How dogs are good for us: 
For better mental and physical health a dog gives us many things. Dogs are great listeners. No matter what your age is a dog can patiently listen to anything we say without judgment. Nor do they offer criticism. They offer simple, supportive listening. When we feel all alone a dog offers us companionship.

Stress and anxiety were lessened for dog owners. A Washington State University study revealed cortisol was greatly reduced just by petting a dog for only 10 minutes. Cortisol is called the “stress hormone” by increasing blood flow by increasing the heart rate and blood sugar rate and more when under stress. Veterans showed lesser signs of PTSD and showed better coping skills when they owned a dog.

Today there are more and more ways of measuring the physical benefits of having a dog. A comprehensive overview of studies spanning 69 years found that dog owners lived longer because of handling stress better, exercise and having lower overall blood pressure than non-dog owners. Repetition of heart problems lessened with having a dog and improved the cardiovascular system.

Petting a dog for a short time measurably reduces the cortisol level. Dog owners walked 4X more than non-dog owners walking more than an hour and a half a week longer than non-dog owners. There was a sleep study done which deduced people slept sounder with a dog in their room because they felt safer. People with sleep disorders found service animals improved their problems. Nightmares? Sleep with a dog!

For our seniors, pet therapies show improved cognition, better social skills, and lowered agitated behaviors. There are a wide variety of studies about how dogs affect our lives, and it is mostly in positive, healthier ways. There is no doubt during this COVID period with the skyrocketing number of dogs people have acquired, dogs have become a necessary comfort many people's lives. Several have remarked how they could not have done so well without their dog(s). It is obvious that at a minimum dogs improve the quality of our lives.

REFERENCES: 
Admin. “Cortisol Hormone - Functions, Synthesis and Hormonal Level.” BYJUS, BYJU'S, 13 July 2020, https://byjus.com/biology/cortisol-hormone/.


Arford, Kaitlyn. “10 Science-Based Benefits of Having a Dog.” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 11 Nov. 2021, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/10-science-based-benefits-dog/.


Livingston, Cydney. “Man's Best Friend, Our Relationship to Dogs.” Research Blog, 5 Mar. 2020, https://researchblog.duke.edu/2020/02/15/mans-best-friend-our-relationship-to-dogs/.


Mailonline, Lucy Laing For. “Havanese Is Best Dog for Reducing Stress.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 20 Oct. 2017, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4998614/Havanese-best-dog-reducing-stress.html. 


Roy, Sree. “Dogs and Their Promising Roles in Sleep Disorders Therapy.” Sleep Review, Sleep Review, 1 June 2020, https://sleepreviewmag.com/sleep-treatments/dogs-promising-roles-sleep-disorders-therapy/. 

DID YOU KNOW? EATING 1/2 A DEATH CAP MUSHROOM CAN KILL A HUMAN. 

The top of the mushroom is the cap which is usually a greenish-yellow. It is a dome-shaped but flattens as it ages. It is tough, shiny, and leathery to the touch but may be slick or sticky if wet. Many poisonous mushrooms have a sour or bitter smell like ammonia. Under the cap are pure white Gills which have a fluted structure and where it produces spores. Not all mushrooms have gills. Under the cap at the top of the stem is a membrane veil or skirt covering part of the large, thick, white stem. The stem sits in a white cup or rounded base called a Volva. It is one of the keys to identifying the Death Cap Mushroom.
 
Story Time: 
Recently Kristin let their 9-month-old puppy, Obie, outside. He was drawn to some mushrooms and began to chew one. They quickly pulled the mushroom and saw many more in the yard. Within 15-20 minutes Obie began to drool and then vomit with diarrhea. Scared, Kristin immediately called the vet. The vet told her to give him some water. After time, the vomiting stopped. Kristin thought that was end of it, but unfortunately 10 hours after ingesting the mushroom, Obie passed away. 

DID YOU KNOW? A DEATH CAP MUSHROOM CAN SHUT DOWN THE LIVER IN 6-12 HOURS.

What to do:

1. Do Not Wait. 
2. Take the mushroom and your pet to the vet immediately. 
3. Bag and take the vomit or stool.

Your pup will be given intravenous fluids, etc., to flush their system. Perhaps activated charcoal will be given to induce vomiting. Other symptoms are seizures, tremors, restlessness or stomach pain, and coma. Any time your pet is listless, sluggish, or lethargic take him to the vet. 

