What's Buggin' Your Dog? Flea-Free? Does your itchy dog have fleas? According to veterinarian Brent Humphrey, president of the Calgary Academy of Veterinary Medicine, if you live in central Alberta - most probably NOT. "Itchy dogs in Calgary are more likely suffering from a skin or coat problem, not fleas," says Humphrey. "Unless you've traveled to other provinces, especially, British Columbia, fleas are generally not a problem here. The climate is too cold and dry and the altitude is too high."  If you are concerned about excessive scratching, Humphrey suggests that you consult with your veterinarian before trying any over-the-counter flea remedies. If the dog does have a dry skin problem or an allergic reaction that's causing the itching, self-treatment can make it worse. Worms Anyone? Did you know that the eggs of hookworms and roundworms could be lurking in any pile of canine fecal matter? When your dog sniffs at another dog's droppings he could contract these parasites.  Humphrey notes that while cases of intestinal worm infestations in adult dogs are less common than in puppies, with more people frequenting off-leash areas it is now an increasing problem - all the more reason to "Stoop and Scoop".  "A bigger problem for Calgarians and their pets is Giardia - more commonly known as Beaver Fever," says Humphrey. "Giardia is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Symptoms include stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and bloody stool. Your dog can contract Giardia if you allow him to play in (or drink) stagnant water frequented by other warm-blooded mammals. Treatment for this ailment is quite difficult, so it is best to minimize the risk of possible exposure."  Pest Prevention Is the Best Medicine While medications exist to treat most forms of parasitic infections in dogs, prevention is always the best medicine. Ensure that your dog has an annual physical examination and fecal analysis, keep his vaccination shots up-to-date, and please pick up and properly dispose of his droppings! It's not only common courtesy - it's the law.

The Scoop On Poop Reprinted with permission of the Pawsitive Times - Spring/Summer 2002  Whether he's a champion show dog or a mutt with a mixed pedigree, there's nothing pretty about a pooping dog. But whether we like it or not, dealing with doggie do-do is a fact of life for those of us who choose to own dogs. Failure to clean up after our dogs result in hundreds of complaints to the city each year - by dog owners and non-dog owners alike. Worse yet, it results in an estimated 10 tones of dog feces littering our parks every spring. Perhaps one of the biggest problems with doggie doo is that it tends to accumulate in small areas, usually near park entrances and along pathways. This is because dogs, by nature, are territorial and they mark their territory by urinating and defecating where other dogs have already left their calling cards. And some people, by nature, seem to think that removal of their dogs' waste is not their responsibility.  The animal control bylaw states: "If any dog defecates on any public or private propery other than the property of its owner, the owner shall remove such defecation immediately."  Intestinal Worms and Deadly Viruses According to Calgary veterinarian, Dr. Emery Cyfra, there's more to dog poop than meets the eye. Not only are our companion dogs at risk of infection, urban wildlife and people are, too. Every pile of dog poop is a potential ticking time bomb of disease. "Confirmed cases of people, mostly children, who had contacted canine roundworms from dog feces are not uncommon," says Cyfra. "Using a plastic bag to pick up and immediately dispose of canine fecal matter greatly reduces the chances of spreading disease or parasite infections." The eggs of hook worms and round worms can lay dormant in a pile of dog feces for a long time. When a dog, a coyote or a fox sniffs or licks the poop pile, he/she will ingest the eggs and become infected. Dog poop can also harbor viral infections, such as canine parvovirus, which can be deadly if introduced to unvaccinated domestic dogs and/or feral coyotes and foxes. Most veterinarians highly recommend a program of regular deworming for dogs. Preventative medication for heartworm often contains additional ingredients that also kill intestinal parasites so, if you're treating your dog for heartworm, you are also protecting him/her from internal parasites.  Beaver Fever An even bigger problem for Calgarians and their dogs is Giardia - which is more commonly known as "Beaver Fever." Giardia is zoonotic disease. This means that it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Symptoms include stomach cramps, vomiting, diarhea and bloody stool. Your dog can contract giardia is you allow him/her to drink or play in stagnant water frequented by other warm-blooded animals. Your dog can give the "bug" to you when he or she licks your face. Treatment is difficult, so it is best to minimize exposure and take advantage of the new giardia vaccine that is now available from your veterinarian.  Prevention is Best While medications exist to treat most forms of parasitic and viral infections in dogs, prevention is always the best medicine. Ensure that your dog has an annual physical check-up, vaccinations and fecal analysis. And please, pick up and properly dispose of his droppings! It is not only common sense and common courtesy; it's the law!