Animal Hospitals to Spay and Neuter Geneva’s Risky Canines

And that’s just the beginning. As of 09/15/2008, Geneva’s list of canines declared as unsafe or vicious has grown to 15. The newest additions are the Bullmastiff, Thai Ridgeback, and French Mastiff, a.k.a. Bordeaux Bulldog.

These are only the most recent in Geneva’s history of dog prohibition. The latest wave began in June of 2005, when a child was killed by a Pitbull Terrier, followed shortly after with the injury of another child by the same breed.

The population’s outrage was felt in the first ever Geneva citizen vote, which resulted in a landslide 80 percent in favor of stricter laws regarding breed control and owner education and regulation.

Per Geneva’s new canine ownership regulations, any of the 15 breeds considered to be unsafe must be muzzled and leashed when outside of their own homes. They must be sterilized or castrated. Additionally, dogs that are mixed breeds, containing blood of any of the potentially fierce breeds, are subject to the same regulations as purebreds.

Owners who owned one of the identified breeds before legislation was passed may retain the dog, but only after reporting ownership to the cantonal veterinary office, proving that the canine came from an approved breeder, completing a dog training lessons, and licensing the dog. Only one dangerous breed is allowable per household.

Geneva divides the 15 breeds into different categories, with each category holding specific requirements. A complete list of dangerous breeds and set of laws can be acquired through Geneva’s cantonal veterinary office.

In addition to provisions that must be made for dangerous classes, Geneva’s general dog owner populace, custodians of the canton’s 30,000 dogs, is subject to new policy. As formerly declared, specific guidelines for the proper keeping of dogs must be pursued. But more recently, every dog owner is now required to attend a dog possession course, regardless of their dog’s breed.

Furthermore, dog walkers must now be accredited.

Geneva isn’t the only Swiss canton that’s tightening the leash when it comes to dog control. Valais, Fribourg, Bern, and Zurich have their own legislation. And, prospects point toward future rulings regarding care and control of dogs in all of Switzerland, including tougher liability for owners and nationwide breed bans.

Whether you’re a lifelong Geneva native, visitor, or expatriate, familiarizing yourself with the rules governing dog ownership within the canton will prevent complications. Following those rules will protect you, your dog, and your record with the law.

Don’t fail to comply with Geneva’s newest, and oldest, dog possession regulations by obtaining half truths, or no information. These laws are set to care for both you and your animal.

Animal Hospitals to Give Rabies Cert, Cat Kennels, for Trips

No matter your destination, when traveling in a foreign country with your pet dog, cat, ferret, bird, or other pet, doing your groundwork can make your trip with your furry friend a flawless one. A trip to your pet’s veterinarian for official procedure and other provisions will likely be in order.

First, every time traveling worldwide, always carry an international rabies documentation for the dog, cat, or ferret that’s with you. Your pet’s veterinarian should be totally familiar with this paper. The date of vaccination on the certificate must be within 30 to 365 days of your arrival on foreign soil. Fewer than 30 days, the vaccination may not be in complete effect. More than 365 days, and the inoculation may no longer be valid.

The Swiss Federal Veterinary Office in each district will also authenticate to make sure that the rabies certification was issued in the region of your main, or previous, residence.

Other requirements include ensuring that pets traveling with you do not number more than five, that they will not be sold, or ownership otherwise transferred, once inside Swiss borders, and that they are intended to act solely as pets.

Importation of dogs with docked tails or cropped ears is prohibited.

An assessment fee of CHF 88 will be gathered for each imported cat, dog, or ferret at a customs locations or veterinary facility.

Rules also pertain to pets that are traveling back into Switzerland, but do not affect pets traveling by public road or railway from other places in Europe.

Comprehensive requirements for specific pets, including procedures and records, for travel to Switzerland as an individual with a pet can be found at the Swiss Customs site.

Swiss arrival regulations with a pet, as part of an international organization can be found at the Swiss Mission site.

Customs policies regarding importation of domesticated pets are in place for good grounds. Among which includes security for you and your pet.

Whether visiting or moving to Switzerland, avoid a travel nightmare by making complete provisions for arrival with your pet. Equate your pet’s proper paperwork to your own passport. Without it, you and your dog, cat, rabbit, or other companion will not be crossing the border together.

Animal Hospitals to Spay and Neuter Geneva’s Risky Canines

And that’s just the beginning. As of 09/15/2008, Geneva’s list of canines declared as unsafe or vicious has grown to 15. The newest additions are the Bullmastiff, Thai Ridgeback, and French Mastiff, a.k.a. Bordeaux Bulldog.

