A Texas dog rescue caused a distemper outbreak in the Northwest after sending 2 transports of dogs that had been exposed to the deadly virus.

Darby and Gracy’s Dog Rescue in Sherwood, OR had to euthanize 17 dogs and puppies last month sent from the SPCA of Brazoria County outside Houston, TX after 2 of the dogs sent on a July transport tested positive for distemper.

An Oregon women had to euthanize one of the dogs from SPCA of Brazoria County she adopted from Darby and Gracy’s after it developed distemper. She also had to put down her rescue dog after it contracted distemper from the new dog she adopted.

A dog from SPCA of Brazoria County adopted by another Oregon woman died from distemper on August 22. A dog adopted by a Seattle women developed distemper but fortunately it survived.

And a dog rescue in the Midwest had to euthanize 1 dog it got from SPCA of Brazoria County in July as well as 1 puppy already at the shelter it infected.

In total, 23 dogs sent to rescues in July from SPCA of Brazoria County either died from distemper or were so sick they had to be euthanized.

Canine Distemper: Highly Contagious, No Cure

Canine distemper is “a…..serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of puppies and dogs.” 

It spreads through airborne exposure, direct contact with an infected animal, or indirect contact (exposure to bowls, blankets, etc. used by an infected animal).

Canine distemper has an incubation period of 1-2 weeks but it can be as long as 4-5 weeks before an infected dog shows symptoms of the disease.

A dog can carry the virus for weeks without showing any symptoms and still infect other dogs.

Puppies are particularly susceptible because their immune systems aren’t fully developed.

Symptoms of distemper include:

• fever
• watery discharge from the nose and eyes
• coughing
• lethargy
• diarrhea
• lack of appetite

The virus attacks the nervous system as it progresses. This causes circling behavior, head tilting, seizures, muscle twitching, paralysis, and thickening of foot pads.

The virus is especially nasty because it’s extremely contagious, often fatal, and does not have a cure. 

Once a dog is either exposed to or has distemper, it must be isolated to prevent the virus from spreading.

After recovering from distemper a dog can still shed the virus for up to 120 days.

The American Veterinary Medical Association says treatment usually consists of “supportive care and efforts to prevent secondary infections; control vomiting, diarrhea and neurologic symptoms; and combat dehydration through administration of fluids.”

Distemper Vaccine Doesn’t Immediately Provide Puppies Full Immunization

An important concept to remember is that vaccination and immunization aren’t the same thing. That’s why giving a puppy a distemper vaccination doesn’t automatically give it full protection from the virus.

Puppies don’t have immunity from distemper and other viruses when they are born. Maternal antibodies provide the immunity puppies need, but their effectiveness gradually declines until puppies are approximately 12 weeks old.

Because the amount of maternal antibodies a puppy receives is variable, no one can predict when they no longer protect a puppy from viruses. Because of this, most vets give puppies their first distemper vaccination when they are 6-8 weeks old.

Vaccines given before that are less likely to be effective because “the maternally derived antibodies can block the pup’s ability to respond to vaccination.”

Puppies aren’t fully protected from distemper until about a week after their final vaccination when they are 16-18 weeks old. After that, “most pups have enough vaccine protection against the common vaccinatable conditions of dogs to ……. go to the dog park, doggie daycare, and other places where large groups of unknown dogs frequent and congregate.”

Veterinarians advise people to keep vaccinated puppies away from dogs with unknown vaccination histories until a week after their final vaccine.

SPCA of Brazoria County Not Fully Transparent About Distemper Outbreak

Distemper can overrun a shelter/rescue regardless of its protocols. Even those that take all possible precautions to prevent distemper can have outbreaks.

What shelters can control is how they respond to a distemper outbreak. One of the most important things they can do is to be completely transparent with the public.

As soon a shelter knows it has a dog with or exposed to distemper, it should immediately alert every adopter and rescue that took dogs from its facility that could have been exposed to the virus.

At the same time it should also make an announcement alerting the public about distemper at its facility and the steps it will take to address it.

SPCA of Brazoria County did make a public announcement on September 9 on its Facebook page about the distemper outbreak at its facility:

But SPCA of Brazoria County wasn’t fully transparent about its distemper outbreak.

The shelter knew on August 5 that a dog on the July 18 transport had distemper, but staff waited 4 more days before making the announcement on the rescue’s Facebook page. This is the text they sent that day to the Oregon woman whose puppy eventually died of distemper in late August.

Some Rescues Not Notified About Distemper Outbreak

In its August 9 announcement on Facebook, SPCA of Brazoria County said it would contact “persons associated with the animals at the shelter for the past few weeks to ensure that individuals would be on the lookout for the next few weeks for signs of the illness and take appropriate actions.”

However, over 2 months later, I know of at least 3 rescues that took dogs from SPCA of Brazoria County in July that still haven’t been notified about its distemper outbreak.

The 2 transports that took the dogs to D&G Dog Rescue also had dozens of other dogs that went to other rescues. So did the transport that delivered the dog with distemper to the shelter in the midwest.

We don’t know if SPCA of Brazoria County notified any of these unknown rescues that their dogs had been exposed to distemper.

Proper Health Protocols Not Followed

Based on information I’ve collected, I don’t believe SPCA of Brazoria County took the proper precautions to protect the health of dogs on the transports to Oregon while distemper ran rampant in several Texas animal shelters.

Dogs from Texas on First Transport That Arrived in Vancouver, WA on July 18

Wishbone (now Pepe) – 4.5 month old Terrier mix
Chevy – 4 month old Bloodhound
Reba – 4 month old Schnauzer/Doodle mix
7 Catahoula Puppies (almost 8 weeks old)

Dogs from Texas on Second Transport That Arrived in Sherwood, OR on July 30

Biloxi – 1 year old Pittie with 11 puppies (3 weeks old)
Dolly – 1.5 year old Shepherd mix with 3 puppies (8 weeks old)
Pepe – 3 year old Beagle/Lab mix (vet said he was a senior)
Veteran – 2 year old Terrier mix
Winston – 4 month old Malinois

Transports Had Multiple Dogs from Different Shelters

SPCA of Brazoria County assured Shannon Rowe from D&G Dog Rescue that only dogs from its facility would be on the July transports. But Shannon later learned that the transports actually included several of dogs from other rescues. D&G had no idea where those dogs came from or if they were healthy.

The transport with dogs sent to the midwest rescue also had dogs from multiple shelters.

Given that several Texas shelters have had distemper outbreaks this year, shipping dogs from different shelters on the same transport increased the chance of their exposure to distemper, other communicable viruses, and parasites.

Almost All the Puppies Didn’t Have Full Immunity from Distemper

As I noted earlier, puppies aren’t fully protected from distemper until about a week after their fourth and final vaccination when they’re 16-18 weeks old.

Until then, puppies shouldn’t be around dogs with unknown vaccination histories.

