LeKnott

Elka LOVES Sticks

Photo of Elka on Election Morning Nov. 4 2008

On election day morning, Elka and Jeff hit their park for a frisbee session. Elka looks especially fly on the fall leaves and happily jogging about in the crisp air.

Elka on Election Morning Nov. 4 2008, originally uploaded by Jeff Lennan.

For the pup who enjoys kibble a bit too much

FDA approves first treatment designed to help slim down overweight canines

WASHINGTON -- Millions of Americans rely on diet remedies to try to lose weight. As soon as April, millions of their dogs will, too.

Pfizer Animal Health , part of Pfizer Inc. , the globe's largest drug company, is betting that Slentrol will help overweight and obese dogs shed pounds. The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved the once-a-day liquid formulation as the first-ever prescription drug treatment in the United States for dogs who need to shed pounds. A daily dose of the treatment will cost $1 to $2.

The potential market for Slentrol is huge. The American Veterinary Medical Association , which conducts an annual canine census, reported in 2002 that Americans owned 61.6 million dogs. About 35 percent are overweight or obese , tipping the scales at 5 to 20 percent over their ideal weight. Like humans, those extra pounds increase dogs' chances of suffering from heart disease , breathing problems, and arthritis .

"The approval of Pfizer's medicine really is a recognition of the serious and widespread issue of canine obesity," said George Fennell , a vice president in the company's US companion-animal division.

Plus, veterinarians see another eerie, if anecdotal, parallel: Tubby owners have chubby dogs.

But Fennell warned that Slentrol is "not a passport" to abandon healthy diet and vigorous exercise.

Overweight dogs will be given the drug under the guidance of a veterinarian. The dose depends on how much the animal weighs. After its ideal weight is reached, the dose will be reduced over three months as better diet and exercise regimes are used to maintain the weight loss.

Slentrol works by disrupting the process that creates fat and unleashes it into the bloodstream, curbing appetite and lowering fat. As the dogs tested in trials of the drug became slimmer, Fennell said, owners reported seeing renewed "puppylike behavior" and a restored ability to do things like climb steps.

Drug companies have been offering magic bullets against human obesity for years without success, and it is unclear whether this attempt to slim canines will work any better. The clinical trials have been short, even in dog years, so there is little evidence about long-term effect.

Low-fat dog foods, which have been on the market for years, have not stemmed the obesity epidemic in dogs, especially in breeds most likely to transform from scrawny puppy to pudgy adult -- such as Labradors , hounds and beagles . The special diets haven't trimmed dog weight much more effectively than Atkins , Slim-Fast, and South Beach diets do for humans.

Consider the case of Clancey . Until he died at age 15, the 92-pound basset hound had struggled to keep off extra pounds all of his life, said his owner, Tracie Cone. He once nearly drowned in her pool, unable to paddle his short legs fast enough to stay afloat.

"He sunk like a rock" and she had to pluck him out, said Cone, 49 , an organic wine producer  in California .

"Basset hound owners across America will be lining up for this drug," Cone said.

Diedtra Henderson can be reached at dhenderson@globe.com

Case Number D19895

Admit Date: Monday, July 25
Patient: Elka
Signalment: 2 Years, 6 mo Female Spayed Labrador Mix

Presenting Complaint: Vomiting

Pertinent History: This afternoon, Elka may have eated something from a paper bag while on a walk at the park. At about 7pm, her owner noticed that she was hypersalivating and had foam coming out of her mouth. After inducing vomiting (foam, white and yello) with hydrogen peroxide, Molly  noticed that Elka had previously vomited her dinner (food) and some yellow material (suspected to be cheese) that hadn't been purposely fed to her.

No other history of recent dietary indiscretion noted, no exposure to known toxins, salmonid fish, etc. Elka had been doing well previously. Her appetite has been ample, and she has a tendency to eat indiscriminately...

Bat Dog!

We'll add some more pictures and info from our awesome Eastern Oregon trip in a few days, but in case there was any question whether the dogs had a good time....

Gimme a Woof!

NPR Weekend Edition, March 12, 2005 ·

The music world offers myriad genres: classical, rock, hip-hop...but what about canine? Musician and producer Skip Haynes wants to give dogs a reason to prick up their ears. He talks with Scott Simon about his CD, Ask the Animals: Songs to Make Dogs Happy!

Notable titles on the disc include "I'll Be Back," "I Love Food," and what Haynes says is the album's No. 1 hit, "Squeaky-Deakey!"

Check out the story.

Christmas Card 2004

Dog Shoots Man - Saves Litter Mates

PENSACOLA, Florida (AP)
9 Sept. 2004 Google

A man who tried to shoot seven puppies was shot himself when one of the dogs put its paw on the revolver's trigger.

Jerry Allen Bradford, 37, was charged with felony animal cruelty, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. He was being treated at a hospital for a gunshot wound to his wrist.

Bradford said he decided to shoot the 3-month-old shepherd-mix dogs in the head because he couldn't find them a home, according to the sheriff's office.

On Monday, Bradford was holding two puppies -- one in his arms and another in his left hand -- when the dog in his hand wiggled and put its paw on the trigger of the .38-caliber revolver. The gun then discharged, the sheriff's report said.

Deputies found three of the puppies in a shallow grave outside Bradford's home, said sheriff's Sgt. Ted Roy.

The other four appeared to be in good health and were taken by Escambia County Animal Control, which planned to make them available for adoption.

Rescuing A Blue Dog

Last week on the way home from seeing Gremlins at the Laurelhurst Theater, Molly, Jeff and Celia noticed a dog out walking itself. After waiting to see where it might return to, and knocking on doors to see where it might live, it became apparent that this was a dog in need of rescue, at least for the night.

Adopting Elka

We adopted Elka from a 'no-kill' shelter in SE Portland, OR called Family Dogs Northwest. She was about 4 months old, and had come all the way from the border of Oregon and Idaho, about 10 hours away. She was given up for adoption from a large litter of other labrador/border collie puppies. View Elka Photos.