An enjoyable walk with your dog can quickly turn into a frightening situation when an unleashed dog appears. Don’t assume leash laws will keep you safe—some dogs escape, and some owners just don’t care. 



How can you prevent your walk from turning into a terrifying ordeal, an expensive vet visit, or worse? 

Keep these 5 key points in mind:

1.     Be proactive! As you prepare for your walk, consider the following:

• A harness can come in handy if you need to pick up your dog to get her to safety. 
• Treats are more than a training tool. They can be a distraction technique for an unleashed dog heading your way. 
• Carry an umbrella which can be popped open to startle an unleashed dog, or a walking stick which can be used in defense. 
• Dog repellent sprays can ward off an approaching dog. Be cautious of pepper spray and the possible effects on you and your dog on a windy day. 
• Dog whistles and air horns are effective at startling and will hopefully cause the approaching dog to rethink their attack. 

2.     During walks, always scan your surroundings. Is there a dog up ahead? Is the dog leashed? Does the owner have control of the dog? If the dog is unleashed, can you call to the person to put their dog on a leash? (Hopefully you will not hear, “My dog is friendly” or “He just wants to say hi.”)

3.     Worst case scenario — you have an unleashed, unaccompanied dog heading your way. What now?

• Do not make eye contact. The dog may take that as a challenge. 
• Do not run. That might encourage the dog’s interest in you. 
• Provide space, if possible. Turn around and walk away or move to the other side of the street. 
• Stay calm! As difficult as this is, both dogs will pick up on your fear, increasing their excitement. 
• As the dog gets closer, toss some treats at him. Throwing treats at the dog’s face may startle and give him pause. Throwing treats behind the dog may distract and give you an opportunity to get away.
• If the dog is now in front of you, step in front of your dog. Make yourself appear big. Hold up one hand and say “stop,” “no,” or “stay,” in a firm, low voice.
• If that doesn’t work, try to startle the dog. Pop your umbrella; hold out your walking stick; use your whistle, spray or airhorn.
• Scan the area for people who can help or a safe place: a restaurant or store; a house; a fenced in yard; the roof a car or even a garbage can.  

4.     If you can’t get away from the situation and the dog attacks, you have two choices. 

• Let go of your dog’s leash. This gives your dog unrestrained ability to defend or escape.
• Help your dog — an option that puts you at risk for being bitten. Hit the dog with an object or kick it in the stomach. If you can, grab the dog’s back legs and swing them away from your dog.

5.     After the attack, immediately go to the vet even if injuries seem minor. 

Dog bites can get infected. There might be internal injuries, broken bones, or joint and muscle damage. And even if your dog was not hurt, an attack can take an emotional toll— on both of you. If you see a change in your dog’s demeanor or personality, discuss with your vet.

If there are leash laws in your area, the unleashed dog’s owner will be liable for damages. Notify the police. If you have pictures of the other dog/owner share them with the police. 

Finally, keep in mind that it may not be a domesticated animal but a wild animal that causes trouble. I was walking in my suburban neighborhood on a bright sunny day when a car motioned to me. The driver warned me not to turn on the next block as there was a pack of coyotes coming down the street. I had nowhere to turn, so she graciously drove me and Buck home to safety. 



Walking our dogs should be fun and enjoyable. Know your area and be prepared. It never hurts and might just come in handy. 

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An acute bout of pancreatitis is a scary and expensive diagnosis. Let’s walk through a real-life example with Melissa and her Britt, Olivia. One morning Olivia didn’t want to eat breakfast, which is very out of the ordinary for her. Melissa’s worry subsided after Olivia decided to eat a few hours later and was acting fairly normal the rest of the day. That evening before dinner, however, Olivia began vomiting and pacing. Melissa was up with her all night waiting anxiously for the vet to open, as Olivia continued to vomit. By the time Olivia was seen, she was dehydrated, lethargic, and had a slight fever. They ran bloodwork, and Olivia was given fluids while being monitored by vet staff. The diagnosis: pancreatitis.

So, what is pancreatitis?

Definition:

• Inflammation of the pancreas 
• The pancreas is an organ that produces digestive enzymes (e.g., lipase, protease) that break down the food we eat, and hormones (e.g., insulin) that help regulate the digestive process

Types: 

• Acute (sudden onset), most common in dogs 
• Chronic (long-term illness)

Symptoms: 

• Acute: persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, inappetence, dehydration, and lethargy
• Chronic: lethargy, decreased appetite, abdominal pain

Cause: 

• In most cases, the cause is unknown (idiopathic) 
• It can be caused by a very high fat meal (often from getting into the garbage or people food)

Are Britts predisposed?