Both transports for D&G had puppies with dogs from shelters other than SPCA of Brazoria County. Both transports also had puppies that weren’t fully vaccinated for distemper.

• Reba, a 4 month old puppy, had 1 vaccination 11 days before the transport left Texas and 1 the day it left
• Chevy, a 4 month old puppy, had 1 vaccination 11 days before the transport left Texas
• Wishbone, a 4.5 month old puppy had 1 vaccination 9 days before the transport left Texas
• All 11 of Biloxi’s 3 week old puppies were too young to be vaccinated
• All 3 of Dolly’s 8 week old puppies had 1 vaccination 15 days before the transport left Texas and 1 the day it left
• The 8 week old Catahoula puppies had 1 distemper vaccination 14 days before the transport left for Texas

The only puppy on either transport that had its full set of distemper vaccinations was 4 month old Winston. He never developed distemper and is doing well with his new family.

Dogs and Puppies Had Health Problems Upon Arrival

Virtually all the dogs and puppies from SPCA of Brazoria County had health problems when the transports arrived. Sick dogs are more susceptible to viruses like distemper and should not be on transports.

Dogs on July 18 Transport

• Chevy was coughing and had both a runny nose and diarrhea.
• Wishbone and Chevy had severe cases of coccidia.
• Wishbone was lethargic, coughing, and sneezing.
• All the Catahoula puppies had giardia and coccidia.

Dogs on July 30 Transport

Shannon from D&G Dog Rescue said virtually all the dogs on this transport looked sick when they arrived.

• Dolly had a cough
• 2 of Dolly’s puppies had white gums, crusty eyes, and were lethargic.
• 2 of Dolly’s puppies were diagnosed with“massive” heart murmurs.
• 1 of Dolly’s puppies had to have 2 emergency fluid injections.
• Biloxi was extremely thin.
• Some of Biloxi’s puppies had coughing, and several of the puppies had crusty eyes.
• D&G’s vet said Biloxi and all her puppies “had every possible parasite” and “the highest levels of coccidia he had ever seen.”
• Pepe had a cough, a clear runny nose, and 6 rotten teeth. The vet said he was about 8 years old, not 3 as SPCA of Brazoria County claimed.
• Veteran was “skin and bones” and would not eat.

All of these dogs and puppies didn’t magically develop their health problems while on the transport for just 2 days. At least some of them must have been visibly sick when SPCA of Brazoria County put them on the transports.

Reputable rescues ensure their dogs and puppies are healthy before they can be adopted. They don’t put dogs with worms and other health problems on transports and force adopters or rescues that take the dogs to pay their medical bills.

Furthermore, I don’t understand how a veterinarian could sign health certificates saying these dogs were in good health. This certificate is for Reba. The vet examined her the day before she left on the transport.

The vet signed the document saying that Reba was “free from infectious, contagious, and/or communicable disease.” Yet Reba’s medical history from SPCA of Brazoria County shows her positive fecal float on the same day the vet signed the health certificate.

Fecal floats are tests used to identify worms and parasites. A vet diagnosed Reba with hookworm soon after she arrived in Washington.

How could the vet SPCA of Brazoria County used say Reba had no infectious, contagious, and/or communicable diseases when she had a positive fecal float?

SPCA of Brazoria County Didn’t Follow Its Own Vaccine Protocols

In the section of the August 5 memo to Reba’s owner admitting a puppy on her transport tested positive for distemper, SPCA of Brazoria County stated its vaccination policy:

This is a reasonable vaccination policy. Vaccines every 2 weeks. A total of 4 rounds in puppies and adults. Boost vaccines 2 weeks later. All puppies on transports have age appropriate vaccinations.

Unfortunately, SPCA of Brazoria County didn’t appear to follow its own vaccination policy with many dogs on the July transports to D&G.

Puppies should have all their distemper vaccines by the time they are 16-18 months old. But of the 4 puppies in that age range on the first transport, only Winston was fully vaccinated.

Chevy and Wishbone only had 1 vaccination several days before they left Texas.

Reba only had 2 vaccinations. They gave her the second one the day they put her on the transport, so it wouldn’t provide her with full protection for another week.

The 8 week old Catahoula puppies had 1 vaccination 2 weeks before they left Texas. Fortunately they never developed distemper.

Biloxi’s puppies were too young to be vaccinated. Dolly’s puppies had 1 vaccination 15 days before they left Texas and 1 the day they left.

SPCA of Brazoria County noted in its September 9 Facebook announcement about the distemper outbreak that vaccinations don’t provide, “immediate or guaranteed immunity.” Yet it vaccinated Reba’s and and Biloxi’s puppies the day they left Texas even though the vaccinations wouldn’t provide full immunity during the 2 day trip.

Most Dogs from July Transports Did Not Survive

Almost all the dogs and puppies from Texas sent to Oregon and Washington in July either died or were euthanized. Dogs with blue names survived. Dogs with red names did not.

Reba – 4 month old Schnauzer/Doodle mix

Reba began showing distemper symptoms about a week after she was adopted. Because distemper symptoms are similar to those of other ailments, her vet didn’t treat her for distemper until August 5 when SPCA of Brazoria County sent her owner the email saying a puppy on Reba’s transport had distemper. Although the vet began treating Reba’s symptoms immediately, her condition continued to worsen, and she died on August 24.

Chevy – 4 month old Bloodhound mix

Chevy began showing distemper symptoms after she was adopted in late July. She also infected her adopter’s other dog. The adopter euthanized the dog Chevy infected on August 6 because she couldn’t stand or breathe well.

She put down Chevy the next day because she was suffering badly; she shook constantly and couldn’t eat or stand.

Wishbone (Now Pepe) – 4.5 month old Terrier mix

Pepe was lethargic, coughing, and sneezing when he arrived. The Seattle woman who adopted him took him to the vet as his health continued to decline. He eventually tested positive for distemper. Fortunately his treatment eventually alleviated his symptoms and he’s doing much better.

He still has some heatlh problems though. His owner told me, “The worst is his skin, with incessant itching, scratching, and bleeding as a result from the distemper.”

She also said he started “shrieking and yelping in pain” whenever she picked him up.

The radiologist told her he had a malformation on the back of his skull that pinches the nerves on the back of his neck, which caused the pain. She said this defect “was not documented anywhere on the “clean bill of health” from Brazoria County. The vet said “he was born with this and it would be a lifelong impairment.”

7 Catahoula Puppies – 8 weeks old

The puppies looked in good shape when their transport arrived and all were adopted. None of them have developed distemper so far. They all have had their 3rd vaccines and their adopters are still on watch for distemper symptoms.

Winston – 4 month old Malinois

As I said before, Winston was the only puppy from SPCA of Brazoria County on the July transports that was fully vaccinated. He never developed any health problems.