These are only the most recent in Geneva’s history of dog prohibition. The latest wave began in June of 2005, when a child was killed by a Pitbull Terrier, followed shortly after with the injury of another child by the same breed.

The inhabitants annoyance was felt in the first ever Geneva citizen election, which resulted in a total victory 80 percent in support of stricter laws on the subject of breed control and owner schooling and regulation.

Per Geneva’s new canine ownership regulations, any of the 15 breeds considered to be unsafe must be muzzled and leashed when outside of their own homes. They must be sterilized or castrated. Additionally, dogs that are mixed breeds, containing blood of any of the potentially fierce breeds, are subject to the same regulations as purebreds.

Owners who owned one of the identified breeds before legislation was passed may retain the dog, but only after reporting ownership to the cantonal veterinary office, proving that the canine came from an approved breeder, completing a dog training lessons, and licensing the dog. Only one dangerous breed is allowable per household.

Geneva divides the 15 breeds into different categories, with each category holding specific requirements. A complete list of dangerous breeds and regulations can be obtained through Geneva’s cantonal veterinary office.

In addition to provisions that must be made for dangerous breeds, Geneva’s general dog owner population, caretakers of the canton’s 30,000 dogs, is subject to new rules. As previously declared, specific guidelines for the proper keeping of dogs must be followed. But more recently, every dog owner is now required to attend a dog ownership course, regardless of their dog’s breed.

Furthermore, dog walkers must now be licensed.

Geneva isn’t the only Swiss canton that’s lessening the leash when it comes to dog management. Valais, Fribourg, Bern, and Zurich have their own laws. And, prospects point toward future rulings regarding care and control of dogs in all of Switzerland, including tougher liability for owners and nationwide breed bans.

Whether you’re a lifelong Geneva native, visitor, or expatriate, familiarizing yourself with the rules governing dog ownership within the canton will prevent complications. Following those rules will protect you, your dog, and your record with the law.

Don’t fail to comply with Geneva’s freshest, and older, dog ownership regulations by acquiring half truths, or no information. These laws are in place to protect both you and your pet.

Does My Dog Have Arthritis?

There’s nothing worse than having to watch your pooch suffer from arthritis pain. You can tell by the look in their eye they hurt. Chances are you desperately want to do something to ease their misery. The good news is there are things you can do to slow down the progression of this painful disease, or perhaps prevent it from ever happening at all!

Arthritis is considered by many to be an auto-immune disease which causes the body to attack its own healthy tissue in the joints, causing pain and inflammation. In dogs, arthritis can appear in many forms and can’t affect canines of all ages.

This disease affects the cartilage of the joints and causes it to degenerate. Since cartilage connects and projects the joints between bones, when cartilage breaks down it can lead to the bones rubbing against each other which is very painful. In dogs, most owners will first notice arthritis in the major joints such as the hips and knees, although arthritis can affect any joint in the body.

Symptoms of arthritis in dogs include:

v Difficulty sitting, standing, or getting up from the floor or bed
v Favoring a limb
v Decreased activity, sleeping more, lack of interest in play
v Weight gain
v Attitude or behavior changes
v Appearing to have stiffness or sore joints
v Swelling around the joints

In recent years, scientists have been studying Glucosamine as a way to treat arthritis in dogs. Glucosamine is a glucose molecule produced naturally in the body. Its job is to fuel cartilage cells to produce the proteins that hold joint tissue together. As dogs age, they are less able to produce glucosamine, which causes the cartilage to wear down and stiffen.

Along with glucosamine you may want to consider chondroitin, which is found in cartilage and can help slow down the enzymes that are causing the breakdown of the cartilage. Combining these two components and giving them to your dog regularly can help them create new cartilage and relieve their arthritis suffering.

Glucosamine plus chondroitin has been clinically proven to prevent arthritis symptoms in rats with arthritis in up to 54% of cases, as opposed to 96.5% of the group that received no treatment. What this means is that by giving your dog this compound you have an over 50% chance of helping them get rid of some, if not all of their arthritis symptoms.

Secondary arthritis usually occurs as a result of surgery or injury. This conditions as well as osteoarthritis show promising results when treated with glucosamine and chondroitin supplements.

Last, but not least, studies indicate Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplements are a safe and effective supplement to add to your dog’s diet at an early age. However, there are conflicting reports on this topic and it’s best to consult with your veterinarian and determine if this is the best option for you and your dog.