Flea and Tick Prevention Part Doux: Triple Sure

Triple Sure was introduced to me by a client who favors natural and organic foods and remedies in all aspects of her life, including the care of her dog.  This particular client has also suffered from severe and crippling bouts of Lyme Disease so she takes her tick prevention quite seriously.  She swears by Triple Sure.

Triple Sure is the brainchild of Gary Le-Mon, a "professional Herbalist" (his words) who created this product using active ingredients such as cedar and peppermint oil which work to block a specific neurotransmitter in insects called Octopamine.  Otopamine regulates the nervous system of most insects, and is considered especially safe for humans and other animals because we lack Otopamine in our biology.   

Triple Sure has a pleasant scent with aromas of Cedar, Pine, and Peppermint which when inhaled bring to mind images of lounging fireside inside a cabin in the woods.  Basically, it smells great.  But more importantly, and by all accounts, it seems to work quite well.  I have yet to try it on my own dog, but from speaking to other dog owners who use it, this will be my next purchase.  

Triple Sure can be purchased here: http://www.natural-wonder-pets.com/natural-flea-control.html

Flea and Tick Prevention Part 1: FRONTLINE PLUS

There are so many flea and tick remedies on the market today that it's tough to know which one is right for you.  In the coming weeks we will post on some of the most popular methods of prevention and the pro's and con's of each.  First up, FRONTLINE PLUS:

FRONTLINE PLUS
Probably the most popular flea and tick prevention, and the one most recommended by Vets, is FRONTLINE Plus, which is applied topically.  The active ingredients in this product are fipronil and (S)-methoprene, both of which are highly toxic to fleas and ticks.  Once applied, this chemical combination stores itself in the oil glands of your pet's skin and self-distributes continuously for up to one month throughout your pet's hair and skin by way of hair follicles.  Fleas or ticks that then come in contact with your pet are killed on contact (www.frontline.com/Pages/About.aspx). 

Unfortunately, fipronil, one of the active ingredients in Frontline plus can also be toxic to humans and animals.  Toxicity on humans has been tested in few studies, more commonly involving human cells which were used in carcinogenicity studies, but with no adverse effects. Yet, fipronil has been classified by the EPA as a Group C (possible human) carcinogen based on an increase in thyroid follicular cell tumors in both sexes of the rat. Furthermore, fipronil is considered slightly irritating to the skin, while moderately irritating to the eyes in both humans and animals. 

Two Frontline TopSpot products were determined by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to pose no significant exposure risks to workers applying the product. However, concerns were raised about human exposure to Frontline spray treatment in 1996, leading to a denial of registration for the spray product. Commercial pet groomers and veterinarians were considered to be at risk from chronic exposure via inhalation and dermal absorption during the application of the spray, assuming they may have to treat up to 20 large dogs per day.^[14] Fipronil is not volatile, so there is little likelihood of humans being exposed to this compound in the air.^[24]

If injested (and this would most likely be inadvertently) Fipronil can be poisonous.  Fipronil poisioning is characterized by vomiting, agitation, and seizures, but can usually be managed through supportive care and early treatment generally with benzodiazepine use (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fipronil).

Given the adverse side-effects of fipronil, use it is recommended that you use FRONTLINE only as directed and wash your hands after use and/or touching the treated area of your pet.  

Personal Reflections After a Doggie Faux Pas

Every morning one of my client's dogs greets me at the door with what I like to think of as a gift of sorts. Usually it's a bone, sometimes it's her owner's shoe, occasionally a sock. Today, however, I was shocked to find that my welcoming "gift" was a pair of her owner's underwear. Luckily they were clean (I think although I did not inspect them thoroughly). Both myself and said owner got a good laugh at this morning's faux pas but it also got me thinking about how the nuanced twists and turns - some small, some large, some glorious, some dreadful - of day to day life are what keep it interesting Oh to be alive! Due to the unpredictable nature of dogs I never know how the day will unfold. Some days are challenging, others are fun, many are funny (or funny later when you can look back and laugh). But one thing the days are never is boring. I'm thankful for that.

You're Invited!