Biloxi – 1 year old Pittie with 11 puppies (3 weeks old)
Dolly – 1.5 year old Shepherd mix with 3 puppies (8 weeks old)
Pepe – 3 year old Beagle/Lab mix
Veteran – 2 year old Terrier mix

All of these dogs/puppies from the second transport were in horrible shape when they arrived in Oregon on June 30. Some of the puppies has white gums and crusty eyes. Some were coughing, lethargic, and full of parasites. 2 had “massive” heart murmurs.

The adult dogs had clear, runny noses and coughs. Some were extremely skinny.

D&G took them to the vet right away but he didn’t suspect they had distemper until August 5. That’s when Reba’s adopter told Shannon about SPCA of Brazoria County’s email saying a puppy on the transport tested positive for distemper.

None of these dogs were tested for distemper, but they had the classic symptoms and none of the treatments they received helped. Instead, their condition worsened daily. And remember they were all in terrible physical condition when they arrived in Oregon on July 30.

If D&G had them tested for distemper the dogs/puppies would have suffered for another week while the rescue waited for the results. And if they tested positive they still would have had little chance of survival.

D&G euthanized Veteran on August 6 because he had an upper respiratory infection, wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t stand, couldn’t stop shaking, and had a crusty nose.

On August 10, Shannon made the heartbreaking decision to euthanize Pepe, Dolly, Biloxi, and all the puppies because their health continued to deteriorate and they were suffering terribly.

Before deciding to euthanize them, she consulted with the veterinarian for the rescue. She then talked with the vet for her personal dogs who also consulted with the veterinarian for the state of Oregon.

All three veterinarians said that to protect the health and safety of the community it would be best to euthanize them.

Rescue’s Actions Turns People Against Adoption

SPCA of Brazoria County questionable vaccination procedures for the dogs on the 2 transports have ramifications beyond the deaths of almost 2 dozen dogs and puppies. Reba’s and Pepe’s adopters suffered both financially and psychologically.

Reba’s adopter spent over $6000 on her multiple vet bills. Now she has a huge debt on her credit card that will take years to pay off. SPCA of Brazoria County did refund the $500 adoption fee she paid but refused to pay any of Reba’s vet bills.

Wishbone’s adopter owes her vet over $1000 for treating his distemper. D&G refunded the adoption fee and paid for over $1000 of her medical bills

Both adopters told me that said their horrendous experiences with SPCA of Brazoria County will make them less likely to adopt a rescue dog in the future.

Reba’s adopter said, “it has made me very hesitant but I’m passionate about rescuing. I can’t say I’d jump into a transported dog again which is unfortunate because they need it the most. I’m passionate about rescue and additionally I couldn’t afford $2k on a breeder puppy. Isn’t that ironic?! I avoided it completely because I thought that was the riskier thing to do.

Every friend I know is now using my situation as a cautionary tale stating this is why they’ll only go to reputable breeders. I will still probably rescue but I’ve learned you really really have to do your research and ask a lot of questions. For now I’m just going to foster. Try to make something good from this mess.”

Pepe’s adopter told me, “This disease and the negligence of the shelter in Brazoria county has led to so much pain and sadness within our family. I have lost 10lbs from not eating due to stress and have been losing hair. We are also in credit card debt from taking him to the ER visit.

I can’t sleep at night because he still coughs and is restless from the itching. It has been very very hard. We worked so hard to build a home for a pup, and the negligence of Brazoria County SPCA had ruined that for us. We are optimistic for recovery, but aren’t sure we could ever do this again.”

Distemper Fiasco Forces Cut Backs for D&G Dog Rescue

Shannon from D&G Dog Rescue told me they ran up about $7000 in medical bills treating the sick dogs.

D&G will no longer rescue dogs outside the Northwest. She told me that, “The rescues from Texas are getting desperate and cutting corners and that is just going to bring diseases into the PNW.”

To its credit SPCA of Brazoria County did pay for the euthanizations. I believe it should also pay the vet bills for the dogs from the July transports.

The rescue admitted the dogs on the first transport tested positive for distemper, and it sent visibly unhealthy dogs on the second transport.

SPCA of Brazoria County had $1.8 million dollars in total assets at the end of 2020 according to the Form 990 it sent to the IRS. Paying the vet bills would have a minuscule financial impact on it.

SPCA of Brazoria County Facilitated Spread of Distemper

Distemper is an insidious virus; even the most meticulous, well-run dog rescues can have distemper outbreaks.

I don’t know what procedures SPCA of Brazoria County took to prevent a distemper outbreak at its facility; however, I believe it facilitated spread of distemper from its facility in Texas to the Northwest and Midwest by

• Waiting 4 days after learning a dog on the transport tested positive for distemper to alert the public about “a positive distemper results associated with the shelter population”
• Not telling every rescue/adopter that took dogs in July about the distemper outbreak at its facility
• Not properly vaccinating puppies it put on the July transports and sending them with dogs from other facilities
• Putting visibly sick dogs and dogs full of parasites on the July transports

I sent several questions to Brazoria County SPCA to get their side of the story but they said they couldn’t respond due to “potential ongoing legal proceedings.”

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Current Conditions a “Perfect Storm” for Toxic Algae

KREM News reported last week that an official from the Washington State Department of Health warned that “extreme heat this summer and lower than normal water levels as causing a perfect storm for algae blooms across Washington.”

“Due to ongoing drought and warm temperatures in our state, lakes, rivers, and streams are under tremendous stress right now,” said Acting Washington State Department of Health Chief Science Officer Scott Lindquist, MD, “As a result, we are receiving reports of toxic algae blooms in areas we have not seen before.”

Currently, 10 waterways in Washington are closed to dogs and humans due to dangerously high levels of toxic algae.

Toxic Algae May Have Killed 3 Spokane Area Dogs

Toxic algae blooms could have caused the deaths of 3 dogs that swam in the Little Spokane River earlier this month according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.

The Washington State Department of Ecology found blue-green algae in samples taken from the Little Spokane River after the deaths of the three dogs.

A Department of Ecology spokesperson said the presence of blue-green algae does not give a clear answer about whether it was the cause of the dogs’ deaths but it doesn’t rule it out.

Colton Bridges told KREM news that the dogs “became severely sick and died” about 20 minutes after he brought the dogs to dry off.

“Christa took the son to bed and took the dogs inside to dry off for the night,” Bridges told KREM. “20 minutes later she goes into check on the dogs and all three of them are just laying right next to each other dead.”

The agency and Spokane Regional Health District are currently investigating other Spokane area water sources for toxic algae blooms.

Most dog owners haven’t heard of toxic algae blooms. I certainly hadn’t until I starting this website. But toxic algae is a huge threat to dogs during hot weather.

Warmer Weather, Increased Activity Cause Toxic Algae Blooms

Blue-green algae is present in Washington waterways throughout the year. It becomes toxic when warm weather and more activity in the lake stir up phosphorus sediments from the bottom of the lake and other nutrients that the algae feed on.

