Canine Cancer Has Become a Dog Owner's Greatest Fear: Why Cancer Plagues Golden Retrievers

If a golden retriever gives birth, gets stung by a bee or sprayed by a skunk, veterinarians want to know.

Scientists are studying the popular breed to find out why their lifespans have gotten shorter over the years and why cancer is so prevalent.

The Colorado-based Morris Animal Foundation recently got the first lifetime study of 3,000 purebred golden retrievers up and running after signing up the first dogs in 2012. The nonprofit says the review of health conditions and environmental factors facing golden retrievers across the U.S. can help other breeds and even people, because humans carry 95 percent of the same DNA.

"Canine cancer has become a dog owner's greatest fear," said Dr. David Haworth, president and CEO of the foundation, which invested $25 million in the study. "You don't see dogs running loose that much anymore, we don't see a lot of infectious diseases, and the vaccines we have today are very good, so our concerns are warranted."

The vets haven't learned enough yet to improve or prolong the retrievers' lives, but key factors could lie anywhere, said Dr. Michael Lappin, who has 19 patients from Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, in the study. When he graduated from veterinary school in 1972, golden retrievers lived 16 or 17 years. Today, it's nine or 10 years.

Golden retrievers die of bone cancer, lymphoma and a cancer of the blood vessels more than any other breed in the country.

Lappin plans to get his families together in a few months to see if they have found ways to make life easier for their dogs, especially because the most helpful data about cancer, obesity, diabetes and other chronic conditions won't emerge for six or seven years, researchers say.

Early exams showed 33 percent of the dogs, which are 1 to 5 years old, had skin disease or ear infections; 17 percent had gastrointestinal illnesses; and 11 percent had urinary disease.

The dogs get medication to treat the conditions, but vets can't treat them differently because it would skew the results, Lappin said.

Marla Yetka of Denver says her nearly 2-year-old golden retriever, Snickers, joined the study and has been suffering from skin problems. Yetka uses oatmeal shampoo on her pet, but she's looking forward to talking with other participants about their remedies.

"I have too many friends who have lost goldens," she said. "Is it what we are feeding them, their environments, their breeding?"

Pet owners keep tabs on everything, from a move across country or across town, a change in climate or time zone, new children at home, different food or behavioral changes. Most keep journals so they don't constantly call the vets when their dog gets a thorn in its foot, eats a spider or devours a bunch of bologna if it tears into the groceries.

The vets collect blood, waste, and hair and nail samples annually to test if the dogs get sick, hoping to uncover a common thread or early warning sign among dogs that develop cancer or other diseases.

Doctors also check for changes in temperature, blood pressure, energy, diet, sleeping patterns or other factors that could explain illnesses.

"Everyone involved will feel the burden it will take to be able to say, 'I am playing a role in stopping cancer in these animals I love,'" Haworth said.

So far, seven golden retrievers have died of conditions such as cancer and gastrointestinal problems, and one was hit by a car, Haworth said. Another dropped out when its owner died. The dogs come from every state; about half are male and half are female; and half are fixed and half are not.

Those who brought dogs into the study, including both veterinarians, hope golden retrievers get a shot at the longer life they used to enjoy.

"I'm glad I found the study and feel in some small way, I might make a difference," Yetka said.

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The St. Louis Zoo Now Has a New 850-Pound Bear: Delivered by FedEx

The St. Louis Zoo welcomes an orphaned 850-pound bear, delivered by FedEx.

The two-year-old male named Kali, was orphaned as a cub, arrived at his new home on Friday.

The bear was shipped in by plane and truck ahead of its scheduled June 6 debut at the zoo's new Polar Bear Point Exhibit.

Zoo authorities say that Kali was resting comfortably and would remain in quarantine for about a month, which is standard practice that allows an animal to become acclimated to its new home.

Kali spent the past two years at the Buffalo Zoo after he was orphaned in Alaska's wilderness, when a hunter unknowingly killed his mother, unaware she had a cub.

Kali's latest adventure came Tuesday, when FexEx - having over the years handled everything from endangered sea turtles to seals and pandas - stepped in with air and ground transportation to get a bear halfway across the country.

Kali caught a three-hour flight on a FedEx Express 767 jet from Rochester, New York, to Memphis, Tennessee, secured in a specially designed, half-ton aluminum crate while monitored by a veterinarian and two attendants, the company said in its blog.

