Border Collie Rescue SA

 Hi pawfriends it's me Luna again! 🐾 Today I want your pawttention for a very special dog rescue:

Border Collie Rescue SA! Yes you read it correctly, this rescue is specialized in Border Collies! Border Collies have the best working drive, they look cute and perfect for families and they easily melt peoples hearts with all the cool tricks they can do.. but therefore it goes very often wrong. If they are rehomed by normal shelters quiet often they end up in homes with people that are not educated enough how to handle the specific breed which can end up dramatically with a dog that starts herding kids, cats and everything that moves or even worse serious bite incidents.. 

Border Collie Rescue's target is to find the best new home for their rescues and spread awareness at the same time about the wonderful Border Collie as a breed. 

Border Collie Rescue is a registered non-profit organization since 1999 that:

-Provides rehabilitation for abandoned and abused Border Collies

-Provides foster homes for Border Collies in need and takes care of the full costs such as kenneling   fees, sterilization, food, etc..

-Finds forever adoptive homes when the dogs are physically and mentally ready for a new family 

-Provides counseling/referral services to Border Collie owners

- Help Border Collie owners that through no fault of their own, can no longer care for their beloved friend and need to find a new home.

-Raise awareness and educate the public about the very specific needs of the Border Collie breed

- And so much more..

In the years 2019/2020 they had:

• 532 dogs in kennels rehomed
• 7715 kennel days paid
• 238 dogs microchipped
• 91 dogs sterilized and neutered (some dogs arrive into the rescue already fixed)
• 108 dogs received all the necessary veterinary treatment
• last but not least they travelled 18575km!!! to collect dogs in need

Sounds amazing, isn't it? 

All this hard work is done by staff & volunteers that do not receive any remuneration but purely do it for the love they have for the breed. They spend their time for free to ensure the abandoned and abused Border Collies get the care and love they deserve. In my opinion this are real life heroes! 

But here it the thing.. they need our help! 

"Because together we achieve what no one can achieve alone." 

This is their favorite quote and I love it too!

Here are 11 easy ways how we can help: 

1. Adopt a Border Collie (currently this option is only available for people that live in Africa since the procedure and cost to bring a dog to EU, UK or USA are very difficult. 
2. Help cover kenneling costs, you can do this for one month or more. Border Collie Rescue organization will keep you up to date about the dog that's in "your" kennel. 
3. Become a friend of BCR: You will receive a quarterly newsletter. Membership fees are R1000.00 once off or annual R200
4. Sponsor a spray or neuter: this is super important, all dogs get sprayed or neutered before moving to their forever homes.
5. If you are in the South Africa area you can foster an older dog in need. BCR will cover the costs for food and veterinary care.
6. Send pawsome pictures that can be used for the yearly calendar, the funds raised from the calendar sales will be used to cover the shelters costs.
7. Suggest companies that might be interested in sponsoring BCR
8. Leave a legacy to BCR
9. Download the CollieMoji app, 40% of each download goes to BCR. To participate download the app from this link You can also turn your own dog in an emoji! Available for any dog breed, click here for more info. 
10. Shop online at the Border Collie Rescue website, you can find merch and other cute Collie related items. BCR online shop
11. and last but not least: spread the word, so the world knows their wonderful mission!🐾 If you have any fun ideas to set up your own fundraiser campaign don't hesitate to contact Dina-Vera, she is super friendly and will gladly discuss about the possibilities.

Zapper: Scan to donate easy&fast

 

A little bit more details about the costs of the rescue organization:

On average a dog remains 39 days in a rescue before finding a home during this time several things are done such as:

-Deworming (R50 per dog)

- Microchip (R150) 

- Vaccinations (R400)

- Neutering (R800)

- Cost per kennel day R180 in high season and R99 normal rate + food expenses.

- Average costs per homed dog: R4689,00

Because Border Collie Rescue is located in South Africa the amounts are shown in South African Rand. R100 = 5.75 euro = 4.87 Pound sterling. 

Easiest way to donate from overseas is through this link. Giveandgain makes it easier since you can choose your own currency.

