"No Bones About It". "Non-Shedding" Dogs in RV's. Colder.

"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:

1. Broken teeth. This may call for expensive veterinary dentistry.
2. Mouth or tongue injuries. These can be very bloody and messy and may require a trip to see your veterinarian.
3. 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.
4. Bone gets stuck in esophagus, 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.
5. 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!
6. 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.
7. Bone gets stuck in intestines and causes a blockage. It may be time for surgery.
8. 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.
9. Severe bleeding from the rectum. This is very messy and can be dangerous. It’s time for a trip to see your veterinarian.
10. 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!”"
http://www.everydayhealth.com/fda/bones-are-unsafe-for-your-dog.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthinCoordinationWithFDAFoodDrugandMedicalProductSafety_20110209

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Recently there was a case where a bone had lodged in the back of a dog's mouth, so he couldn't eat.  The stupid owners just thought he was getting old, didn't even examine him, did nothing, and he starved to death.  I saw the pictures, and they will haunt me forever.

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With reference to comments on yesterday's post, http://pennys-tuppence.blogspot.com/2011/02/2nd-amendment-maddie.html

while we are on the subject of dogs being in their natural state:

I don't mean a show poodle who has had to spend hours getting ready for a show!

That doesn't look natural at all.

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Some breeds have to be groomed:
"Even the so called "non shedding dog breeds" do shed a little hair - much like us humans really. The good news is that there are plenty of great dog breeds (big & small) who shed very little hair.
Pet lovers hoping to lighten their housekeeping load might want to turn to the following dog breeds that do not shed as much as the average pet.
Keep in mind that even though you're not as likely to find floating hair around the house with one of these breeds, the hair that is shed often hangs in their coat to eventually form mats.
This means that grooming will still be required to keep your dog and your home in top shape. "

Small Non Shedding Dog Breeds:

Shih Tzu,  Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Poodle, Maltese,  West Highland White Terrier,  Dachshund (moderate shedders) ,  Bichon Frise,  Miniature Poodle, Italian Greyhound, Border Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Havanese, Miniature Schnauzer, Norfolk Terrier, Silky Terrier, Welsh Terrier,  Boston Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Chinese Crested, Australian Terrier.

Medium To Large Non Shedding Dog Breeds:

Airedale Terrier, Standard Poodle, Wirehaired Fox Terrier, Greyhound, Bedlington Terrier, Irish Water Spaniel, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Basenji, Kerry Blue Terrier. 
From: http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/dogs-that-dont-shed.html
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Keep Shedding to a Minimum

 Portuguese Water Dog pictures...

"Even though it's just about impossible to avoid encountering some loose hair if you share your home with a dog, you can greatly reduce shedding in any dog breed by following these grooming tips.

• Brush your dog daily, or at least several times a week. Make sure to work your way through the entire coat to remove loose fur that could collect and tangle up in mats.

• Bathe your dog about twice a month. Bathing promotes good air circulation to the scalp and allows you to remove more dead hair from the coat.

• If your dog isn't afraid of the sound of the vacuum, try running the hose attachment over him to remove loose fur. Some dogs actually love this activity, as long as you take care never to let the hose come in contact with the dog's body.

• If you have a longer coated breed, consider having the coat professionally trimmed or clipped to keep it neat."

From : http://dogs.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Dog_Breeds_That_Do_Not_Shed
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Non Shedding Dog Breeds

"A shedding dog is one of the biggest complaints dog owners have. Who wants to run the vacuum every day to keep piles of dog hair off of the furniture and floors?
So, while professional breeders have been busy creating new breeds for various other reasons, dog owners and amateur breeders have been looking for that darn dog that doesn't shed all over the house.
They haven't had to look very far. Poodles don't shed. Many of the Terrier breeds don't shed, including the very popular Westies."
More at: http://www.squidoo.com/list-of-dogs-that-dont-shed

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I can imagine how difficult it would be to live in an RV with a shedding dog. 
The hair gets in every crevice.  I let a couple, with a black Lab and a cat,  live in my Class A for a while, and big clumps of fur had accumulated even down under the built-in bed, and around the water pump. 
My German Shepherd shed all over my car, and I had to use a big shop vac to get it out from under the seats, and dash. 
I was so glad to have a poodle again, after that.  They have to be trimmed at least every six weeks, but, to me, that is better than fighting dog hair every day.
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The vet had shaved one of Misty's legs for the IV, so I shaved the other one, so now she has bracelets.  Now she is not in her natural state, but at least she looks even.
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Today:

I had planned to go to the next town to shop, but I will postpone it, as it is cold, rainy, overcast, and dreary.  It is 34 deg, and dropping.

Folks around here don't know how to drive in those conditions, and I don't feel like being slammed into today.