The crate was placed behind the cockpit wall, allowing a Buffalo zoo representative and Steve Bircher, the St. Louis Zoo's curator of mammals and carnivores, to monitor and hydrate him and 'basically talk to him,' said Susan Gallagher, the St. Louis zoo's spokeswoman.

At Memphis, FedEx said, the bear was wheeled to a waiting company truck, its drivers trained in handling sensitive shipments.

Attendants who followed in a vehicle frequently checked Kali's condition, providing water along the way during the five-hour drive in which the bear was in a cargo area kept at 55 degrees.

Kali's new digs are a 40,000-square-foot habitat offering visitors starting in a month a glimpse of him through a 22-foot window.

'We applaud the work of the Saint Louis Zoo and wish Kali a bright and happy future in his new home,' Neil Gibson, FedEx's vice president of corporate communications, said in a statement Friday.

Boxed up: Kali’s transportation on May 5 from Rochester, New York, to St. Louis was donated by FedEx.

Tracking: Kali flew on board a FedEx Express flight from Rochester to Memphis, and then a temperature-controlled truck transport via FedEx Custom Critical from Memphis to St. Louis.

The St. Louis Zoo Now Has A New 850-Pound Bear: Delivered by FedEx.

Helping hand: The Saint Louis Zoo’s veterinarian and animal care staff accompanied him on the day-long journey.

His story: Kali came to St. Louis from the Buffalo Zoo, where he has lived since May 2013. In March 2013, he was orphaned by an Alaskan hunter who unknowingly killed Kali’s mother in a subsistence hunt.

                                         

Thirsty work: Vets accompanied Kali so he could be fed and watered during the move.

Packing up: Staff from the zoo and shipping company took extra care to make sure he wasn't in too much distress.

Special cargo: The entire journey from Buffalo, NY to St. Louis took a whole day.

Nice people: “FedEx is committed to the conservation of at-risk animal populations, and we’re proud to have played a part in Kali’s journey,” said Neil Gibson, vice president FedEx corporate communications.

Meet him in St. Louis: "Kali arrived safe and sound and is adjusting nicely to his new surroundings," said Saint Louis Zoo Curator of Carnivores Steve Bircher.

How he has grown: Incredible to see how large Kali has grown in the two years since this picture was taken. It would also have been far easier to ship at this size!

How he used to look! This picture was taken when Kali was just a cub. He was taken to Alaska Zoo in Anchorage.

New home: Kali’s new home is a 40,000-square-foot habitat that offers visitors a 22-foot viewing window, where the polar bear can come right up to the glass to greet guests.

On ice: The sea water area features a 1,000-square-foot Arctic room with a four-panel viewing wall.

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Heartwarming Story - A Family in Finland Found a Squirrel Lying on the Side of the Road: They Nursed Him Back to Health

There’s not much cuter than seeing a spry little squirrel in its environment – running, jumping, climbing, nibbling… everything about them is adorable.

But one family in Finland noticed a red squirrel in quite the opposite circumstances – it was seemingly lifeless on the side of a road. They were devastated, but then the wounded squirrel showed faint signs of life. It was just the beginning of a story that went from heartbreaking to heartwarming in a matter of seconds.

A family in Finland spotted this little guy seemingly lifeless on the side of a road in 2007. When they were moving him, he showed signs of life.

They immediately decided to try and nurse him back to health.

Unfortunately though, “We realized that his eye would never heal completely and he wouldn’t survive on his own,” says Priami, whose family adopted the squirrel.

The family took the squirrel in as one of their own.

They named him Arttu, “pretty much the Finnish version of ‘Arthur.’”

He loved to joke around: “He liked to have playful ‘fights’ with our hands (you know, like cats do) and he was smart enough not to bite too hard.”

Arttu quite the appetite: “We fed him nuts, fruits, berries and mushrooms.” (And pinecones!)

Arttu lived with the family from 2007 – 2013, when he passed of old age. They found him curled up in his ‘nest’ like he was sleeping.

“We fed other squirrels all the food we had stored for him before he died.”

It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that our pets have shorter lifespans than us. But however short, it looks like Arttu’s life was very happy. Now he probably has all the nuts he can handle in squirrel heaven.

