or higher or freezing for a day in a household freezer. Of all the infected animals tested, only cats are the perfect hosts for the production of the infectious and resistant Toxoplasma oocysts. The oocyst, released from the intestine of cats in their feces, is very hardy and can survive sleet, freezing, and even several months of extreme heat and dehydration. Moreover, oocysts can be carried long distances by wind and water. Thus the threat of toxoplasmosis can be greatly reduced when Toxoplasma oocysts are destroyed.

Dangers of toxoplasmosis in human beings
There are two populations at high risk for infection with Toxoplasma; pregnant women and immunodeficient individuals. In the United States it is estimated that approximately 3,000 children are born infected with toxoplasmosis every year. Although the majority of infected infants show no symptoms of toxoplasmosis at birth, many are likely to develop signs of infection later in life. Loss of vision, mental retardation, loss of hearing, and death in severe cases, are the symptoms of toxoplasmosis in congenitally infected children. Ideally, women who are in frequent contact with cats should be serologically tested for Toxoplasma gondii before becoming pregnant, because, if they are already seropositive, they are not at risk of acquiring a primary, acute infection during pregnancy.

The epidemic of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has created an expanding population of susceptible individuals. Usually, people suffering from both AIDS and toxoplasmosis have been exposed to the Toxoplasma parasite earlier in life and the HIV infection simply allowed the Toxoplasma parasite to grow unchecked. These patients develop neurologic diseases and can experience convulsions, paralysis, coma or even die from toxoplasmosis even after treatment is administered. Pets can be companions for AIDS patients suffering from toxoplasmosis and usually pose no additional threat from further transmission of Toxoplasma parasites. Since cats usually shed Toxoplasma in their feces for only one to two weeks in their lives and because oocysts are not infectious immediately after passage from the cat, the risk of human Toxoplasma infection from pet cats can be greatly reduced with minimal prevention.

To prevent exposure to Toxoplasma:
Follow these steps, especially during pregnancy, to prevent exposure to Toxoplasma:

• Change litter daily before any Toxoplasma oocysts can "ripen" and become infectious (Stage F). Dispose of used litter safely, preferably in a sealed plastic bag. If pregnant, avoid changing the litter box if possible (or use rubber gloves).
• Wash vegetables thoroughly before eating, especially those grown in backyard gardens. Boil water from ponds or streams before drinking when camping or hiking.
• Cover sand boxes when not in use to discourage cats defecating in them.
• Wash hands with soap and water after working with soil or after handling raw or undercooked meat.
• Cutting boards, knives, and the sink and counters should be washed well after cutting meat.
• When cooking, avoid tasting meat before it is fully cooked.
• Cook meat thoroughly until the internal temperature reaches 152ºF (66ºC) in a conventional oven. Microwaving is not a sure way to kill Toxoplasma in meat.

How do cats become infected with Toxoplasma?
Although cats can be infected by the same means as humans, the most likely sources of toxoplasmosis in cats is from eating mice, birds, and other small animals that are infected with the Toxoplasma parasite. For indoor cats, the most likely source is uncooked meat scraps. When a cat is exposed to Toxoplasma parasites through the consumption of infected meat or tissues, the cat can eventually excrete millions of Toxoplasma oocysts in its feces each day. This release of oocysts can continue for up to two weeks. Oocysts in feces become infectious (reach Stage F) after one to two days. Since most cats do not leave feces on their fur for two days, it is unlikely that humans become infected from direct contact with cats themselves. Because cats usually exhibit no signs of illness while passing oocysts, it is difficult to determine when a particular cat's feces may be infectious to people or other mammals. Most adult cats will not pass oocysts eve year. Although the majority of infected infants show no symptoms of toxoplasmosis at birth, many are likely to develop signs of infection later in life. Loss of vision, mental retardation, loss of hearing, and death in severe cases, are the symptoms of toxoplasmosis in congenitally infected children. Ideally, women who are in frequent contact with cats should be serologically tested for Toxoplasma gondii before becoming pregnant, because, if they are already seropositive, they are not at risk of asymptoms of toxoplasmosis, there have been cases in cats associating toxoplasmosis with pneumonia, liver damage, and loss of vision. Why some cats show symptoms and other cats do not is not known. Concurrent infection with other diseases (feline leukemia, feline AIDS) can aggravate toxoplasmosis in cats. Treatment can be effective if the disease is diagnosed early. A blood test for Toxoplasma antibodies helps in diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in sick cats.