The College and Career Access Project, a vocationally focused noncredit college program, jointly administered by North Shore Community College and the Northeast Arc will be hosting a business reception at Eastern Bank, 195 Market Street in Lynn, on Wednesday October 15th from 6 to 8pm.  Please join us for networking and to learn the benefits the program affords to both the businesses that employ the students enrolled in these programs and the students themselves.  Dingo's Dogsitting is working with two students enrolled in the Basic Canine and Feline Care track of the program and as such, I will be speaking as part of a panel representing participating businesses.

The event is sponsored by the Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce. There will be complimentary beer, wine and appetizers and free parking! RSVP by Wednesday October 8th to Pam Silva of the Northeast Arc: psilva@ne-arc.org.  Hope to see you there!!

For more information about the College and Career Access Project please see here:  http://www.northshore.edu/ccap/

For more information about the Northeast Arc please see here: http://ne-arc.org/about-us/

Dingo's Dogsitting is Proud to Introduce Our Two Interns!

Dingo's Dogsitting is happy to introduce our two, new interns from The College and Career Access Project (CCAP), Lizzie and Kaitlyn! CCAP is is a one-year, vocationally focused, noncredit college program established by the Northeast Arc in conjunction with North Shore Community College. It affords young people with intellectual, developmental, and learning disabilities the opportunity to build vocational skills through classroom and real world experience. Both Lizzy and Kaitlyn are students in the Basic Canine and Feline Care track of the CCAP Program. We are happy to have them on board and the dogs seem to enjoy their company as well!

Read more about the Northeast Arc and the wonderful work that they do here:  www.ne-arc.org

Job Hazards...

My company motto, especially given that I love my job so much, is typically "Wag more.  Bark less."  But when dogs poop, or even worse, have diarhea in my car, such as what occurred to me yesterday, I can't help but bark more and wag less.  I guess when you are living your dream you just gotta take the bad with the abundance of good sometimes.  I'm thankful for apologetic clients who helped me clean my car.  I'm also thankful for Febreeze!   #jobhazards #firstworldproblems #alreadyoverit #thatswhatcarfreshenersarefor

An Insider's Guide to Dog Behavior Seminars, Trainings, etc

This past weekend I attended a seminar on dog group dynamics by Sue Sternberg.  Sternberg is the head of Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption, a community, nonprofit animal shelter which serves the upstate New York community.  Sue also runs national programs dedicated to ensuring safe animal adoptions, and quality of life at animal shelters around the world. She has over 23 years of canine behavior experience, including as an animal control officer, a behavior consultant at the ASPCA, a kennel and animal shelter owner, a successful competitor in a variety of dog sports, and a teacher of dog trainers.  

I was made aware of the seminar and attended with Irene Zimmer, the staff trainer at Dingo's Dogsitting.  Irene, a former Vet and dog sport competitor, is constantly keeping abreast of the various animal behaviorist trainings and seminars held throughout the year.  Since I'm new to the training world, I asked her to let me know when there is another seminar in the area that we could attend together.  Irene, always enthusiastic, took that small prodding to write me a fabulously informative email of all the local trade organizations in the area dealing with the health, wellness, and training of dogs.  Since her email was so thorough and informative I wanted to share it with my readers.  So without further ado, here it is:

1) There is the website of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (www.apdt.com). Their annual conference this year will be in Hartford Connecticut in October. 

[As a side note, Irene went to their conference in San Diego three years ago.  Sue Sternberg is presenting a workshop there this year.]

2) Ian Dunbar, who I think founded the APDT or was founding member, has a website called Dogstar Daily (www.dogstardaily.com) which is also full of good information. He is very knowledgeable. I am a big fan of his.

3) Then there is the International Association of Animal Bahavior Consultants (IAABC). The reason I mention this is that they have a link called (CEUs) where they feature workshops and conferences etc. Here is the link:

https://iaabc.org/bin/#/ceus/search/#e1995

4) Then of course there is Dr Sophia Yin; she also has a website full of interesting stuff. She is very good.  I will be doing a laboratory with her in October at a vet conference. 

5) I also like to keep an eye on TUFTS Cummings school of vet medicine in North Grafton. I once sat in on behavior consults with Dr Dodman and Dr Borns-Weil, they are very good and have a lot of what I consider "healthy" takes on things. 

6) Here is a webpage I also check for especially behavior things, they list a lot of events, not only for vets: 

http://avsabonline.org/resources/events

If anyone else has any feedback on any upcoming seminars or trainings they have attended I would love to hear from you.  Please email me at: nancy@dingosdogsitting.com.