Although most people don’t go around sniffing a dog’s paws, individuals who come in regular contact with dogs might have noticed dog feet sometimes smell like stale popcorn or corn chips. The condition has thusly been dubbed “Frito feet,” a reference to the popular brand of corn chip snacks.

Furry dogs with a lot of hair between the pads of their feet may be more susceptible to foot odor.

Pet owners are often concerned about foul odors coming from their dogs simply because odor can be a signal of an infection. Therefore, veterinarians are often questioned about the corn chip smell on paws.

The consensus behind the Frito feet is that it is largely caused by bacteria and fungi. Dog’s feet are in constant contact with the ground, which is full of microorganisms. In addition, dogs cool off by panting and sweating through the pads of their feet. The combination of moisture and bacteria  that builds up in the fur of the feet and between the pads can contribute to the nutty, popcorn-like or corn chip aroma. Essentially it’s a form of doggy B.O.

If the minor odor is all that is present, most vets will tell you it’s nothing with which to be concerned. If the smell is accompanied by licking or biting at the paws, limping, lumps, blood, or swelling of the feet, there could be a more significant problem that will need to be promptly addressed. There could be a foreign object caught in between the pads, like a pebble or grass burr. There also may be a small cut.

Pet parents who can live with the popcorn smell should not be overly concerned. However, when bathing the dog, spend extra care washing the paws and between the pads to remove extra dirt and sweat. For dogs with long hair that grows between the pads, such as shaggy breeds, consider trimming the fur short on the underside of the paws so less dirt will become trapped.

Feet alone are not the only places on dogs that may become malodorous. Routinely check dogs’ ears for buildup or odor, which indicates an infection. Also, bad mouth odor can mean dental decay and disease.

Foot odor may be slightly offensive on dogs, but generally it’s nothing to worry about.

Dog owners are well aware that caring for man’s best friend has taken on a greater responsibility in recent years. Perhaps that’s a result of the popularity of the cable channel Animal Planet or the television show “The Dog Whisperer,” each of which has helped to educate dog owners about caring for their canines.

Caring for a dog might be a daily responsibility, but it’s one that’s often enjoyable for both dogs and humans alike. Dog owners concerned about their best friend’s health or those simply hoping to avoid problems down the road can adopt a daily routine that ensures Fido stays active and healthy for years to come.

Freshen up the dog’s water. While this might seem obvious, keeping fresh water in a dog’s bowl is something many owners overlook, sometimes leaving the same water in a dog’s dish for days on end. Unfortunately, when that happens owners are allowing dirt and dust to build up in the water, which can also become stagnant and prove a great breeding ground for insects if the bowl is outdoors. Humans need a certain amount of water each day to stay healthy, and so do dogs. Change the dog’s water at least once per day and twice if the dog eats two meals per day. Also, keep an eye on the water bowl and refill it whenever it’s empty. Be sure to clean inside the water bowl at least once per day, and pay attention to any dirt buildup on outdoor water bowls and clean accordingly.

Feed the dog healthy pet food. Though it might seem fun and friendly to feed a dog directly from the dinner table, it’s best to only feed the dog high quality dog food. All dogs are different, and dog owners should consult their veterinarian as to which food is best for their particular breed. While less expensive dog foods might be appealing, keep in mind such foods might be the equivalent of fast food restaurants for humans, which often provide little or no nutritive value.

Playing with a dog on a daily basis can help the dog remain both physically and mentally healthy.

Take the dog out every day. Few animals on earth are as naturally active as dogs. Dogs need daily exercise to stay healthy both physically and mentally, so owners should make certain their dog gets substantial physical activity every day. A walk around the block might suffice for smaller breeds, while a trip to the dog park where Fido can run, jump and play with other dogs might be best for medium-sized or larger breeds. Avid outdoors people should take their dog along for hikes through the woods or along for any other excursions they feel their dog can handle. Consult a veterinarian for the recommended daily amount of exercise depending on the breed, but know that all breeds of dogs need exercise as part of their daily routine.