Toxic algae blooms don’t usually form in moving water, but the dry summer has reduced river flow in the state, according to the news release. This has created spots in rivers and streams that can be ideal for bloom formation.

Blue-green algae can produce two types of toxins are more common in Washington waters: microcystins and anatoxin-a.

Symptoms of Toxic Algae Poisoning in Dogs

Microcystins are a group of toxins that affect the liver. Because microcystins are the most commonly-found cyanobacterial toxins in water, they are the toxins most responsible for human and animal poisonings.

Dogs that ingest microcystins will show one or more of these symptoms:

• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea (dark, tarry stool)
• Bleeding
• Pale gums
• Jaundice (yellow tint to gums and skin)
• Shock
• Seizures
• Collapse and coma
• Death

Anatoxin-a is a potent toxin that affects the nervous system. Symptoms include lethargy, muscle aches, confusion, memory impairment, and, at sufficiently high concentrations, death.

Dogs that ingest anatoxin-a will show one or more of these symptoms:

• Weakness or inability to walk
• Excessive salivation
• Excessive tearing
• Difficulty breathing
• Blue discoloration of skin and mucous membranes
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Muscle rigidity
• Paralysis
• Disorientation
• Coma
• Death

Dogs Are Particularly Susceptible to Toxic Algae Poisoning

A dog exposed to toxic algae can have respiratory paralysis which can kill it within 30 minutes from the start of these symptoms.

KREM reported that pet experts from Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine say 60% of dogs who diagnosed with blue-green algae poisoning died from it.

Blue-green algae usually looks like blobs of floating scum or greenish streaks of oil-like substance in the water.

Dogs are particularly susceptible to toxic algae because they often drink the water they swim in and lick their fur after swimming.

“One of the things that’s important is if your dog gets into water that looks funny to you, some dogs are exposed by licking themselves. So if you see if they’re a funny color or have something on them, you will want to brush them off as fast as you can so they won’t groom the material off of them,” Dr. Beth Davidow from the Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine told KREM.

You can monitor which Washington waterways have dangerous levels of toxic algae at the Department of Ecology’s Freshwater Algae Site. To look up specific waterways, check out the site’s database.

10 Washington Waterways Currently Closed Due to Dangerous Levels of Toxic Algae

Currently, these Washington lakes have high levels of toxic algae:

Anderson Lake – Jefferson County
Hicklin Lake – King County
Lacamas Lake – Clark County
Round Lake – Clark County
Lone Lake – Island County
Spanaway Lake – Pierce County
Palmer Lake – Pierce County
Roland Lakle – Klickitat County
Scootney Reservoir – Franklin County
Lake Lawrence – Thurston County

Your local jurisdiction may have more specific information about your lake. If you have questions contact Lizbeth Seebacher at Department of Ecology.

If a lake is not listed, it has not been tested for toxic algae through the Department of Ecology program.

Finally, remember that the Department of Ecology tests water quality in waterways on a rotating basis. This means that waterways within state recreation guidelines could develop hazardous levels of toxic algae before the state tests it again. That’s why it’s important to check for toxic algae blooms in any water before your dog dives in.

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Canine heartworm cases in Washington continued their upward trajectory in 2020 according to data from the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC).

The number of heartworm cases in Washington climbed from 461 in 2019 to 733 in 2020, an increase of 59%. Since 2014, the number of cases increased from 108 to 733, an increase of 579%.

Seattle DogSpot obtained the data from CAPC’s Parasite Prevalence Maps.

The maps show that the number of cases for various parasites Washington counties reported to CAPC for every year from 2014-2019. Here are some of the highlights regarding canine heartworm:

• Canine heartworm cases in Snohomish, Pierce, and Skagit Counties more than tripled from 2019 to 2020.
• The number of heartworm cases in Snohomish County increased from 5 in 2014 to 305 last year, an increase of 2020%.
• In King County, heartworm cases reported in 2020 (305) were almost 9 times higher than the number reported in 2014 (36).
• Only 3 cases of heartworm were reported in Spokane County in 2014. Last year, 41 cases were reported, an increase of 1267%.

Obviously, the number of cases in some counties like Spokane is small, but they still indicate a significant upward trend reflected in many parts of the state.

A chart showing the changes in heartworm cases for all Washington counties from 2014-2019 is at the end of this post

Canine Heartworm Can Be Fatal

Mosquitos transmit the heartworm parasite by biting an infected dog and ingesting its blood which contains microscopic worms called microfilaria.  

Once inside the mosquito, the worms change into larvae after about 2 weeks. The mosquito transmits the larvae when it bites an uninfected dog and leaves them on its skin.

The larvae enter the dog’s bloodstream through the bite and migrate through its circulatory system. About 6 months later they mature into adult worms.

These adults will eventually end up in a the dog’s heart, lungs and associated blood vessels where they can live 5-7 years.

A dog may not show any signs of heartworm in the early stages of the disease. Eventually, it will develop one or more of these symptoms:

• a mild persistent cough
• reluctance to exercise
• fatigue
• decreased appetite
• weight loss

Left untreated, heartworms can multiply to the point where they cause inflammation in a dog’s arteries and around its lungs. 

The inflammation is more severe in dogs with higher numbers of heartworms.

As heartworm progresses, excess fluid in a dog’s abdomen can cause heart failure. It can also cause sudden blockages of blood flow within the heart leading to a life-threatening form of cardiovascular collapse called caval syndrome.

Heartworm can be fatal if it isn’t identified and treated in its early stages.

Why Have Canine Heartworm Cases in Washington Increased So Significantly?

When we got our first dog in 2002, our vet told us we didn’t need to give him heartworm prevention medication because so few cases were ever reported in Washington.

But in 2020 she told me that due to the increase in heartworm cases in Washington she will most likely start recommending heartworm preventative treatments for all the dogs in her practice.

In 2017 Dr. Brian Joseph, the State Veterinarian at the Washington State Department of Agriculture, told me the factors he believed caused heartworm cases to rise so sharply in Washington over the last few years:

• climate change
• lack of prevention
• rescue groups that bring heartworm positive dogs in that state with inaccurate, fake or no certificates of veterinary inspection (health certificates)

Dr. Joseph also told me that at a recent United States Animal Health Association meeting, people from the US Department of Agriculture said that “there may be as many as one million dogs brought into the United States every year from foreign countries, but as few as 10,000 may have appropriate health documentation.“

That means approximately 99% of the dogs brought into the United States from other countries don’t have proper health documents.

This doesn’t mean all dogs brought to the United States from other countries have heartworms or other parasites. Still, you can’t ignore the fact that the increasing number of heartworm cases in Washington have occurred as more rescues import dogs

Climate Change and Lack of Prevention

Mosquitos need a warm climate to reproduce. The warmer the weather, the faster they propagate.

In an interview with KUOW in 2014, Washington State University entomologist Sharon Collman said, “In hot weather, it can take a mosquito egg four to five days to mature to adulthood. In cool weather, it takes two to three weeks.”

