EDITOR'S MESSAGE
PUPPY PARTY
CGC AND TRICK DOG FOR CGC TITLES
CGC and Trick Dog At the puppy picnic
Alice Alford plans to continue to evaluate for CGC titles. She also plans to evaluate for the new title Trick Dog. Alici will only do Novice this first year as she has been studying the evaluator's guide and doesn't feel confident to go any further yet. Trick Dog Novice will give you the title "TKN". If you already have a registered CGC title at AKC you will only have to do 5 tricks. If you do not have a CGC title you need to do 10 tricks. However, you can mail both applications in the same envelope to AKC.
Here is the link to the Trick Dog Novice application http://images.akc.org/pdf/trick_dog_novice.pdf
DOGS EATING CICADAS: TASTY TREAT OR TROUBLE?
Mar 04, 2021
Key Points
- After a 17-year hibernation, trillions of cicadas are due to emerge in parts of the U.S.
- Cicada exoskeletons are difficult to digest and can cause dogs to suffer serious consequences if eaten.
Sometime this spring, when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, your dog may suddenly start digging up the yard. He can hear something you can’t yet hear – juvenile cicadas tunneling through the ground getting ready to emerge.
Most of the more than 3,000 types of cicadas appear every 2-to-5 years, and their cycles can vary. But the periodical cicadas spend exactly 13 or 17 years underground, and when they appear – trillions surface, blanketing the ground, cars, trees, and houses. According to entomologists, densities can be as great as 1.5 million cicadas per acre.
This time the big brood is coming. After a 17-year hibernation, trillions of cicadas are due to emerge in Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Cicadas Can Cause Stomach Upset
Cicadas don’t bite or sting, so no problem – right? Wrong. If you have a dog who likes to munch on whatever can be found on the ground, you need to prepare to stop him from devouring this plentiful treat.
“In most cases, your dog will be fine after eating a few cicadas,” says Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer. “However, dogs that gorge on the large, crunchy insects will find the exoskeleton difficult to digest and can suffer serious consequences.”
According to Dr. Klein, aftereffects can include severe stomach upset and abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Some dogs may require intravenous fluids, pain medications, gastro protectants, or anti-nausea drugs.
Dogs Overindulging in Cicadas Can:
- Experience mild to serious GI upset.
- Choke on the stiff wings or hard exoskeleton.
- Suffer an allergic reaction.
- Consume unhealthy amounts of pesticides.
How Long Will the Threat Last?
Cicadas live underground for most of their lives, where they drink from plant roots and develop into adults. They emerge from the ground to sing, mate, and lay eggs. The songs, sung mostly by males, can reach 100 decibels. Females lay fertilized eggs in the branches of plants, where they hatch and burrow underground. The adult cicadas die, and the world becomes a little bit quieter.
The cicada cycle will last about 6 weeks, so those emerging in mid-May should be gone by late June, depending on the weather. Then the babies or nymphs will dig into the ground to suck tree roots for another 17 years.
Of course, those tasty exoskeletons that adult cicadas shed will still be all over the ground. So you’ll need to be vigilant with your dog for a while longer.
Bottom line: Preventing your dog from eating cicadas is the safest choice. Get ahead of the game and teach the "leave it" command. And if you have a pup who likes to act like an anteater, you may need to be constant companions when he goes outside for a couple of months.
2021 SPECIALTY
2021 SPECIALTY
Our next Specialty shows will be held at the same location on August 28 and 29, 2021 in conjunction with the Cherokee Rose cluster shows at the Atlanta Expo Center South.
Our judges will be Cesar Cortes (Londoncor UK) and Marilyn Mayfield (Mayfield US).
Our Sweeps judge for Puppy and Veterans will be Pat Mixon (Tudorose US).
Marilyn Mayfield will also be judging Junior Showmanship and Beginner Puppy competition on Sunday.
Make plans to join us in August 2021!
Our host hotel will once again be the Drury Inn and the booking line for special rates can be found on our website: www.ckcscatlanta.org.
On Saturday evening the club will have a social at the host hotel with beverages, roast pork & beef, buns, ice, plates, utensils, etc. We ask members to bring a side to share! Come and just relax after the show and enjoy a bite to eat and socialize with friends we have not seen in a long time due to the pandemic. Be sure to bring your mask!