To help prevent Toxoplasma infection in cats, follow these steps:

• Keep cats indoors and do not allow them to hunt rodents and birds.
• Feed cats only cooked meat or processed food from commercial sources.
  

At present there is no vaccine for toxoplasmosis in cats. Efforts are, however, underway to market a vaccine to prevent Toxoplasma oocyst shedding by cats.

This information was prepared by Dr. J. P. Dubey, Senior Scientist, parasite Biology and Epidemiology Laboratory, Livestock and Poultry Sciences Institute, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705.

Resource: www.avma.org

How to Tell Your Pet Has a Rabies?

Facts About Rabies
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The virus is usually transmitted by a bite from a rabid animal.

Prompt and appropriate treatment, after being bitten and before the disease develops, can stop the infection and prevent the disease in people.

Human rabies cases in the United States have occurred after close exposure to a bat without an obvious sign or recollection of a bite.

Not all rabid animals foam at the mouth and appear mad. Infected animals can be very calm and tame.

Only mammals get rabies. Birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians do not.

Rabies and Humans
Improved rabies vaccination and animal control programs and better treatment for people who have been bitten have dramatically reduced the number of human rabies cases in this country. The majority of recent human cases acquired in the United States have resulted from exposures to bats.

Dogs are still a significant source of rabies in other countries. Be aware of this risk when traveling outside of the United States.

Most cases of rabies occur in wild animals, mainly skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes. Remember, wildlife is a part of our natural heritage. Enjoy it and respect it from a distance for the benefit of all concerned.

What You Can Do To Help Control Rabies

• Have your veterinarian vaccinate your cats, dogs, ferrets, and selected livestock. Keep the vaccinations up-to-date. Your veterinarian will advise you on the recommended or required frequency of vaccination in your locality.
• Reduce the possibility of exposure to rabies by keeping your animals on your property. Don't let pets roam free. Don't leave garbage or pet food outside because it may attract wild or stray animals.
• Wild animals should not be kept as pets. They are a potential rabies threat to their owners and to others. Observe all wild animals from a distance, even if they seem friendly.
  A rabid wild animal may act tame. Don't go near it. If you see a wild animal acting strangely, report it to the city or county animal control department.

If You Have Been Bitten
Don't panic — but don't ignore the bite either. Wash the wound thoroughly and vigorously with soap and lots of water.

If possible, capture the animal under a large box or can, or at least try to identify it before it runs away. Don't try to pick the animal up. Call the local animal control authorities to come and get the animal.

If it is a wild animal, try to capture it if you can do so safely without being bitten again. If the animal cannot be captured and it must be killed to prevent its escape, don't damage the head. The brain will be needed to test for rabies.

Call your physician immediately. Explain how you were bitten and follow the physician's advice.

Report the bite to the local health department.

If Your Pet Has Been Bitten:

• Immediately consult your veterinarian.
• Report the bite to the local animal control authorities.
• Dogs, cats and ferrets that are currently vaccinated should be revaccinated immediately, kept under the owner's control, and observed for a period as specified by state law or local ordinances (normally 45 days or more).
• Animals with expired vaccinations will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Unvaccinated dogs, cats and ferrets exposed to a rabid animal may need to be euthanatized immediately. Alternatively, the animal should be checked and immediately placed in strict isolation for 6 months and vaccinated 1 month before being released.

If bitten by a rabid animal, other animals should be euthanatized immediately.

If Your Pet Has Bitten Someone:

• Urge the victim to see a physician immediately and to follow the physician's recommendations.
• Report the bite to the local health department and animal control authorities. If your pet is a cat, dog or ferret, the officials will confine the animal and watch it closely for 10 days. Home confinement may be allowed. Immediately report any illness or unusual behavior with your pet to your local health department and veterinarian. Don't let your pet stray, and don't give your pet away. The animal must be available for observation by public health authorities or a veterinarian.
• Check with your veterinarian to be sure your pet's vaccinations are up-to-date.
• After the recommended observation period, have your pet vaccinated for rabies if it does not have a current rabies vaccination.

Your Family Physician
It's extremely important that you notify your family physician immediately after an animal bites you. Your physician can find out if the animal has been captured. Capture and observation of the animal can affect the treatment decisions of your physician. If necessary, your physician will give you the anti-rabies treatment recommended by the United States Public Health Service; and if necessary, will also treat you for other possible infections that could result from the bite.

For more information on rabies, contact your veterinarian or your local health department.

Source: AVMA
www.avma.org