Data from the climate.gov shows that temperatures in Washington in 2020 were above the average temperature from 1981-2020.

And according to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, the average annual temperatures in Washington “have risen approximately 1.5°F and temperatures over the past three decades have been warmer than any other historical period” since the beginning of the 20th century.

Based on this information, it’s reasonable to assume that above normal average temperatures in Washington for the last few decades created a more favorable environment for mosquitos to reproduce quickly.

Hot weather = More mosquitos = Greater Potential for Heartworm to Thrive

I think the explanation is straightforward regarding the lack of prevention.

For years, Washington veterinarians told their clients they didn’t need to use a preventative because heartworm was so rare here.

Veterinarians embedded this mantra into the minds of Washington dog owners for years; as a result, we checked heartworm off our list of potential threats to our dogs’ health and didn’t worry about taking steps to prevent it.

Some Dog Rescues Bring Heartworm Positive Dogs to Washington

In the last 10-15 years, dog rescues, municipal shelters, and animal transporters created a massive network to move dogs from states with overcrowded, high kill shelters to areas like the Pacific Northwest  “where euthanasia rates are lower and pets are in greater demand.”

Rescuers built this infrastructure in 2005 “when Hurricane Katrina left more than 250,000 pets stranded.” Their effort showed dog rescues “a new way to find placements for unwanted dogs.” 

Western Washington is a popular destination for these dogs.

Our shelters often have space for them due to our high spay/neuter rates and a greater demand for adopting shelter dogs. 

This transportation network saved the lives of tens of thousands of dogs. It also created the opportunity for people to start fake rescues that bring dogs to Washington from other areas and sell them for hundreds of dollars.

Many of these dogs come from states with high rates of heartworm infections like Texas. And overcrowded shelters there eagerly give dogs to rescues that will take them.

The American Heartworm Society notes that transporting dogs can spread heartworm. Specially, AHS says:

“Transporting and relocating dogs is an increasingly common practice. Whether the situation is an owned pet accompanying emigrating or traveling caretakers, the relocation of homeless animals for adoption, or the movement of dogs for competition, exhibition, research or sale, this process carries the risk of spreading infectious diseases. This includes the transmission of Dirofilaria immitis when infected dogs are microfilaremic.”

In addition, an article on the Galena Veterinary Hospital website notes:

“Canine heartworm disease is another disease, that while prevalent in certain areas of North America, in other areas it’s uncommon/does not occur. It’s important to be aware that a rescue dog coming from an area of high heartworm incidence could be infected with heartworm disease and may require specialized, expensive, and risky treatment. Additionally, bringing a heartworm positive dog into an area where there are few heartworm cases and few dogs are on heartworm preventives also brings the risk that the “environment” becomes contaminated and heartworm disease becomes a bigger problem in the area.“

Unscrupulous Dog Rescues Skirt Health Testing Rules

Washington requires that before any dog comes into the state it must be “tested negative for heartworm or are currently on a heartworm preventative” (they must also have a current rabies vaccination).

People who run fake dog rescues want to make as much money as possible, so they often import dogs to Washington that haven’t been tested for heartworm because:

1. Heartworm tests aren’t cheap. Initial tests cost $35-$75, and confirmation tests, which most vets require due to the length and expense of treating heartworm, cost $20-$40.

2. Heartworm treatment is time consuming and expensive. Treating a heartworm positive dog can take several months and cost thousands of dollars.

Inevitably, some of these dogs have heartworm, and every one of the growing number of mosquitos in Washington that bites one of them can potentially infect other dogs here.

Furever Homes Rescue near Olympia is one of the rescues that brought dogs from Mexico to Washington without the required health certificates.

In 2018 the Washington Department of Agriculture citied them for bringing dogs into Washington without health certificates. Another dog had a health certificate without the heartworm testing requirement.

When you adopt a dog brought to Washington from another state or county, ask the rescue to see its health certificate. If it doesn’t have one, find another rescue because the dog you want to adopt could potentially have heartworms.

How to Protect Your Dog from Heartworm

While the number of heartworm cases in Washington increased significantly since 2014, the percentage of heartworm cases vs. the number of dogs tested is still much lower than other states.

In 2019, 0.6% of the dogs in Washington checked for heartworm tested positive (733 out of 129,555).  

Compare that to the percentages of positive cases in the 5 states with the highest incidences of heartworm in 2020 according to the American Heartworm Society:

MS 8.2%
LA 6.6%
AK 4.4%
AL 4.2%
TX 3.1%

However, just because Washington’s heartworm rate is much lower than these states doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have your dog tested for heartworm or put it on a preventative.

The upward trend in Washington shown on the Parasite Prevalence Maps indicates our heartworm rates will continue to increase, particularly if the increased transport of rescue dogs from states with high heartworm states to Washington continues.

That’s why Washington dog owners should ask their vets if their dogs should be on a heartworm preventative; in addition, if the dog you want to adopt from a rescue came from another state ask to see the its health certificate to see if a vet tested it for heartworm. If they can’t provide it, don’t adopt a dog from that organization. 

For more information on heartworm, please visit the Companion Animal Parasite Council website or the American Heartworm Society’s website.

About the Numbers

CAPC notes that the data in the map “is statistically significant and it serves as a strong representation of the parasite activity for each area. However, it does not represent the total number of positive tests. Instead, we estimate it represents less than 30% of the activity in the geographic regions.”

The numbers are underreported because not all veterinarians send the results of their heartworm testing to CAPC. The blank spaces in the chart means CAPC had no information from that county.

These counties didn’t send any test results to CAPC from 2014-2020 : Columbia, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum, Okanogan, Ferry, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, and Garfield.

Some counties like Whitman didn’t send test information for one or more years, but did send it for other years. A zero means a county did heartworm testing but had no positive results.

These numbers don’t include every heartworm test for every dog in every county. But they affirm the that the number of heartworm cases reported in Washington has spiked dramatically since 2014.

* = There is no formula for calculating the percent change if the value for 2012 is 0.

Heartworm cases in Washington state counties ranked by percentage increase from 2014-2019

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The post Canine Heartworm Cases in Washington Continued Upward Trajectory in 2020 appeared first on Seattle DogSpot.

(Editor’s Note: This post was originally posted in 2010. Please read here for an update about City Light’s contact voltage testing program in 2021).

Welcome Announcement from Seattle City Light

On December 8, Seattle City Light announced that it will “inspect and to make repairs, if necessary, to any of the 20,000 metal streetlight poles and 10,000 metal “hand holes” (small streetlight vault covers)” in the utility’s service territory.

The utility made the announcement after a West Seattle woman told the company that a faulty streetlight shocked her dog. She explained what happened on website West Seattle Blog:

“Sophia has been acting weird around the pole for a couple months. They only ran a line to it about 4 months ago becuse it was one that has never worked and it took years to get them out here to fix it. Once they ran a line to it then it was on 24 hours a day.