Play with your dog. A healthy dog isn’t one that’s just physically healthy, but one that’s mentally healthy as well. Dogs need attention on a daily basis, as most breeds are highly susceptible to boredom. Make time to play with your dog every day, as play time with a dog can help it avoid feelings of boredom while providing stimulation for the dog. In addition to playing with the dog, try to include an activity such as teaching the dog to fetch the frisbee. Such activities pull double duty, providing the dog both exercise and mental stimulation, not to mention fun for the dog owner.

Give the dog some freedom. The conventional wisdom that a dog can be chained in the backyard and left there for hours has thankfully fallen by the wayside. Nowadays, such behavior from dog owners is commonly viewed as abuse. Dogs should not be chained for extended periods of time, and exposing dogs to the elements of nature for prolong periods is potentially very dangerous. A dog’s fur, regardless of its thickness, can only protect it against winter weather for so long, and dogs can overheat very quickly in warmer climates. If the dog must be chained, make sure the chain is long enough to allow for significant mobility and do your best to minimize the amount of time the dog is on the chain.

The canine influenza virus, (CIV), H3N8, affects dogs and can cause the same symptoms experienced by people: persistent coughing, runny eyes and noses, lack of energy and loss of appetite. Canine flu is usually mild, but in about 20 percent of cases, more serious signs occur, such as high fever and pneumonia. A small number of dogs –up to 8 percent — may die from complications associated with canine influenza. Unlike human flu, which tends to occur seasonally during the winter months in the United States, dog influenza shows up all year round.

CIV was discovered in 2004 at a greyhound racing track in Florida. Since then, thousands of cases have been confirmed in various breeds in at least 30 states across the U.S. CIV is often mistaken for other respiratory diseases, such as kennel cough (Bordetella). Like most viral infections, there are no medicines to cure CIV and cough suppressants don’t help much, according to veterinary experts. Antibiotics, which are not effective against the influenza virus, may be prescribed for bacterial infections that develop as complications of the flu. Human “flu” medicines should not be given to dogs.

Dogs that socialize with other dogs are at greatest risk for canine influenza.

The canine influenza virus spreads easily and dogs are most contagious before they show any sign of illness. The germs are spread in saliva and nasal secretions through the air, on shared water bowls or toys or even loving hands. Because the virus is new, all dogs are potentially susceptible to CIV infection. Those attending doggie day care, visiting dog parks or being boarded are at greatest risk because they are in contact with many other dogs.

After canine influenza was identified in 2004, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) began receiving calls from concerned veterinarians, pet owners, and shelters wondering what they could do to protect their dogs. In November 2006, the AVMA executive board took the unusual action of issuing a statement emphasizing the urgent need for an effective canine influenza vaccine to improve the health and welfare of animals and reduce the financial impact of canine influenza.

In May 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the Canine Influenza Vaccine, H3N8 from Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. The vaccine has been proven to reduce the symptoms and most serious consequences of CIV infection, specifically lung lesions and pneumonia. The initial vaccination requires a two-dose series administered two to four weeks apart. After that, a single dose is administered annually for flu protection. Dogs six weeks or older who are currently being vaccinated for kennel cough (Bordetella), are candidates for the Canine Influenza Vaccine, H3N8.

Keeping your dog in good health is the first step to protection from canine influenza. A stronger immune system is better able to fight infection. Take the quiz below to see if your dog is a candidate for canine influenza vaccination and then talk to your family veterinarian about keeping your furry best friend flu-free.

Should My Dog Be Vaccinated Against Canine Flu?

Does your dog:

• Come from a shelter, rescue center, breeding kennel or pet store?
• Board at a kennel or go to doggie day care?
• Attend group training or “dog kindergarten”?
• Visit grooming parlors, dog parks or engage with other dogs on daily walks?
• Enter dog shows or other canine competitions?
• Spend time with other dogs in the waiting room during visits to your veterinary clinic?

If you answered “yes” to even one of these questions, talk to your veterinarian about canine flu vaccine.

Canine influenza is a highly contagious disease that causes prolonged coughing and other respiratory symptoms. It is spread from an infected dog to other dogs through direct contact (nuzzling, sniffing or licking); through the air (coughing or sneezing); and by contact with contaminated objects (doggie bowls, toys, people’s clothing, etc.). Please note that while dogs easily transmit canine flu to other dogs, they cannot infect humans.