No, they are not a breed that is predisposed to the condition, but it can occur in any breed of dog and at any age.

How is it diagnosed? 

• Pancreatic-specific blood marker (Canine Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity (cPLI)) and abdominal ultrasound to rule out other causes
• The blood test is not 100% accurate, but these are the best markers we have today, but they are most reliable for severe acute pancreatitis cases

Let’s pick back up with Olivia. After several hours of care at the vet, Olivia stopped vomiting and was perking up. They decided to send her home for the night. She went home with several medications, including pain meds, anti-nausea pills, and an acid reducer. The goal was to get her eating again. Melissa tried some enticing chicken and rice, but Olivia was not interested in food or water. Unfortunately, Olivia’s improvement was short-lived. She started vomiting that night. Melissa could tell she was in pain and wasn't able to get her to take the medications. They went back to the vet first thing in the morning. They restarted fluid and performed an abdominal ultrasound to make sure pancreatitis was the only issue. Confirming nothing else was amiss, the vet continued fluids and pain support and told Melissa that Olivia’s prognosis was ‘good to guarded.’ She would need to remain hospitalized until she started eating. The vet told Melissa that each dog is different — some dogs take days, other dogs take weeks, and some do not recover. Luckily for Olivia, she started to perk up the next day and began to eat. She was able to go home after 24 hours in the hospital and continued to regain her energy and appetite. Olivia made a full recovery. Because her pre-adoption medical records indicated she had pancreatitis previously, the vet determined that a diet switch to a low-fat food was appropriate for long-term management.

Treatment: 

• Fluids for hydration
• Pain medication — our dogs don’t always tell us, but pancreatitis is extremely painful
• Anti-nausea medications to help keep food down and build appetite
• Acid reducers to protect the stomach
• Nutritional support
• Long-term management
• Vets may recommend a low-fat diet for long-term feeding if there is a history of pancreatitis — your vet may recommend a few different diets that meet the criteria for fat content that still provide complete and balanced nutrition
• Managing the risk of dietary indiscretion - Make sure trash is inaccessible, avoid giving table scraps, keep human food out of paw's reach, and keep the areas around your grill clean — don’t forget the drip pan!
• Chronic pancreatitis can lead to other issues, including EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) or diabetes (due to reduced insulin production)

Melissa was fortunate that she didn't wait it out when Olivia got sick. Listen to your gut and DO NOT wait to contact your veterinarian if your dog shows symptoms of pancreatitis. It is potentially life-threatening, and dogs can decline quickly. Home remedies should not be used in place of vet care.

Additional Resources

PetMD- Pancreatitis

• VCA Hospitals- Pancreatitis

Nike (left, #10740) & Bucky (right, #10739), 9 y/o - IL: This brother and sister pair are very dependent on each other and feel safest when they are together. Bucky is a shy, obedient boy who excels at kisses and snuggles. Nike is adventurous and outgoing. She loves to run and explore. They are looking for a lucky family who will open their hearts and home to both of them!

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ABOUT AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE

American Brittany Rescue, Inc. is an organization that was formed in 1991 as a cooperative effort of Brittany owners, breeders, trainers, and fanciers who ABR believes have a responsibility not only for their own dogs and the dogs they produce, but for the breed as a whole.

THE AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE MISSION

ABR's mission is to provide the leadership and expertise via a network of trained volunteers to take in stray, abandoned, surrendered and/or impounded purebred Brittanys, provide them with foster care, health and temperament screening, an opportunity for any necessary rehabilitation and to assure their health and placement into new homes. In order to fulfill this mission, ABR's volunteers remain flexible and adaptable to current and future business environments and they remain dedicated to the organization.  

ABR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Terry Mixdorf, President

Michelle Falkinburg, Vice President

Joe Herslip, Secretary

Terrie Johnson, Treasurer

Sandra Oelschlegel, Chair

Deb Grove

Melissa Tapply DiLello

Wendy Boyce

Becca Whitley

AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE E-NEWSLETTER TEAM

Brittany Boler

Christine Brennan

Jeannine Connors

Judie Cutting

Kristin Davis

Linda Joyce

Melissa Tapply DiLello

Debra White