Then Sunday night we were also walking a friends dog and she touched the base……and started as if she had been shocked but mildly.

I called the next day. I should have put 2 and 2 together sooner and not just thought my dog was being a drama queen. Leave it to Sophia. Now I have to train her to stop being scared of it, that’s going to take some work.”

Not an “Isolated Incident” After All

SCL’s announcement was quite different than its response to the death of a dog named Sammy in Queen Anne a few days earlier when a metal plate next to a faulty streetlight electrocuted him.

In response to that tragic event, SCL Superintendent Jorge Carrasco said, “We want to assure the public that this was an isolated incident.“

In a previous article I wrote that, “the Seattle Department of Transportation, not SCL, had the responsibility for approving the installation of private streetlights; also, no written records exist for these installations before July of 2010.

If no records exist, how could Superintendent Carrasco know if the contact voltage that killed Sammy was an isolated incident?“

Seattle City Light Finally Tests for Faulty Streetlights

In my opinion, Superintendent Carrasco’s made the assertion that the faulty streetlight in Queen Anne was an isolated incident because he didn’t want to alarm the public and wanted to avoid having to test the 20,000 metal streetlight poles and 10,000 metal “hand holes” in the utility’s service territory.

The only reason SCL decided to do the testing now is because a faulty streetlight shocked another dog.

I do want to thank Lisa McKibbin, who fought SCL’s attempts to sweep the death of her dog Sammy under the rug and kept this story in the media.

Despite her grief, she used Sammy’s death as a touchstone for keeping pressure on SCL through sammysbigheart, the blog she created after Sammy’s death.

Her efforts will prevent future injuries and/or deaths of both people and pets.

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The post Seattle City Light to Test All Metal Streetlights After 2nd Dog Was Electrocuted appeared first on Seattle DogSpot.

(Editor’s Note: This post was originally posted in 2010. Please read here for an update about City Light’s contact voltage testing program in 2021).

No Records for Faulty Streetlight

Today the seattlepi.com reported that Seattle has “no records” for the inspection of the faulty streetlight that electrocuted Lisa McKibbin’s dog Sammy on Thanksgiving Day on Queen Anne Avenue. The article also revealed several discrepancies in the city’s response to Sammy’s death.

In seattlepi.com’s article last week, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) spokesman Richard Sheridan said that “the project didn’t sound like something for which the department would issue a permit”.

He said he was “less clear on inspections” and deferred questions back to Seattle City Light (SCL).

Lots of Finger Pointing, but No Answers

Sheridan said that last July, “SDOT began requiring inspectors of private-public improvement projects to document inspections in a field report” because up until then SDOT did not keep written records of these inspections.

But last week Sheridan said he didn’t know if SDOT was responsible for inspecting the work on the streetlights. Instead he tried to shift the responsibility to SCL.

This week, after prodding from a reporter, he said SDOT in fact DOES oversee these inspections. But he still didn’t clarify who was responsible for issuing the permit.

Last week, a SCL spokesperson said, “the city’s Department of Transportation was in charge of the permitting and inspection process.”

Today, seattlepi.com reported that SCL will “take over the initial inspection of streetlights in such projects.”

Seattle City Light Takes Over Streetlight Inspections

Hartman said that “the change has been in the works for a while”, and that it makes sense, because “the utility already has responsibility for public streetlights.”

Why did Hartman withhold this information for 2 weeks?

She had numerous opportunities to say this, including when she spoke at a meeting of the Queen Anne Community Council last week.

Unanswered Questions

SDOT and SCL knew more about the problems with the inspection process than they initially disclosed. Furthermore, it has now been almost 2 weeks since Sammy was killed; why don’t we know the answers to the following questions:

1. Was a permit issued for the privately installed streetlights on Queen Anne Avenue that electrocuted and killed Sammy?

2. If someone issued a permit, which agency approved the permit, and who at that agency signed off on the permit?

3. How can SCL Superintendent Jorge Carrasco call Sammy’s electrocution an “isolated incident” when SDOT, not SCL, had the responsibility for approving the work and there are NO WRITTEN RECORDS of any of these installations prior to July of this year?

4. How does SCL currently document inspections of public streetlights and how will it document inspections of private streetlights after the first of the year?

5. What has been done since Sammy’s electrocution to ensure that streetlight connections throughout the city were installed and inspected properly and pose no threat to public safety?

The public has the right to know the answers to these questions. When will we get them?

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The post Seattle Has No Inspection Records for Faulty Streetlight that Killed Dog appeared first on Seattle DogSpot.

(Editor’s Note: This post was originally posted in 2010)

Tragic Thanksgiving Walk

On Thanksgiving Day a 6-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer named Sammy was electrocuted after he stepped on a metal plate next to a faulty streetlight in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood.

The accident occurred while Sammy’s owner Lisa McKibbin and her mother Nancy Bostdorff walked him along Queen Anne Avenue North. As another dog approached, Lisa stepped aside with Sammy to let it pass.

Unfortunately, Sammy stepped on a metal plate electrified by a faulty streetlight. Here’s how Nancy described the incident on the blog, Sammy’s Big Heart:

“…my daughter stepped aside to let another dog pass and moved onto the electric plate near a lamp post. (Sammy) screamed, went into convulsions, and died.”

They took Sammy to an emergency hospital but staff there were unable to revive him.

Contact Voltage Killed Sammy

After talking with officials from Seattle City Light and doing some research, Lisa learned that contact voltage killed Sammy.

Contact voltage (sometimes called stray voltage) occurs when a streetlight “leaks” electricity due to aging infrastructure, damage, weather, improper installation, rodent activity, copper wire theft, or corrosion.

The leaking voltage can electrify metal plates, manhole covers, fire hydrants, or any other metal object near the faulty streetlight.

These electrified streetlights and nearby metal objects can produce enough voltage to seriously injure or kill humans and animals that touch them.

The chances of electrocution by stray voltage is highest in winter. That’s when the snow combines with the salt used to melt it and forms saltwater, which is a better conductor of electricity than pure water.

This is probably what happened to Sammy as the sidewalk still had snow and slush on it from a recent storm.

Contact voltage is also more likely in summer months when electricity use increases as people try to keep their houses cool.

Faulty Wiring Responsible for Sammy’s Death

A few days, after Sammy’s death, Seattle City Light issued a statement offering condolences for Sammy’s death. It also explained how the metal plate produced enough voltage to kill Sammy.

“Our crews investigated the cause. We discovered that the original installation in 2006 did not include proper grounding of the four lights. Our crews have made the necessary repairs to all these lights and tested for any potential electrical charges. There is no electrical charge to any of the lights or groundcover plates. All the streetlights are functioning.”

The explanation enraged Lisa, who told the Queen Anne View, “For four years these lights have not been grounded! Doesn’t anyone know the ABCs of electricity?”