The paws of a cat or dog are essential to the animal’s wellbeing. A small cut or other discomfort can compromise the animal’s ability to walk or care for itself.

Many times, a dog or cat does not like to have its paws touched. Gentle regular touching of the paws can acclimate the pet to having this area of the body handled. This is best done by the pet owner before a cat or dog is brought in to a groomer.

When caring for a pet’s paws, there are certain things to keep in mind.

• Nail trimming can make walking easier on dogs and prevent damage from claws from cats. Both dogs and cats have veins in their nails (called the quick) that can be painful if cut. Novice nail clippers should begin slowly and cut very shallow to avoid hitting the quick. A cat’s paws can be gently pressed to reveal the nails for clipping.
• It’s possible for debris or painful objects, like splinters or rocks, to become lodged between the toes of pets. Inspect between the toes and the pads of the paws to ensure there are no objects. Gently clean out anything that is found.
• Check for cuts or abrasions on the animal’s paws and pads. A little cut may be treated with a thorough washing. However, something that is large or not healing should be looked at by a veterinarian. It may need to be wrapped and medicated.
• Fur that is left to grow wildly on feet may eventually get matted. Mats can feel like a rock or another irritation. Plus they can pull at underlying skin and eventually form a “hot spot” that the animal licks or bites at.
• Pet owners who do not feel comfortable tending to their animals’ paws can enlist the help of a veterinarian or a groomer. Usually nail clipping and maintenance is a nominal charge that is worth the small expenditure.

Special care must be taken to protect pets from winter cold.

The winter can be a dangerous time of year for people and pets alike. It is important to take safety precautions to keep everyone safe when the temperature drops.

Icy, snowy conditions and plummeting temperatures present a number of hazards for animals, particularly pets that live outside or take daily walks out in the cold. Treatments that people apply to melt snow and ice can also be hazardous to animals who sniff at and walk over chemicals.

To keep pets safe when the weather is cold, remember the following as the mercury drops in the coming months.

• Although pets do have a furry coat, that doesn’t mean they are impervious to the cold. If the temperature is bitterly cold, do not take pets outdoors for extended periods of time. Make walks brief. Dogs and cats can also be bundled up in pet sweaters to protect against the cold even more.
• Icy pavement that is covered with chemical de-icing products can wreak havoc on animals’ paws. Limit time spent walking on cold pavement and through de-icing chemicals. Protective shoes can be put on dogs that spend considerable time outdoors. For dogs that have long fur, keep it clipped so that it limits ice ball formation.
• Animals cannot gauge the thickness of ice and may not recognize which ponds and other water sources are safe to walk on. Be cautious with animals in and around sources of water — unless you want to take a chilly swim.
• Pets that have arthritic conditions may suffer even more when it is cold outside. Take this into consideration when going for walks or simply spending time indoors. Some pet foods feature supplements that help with joint pain. A pet owner can also talk to a veterinarian to see if a mild pain medication could ease the pet’s discomfort.
• Keep in mind that blowing snow can irritate a dog’s eyes.
• Animals that live outdoors should be provided with adequate shelter and a warm place to sleep. If it is particularly cold, consider moving an outside pet into a garage or heated area.

Sleeping dog

In general, dog owners with dogs who snore have nothing to worry about. It’s often not a sign of a medical condition or something ominous. It usually is a minor tissue obstruction in the throat or mouth or is caused by a dog breathing through a short snout. One of most common causes for dog snoring is allergy related problems. This can cause post-nasal drainage that can precipitate nighttime snoring.

While snoring may not be serious, it certainly can be disruptive, primarily to people who are losing sleep or patience from a noisy snorer. Treating snoring may require a few different tactics and potentially a visit to the veterinarian.