  

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Sako, a 4-Year-Old King Shepherd from Kanaka Bar, British Columbia, Fought off Coyotes to Save a Boy After a Car Accident

Sako, a 4-year-old king shepherd who fought off coyotes to save a boy after a car accident is getting the recognition he deserves.

Sako, was inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame on Monday for his efforts to protect Joseph Phillips-Garcia. The Toronto event, sponsored by Nestle Purina Petcare subsidiary Purina Canada, honored Canadian domestic animals whose actions have saved human lives.

  

In June 2014, Phillips-Garcia, then 16, went out with his aunt, cousin, friend and Sako for a day of fishing and wild potato picking, according to a Purina news release. On the way home, their car went off the road and down a steep hill more than 100 yards into the forest.

Phillips-Garcia and Sako, the only two survivors of the crash, were thrown from the vehicle. The teen blacked out and could barely move when he awoke.

“I tried moving in any possible way I could. I felt my head and I looked down at my hand, and it was just filled with blood,” Phillips-Garcia recalled in a video released by Purina. The teen said a bone was jutting out of his leg. Doctors would later determine he had a broken collar bone and a broken femur.

Sako, who had lived with Phillips-Garcia’s family since he was a puppy, did not leave the boy’s side, cuddling close to keep him warm through the night.

Constable Kris Clark of the Lake Country Royal Canadian Mounted Police notes in the video that maintaining body temperature is crucial for the survival of an injured person who may be in shock.

The dog’s assistance did not end there. Phillips-Garcia says Sako helped him drag himself to a creek to get water and even fought off coyotes.

“We were just falling asleep, and that’s when you hear the first couple of howls,” the teen said. “He got up as soon as he realized their scent was coming closer and closer, and then he just went in. You could hear them just fighting and the bushes rumbling around.”

The dog stayed with Phillips-Garcia until a search team found the pair 40 hours later.

“He saved my son’s life,” the boy’s mother, Fawn Adolph, says in the video. Clark agrees that Sako played a “huge role” in the teen's survival.

Sako received a medal for his valiant actions at Monday's ceremony, according to The Washington Post. He was joined by three other dogs -- Nettle, Bella and Badger -- also being honored for their lifesaving deeds. Over the past 47 years, 140 dogs, 27 cats and one horse have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, according to Canada News Wire.

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Dog Eats 23 Live Rounds of .308 Caliber Ammunition, and Lives

Mountain Home, Ark. — A Belgian Malinois, named, Benno, has eaten several strange objects over the course of his four years.

His owner had to take him to the vet's office after he ate 23 live rounds of .308 caliber ammunition.

He had chewed them vigorously to the point of mangling the ammo, then swallowing each round. Benno eating something inappropriate is not unusual, according to his owner Larry "Sonny" Brassfield.

"You can baby-proof a house," Brassfield said, petting the happy, hyper dog.

"But I don't think it's possible to Benno-proof a house. Lord knows, we've tried and failed."

The proof of Brassfield's house not being Benno-proof came on the morning of April 22.

The night before, Brassfield was putting several hundreds of ammo into ammo cans. He did not have enough room for the last 200 or so rounds of ammo, so he left them in a bag by the bed.

"Wednesday morning I woke up early, and my wife told me that Benno had thrown up," Brassfield said. "She said there was ammo in the vomit. I looked at the round and I thought, 'Oh my God, he got into the ammo.'"

Brassfield had no idea exactly how much ammo he had eaten, but was about to find out.

"We decided to watch him for a while," said Brassfield. "He ate like he normally does, no problem. Then about 15-20 minutes later, he threw up again and three more rounds came out. At that point, I knew I had to take him to the vet."

"We took him to the vet's, they took X-rays and counted 15 rounds. By the outlines, I counted at least 17 rounds.” Said, Brassfield.

"This is something they certainly did not cover in school. I've had dogs eat things before, mostly stuffed toys. Once I had one swallow a hearing aid but I think this takes the cake." said Dr. Sexton.

The vet asked was the ammo was made of lead and zinc, the two metals used in ammo manufacturing, can quickly be toxic for dogs. Brassfield told the vet, the ammo was made from brass and copper.

The vet operated on Benno and the procedure lasted approximately two hours. She removed 16 live, highly chewed rounds and one shell from the dog's stomach.

"It was an adventure. If you think of the stomach as a balloon, where I made my incision, all the heavy metal went to the bottom," said the vet. "I had to scoop it all up and bring it up to the location of my incision."