    
This article is dedicated to his memory and to the Bruns who were kind enough to share this warning on FB Oct. 9, 2021.

References:
“Amanita Phalloides - Death Cap.” Amanita Phalloides – Mushrooms Up! Edible and Poisonous Species of Coastal BC and the Pacific Northwest, https://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~biodiv/mushroom/A_phalloides.html. 

The buyer is new to the Havanese community although she has champions in another breed.  The breeder she bought her male puppy from offered to mentor her and is extremely active with 20 years or so of showing experience and involved in other Havanese activities. Within two years the puppy became a Grand Champion.  When contacted about SA the breeder turned an unexpected cold shoulder.  I write in the hopes the breeder will do better.  She is known to be 'reputable'.
 
SA is an immune-mediated disease (the immune system attacks itself)  which not deadly by itself in this case but causes baldness, with other lifelong problems.  The origin is unknown.  Did I mention it is hereditary?
 
Q.  What is Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)?
A:  An Autoimmune (IMIDs), hereditary skin disease without cure. Causes Hair loss, scabby layer of skin that can get worse with lesions, extreme dandruff, etc. Stress can affect the disease. Eyes can be affected.  Testing can have false negatives and show no symptoms.

Q.  When did SA show up?
A.  Early 1980’s.

Q.  What is the difference between mange and SA?
A.  Although they can look similar initially, the cause of SA is unknown, the cause of mange is mites. There are other differences. SA starts on the head and goes down the spine evenly (symmetrically) on the body.

Q.  How is it diagnosed?
A.  Only by a skin biopsy/scrapping. Phenotypic test only (Symptoms at presentation). Test is known for false negatives.  Should be re-tested in 3-6 mos.  No DNA test.

Q.  Is it contagious to humans?
A.  Yes.

Q.  What are the signs of SA?
A.  Hair loss that are the same from side to side on the dog’s body, the hair texture             becomes dull and brittle, there is a lot of dandruff that doesn’t flake off easily, bits of matted hair show up on the body, bleeding shows up, starts on the head and goes down the back, itching, check ear flaps.  It has a musty odor.  It can have no signs as well.

Q.  What age dog?
A.  Young adults to middle-age (1-7) dogs are affected. It has been newly reported in dogs as late as 12 yrs. old.

Q.  What does it do?
A. Causes baldness. Affects the sebaceous glands. Cause eye damage. Secondary infections. Itching. Lesions. Scales. Causes the immune system to attack itself.

Q.  What is the danger?
A.  Causes intermittent bacterial or yeast-related pus in the skin (pyoderma - yuck) and dogs are subject to secondary infections. Eye problems. Stress is an issue.

Q.  Are there any signs prior to presentation?
A.  No systemic symptoms until presentation.

Q.  What is the treatment?
A.  Treatment to slow attack on sebaceous glands, treatment to comfort itchiness,                treatment for bacterial infection. Akitas are almost resistant to any treatment. Oral and topical treatments.  Eye exams.

Q.  Which breeds get this?
A. Havanese, Akita, Bernese Mountain Dog, Cockapoo,, German Shepherd, Goldendoodle, Husky, Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever,  Samoyeds, Springer Spaniel, Standard Poodle, Vizsla, and Welsh Corgi and more.

​Sire's Owner/Friend: "I was blindsided by it, had no clue the breed had a potential for this. There's a fb group that's offered options to help with coat maintenance. It's a costly disease to manage as most are only properly diagnosed by a Vet Dermatologist. Rx drug Atopica is expensive but very effective. Frequent oil soaks, non soap shampoo, topical spray and oils help the scales skin. Becky also added that SA is affected by stress and can damage the eyes, too.  She recommended taking the dog to a Canine Ophthalmologist for a baseline eye assessment."

References::
“SEBACEOUS ADENITIS.” Sebaceous Adenitis - Mar Vista Animal Medical Center, Animal Medical Center, https://www.marvistavet.com/sebaceous-adenitis.pml.

“Veterinarians & Emergency Vets: VCA Animal Hospitals.” Veterinarians & Emergency Vets | VCA Animal Hospitals, https://www.vcahospitals.com/.