In lieu of a ringside silent auction, which would not be feasible with COVID 19 guidelines, we will have a Chinese auction where tickets may be purchased to place in bags next to 6 to 7 prewrapped baskets. We will draw the winning tickets on Saturday after the Specialty. Thank you to the following members for committing to put together and donate the following baskets:
Almeara Cavaliers – White wine basket
Dr. Barbara Magera – Red wine basket
Monticello Cavaliers – A “Fried Green Tomatoes” themed basket
Mark Fitchpatrick – Homemade Dessert basket
Finnickyskye Cavaliers – Beer and “man snacks” basket
Brookhaven Cavaliers – TBA
Susan Kent – Apple House basket
Also, Hannah Dingman has donated a handmade spaniel water bowl and matching food bowl set.
If you would like to donate a basket – please let Linda Whitmire know
We also need help during the Specialty! Help will be needed selling raffle tickets, selling catalogs, keeping watch over the basket table, and helping at the Saturday evening social with set up and clean up!
NATURAL REMEDIES
Expensive clinic visits and high vet bills – not to mention all those costly allergy medications your vet can prescribe – may be the reason why you put off taking your itchy, allergic pooch to the doctor. The constant itching and scratching can lead to hair loss, trauma, and skin infections…and, as loving pet parents, we don’t want to see our fur babies suffer.
Here are 16 all-natural, inexpensive (or free) remedies available to you, some of them as close as your pantry or refrigerator.
Vitamin E will work on your dog’s dry skin just like it works on your wrinkles. I like to break open a capsule and rub the oil directly on my dog’s dry, itchy areas. Not only does the oil feel good to her, but also the massage action warms her muscles and helps the vitamin E penetrate faster to problem areas.
Yogurt Feeding your dog plain, low-fat yogurt keeps the good bacteria in your dog’s intestines in balance and helps keep yeast infections at bay. A little bit of yogurt in your pet’s diet is not only a healthy treat, but can boost the immune system so that skin and ear yeast infections can’t take hold. When my itchy dog was a puppy, I would give her a teaspoon of yogurt daily to help build immunity and prevent diarrhea. Alternative- Feed your dog a grain-free food with probiotics.
Chamomile tea & Herbal Tea soaks, chilled in the refrigerator, can alleviate any minor skin irritations when sprayed on sensitive, itchy spots. The chilled tea kills yeast and bacteria on the skin and relieves inflammation. When my itchy dog starts gnawing on her paws, I like to either spray them with the chamomile or just have her soak her paws in a small tub of the cold tea. Warm chamomile tea bags can soothe itchy, irritated eyes for both you and your dog. You can also try green tea and calendula.
Ground oatmeal poured into a bath or shampoo is an age-old remedy for itching, inflamed skin. You can either use the baby oatmeal cereal found at your local grocery store or grind it yourself in your food processor or coffee grinder. Your dog will love sitting in a warm bath containing oatmeal because it brings immediate relief to the irritated area. Alternative- buy colloidal oatmeal shampoo and conditioner all ready mixed and ready to go.
Epsom salt soaks and heat packs can reduce the swelling of itchy paws and inflamed sores. A bath of warm water and Epsom salt also speeds up the healing time for any small, open sores, particularly when combined with veterinary antibiotics.
Evening primrose oil, an essential oil,has active anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties. You can apply primrose oil directly to your dog’s skin to treat dry or itchy skin issues. Likewise, giving your dog evening primrose oil by mouth helps calm allergies and boosts the immune system – and it only takes a few drops on her food or in her water to do the trick.
Eucalyptus Conditioner – Steep 1 teaspoon dried eucalyptus (or 2 tablespoons of fresh eucalyptus) in a pint of boiling water for 10 minutes, covered. Allow the eucalyptus water to cool to body temperature and pour it over your dog after her final rinse. Rub the mixture in and towel her dry without further rinsing. The eucalyptus in the conditioner repels fleas while promoting a soft, glossy coat. Alternative: Buy an all-natural eucalyptus shampoo and conditioner that’s already mixed and ready to go. Hint- make sure that it’s real eucalyptus essential oil, and not a fragrance.