Once she removed the ammo from the dog, the vet had him X-rayed again, just to be sure she got all the ammo. Two X-rays were needed to cover the digestive track of the large dog. That's when the vet saw two more rounds in the dog's esophagus.

The vet made the decision not to open Benno up again to remove the last two rounds. The surgery itself went fine and Benno is expected to make a full recovery.

The vet said, "Since the ammo is not toxic, I decided not to go back in. I decided we'd give it a week to see if he would vomit them up or pass them."  

Five days later, Benno passed one round, and eight days later he passed the final round.

"I won't be leaving ammunition laying around anymore, I can tell you that," Brassfield said. "But really, you're never going to stop him. It's just a question of what he's going to eat next."

Here is a list of items Benno has eaten, much to the exasperation and displeasure of his human friends:

Stuffed animals

Rubber Toys

Coins

8-by-8-inch square pieces of cloth

Styrofoam peanuts

Cheese wrappers

Rocks

Paper

Wax paper

Aluminum foil

Shirts

Socks

Underwear

Bra

Tennis shoes

Rope

Nylon straps

Weed eater string

Gasoline-soaked lawn mower air filter

Blankets

Marbles

Plastic bag

Quilt batting

Sewing straight pins

Plastic soda bottle

Magnets

Bottle lids swallowed whole

Television remote

Loaf of bread (wrapper included)

Broken glass

Chicken legs (swallowed whole)

Nylon hairbrush

LEGOs

Travel size bottle of lotion

Baseboards

Drywall (just randomly ate a piece of wall). 

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Florida Residents: Beware! The Recent Rains in Southwest Florida Are Bringing Out Toxic Bufo Toads That Put Your Dog as Risk

Florida residents: beware! The recent rains in southwest Florida are bringing out the toxic Bufo toads. Also known as Cane Toads, Giant Toads, and Marine Toads, the populations of these invasive amphibians are growing and putting your pets at risk.

Dogs are especially susceptible to Bufo toads because the toad’s mating call attracts curious dogs.

Bufo toads secrete a milky white toxic substance from their shoulders as a defense mechanism, and a single lick can be very dangerous. If untreated, pets will always die.

Some of the symptoms of Bufo toad poisoning includes seizures, profuse salivation, and lack of coordination. If you suspect your pet mouthed, licked or ingested a toad, rinse the mouth out immediately and get your pet to its veterinarian right away.

To help protect your pet, it’s recommended you collect water and food dishes that remain outside. These toads are so fatal that dogs can be poisoned by drinking or eating out of containers the toads have sat in.

The toads, which have grayish brown, warty skin, are not native to Florida, but were introduced to eat cane beetles. They became established in Florida in an accidental release of about 100 specimens in Miami in 1955 and further release by pet dealers in the 1960s, according to the University of Florida Wildlife Extension.

If pet owners suspect an animal has bitten a Bufo toad, rinse its mouth and paws with water and seek veterinary help immediately. Use caution, however, so the pet does not aspirate the water with toxins, Gicking said.

Pet owners should also be careful about being bitten by animals who become unruly while intoxicated by the toxin, he said. Pet owners should wash their own hands after rendering aid and be careful not to get the toxin in their own eyes or mouth.

Gicking suggests vigilance is the best course of action to prevent toad poisoning.

“Don't just leave dogs out in the yard unsupervised, especially people who live near water sources,” he said. “Leash walks during a high incident times are best.

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12-Year-Old Trevor Has Autism, and is Reunited With His Cat, Oreo, After Being Separated for 9 Months

Oreo, an 11-year-old fluffy, black and white cat has been in the Bradfield family all his life. They live in West Rome, near Coosa High School. It’s a big, loving family. Gussie Bradfield and her husband Robert have two biological children, have adopted two and are fostering two. One of those kids is 12-year-old Trevor. He’s autistic. Sometimes he’s withdrawn and prefers to be by himself.

“Because of his autism he likes to exclude himself sometimes,” Gussie said. “He was in and out of foster care and that may have contributed to his isolation. Sometimes he doesn’t even want to talk to anyone.”

But that’s not the case with the family’s cat, Oreo. It seems that Trevor relates to the cat, his mom said, more so than people.

“Trevor has anxiety, but Oreo has a very soothing effect on him,” she said. “I can’t really explain it. When Trevor withdraws from others, he’ll talk to Oreo. He seems to be comforted by his presence. Oreo is not intimidating in any way, I suppose. Trevor really relaxes around him and opens up more.”