This means that if we even donate a "small" amount in euro or pound this can already help many dogs in SA in need. 🐶

SnapScan: Scan to donate easy&fast

 

Impawtent info/contact details:

Address: Border Collie Rescue Non Profit Organization 

Nr. 006 620 P O Box 21161 Roodepoort Helderkruin 1733

Bank details:  Account Name: Border Collie Rescue 

Standard Bank Cresta Account Nr: 226 387 399 IBT: 051001

General info: DV (Dina-Vera) +27 82 772 8525 / Dinaverasch@gmail.com

Adoptions: Julie:  mwmoz@mweb.co.za / +27 11 3952259 or +27 82 887 9668

Website: https://bordercollierescue.co.za/

Page with all details about adoption or volunteering: 
https://bordercollierescue.co.za/volunteer/#adopt

Social media channels: 

Twitter and Instagram : #collierescuesa 

YouTube Channel: Border Collie Rescue South Africa 

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Border-Collie-Rescue-SA/130068410401353

©️All the pictures in this article belong to the Border Collie Rescue organization, do not use or reproduce this without their permission. 

Senior dogs deserve special care

Hi, it's me Luna again! This post has some more information about the elderly canine friends and how to take good care of them. I truly believe dog owners should pay special attention to them, they deserve to have the best senior dog life!

When is a dog considered senior? 

This really depends on each individual. In general giant breeds are considered aging faster then the small ones. Overall speaking small size dogs are considered senior around the age of 9 while medium/large breeds can considered elderly earlier around 7-8 years old. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that emotional maturity doesn't necessarily aligns with physical maturity. For example an 10 month old pup may be socially and sexually active but full maturity isn't achieved until age of 3 to 4 years.

What are the signs of ageing? 

The most physical complaints vets hear are loss of vision, hearing, teeth, immunity, energy and muscle tone. This goes together with gaining weight and arthritis or other joint problems.

Which are the mayor diseases/health concerns?

-cancer

-heart disease

-kidney/urinary tract disease

-liver disease

-diabetes

-joint or bone disease

-senility

-weakness: Difficulty standing up or sitting 

To what can you pay extra attention to improve their lives?

1. Teeth

Generally it is very impawtant to brush all dogs teeth. For elder dogs it is extra important to do more general teeth check ups to prevent dental diseases and decay. If possible the best option is to brush your dogs teeth daily, in case your dog doesn't accept this you can ask your vet to recommend you good 'plaque off products' like treats or chewing bones or powder to add to the food.

2. Keep a daily exercise routine.

You may have to modify the amount or intensity of training routine you have but make sure to keep your dog moving every single day. Not only it is important in order to prevent your dog from becoming obese but also for their mental well being. In case your dog is showing signals of pain visit your vet and discuss alternative training routines. For dogs with arthritis I highly recommend considering hydrotherapy or underwater treadmill therapy. Although this option may be 'more expensive or time consuming' this is the best way to exercise older dogs since buoyancy is used to counteract the painful effects of gravity. Studies have shown that many elderly dogs feel no or less pain while working out in the water. Ofcourse it is necessary to find a professional specialized in rehabilitation/hydrotherapy to guide your dog safely into this new form of exercise.

Exercise not only your dogs body but also their mind! This can be done very effectively with small search games and puzzles. This way you keep your dog senses sharp and you can have a nice time with your furiend. It is recommended to always supervise your dog while playing with puzzles and toys. 

3. Evaluate your dogs diet.

As mentioned before aged dogs are more sensitive for developing obesity, this is caused mainly by the fact that they no longer have the same levels of energy as before and therefore run and play less often. There are several special senior dog diets on the market. The difference is that they are most of the time lower in fat and have fewer calories, sometimes they contain also extra added glucosamine or chondroitin. 

Warning! Always analyze the actual ingredients of your new dog food, it is not the case that when the package states 'senior diet' it is also effectively and suitable for your beloved furiend. In case of doubt give a call to your vet or consult a qualified pet nutritionist.

Beside changes in food you can also consider adding supplements. Such as natural pro- and prebiotics, omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), glucosamine with Chondroitin sulfate and CBD oil. 