Dry Shampoo – If your pooch hates getting into the water, an all-natural dry shampoo can keep her skin healthy and coat smelling good. Spread ½-cup to 1-cup of whole bran, uncooked oatmeal, or cornmeal on a cookie sheet and warm in the oven on low heat for 5 minutes to bring out the natural oils in the grain. Grab a handful of the grain (leaving the rest in the oven to stay warm) and rub it into your dog’s fur and skin with a towel, concentrating on the greasy, dirty areas. Then thoroughly brush the areas to remove all the grain. This dry shampoo exfoliates the skin while removing any nasty residue from your dog’s coat.
Essential Oil Shampoo – Add a few drops of eucalyptus or pennyroyal essential oil to natural shampoo or castile soap. Rinse your dog with clear water. Rinse again with vinegar-water (1 tbsp. to 1-pint warm water). This easy-to-make shampoo and rinse removes soap residue and prevents dandruff that can result in itchy skin. Alternative: Buy an all-natural eucalyptus shampoo and conditioner that’s already mixed and ready to go. Hint- make sure that it’s real eucalyptus essential oil, and not a fragrance.
Herbal Flea Powder – Combine one part each of as many of these dried and powdered herbs as you can find: rosemary, fennel, eucalyptus, rue, yellow dock, and wormwood. Put this mixture in a clean, dry shaker-type jar, like one used for parsley flakes or Parmesan cheese. Apply the flea powder sparingly to the base of your dog’s coat by brushing back the hair first, then sprinkling in small amounts around the neck, belly, and back. You’ll need to use the powder several times a week for a severe flea infestation, and place your pooch outside in the yard so the repelled fleas don’t end up in your home. Remember, this powder only repels the pests…it does not kill them. Alternative: Buy all-natural off-the-shelf sprays.
Natural Skin Tonic – This lemon-based tonic not only repels fleas, it works as a general skin toner for itchy pets. Thinly slice a whole lemon, including the rind, and steep it overnight in a pot of boiling water. The cooling water draws out d-limonene, vitamin C, and other healing ingredients found in the whole lemon. The next day, sponge it on your dog’s skin and let the solution air-dry. You can use the lemon tonic daily for cases of heavy flea infestation.
Baking Soda- Prepare a thick paste by using a 50/50 mix of baking soda and water. Apply to affected areas of your dog’s skin, leave for 20 minutes, and then rinse off. Alternatively, add one cup of baking soda to your dog’s bathwater if he is itching all over.
Apple Cider Vinegar- Prepare a 50/50 mix of apple cider vinegar with water, and use a spray bottle to apply it to affected areas.
Aspirin Mix- Crush two aspirin tablets and mix with a small amount of rubbing alcohol (do not administer by mouth). This mixture can be applied directly to affected areas of skin using cotton wool or cotton swabs. For maximum effect, apply in conjunction with one of the previously listed remedies.
Give your dog a bath – There is a common misconception that you shouldn’t bathe your dogs very often and that doing so can make skin conditions worse. Most veterinarians treat skin disease through a combination of steroids and antibiotics. But if you’re like me, you want to stay away from harsh drugs and try all-natural courses of action first. The use of ’shampoo therapy’ to treat skin conditions may be the most overlooked natural therapy for dogs with skin disease.
Brush your dog every day – Who knew that something so simple and basic as brushing your dog’s coat could help to control and eliminate itchy and irritated skin. When his skin is itchy, inflammatory blood cells and chemical compounds such as histamine and prostaglandins accumulate in the affected area. These are all responsible for the reddening and inflammation that causes the itch.
Feed your dog coconut oil – Every night I mix up my dogs food with some coconut oil. In the summer it’s really easy because the oil is liquid due to the hot weather. In the winter it solidifies so you have to microwave it a few seconds before putting it on your dog’s food. Coconut oil is excellent for your dog’s coat and general health. You don’t need dog-specific coconut oil, a high-quality human brand will do.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Homemade Dog Food
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground chicken
- 1/2 lb ground turkey
- 1 lb baby carrots
- 2 small baking potatoes
- 3 cups brown rice
- 3 eggs, slightly beaten
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups water
DIRECTIONS
- Cook all 3 ground meats together in a larger 6-quart dutch oven.
- Add rice, chicken broth and water. Cook on medium heat for 30 minutes.
- Add potatoes and carrots, and slightly beaten eggs. Cook for an additional 20 - 30 minutes.
- After cooking, put the mixture into storage containers. This freezes very well.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
THE CAVALIER CHRONICLE
CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB OF GREATER ATLANTA
Mark Fitchpatrick, editor