But last June Oreo was scared by a dog coming into the house and he ran away, worrying Trevor and the entire family. They put up fliers and scoured the neighborhood. But Oreo was gone.

“I missed him,” Trevor said. “I asked people for help. I drew pictures.”

Gussie said Trevor withdrew once more. His friend was missing.

Nine months later, Kristy LaRue enters the picture. She is the co-founder of People for Floyd County Pets, a local group that’s licensed to facilitate the placement of animals that need foster or permanent homes. They rescue many animals from local shelters and provide veterinary care for many of the animals before placing them.

On March 31, Kristy was looking through photos of animals at the Floyd County Animal Control and noticed a dirty, scruffy black and white cat, its hair all matted. The cat had been at animal control since March 18 and was soon to be euthanized. It was sick. The facility is required to keep animals for 72 hours and often, when space is available, they’re kept until they’re adopted or rescued. But in many cases they simply run out of time.

But Kristy couldn’t let that happen, so she called the facility and told them to hold the cat for her. She was going to pick him up.

“When I got there he was dirty and I could tell he was sick,” she said. “He looked pretty bad.”

Immediately, a friend of Kristy’s saw a photo of the cat and said it looked like one the Bradfields had been looking for. But Oreo was a male and this cat was listed as a female. 

Kristy called Gussie who came to see the cat anyway and sure enough it was Oreo. His gender had been listed incorrectly at animal control.

“They were more than excited to have him back,” Kristy said. “It was a wonderful little reunion.”

No one was happier to see Oreo than Trevor was. Finally, the two friends were back together.

It turns out that Oreo had been picked up on March 18 in West Rome — several miles from the Bradfields’ home — by Floyd County Animal Control as a stray. He had been wearing a collar and tag when he ran away but it may have fallen off or been taken off at some point.

No one knows what he had been doing or where he had been between June 2014 and March 2015. Gussie Bradfield is just glad he’s back at home and that Kristy LaRue had been looking out for local animals in need.

“He’s part of our family,” she said as Trevor sat on the couch, cuddled up with Oreo. “This family has been through a lot and he’s been through it all right along with us. He’s not replaceable.”

Kristy advised Rome residents that if their pet goes missing, don’t just call local shelters or rescue groups.

“Go and see for yourself,” she said. “These people are doing the best they can, but they may not have the time or resources to take a whole lot of pictures of every animal that comes in. Visit the shelter and see for yourself. It could make the difference between getting your pet back or not.”

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It’s Important to Keep a First Aid Kit Handy for Your Dog: Make Sure You Have These Essential Items in Your Kit

You never know what will happen and it’s good to be prepared. When you are camping, driving across the country, or a natural, manmade disaster hits, you need are going to want to be ready. Just like you have a first aid kit for the humans in your home, it’s important to keep a first aid kit handy for the canines in your life. It’s best to put all of your doggie first aid supplies in a bag, bin, backpack, shoulder bag or container that can travel with you on road trips, camping, on a hike and can easily be picked up and taken out to the yard or wherever your dog or another might need treatment.

1. Paperwork: Vaccination & Medical Records and Emergency Phone Numbers
If you are in the unfortunate circumstance of being in a critical emergency, you are going to want all of this information in one place. In the event of a disaster you may not have electricity, Internet or phone service. Keep a hard copy of all of this with your emergency kit. If you go out of town and leave your pup with a dogsitter or friend, be sure they know where the paperwork and contacts are in the event of an emergency.

2. Hydrogen Peroxide
If your dog does ingest something toxic, you may have to induce vomiting with hydrogen peroxide. Always check with a poison control professional or your veterinarian before inducing vomiting and be sure you are familiar with the proper instructions on how to do this. During a crisis is not the time you want to learn how to do this kind of thing. You should also print out the instructions. In the event of a natural disaster, you may not have electricity or internet service, so having a hard copy of something like this could be a lifesaver.

3. Antibiotic Ointment
If you and your pup are the outdoorsy type, it is advisable to keep this type of item on you at all times. If your pup gets a small cut or scratch, antibiotic ointments will help prevent infection, relieve pain, and act as a barrier from bacteria and germs.