4. Adjust the environment.

Especially if our elderly furry friends are having arthritis it can be beneficial to adjust the environment. Most important is to check your dog's habits. Does he likes to jump on the sofa or in the car and is it going more difficult? In this case you could invest in a dog ramp. Another important factor is the bed, Luna has an orthopedic dog bed and we definitely see difference in her sleep. She looks much more comfortable and can stretch out properly. There is also a clinical study* done by Big Barker (dog beds) proving that the choice of your dog's bed can have a tremendous impact on their quality of life.

5. keep a diary for your dog!

This is not only fun and a lovely memory in the long term but also this way you can monitor changes in appetite, weight, behavior. Is your dog having a hard day observe and write down how your animal generally responds etc. In case you need to visit the vet all this little details can help the doctor have a complete image of the causes of pain or disease, when it started and so much more.

Simply said bark to your pawrents every day to take you for a walk, eat healthy and visit a little more often the vet (looking cute at the veterinary hospital will give you possibilities of getting more treats!)

Paw Luna 🐾

*Link to the complete pilot study regarding the Big Barker beds:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0218/1356/files/Pilot_Study_to_Evaluate_the_Big_Barker_Therapeutic_Mattress_in_Dogs_with_Osteoarthritis.pdf?v=1597598958

*Short summary:
https://bigbarker.com/pages/upenn

Joint supplements for dog's

Hi pawfriends! It's me Luna again. Today's topic is about supplements for joint health. There are many different opinions regarding this topic. This article is  based on scientific researches, beside of that I would like to mention that my mummy has used this kind of supplements also for her first dog with osteoarthritis and there was a visible improvement in the dog's quality of elderly life.

When to use joint supplements?

- For aging dogs: 

Aging comes with some little negatives such as joint pain and stiffness. Your dog can have this symptoms even before osteoarthritis is really developed, especially larger breeds are more prone to these ailments. Why does this happen? It’s kinda the same for dogs as it is for humans. As our bodies age, we lose the natural ability to make healthy cartilage and thus, incur damage to our joints.

- For sport, very active and gun (hunting) dog's:

Sporting dogs are predisposed to injuries due to the type of activity that puts increased strain on their muscles, bones and ligaments.

In all cases physical therapy, weight management, hydrotherapy and other options can also improve a dog's comfort and mobility.

It’s important to note that no nutritional supplement will correct structural damage to a dog's joints!

Which brand of supplement to buy?

We have chosen to keep this article neutral and not to mention brand names since the market supply is different in each country. We strongly recommend seeking advice from a pet nutritionist or your veterinarian. Below are recommended ingredient combinations you can look for.

- Tablets/powder with a combination of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), Green lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus)

- (fish) oil with omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

- CBD oil 

A recent study found a decrease in arthritis pain and improvement in activity in dogs taking CBD after just 4 weeks. Importantly, there were no harmful side effects detected in the dogs in the study. Therefore we have also added CBD to the list.

Quality of the supplement:

When choosing which supplements to purchase, it is necessary to inquire about the product’s source and strength before using.

Choose products made with ingredients sourced in the USA, EU or UK (or in other countries with strict regulatory oversight and testing). This can be the "more expensive" option in the market but you want quality to reassure your dog's health and wellbeing!

Only purchase lab grade glucosamine chondroitin.

When do you start seeing results? 

It may take several weeks to months of administration before there’s a noticeable improvement in mobility and attitude, strongly depends on the dose. 

What is the dose one should use for their pet?

For maintenance you can follow the dosage guide on the product itself. In case that more intensive treatment is needed you can show the supplement to your vet so he/she can calculate the required and safe dose. Example of dosage: a standard dose for glucosamine is 15 mg/kg.

Are there side effects?

Veterinarians state that side effects are almost unheard of as long as the supplements are used in the recommended dose. Your dog might experience an upset stomach in the beginning but this generally resolves as the dog's digestive system adjusts to it.

Literature 

1. McCarthy G, O’Donovan J, Jones B, et al. Randomised double-blind, positive-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate for the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis. Vet J 2007 174(1):54-61.