• Try changing your dog’s bed to another material or clean it more frequently if you suspect allergies are the culprit.
• Laying splayed-out can cause snoring. Changing the bed to a round-shaped one causes the dog to curl up and may reduce snoring.
• Obesity can also lead to snoring. If your dog is overweight, put him on a diet and make him exercise more frequently. Sometimes simply losing a few pounds can greatly reduced the propensity to snore.
• Dogs with short facial structure, such as Pugs and Boxers, may be prone to snoring more so than other breeds with longer noses. If you have a short-nosed breed or one with unusual facial structure, you just may have to deal with the snoring. In some cases surgery while the dog is young could correct some breathing issues that may lead to snoring.
• If you’ve ruled out other causes of snoring, a visit with the vet could indicate whether polyps or other obstructions are causing the snoring. These may be removed.

An otherwise healthy dog that snores no matter what may just be a snorer. If he is bothering you, have the dog sleep outside of your room or in a space where the sound of the snoring is shielded.

Officials at Harrisburg-based Capital Blue Cross tell The Philadelphia Inquirer they believe the company is the first Blue Cross company to offer pet insurance.

The program is managed by Philadelphia-based PetPlan.

Capital Blue Cross strategic development director Stacy Balaban says a lot of Americans consider pets family members, so the new program makes sense. About 500 people attended a pets and people health fair last week in Harrisburg to get information.

The Inquirer report (http://bit.ly/uJzoyc ) says an English couple who studied at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School began the PetPlan program after their cat needed a kidney transplant.

Founder Chris Ashton says an estimated 1 million Americans insure their pets.

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Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, http://www.philly.com

It wasn’t always that way — while Sally Stoffel has two good legs, Cooper, a Great Dane puppy, spent the first three months of his life with a malformed hind leg.

The leg was accidentally broken shortly after he was born, and it didn’t heal right, especially at the pace he was growing.

But as soon as she met Cooper, rescued from a breeder who might have put him down, Stoffel knew he was special.

“I fell in love with the face of this dog,” Stoffel said. “It was kind of love at first sight.”

Sally Stoffel of Erie CO. walks her great dane Cooper, 10-months at the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital Thursday Sept. 26, 2011.

Cooper came home with her, and a few days later, he was being examined by veterinarians at CSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Fort Collins.

Dr. Ross Palmer said Cooper was able to get around just fine on three legs, leaving his “scrawny” leg dangling. He and Stoffel considered amputating the leg and fitting Cooper with a prosthetic.

But then Palmer had an idea: a technique he had first tested out in the 1980s that had since matured. And so in order to save Cooper’s leg, Palmer cut it in half.

He then inserted a metal jack that was screwed to each end of the bone. And every day Stoffel lengthened the jack by about 2 millimeters. The jack isn’t available in the United States, so Palmer borrowed one from a colleague in Milan, Italy.

Over several months, Cooper’s leg slowly grew. Today, the leg is only about an inch shorter than it should be. Cooper is now about 10½ months old and weighs about 130 pounds. He’s not done growing yet, and his hips are about the same height as his owner’s.

In all, the technique grew Cooper’s tibia 76 mm, about 3 inches. Thirty-six millimeters were added as a function of the corrective surgery and 40 mm came from Stoffel’s daily adjustments. The device was removed in August.

Palmer recently checked on the dog’s progress following the $7,000 procedure.

“I’m liking what I’m seeing,” Palmer told Stoffel as they walked Cooper down a hallway.

Stoffel said Cooper loves to run and jump and is using his lengthened leg almost normally.

Depending on how the next few months go, Cooper might need additional corrective work or maybe just an orthopedic “boot,” Palmer said.

“Our goal is life quality and an active lifestyle,” Palmer said. “His limb was becoming a limitation for him.”

There are many ways to get the job done. You can hold a small dog or cat like a football or a baseball; wrap the cat like a burrito; try decoys and disguises; or arm yourself with squeeze cheese.

Whatever you do, “Be cool, calm, collected and quick,” said Janet Winikoff, director of education for the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County in Vero Beach, Fla. She has given pills, injections, liquids and subcutaneous fluids to shelter animals and her own pets over the years.

Administer medications with confidence and the least amount of restraint, she said. “For many pets, the more restraint you use, the more they struggle and become stressed.”

Pet medicines may be in the form of pills, liquid, shots, gels or creams; they can be flavored or smelly; chewable, tablet or capsule; meant to be taken with food or without; big and bitter — or not.