4. Gauze, Scissors, Tape, Rubber Gloves
This may be more than one item, but they are a package deal in my opinion. In an emergency situation, gauze can control bleeding, act as a temporary brace for suspected fractures, and can even be a makeshift muzzle in a pinch. Tape can also act as a makeshift muzzle and scissors can cut an old shirt into strips to make a more solid bandage for larger wounds or to help if you run out of gauze. Rubber gloves are essential to any medical emergency. Always wear protective gloves and goggles or glasses if you have them.

5. Wet or Grooming Wipes
These may not seem like “emergency” material, but when your dog has an emergency bathroom situation and decides to take care of his business in the back seat of your car, these will help. These and a few towels. These are great for wiping off muddy paws before getting in the car, messy bathroom situations, or for when your dog decides to roll around in some unknown patch of grass. You can also use them to clean dirt or blood off of a wound to get a better look, or to clean an eye or ear.

6. A Towel or Blanket
If your dog is injured or panicking, gently wrapping them up in a soft blanket can help calm them down and allow you to access their injury without being scratched or bitten. Microfiber is ultra absorbent and can help in sticky situations. Literally. A towel or blanket also offer a soft surface for you to rest your dog for an examination if the ground is too hot, hard or covered in sharp rocks and you need to get a better look at what’s going on.

7. Collapsible Travel Food and Water Bowls
These are great in emergency and non-emergency situations alike. Long hikes, cross-country road trips, anytime you are away from home you should have at least one collapsible bowl with you, or something to give your dog water. Hydration is vitally important for all living things. Be sure to offer your dog lots of water, even if you’re just out running errands for the afternoon.

8. Bottled Water and Small Packages of Food or Treats
It seems like these things should go without saying, but sometimes the most obvious things are the ones we forget. Be sure to keep a bottle of water for your dog in case you don't have access to your normal supply, and keep an emergency stash of food in case of shortage or to help disctract your dog in an emergency or reward him for his bravery after he's allowed you to remove a thorn or tick.

9. Medications
Talk to your vet about keeping a backup supply of any prescribed or useful medications in your first aid kit. If you are traveling and lose or can’t find the medication, you will always have a backup supply so you don’t have to panic or spend a day having your vet call in a prescription across the country. It’s never a bad idea to have a few diarrhea pills handy, especially if you are traveling. This includes flea/tick meds, any approved sedatives for traveling.

10. A Creature Comfort
If you are in a high stress situation with your dog, such as a nasty storm or a particularly traumatizing event, it is always nice to have a creature comfort to soothe them. Keep an old favorite toys or blanket that you were thinking of retiring and put it in the first aid kit. The sight and smells of a beloved object can help settle them down, soothe and comfort in particularly trying situations.

11. Extra Leash, Collar and Poop Bags
If your dog gets sick, he may go through more poop bags than you can imagine. Be sure to have an extra supply on hand. It’s never a bad idea to have an extra collar and leash around. I’ve seen dogs snap leashes in accidents and they are very useful if you happen upon a lost or stray animal out on the highway or in the mountains and want to get them to the local vet or nearest town. Those free ones the vet sends home with you sometimes are perfect for your emergency kit or just to keep in your car in the event of an emergency.

12. Flashlight
You always want to keep a flashlight around, not just for the night time but you may just need to get more light to pull out or splinter, or find a pill you dropped. Extra batteries are important too and you may want to consider solar powered flashlights. They are perfect for emergencies, just make sure you store it in a place where it will get plenty of light to stay charged up. I keep mine hanging in the kitchen window so they are always ready to go.

13. A First Aid Book
Answer quickly: how do you administer CPR to a small dog? If you panicked at the idea of even attempting First Aid on a dog, maybe you should brush up your skills. The Safe Dog Handbook or Dog First Aid from the American Red Cross is a great place to start. FOLLOW US!

Dynamic Pet Products Has Had Customer Complaints About The Real Home Bone Since 2006: The Dog Treat Is Making Dogs Ill

The uproar over Dynamic Pet Products’ Real Ham Bone began earlier in the year when pet parents began to publicly broadcast the terrible effects the chew toy was having on their pets. The number of dogs that have become sick and/or died from the bone continues to rise, with hundreds of product reviews and blogs covering the widespread disaster. And now, the Better Business Bureau is investigating the company, based in St. Louis, Missouri, to determine what, if anything, should happen with the customer complaints.