Contact Voltage Shocked Other Seattle Dogs

After Lisa posted Sammy’s story on social media, other people in Seattle told her that contact voltage shocked their dogs.

One person told her his dog was shocked in almost the same spot the day before Sammy died:

“…….on Wednesday morning, Oslo and I walked to work due to the snow, we wanted to toss our doggie waste in the garbage a bit south of ProRobics on the east side of the Avenue. We then crossed the street and stepped onto the sidewalk right in front of ProNails.

Suddenly Oslo fell to the ground and started yelping/screaming and twisting… I fell to my knees and comforted him.

I recalled the metal plate as I looked around to see if there were any sharp items or even a grating he might have stepped on. Then I scooped him up in my arms and carried him into our store and sat with him until he stopped shaking …

Now I realize I made the unaware assumption that he just slid in the slush and off a piece of ice, and twisted his leg, when in fact, he probably received an electric shock.”

Another person told Lisa: “I’m so sorry to hear about Sammy. It turns out our Labrador was once shocked on that same block. She yelped and moved…….., but couldn’t tell what the problem was. Now we know for sure what happened.”

And a women in West Seattle said, “The day before Thanksgiving my oldest son (30) and his friend were walking my dog in West Seattle when he stepped on the same type plate and started writhing and yelping.

He fell over and my son thought he had stepped on something sharp, possibly even been scared by the cold metal on his paw. After a few moments our cocker spaniel, Max, was able to stand and they brought him home.

Since this, he has been limping when he walks a great deal. He’s also very timid when he goes for walks. After seeing the news story tonight, we knew what had made Max fall over and act so strangely.”

How to Protect Your Dog from Stray Voltage

Here are some tips from Seattle City Light regarding how you can protect your dog from stray voltage:

1. When walking your pet, be aware if your pet acts strangely around any potentially energized metal equipment.
2. Don’t tie your pet’s leash to a streetlight or near a handhole.
3. Avoid contact with metal equipment that could be energized.
4. Report any streetlights that remain on during the day or that are flickering during the evening. This could indicate a problem.
5. To report a malfunctioning streetlight or a streetlight that is out, visit seattle.gov/light/streetlight.

I’ll continue to follow this story and will post additional information as I get it.

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The post Seattle Dog Electrocuted by Contact Voltage from Faulty Streetlight appeared first on Seattle DogSpot.

(This is an updated version of a previous post).

nicklinwayvet.com.au.

You’ve probably heard this a gazillion times already, but it can’t hurt to say it once more – more pets end up in shelters during and after the 4th of July than any other time of year because fireworks scare the bejeezus out of them.

Frightened dogs tend to bolt and run for long distances until they get far away from whatever scared them.

And if the fireworks keep going off, the dog will keep running.

Some people think their dog will be OK if they leave it in a fenced yard, but a panicked dog can jump over a moderately high fence. 

And if you leave your dog alone in your house while you celebrate the 4th? You might find out just how much damage a freaked out dog can cause.

Even if you stay home and cookout in the backyard, your presence won’t prevent your dog from bolting once the fireworks start.

10 Tips for Dogs and Fireworks

1. Exercise Your Dog Before the Fireworks Start!

dogblog.finchester.org

Make time in your schedule to give your an extra long workout before the fireworks begin. Tired dogs are calmer and easier to keep quiet.

They will also sleep more deeply, and consequently, will be less likely to be disturbed by the noise outside.

Of course, if it’s really hot outside, take precautions to ensure your dog doesn’t get overheated.

2. Stay Home.

I understand that not everyone can stay at home on the 4th, but your dog’s fear of fireworks can be exacerbated if you aren’t there to provide reassurance that they are safe.

This is especially important if you have a a new dog in the house because you won’t know how it reacts to fireworks.

3. Keep Calm.

Your dog reacts to your nonverbal cues. If you jump or tense up when you hear fireworks because you are anticipating your dog’s fear, you may make its fear worse.

4. Drown Out the Sound.

Dogvacay.com

Turn up the stereo or television. and keep your windows closed during the fireworks.

Something that can provide background noise, like a fan or air conditioner can help as well.

5. Respect Your Dog’s Fear.

Allow your dog to hide if it feels more comfortable in its crate or under a bed. Don’t pull it out or try to force it closer to the fireworks in an attempt to get him used to the sounds.

Just let it stay where it’s comfortable and provide reassurance that it’s safe.

6. Provide a Distraction.

Break out your dog’s favorite treats, play a game, or give it some extra cuddle time. You can occupy it for awhile by filling a KONG with peanut butter or another yummy treat and freezing it.

7. Try the Thundershirt.

I’ve never tried a Thundershirt on my dogs, but some people swear by them. The pressure it provides has a calming effect on the nervous system.

8. Just Say YES to Drugs.

If know that your dog will panic when the fireworks start, ask your vet if he/she can prescribe medication like Sileo, an FDA-approved gel for the treatment of canine noise aversion.

theoatmeal.com.

Some people recommend giving your dog half a Benadryl to keep it calm but I wouldn’t try that unless you check with your vet first.

From my own experience I’ve found that cannabis made specifically for dogs is the best product for keeping my dogs calm and relaxed. Most independent pet stores in the Seattle area have it, or you can order it online.

9. Be Prepared.

Make sure your dog is wearing ID tags with its name, your name, and your phone number. Get your dog microchipped if it doesn’t have one. Buy your dog a license – if it runs off and is picked up by animal control, they will call to let you know they have your dog. And you won’t have to pay a big fine to get your dog back. You can also get a digital ID tag from Wenatchee-based PetHub.

10. Remove Visual Stimulation.

Keep your curtains closed or blinds. Removing visual stimulation can help calm dogs.

I hope you find these tips helpful.

Have a great holiday, and be sure to keep your dogs safe and calm!

ChicagoNow.com.

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The post Dogs and Fireworks – 10 Tips to Keep Your Dog Safe and Calm on July 4th appeared first on Seattle DogSpot.

If you are hosting a Thanksgiving fiesta or planning to take your dog to someone else’s home for holiday fun, your dog will be around lots of new types of food it would love to try, and you can be sure it will carefully comb the crowd for easy marks to give it a taste.  

Unfortunately, many holiday foods are toxic to dogs and can either kill them or cause serious health problems.

Xylitol can be deadly to dogs.

Please take a look at this list and be sure to keep your dog away from these foods. More importantly, be sure to tell your guests, especially kids, not to feed anything to your dog.  

Another thing you can do is empty garbage cans after you’ve made the meal and after clean up to keep potentially dangerous food away from dumpster diving dogs.