2. Wooten, Sarah J. “Joint Supplements for Dogs: The Helpful vs. the Hype.” DVM 360, 16 June 2017, veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/joint-supplements-dogs-helpful-vs-hype.

3. Verrico, Chris D.a,b; Wesson, Shondac; Konduri, Vanajad; Hofferek, Colby J.d; Vazquez-Perez, Jonathand; Blair, Emeke; Dunner, Kenneth Jrf; Salimpour, Pedramg; Decker, William K.d,h,i; Halpert, Matthew M.d,* A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of daily cannabidiol for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis pain, PAIN: September 2020 - Volume 161 - Issue 9 - p 2191-2202 doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001896 

4. Rialland P, Bichot S, Lussier B, et al. Effect of a diet enriched with green-lipped mussel on pain behavior and functioning in dogs with clinical osteoarthritis. Can J Vet Res 2013;77(1):66-74.

5. Hielm-Björkman A, Tulamo RM, Salonen H, Raekallio M. Evaluating Complementary Therapies for Canine Osteoarthritis Part I: Green-lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus). Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009;6(3):365-373. doi:10.1093/ecam/nem136

K9 obesity

Obesity in dogs is a mayor health treat! Many vets call this the most dangerous and common health treat anno 2021.

What is canine obesity and why is it so dangerous?

Definition: Obesity in pets occurs when excessive adipose tissue accumulates in the body, and is generally defined as occurring when an animal's body weight is at least 20% greater than its optimal body weight. Other symptoms can be lack of mobility, difficulty "heavy" breathing. 

This disease associated with decreased life span, diabetes, hypothyroidism, osteoarthritis, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, difficulty breathing, difficulty grooming, increased risk of hyperthermia and increased risk of cancer. Simply said decreased quality of life.

Considering the health risks it is shocking to read that approximately 25-30% of the general canine population is obese. 

Want to know if your dog is overweight?  You can check it at home with this simple technique:

Example of tucked in waste

Look at your dog from the side. The waste should be tucked-in.

Feel under your dog’s tummy. Make sure you follow with your hand the ribcage, at the end there should be an upwards curve.

Touch along your dog’s side and back. You should be able to feel your dog’s spine, ribs and hipbones quite easily but they shouldn’t stick out.

Feel the base of your dog’s tail. There shouldn’t be any build-up of fat on the point where the tail meets the base of the body.

Many vets recommend to check the BCS (body condition score chart) or BFI (body fat index chart) although this is a good indicator keep in mind that each breed has it's own body structure. 

What could be the reasons that your dog is overweight?

Diet:

The Diet that doesn't fit with your dog's lifestyle. Too high calorie intake in comparison to daily low amount of activity or simply overfeeding. Veterinarians stated that owners most of the time are not aware that they are harming their pets with overfeeding. The most common misinterpretation is that when the dogs keep eating they are still hungry. 

Postoperative:

Neutered or sterilized dog's that keep getting the same type of diet as before the surgery. 

Breeds that are more prone to canine obesity:

- Labrador Retrievers

- Bulldogs and Pugs

-Basset hounds and Beagles 

-Dachshunds

More rare causes:

Medical cause: For example hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease.  Some medications give also the side effect that the dog will developed more easily diabetes. Phenobarbital (anticonvulsant) is known for satiety leading to overeating and Glucocorticoids cause often abnormal fat deposition + weight gain. 

Luna's conclusion: Tell your pawrents to do often body condition check ups, ask advice to your vet/pet nutritionist, change diet if nescessary and most impawtent keep exercising! 

Paw Luna🐾

Heatstroke

Hi it's me Luna! This blog is about heatstroke's in dogs. Since I live in the Mediterranean and the temperatures in summer can rise up to +35°C it is very impawtent to raise awareness for this common dangerous health threat. A very interesting fact is that 'heat strokes' are not only caused by environmental temperature but also living conditions and humidity. Since we dogs mostly release heat through panting and through our little paw pads it's more difficult in summer to stay cool then in comparison to our humans who sweat all over the body. 

What is a heat stroke? 