The danger in the ham bone comes from its penchant for splintering and breaking off.  The fragments end up being swallowed, which can lead to dogs becoming gravely ill. Bone fragments can perforate the lining of the stomach or intestines, causing hemorrhaging, blockage, and even permanent logging of the bone in the intestines. If the dog is able to pass the bone, it can be horrifically painful to them, and will lead to rectal bleeding and bloody diarrhea or stool.

Dynamic has had customer complaints about the Real Home Bone since 2006, which led to the Better Business Bureau issuing a public alert in 2010. There was a marked decrease in complaints after the warning, but recently the deaths and illnesses associated with the product have greatly increased, spreading over social media like wildfire. Complaints have  come from bones bought at Walmart and Jewel-Osco stores. However, a Jewel-Osco spokesperson had said that the company’s meat manager issued a “dump and destroy” order in March in response to the deluge of complaints.

Remember to avoid any type of cooked bone for your dog, and if they exhibit any of the symptoms outlined here, get them to your veterinarian immediately.

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Bones Are Unsafe No Matter What Their Size: Giving Your Dog a Bone May Make Your Pet a Candidate for a Trip to Your Veterinarian's Office

The stereotypical pairing of a happy dog with a big old bone may soon be history if enough people heed a recent FDA warning about the danger of bones.

The idea of a federal agency warning about something that's been going on for at least 15,000 years, if you consider dogs' predecessors going out and shopping for food in the wild themselves) seemed ludicrous, an affront to one of the oldest associations known to mankind.

If the problems the FDA describes are true, then it's a good idea to educate the public. The agency isn't banning bones. It can't. You buy a hunk of beef, and the bone is yours to do with as you please. The FDA is just warning about them. Here's the exact message:

The idea that it's natural for dogs to chew on bones is a popular one. However, it's a dangerous practice and can cause serious injury to your pet.

"Some people think it's safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or a roast," says Carmela Stamper, D.V.M., a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the Food and Drug Administration. "Bones are unsafe no matter what their size. Giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for a trip to your veterinarian's office later, possible emergency surgery, or even death."

"Make sure you throw out bones from your own meals in a way that your dog can't get to them," adds Stamper, who suggests taking the trash out right away or putting the bones up high and out of your dog's reach until you have a chance to dispose of them. "And pay attention to where your dog's nose is when you walk him around the neighborhood--steer him away from any objects lying in the grass."

Here are 10 reasons Why It's a Bad Idea to Give Your Dog a Bone:

• Broken teeth: This may call for expensive veterinary dentistry.

• Mouth or tongue injuries: These can be very bloody and messy and may require a trip to see your veterinarian.

• Bone gets looped around your dog's lower jaw: This can be frightening or painful for your dog and potentially costly to you, as it usually means a trip to see your veterinarian.

• Bone gets stuck in esophagus: The esophagus is the tube that food travels through to reach the stomach. Your dog may gag, trying to bring the bone back up, and will need to see your veterinarian.

• Bone gets stuck in windpipe: This may happen if your dog accidentally inhales a small enough piece of bone. This is an emergency because your dog will have trouble breathing. Get your pet to your veterinarian immediately!

• Bone gets stuck in stomach: It went down just fine, but the bone may be too big to pass out of the stomach and into the intestines. Depending on the bone's size, your dog may need surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a procedure in which your veterinarian uses a long tube with a built-in camera and grabbing tools to try to remove the stuck bone from the stomach.

• Bone gets stuck in intestines: This can cause a blockage. It may be time for surgery.

• Constipation due to bone fragments: Your dog may have a hard time passing the bone fragments because they're very sharp and they scrape the inside of the large intestine or rectum as they move along. This causes severe pain and may require a visit to your veterinarian.

• Severe bleeding from the rectum: This is very messy and can be dangerous. It's time for a trip to see your veterinarian.

• Peritonitis: This nasty, difficult-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen is caused when bone fragments poke holes in your dog's stomach or intestines. Your dog needs an emergency visit to your veterinarian because peritonitis can kill your dog.

"Talk with your veterinarian about alternatives to giving bones to your dog," says Stamper. "There are many bone-like products made with materials that are safe for dogs to chew on."

"Always supervise your dog with any chew product, especially one your dog hasn't had before," adds Stamper. "And always, if your dog 'just isn't acting right,' call your veterinarian right away!"

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