Here’s a list of foods to keep away from your dog:

1. Onions or other alliums like garlic, leeks, shallots & scallions. Though small, well-cooked portions of this plant group can be okay when pets are accustomed to them, larger quantities can lead to toxic anemia — especially in dogs. Also, be careful with turkey stuffing. Many stuffing recipes include onions.
2. Xylitol. Most people don’t cook with this sugar substitute, but diabetics often do. Anything with xylitol in it is toxic and absolutely deadly to dogs. Do not keep it in your house (or if you must, keep it safe and secure away from your animal). Sugar-free cupcakes, gums, and mints may also contain this product, so be careful all year round.
3. Walnuts and Macadamia nuts. Within twelve hours of eating these nuts dogs can start to develop symptoms such as an inability to stand, ataxia (walking wobbly), depression, vomiting, muscle tremors, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), weakness, and an elevated heart rate.
   

   Be sure to tell your guests not to sneak any food to your dog. Image from Dogspired.

4. Turkey Bones. Turkey bones (and chicken bones) are hollow and will splinter when your dog chews them. The sharp points of splintered bones can cause internal perforations in a dogs throat, stomach, or intestines that can lead to life threatening health problems. The bones can also get lodged in your dog’s throat and cause choking.
5. Chocolate. Chocolate contains theobromine, a substance that can be toxic to pets. Dark, semi-sweet or Baker’s chocolate can be lethal to pets if ingested. Milk chocolate is less dangerous but should still be avoided.
6. Tomatoes, Potatoes and Rhubarb. Parts of these contain oxalates, which can be toxic to dogs.
7. Raisins and Grapes. These can cause kidney failure, even in small amounts.
8. Pits from plums, peaches, cherries or other fruit. Pits  contain cyanide, which is poisonous to dogs as well as humans. They can also create intestinal blockage.
9. Nutmeg. Can cause seizures and central nervous system damage.
10. Avocados. The fruit, pit and plant are all toxic. They can cause difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation in the chest, abdomen and heart.

If you suspect that your dog may have ingested one of these foods or another harmful substance, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

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With ghosts, goblins, and zombies out in full force for Halloween a week next week, it is easy to be so caught up in candy buying and costume making that you forget about getting your dog ready for the trick or treaters that will be knocking at your door.

Image from the odysseyonline.com.

Don’t make that mistake.

Halloween poses a myriad of potential dangers to dogs, some of which can be lethal, but with a little preparation you can ensure your dog will be safe.

Halloween Safety Tips for Dogs

1. Keep the candy bowl out of reach

Chocolate (especially dark chocolate), candy, raisins, grapes, nuts (especially macadamia nuts), and anything that contains the article sweetener xylitol can sicken or kill dogs. Most of us keep a bowl full of these treats near the dog to hand out to trick-or-treaters. You dog could easily snatch some candy when you’re distracted, so be sure to keep it in a place your dog can’t reach.

2. Educate your Kids about keeping candy from dogs

Most kids don’t realize that candy and other treats they collect on Halloween are dangerous to dogs. Talk to your kids about the importance of keeping them away from dogs, make sure they don’t leave any treats laying around the house, and tell them to store any uneaten candy in a place the family dog can’t reach.

3. Keep you dog confined and away from the front door

You can’t always predict how your dog will react to dozens of kids dressed in scary costumes knocking on your front door and screaming “trick-or-treat!”. To ensure your dog won’t freak out and bolt outside or attack the monsters at the door you should put it in a secure room away from the front door.

Some people have had luck with Rescue Remedy a natural stress reliever.

For our dogs, CBD oil, (a derivitive of marijuana that doesn’t get dogs high) is the best product we’ve used for reducing stress.

Over the last couple of years the number of CBD oil brands on the market has exploded, and you may have difficulty figuring out which one to buy.

This post from YouDidWhatWithYourWeiner.com is the best I’ve seen for tips on how to navigate this quickly growing market and figuring out the best CBD oil for your dog.

As always, consult with your vet before giving your dog any over-the-counter medications to your dog.

Image from Freehd-images.com.

4. Leave your dog home when you trick-or-treat

As I said in #3, you don’t know how your dog is going to react to stranger’s in costumes, especially if one of the little ghouls sneaks up behind your dog to scare it. On top of that, most of you attention will be on your own kids. Your dog will be much safer if you leave it at home.

5. Make Sure Your Dog’s ID is Up-to-Date

If your dog has a microchip, make sure your contact information is current, and if your dog has an ID tag and/or license tag on its collar, be sure the he/she is wearing it so if it does bolt outside it will be easier for people to return it to you.

6. Keep electrical wires and chords out of reach

If you’re one of the people who loves to put out Halloween lights and decorations, be sure your dog can’t chew the electrical wires/chords. An electrical shock can kill or severely injure your dog.

7. Try costumes on your dog the night before Halloween

If you plan on dressing your dog in a costume put it on the night before to see if it fits and how your dog will react to it. This is particularly relevant if your dog hasn’t worn a costume before. If your dog is in a costume that is too tight or restricts breathing, or if it just doesn’t like being dressed up, it could get stressed and exhibit unexpected behavior like aggression or biting. 

Have a happy, safe Halloween!

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(Originally posted in 2015)

In 2015, movie star The Rock” (Dwayne Johnson), announced that one of his new French Bulldog puppies died after eating a poisonous mushroom.

The announcement prompted a Bellingham couple to issue their annual warning about preventing dogs from eating poisonous mushrooms.

Milo and Maggie died in 2012 after eating poisonous mushrooms in their backyard. Photo from Bill and Renee Bliss on KING 5’s website.

Their Dogs Died After Eating Poisonous Mushrooms

In 2012, Renee and Bill Bliss lost both their pugs, Milo, age 8, and Maggie, age 10, after the dogs ate poisonous mushrooms in their backyard.

Yesterday Renee Bliss told KING 5 News that in memory of Milo and Maggie, she “tries to get the word out about the danger of mushrooms.”

“It is extremely important to continue to talk about this,” she said to KING 5. “If we don’t have consistent communication about it, it is easy to become complacent until the next tragedy. With social media, we have no excuse about getting the word out.”

Renee issues the reminder about poisonous mushrooms about this time every year because fall is one of the prime times for mushrooms to grow (the other is spring) due to combination of wet soil and decaying leaves/plants.

Local gardening icon Ciscoe Morris told KING 5 that “the only way to rid your garden of (mushrooms) is to pick them, but they’ll come back the following year.”

This poisonous mushoom – Amanita Muscaria – is common throughout North America and Europe. Photo from vetstreet.com.

Symptoms of Mushroom Poisoning in Dogs

According to PetMD the most common symptoms associated with mushroom poisoning are:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
• Uncoordinated movements
• Excessive drooling (ptyalism)
• Seizures
• Coma

More Information on Mushrooms Poisonous to Dogs

VetStreet put together a list of five common mushrooms that can poison your pet.

If you suspect your dog has eaten poisonous mushrooms, take it to a veterinarian immediately. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, all mushroom ingestion “should be considered toxic unless accurate, rapid mushroom identification can occur.” Be sure to take a sample of the mushroom it ate to show the vet.

To learn more about mushrooms that are poisonous to dogs, please contact the Poison Pet Helpline or ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control.

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