Kim Saunders, vice president of shelter outreach for Petfinder.com, an online pet adoption database, has been giving her 22-year-old cat thyroid pills for years. She just found out there is a transdermal form of the medicine and her cat is much happier, she said. The medicine isn’t a patch, but a cream she puts inside her cat’s ear.

Cats are usually harder to medicate than dogs. Many dogs, especially bigger ones, appear to inhale their food, so they barely notice a little medicine. Cats are more likely to chew and bite down on a pill, spit it out and leave it behind.

Greenies and Pill Pockets are hollow treats made to hold pills and are extremely popular for both dogs and cats. But you might have something right in your fridge that can disguise a pill: liverwurst, baby food, cream cheese, string cheese, meatballs, tuna or peanut butter. Rolling a pill in butter will make it easier for the pet to swallow.

Everyone seems to have a trick. One person online suggested crushing the pill, mixing it with something sticky and rubbing it on the cat’s gum. Someone else suggested dabbing a squirt of squeeze cheese on your cat’s paw right after giving a pill so the animal has something else to think about besides the bad taste of the medicine.

For dogs who must take pills for a long time, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals suggests cutting up hot dogs or cheese, or using small chunks of ground beef or chicken, and giving your dog 10 to 20 decoy treats in a row. Do that two or three times a day for several days to prepare your dog before sneaking a pill into one of the bites.

Most vets will tell you to hold the pet’s lower jaw in one hand and upper jaw in the other and lift the animal’s head toward the ceiling before popping the pill in its mouth. Easier said than done, but there are any number of online demonstrations. Cornell University — http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/pet/fhc/pill_or_capsule — has a cat video and Washington State University — http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/cliented/cat_meds.aspx — has cat photos.

Ask your vet for a demonstration, and also ask what to do if things don’t go as planned, Winikoff said. “Sometimes you think you’re successful only to find a half-dissolved pill on the carpet several hours later. Do you re-administer? Wait? Try another method?”

To avoid giving an animal the wrong medication, Winikoff suggests a checklist of “five rights”: Right patient, right drug, right dosage, right route, right time.”

Maria Ramirez, director of animal care at the Vero Beach shelter, prefers cheese cubes, but said the most important thing is to massage the animal’s throat to make sure the pill goes down properly and the pet doesn’t choke.

If all else fails, you can go to a compounding pharmacy where they will turn pills into flavored liquid that can be mixed with a pet’s food.

Most customers are concerned about making the medicine tastier for their pets, said Milo Sanchez, the compound technician at Paseo Pharmacy in Pasadena, about 10 miles east of Los Angeles.

He adds chicken or fish flavor to liquefied pills for pets, then puts the solution in eye droppers, he said.

Compounding a two-week supply of pills costs about $50, he said, noting that not all medicine can be transformed.

Another thing to know: The Cornell website points out that “foaming at the mouth after giving pills or capsules is not a cause for alarm. Some medicines leave a bitter aftertaste, causing your cat to salivate. Coating the medicine in peanut butter may help to disguise the bitter taste and eliminate the excessive salivation.”

The educational staff at Drs. Foster & Smith, the catalog and online pet supply retailer, posted a pilling how-to on its website and advised against mixing a pet’s medicine with a whole meal, because your pet may not eat it all and you will never know how much it got.

They also recommended keeping a cat’s nails trimmed and wrapping it in a blanket or towel (the burrito look) before administering a pill. Blowing gently on your cat’s nose is likely to make it lick its nose, then swallow, they wrote.

The cat was eating poorly, hiding in the closet, and had red, sore gums when he was diagnosed with a mouth infection called stomatitis. Three surgeries and $10,000 later, all his teeth had been pulled.

This Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011 photo shows Don, left, and Mary Roever with their cat, Mario, at their home in Green Bay, Wis. The Roevers adopted Mario from a shelter in October 2008 when he was 4 or 5 years old. Less than a year later, all of Mario's teeth had been pulled and the Roevers had dipped into their savings to pay $10,000 for three surgeries. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

“Once he started feeling better, he again became a happy, normal, healthy cat, very loving, affectionate and playful,” said Mary Roever of Green Bay, Wis., who with her husband adopted Mario from a shelter. “His cheek appears ever so slightly sunken in, but you really have to look to see it.”

