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/. 

Collar:
Knowing your collar is a start. What kinds of collars are there? There are basic flat collars that go around the neck, a martingale collar, a choke collar, a metal prong or pinch collar, a smart collar, head collar, show collar, and harness. A collar can be braided, leather, plastic, LED, nylon, cloth, metal, brass, neoprene, flat, or rolled and embellished in a million ways. 

And just for fun – what color? With or without a nameplate/tag or I.D. built into the collar some way? Bows? Flowers? Bandanas?  With these choices comes the question of quality, material, and understanding exactly what is needed.

As mentioned before there is a choke collar commonly used for training that comes in a chain, rope style, or leather. The type of chain can affect how smoothly the action of the collar is or if the collar moves in a jerky manner. There are many different kinds of chain choke collars such as a Jewelers or curb link, flat link, thick Cuban link, rhinestone lock buckle cut link, fur saver link, snake link or basic round, simple link collar. In addition there is a vast amount of ornamentation possible with these collars. 
 ​
A martingale collar is also known as a no-slip or limited-slip collar and is a popular choice.  This is our go-to for training until the puppy has been "trained" then they graduate into a harness. A harness offers several bonuses including something no collar can give, a gentler way to quickly scoop up your dog in an emergency like a dog attack scenario.  

Harness: 
If a harness is the buyer’s choice then where the clip is located is critical. I recommend a lightweight mesh harness with a wide chest strap and a clip on the back. It should fit close to the body neither too tight or too loose.  The clip on the back is ideal for Havanese because in an emergency situation there is less damage done to the esophagus or trachea and the spine, neck, laryngeal nerve, fore or hind legs. If the clip chest instead of the back and you have to pull your dog to safety you will create a situation where your dog could bite you due to the sudden chaos of the situation. 

Clasps:
There is a variety of clasps used in harnesses and collars from a break-away clasp, side quick-release clasp, side or slide release clasp, and buckle (prong) clasp. Like collars, clasps come in a variety of materials from rustproof, waterproof, metal to plastic. Usually near a clasp there is the ring where the leash attaches. 

Leash:
A traditional training leash is 4ft.-6 ft. long with a looped handhold at one end and a fastener at the other end. Be aware leashes come in many lengths and multiple widths. Materials include nylon, rope, braid, leather,  flat/ribbon, and other choices, colors or prints. It is possible to buy attractive matching leash and harness sets. I do not recommend retractable leashes. I prefer a 1/2" leash for these small dogs because the leashes carry a weight to the dog's neck area. 

Leash fasteners come in many configurations: trigger snap, bolt lock (most common), bolt snap or round eye bolt snap and bolt snap with swivel head (most popular), double-sided bolt snap hook, lobster clasp hooks, antique brass style bolt locks or simple lanyard hook (strongly not recommended).

Treat Pouch, Tote, or Bag?
A treat pouch is an easier and less messy way to carry training treats. A treat pouch is a bag that attaches to the belt via loop or carabiner clip usually. The pouch ranges from a simple design to an ultra-fashionable material and styling statement with conveniences such as additional pocket(s), zippered compartments or even a hinged opening, etc.!

Treats & Caution
We like freeze-dried dog treats with ingredients that you know and not umpteen syllables in what seems to be, a foreign language. We mentioned in a previous post that when it comes to training we use freeze-dried beef lung and freeze-dried chicken. Make sure that your treats are made in the USA. The pieces should be the size of a blueberry or cheerio. When training, it is better use a set specific treats to give your dog something to look forward to. We say set, because if you mix it up from time to time it keeps it interesting for your dog. 

Frame of mind:
The trainer’s frame of mind, voice, and attitude. Your dog picks up on your emotions and can reflect them back. It is a waste of time if you come into training bothered and not focused on making this time a positive experience for your dog. By positive, or ‘crafted experience,’ I mean to purposely and patiently teach your dog with gentleness and an upbeat attitude. Bear in mind, this is a new adventure for your dog. Make it fun with plenty of praise and age or experience-appropriate responses for the dog with treats and petting to create an experience the dog enjoys. 

Impact:
This enjoyment leads into the next session as one for the dog to anticipate fun versus dread. If it is fun for the dog, hopefully, it is fun for the trainer and the lessons move more quickly and smoothly. Also please be sure the walking surface will not burn your dog’s feet.
​

References:
“7 Best Harnesses for Small Dogs [2022 Reviews]: Tiny & Terrific!” K9 Of Mine, 9 Oct. 2019, https://www.k9ofmine.com/best-harness-for-small-dogs/.

Dogcollarsharnessesandleashes. “Types of Dog Leash Fasteners.” Dog Collars Harnesses and Leashes, 18 Apr. 2022, https://dogcollarsharnessesandleashes.com/types-of-dog-leash-fasteners/.

Karen AndersonUpdated by Margeaux Baulch Klein, et al. “The 10 Best Small Dog Harnesses: Your Complete Guide.” The Dog People by Rover.com, 12 Nov. 2021, https://www.rover.com/blog/reviews/small-dog-harnesses/.

Nicole CosgroveNicole is the proud mom of Rosa. “10 Best Dog Harnesses for Small Dogs [Reviews 2022 ].” Hepper, 27 Mar. 2022, https://www.hepper.com/best-dog-harness-for-small-dogs/.

Phenix, Annie, et al. “What to Do When an off-Leash Dog Approaches Your Leashed Dog.” Dogster, 2 July 2021, https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/what-to-do-when-an-off-leash-dog-approaches-your-leashed-dog.

“Spot the Difference: Front Clip versus Back Clip Harnesses.” Andrea Arden Dog Training, 18 Oct. 2016, https://andreaarden.com/dog-training/spot-the-difference-front-clip-versus-back-clip-harnesses/.

Stregowski, Jenna. “Which Dog Collar Is Best for Your Dog?” The Spruce Pets, The Spruce Pets, 21 Mar. 2022, https://www.thesprucepets.com/different-types-of-dog-collars-1118613.

“Understanding Dog Training Collar Injuries.” VetInfo, https://www.vetinfo.com/dog-training-collar.html.

Vuckovic, Angela. “How to Discipline a Dog without Hitting, Advice and Tips.” Petfeed - Pet Care Tips, How-to Guides, Funny Stories, Comics, and Videos, Petfeed - Pet Care Tips, How-to Guides, Funny Stories, Comics, and Videos, 16 Nov. 2021, https://blog.petcube.com/dog-training/.