Heat stroke is a term used for hyperthermia or elevated body temperature. For dogs we speak of hyperthermia when their temperature gets over 39.4 degrees Celsius (103 degrees Fahrenheit). A heat stroke occurs when their body temperature exceeds 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher without signs of inflammation, a heat stroke can lead to multiple organ dysfunction. 

Causes

-Environmental heat and humidity 

-Upper airway disease that inhibits breathing: the upper airway includes the nose, nasal passages, throat (pharynx), and windpipe (trachea)

-Underlying disease that increases likelihood of developing hyperthermia, such as paralysis of the voice box or larynx; heart and/or blood vessel disease; nervous system and/or muscular disease; previous history of heat-related disease

-Some poisonous compounds, such as strychnine and slug and snail bait, can lead to seizures

-Anesthesia complications

-Excessive exercise

-Being left in the yard without access to shade or fresh, cool drinking water

-Staying alone in the car on a hot day 

-Being left in the house with the central heating to high and no fresh air 

Which dogs have higher risk? 

- very young/old dog's

- short nosed/ flat faced dogs (brachycephalic breeds) such as pugs, boxers and      bulldogs

- dogs that are muzzled with a (too) small size muzzle that does not give them the possibility to pant 

- Long and thick haired dogs such as my breed the Border Collie

-Dogs that stay in the yard and have no access to fresh clean Drinkwater and shade 

-Obesity patients 

It is impawtant to remember that ALL dogs cannot control their body temperature by sweating as humans do, since they only have a relatively small number of sweat glands located in their footpads. Their primary way of regulating body temperature is by panting.

Symptoms

-Dehydration (dry nose, visible tiredness, extremely excessive panting, and sunken eyes)

-Excessive drooling 

-Increased body temperature: Above 39° C (103° F)

-Bright red, gray or purple gums and moist tissues of the body showing different color as normal 

-Only small amounts of urine or no urine at all 

-Acute kidney failure

-Rapid/irregular  heart rate (you can feel this by putting your hand on your dogs chest)

-Stoppage of the heart and breathing (cardiopulmonary arrest)

-Fluid build-up in the lungs, sudden breathing distress

-Blood-clotting disorder

-Passage of blood in the bowel movement or stool

-Black, tarry stools

-Small, pinpoint areas of bleeding

-Generalized inflammatory response syndrome

-Changes in mental status, stressed state

-Muscle tremors, shivering or shaking 

-Wobbly, uncoordinated or drunken gait or movement also know as ataxia 

-Unconsciousness in which the dog cannot be stimulated to be awakened

-Vomiting or diarrhea 

What to do if your dog shows signs of heat stroke?

If your dog loses consciousness or seems severely ill (vomiting, seizing,..) rush to a veterinary hospital immediately!

1. Take your dog to a cooler/shady area.

2. Lower their body temperature by wetting them thoroughly with cool water, it may be poured over the head, stomach, armpits and feet, or cool cloths may be applied to these areas. Rubbing alcohol may be applied to the footpads to dilate pores and increase perspiration. DO NOT use cold water! It seems counterintuitive, but cooling too quickly can cause a shock reaction use lukewarm water instead of cool.

3. Apply more cool water around their ears and paws. This helps reduce fever.

4.  If you have a pet thermometer handy, check their temperature every few minutes. Once their temperature drops to 39.4ºC (103ºF) Stop applying water and towel dry the dog.

5. As they continue to cool down, provide them with small amounts of lukewarm or cool water to drink. Again, NOT cold water, and no ice!

6. Call your veterinarian asap. Even if your dog seems to be recovering, they may need to be monitored for shock, dehydration, kidney failure, and other possible complications of heat exhaustion. Your vet will be able to advise you about next steps in most cases you will have to go visit the clinic so that the doctor can check your dog. 

Why is it so impawtent to handle as soon as possible? 

If a heat stroke is not treated on time your dog may experience permanent organ damage or may die at a later date from complications that developed secondarily to the hyperthermia. Pets that have experienced hyperthermia are at greater risk for subsequent heat stroke due to damage to the thermoregulatory center.

Heat stroke is a serious thing! Take care of yourself my furiends,

Paw Luna🐾