The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that by age 2, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some form of dental disease. Infections have been linked to diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and other life- threatening problems.

Dental disease was the most common problem found among the 2.2 million dogs and 450,000 cats treated at Banfield Pet Hospitals in 2010, according to the group’s “State of Pet Health 2011 Report.” With 770 hospitals in 43 states, Banfield is the world’s largest general vet practice.

It can be hard to tell if your dog or cat has a toothache but there are warning signs, said Dr. Kevin S. Stepaniuk, president-elect of the American Veterinary Dental Society, and assistant clinical professor and veterinary dentist at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Bad breath, loose or discolored teeth, cowering if touched on the jaw or snout, drooling, dropping food, bleeding from the gums, loss of appetite and loss of weight are some signs, Stepaniuk said.

Pets might also paw at their mouth and make exaggerated jaw movements when eating or drinking, he said.

“It hurts and it’s very smelly,” said veterinarian Edgardo Ortiz, Banfield’s medical director for New York and New Jersey. “When the pets are healthy, owners will kiss them. With severe tooth trouble, people don’t want to kiss their pets so they don’t get as much love. That’s reality.”

Mario’s symptoms even included a squeaky meow, though it returned to normal after his surgery. Still, there are a few things the toothless cat can’t do, Roever said: “He has no teeth to pick things up with. We pile his canned food up into a mountain so it’s easier for him to eat.” She also buys extra-small kibble.

He will ignore furry toys and go for smooth, cloth-covered ones instead, she said. “I suspect the furry cloth feels funny on the gums.”

Tooth decay can happen at any age, but is more likely in older pets and in smaller toy breeds. “They eat more canned food and more will get stuck in their teeth,” Ortiz said. Larger dogs tend to eat more dry food, which scrapes the teeth, and helps remove tartar, he said.

“Ask yourself the question: ‘If you did not brush your teeth daily, what would happen?’ In a few days you would have significant plaque and within a few more, increased tartar,” Stepaniuk said.

Owners are advised to take their pets to the vet twice a year for routine checkups and get their teeth cleaned once a year.

In a perfect world, Ortiz said pet owners would brush their dog’s or cat’s teeth twice a day, but twice a week will produce amazing results.

Add dental chews and a water additive that helps prevent tartar and pets should stay very kissable, Ortiz said.

Brushing an older pet’s teeth for the first time can prove challenging, the vets acknowledged, but it is easy to teach a puppy or kitten to learn to like it, Ortiz said.

“Start with your bare finger and rub it along their gums and teeth. Get them used to having something in their mouth. Then get a finger-sized toothbrush with small fibers that do not scrape the teeth,” he said. Toothpaste isn’t necessary to remove tartar, but once the pet is used to the brush, it can be added.

Cats usually won’t sit still for too long, so it helps if the toothpaste is tuna or chicken-flavored, Ortiz said.

Stepaniuk warned not to give pets human toothpaste. “If human toothpaste is swallowed, which pets will do, it is toxic (due to the high levels of fluoride) as well as a gastrointestinal irritant,” he said.

Any invasive dental work on pets — extractions, root canals, and any thorough exam involving instruments and X-rays — requires anesthesia, Stepaniuk said. There are no such things as dog dentures, he said, and implants and bridges are almost nonexistent, but some dogs — usually show dogs — do get braces.

Pets do cope with the loss of teeth, Ortiz said, and their health and behavior typically improve once the pain is gone.

Veterinarians will try to save strategic teeth when possible. These include the canine teeth and carnassial teeth (the big chewing teeth), Stepaniuk said.

Other types of pets are also vulnerable to dental problems. Ferrets can get tooth decay just like dogs and cats. Rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas have continually growing cheek teeth and incisors; given the wrong diet, their teeth will overgrow and cause abscessed teeth, Stepaniuk said. Reptiles have teeth and without proper husbandry, they too can get severe infection and stomatitis.

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Online:
— http://www.avds-online.org
— http://www.banfield.com