Does your dog have lymphoma?

by Tonya Hillukka

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that even dogs can develop. Has your pet recently been diagnosed with lymphoma?

Unfortunately, lymphoma is not uncommon in dogs; in fact, it accounts for ten to twenty percent of all canine cancers. It is a malignant form of cancer that involves the lymphoid system. Lymphoma in dogs is heterogeneous, meaning it has varying clinical signs, depending on the location of the cancer. The diagnosis of this type of cancer in dogs is usually simple and can be obtained by either a cytologic or a histopathologic evaluation of the affected organ system. 

Symptoms

Lymphoma symptoms typically appear as swollen “glands”, or swollen lymph nodes, under the neck, in front of the shoulders or behind the knee. Besides swollen glands, you may notice that your dog is vomiting, has diarrhea, a loss of appetite, weight loss, difficulty breathing, increased thirst and urination, and may seem to be lethargic. Cutaneous lymphosarcoma can cause redness and flakiness on the skin, ulcerations, itchiness and lumps under the skin.


Stages

Stage I: Solidary lymph node or lymphoid tissue is involved in a single organ (i.e. nasal cavity).
Stage II: Several lymph nodes are involved in the same general area.
Stage III: All peripheral lymph nodes involved.
Stage IV: Liver and/or spleen and/or anterior mediastinum are involved in the chest.
Stage V: Bone marrow is involved.

Substages


Substage A: No systemic signs of disease (no symptoms).
Substage B: With systemic signs of disease.

Treatment

Chemotherapy is the most common type of treatment for lymphoma. It is usually given in a combination of oral and injectable drugs, the amounts depending on the financial resources of the dog’s family. Also, bone marrow implants have been done experimentally in dogs over the decades. Now they will be offered by Washington State University to dogs with cancer--and families that can afford the procedure. 

Prognosis

If left untreated, the life expectancy for a dog with lymphoma is around four to six weeks. The dog may be given oral prednisone to reduce swelling and discomfort, but it will not increase the dog’s life span. Pets that undergo chemotherapy generally have an extended life span, depending on how well they respond to the treatment. More than 75% of dogs that have lymphoma are expected to achieve a complete remission with chemotherapy. Fortunately, treatment for lymphoma is considered one of the more successful cancer treatments, and is well worth the money spent.
 

Being one of the most common types of dog cancer, lymphoma in dogs should not be taken lightly. It affects the lymphoid system and is often discovered with swollen glands. However, since it is so common, treatment has been nearly perfected and your pet can be expected to recover completely with the first round of lymphoma. However, with each remission, your dog has a lower chance of survival.

References

Lymphoma in Dogs, http://caninecancer.com/Lymphoma.html

Canine Malignant Lymphoma, http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/10500.htm

**Note: Tonya does not claim to be a veterinary professional. If your dog seems to be displaying symptoms of lymphoma, please consult with your veterinarian immediately.**

Do Morkies adjust well to a new home?

I finally figured out what's going on. It took a while, but I think I get it.

Mom and Dad were packing up all our stuff for a long time, and boy, was the place a mess. What was going on? They started moving everything out of our apartment. Over a few days, it got emptier and emptier.

Then this weekend, they brought Loki and me over to the place where all our stuff was. We stayed there overnight, and the next night, and we are still here. I think we are living here now.

Do Morkies (Maltese-Yorkies) adjust well to a new home?

As a two-month-old puppy, I think I adjusted pretty well to my new home. After a couple days, I could barely remember what my life had once been like. Of course, I loved going for car rides and seeing new places, but I remembered where home was.

After living in one place for most of my life, I think I have adjusted pretty well to my new home. Of course, all Morkies are not the same. I have a very outgoing personality. I have been called a social butterfly...although I do still get nervous when there are lots of people or strange animals around.

Most dogs and cats do adjust pretty well to living in a new place. Just give them a couple days to get used to their new surroundings and get their bearing. They will feel right at home in no time.

But I have a feeling this is only temporary... Where is the next place I will call 'home'?

Socializing Your Morkie

We went to the park last week. Not just any old park, though -- it was the dog park. It was my second time going there, and it was a lot of fun at first. But then a whole lot of dogs started to stroll in. It made me kind of nervous, so I hung out by Mom and Dad most of the time.

I'm not used to playing with little dogs. Most of my cousins are bigger than me, and we don't play much. I prefer playing with humans.

But my parents tell me it's good to 'socialize' with other dogs. They say they should have started bringing me to the dog park when I was a puppy, because it wasn't enough to just visit a lot of people and their bigger dogs.

Toward the end of our visit, I got a little braver and started to wander off on my own a little. Lots of dogs came up to me and sniffed my behind. They tried to play with me, but I was a little nervous about that. But I tried my best to fit in.

If you plan on getting a Morkie puppy -- or any kind of puppy, for that matter -- it's always a good idea to find out where the local dog parks are and to start bringing your puppy there as soon as s/he has all the required vaccinations. We are going to be visiting the dog park at least once every week from now on.

Tips for visiting the dog park:

• Do not bring your dog to the park while she is in heat. It is against most park rules.
• Bring water for your dog, especially if it is hot outside, and a water dish.
• Bring a leash to the park, even if it is an off-leash park. It will help when it's time to leave.
• Bring your dog into the appropriate area of the park according to size. Large dogs should not be in the small dog area.
• Pick up after your dog. Parks usually provide baggies for doing so.
• Supervise your dog. We don't want anyone to get hurt!
• Most of all, let your dog have fun. All the dogs will play and wrestle, but don't intervene unless someone is getting too aggressive.

Do you have any other tips for visiting the dog park?

A Scary Encounter

Hi, this is Tonya. I'm Mila's mom, and I'll probably pop in every once in a while with a Mila story.

Like most dogs, Mila is terrified of the vacuum cleaner. Every time I pull it out, she'll bark at it a few times, then run and hide under one of the end tables until it's out of sight.

~

Well, we decided to go for a walk today, like we often do when I get home from work. What does this have to do with vacuums, you're probably wondering. Bear with me, and you'll find out.

So we're walking around the block and suddenly Mila starts barking at something I can't see. I'm confused. There are no people or animals to be seen. As we walk past the dumpster, I see what has her agitated.

There's an empty Bissell vacuum cleaner box next to the dumpster. The picture on the box even has a vacuum that looks a lot like ours.

~

I chuckled to myself the rest of the way home.

What will my Morkie puppy look like at adulthood?

If you have had your Morkie puppy for several weeks already, you may have noticed that it is changing colors. Now, I don't know about all Maltese-Yorkie mixes, since we can end up looking very different depending on whether the Maltese or Yorkshire Terrier breed is more dominant, but my hair grew out to look drastically different at adulthood.

When I was born, my hair was pure black with a little bit of brown coloring. By two months, I was black with some tan -- and a little bit of white.

Two months old, on my way home.

Under all the black, though, was a lot of white. That's the Maltese in me, peeping out from underneath all that coarse baby fur.

Around seven to eight months, my hair is growing to reveal some white.

My hair kept growing and growing. With each haircut, I had less and less black fur and more fine, white hair. At adulthood, I am now mostly white with salt-and-pepper coloring on my back. Oh, and there are a few tan streaks on my ears still.

Fully grown, and so clean and shiny!

So, what is your Morkie going to look like at adulthood? There's no telling -- but you can look for clues as your pup's hair grows out. Does there appear to be a different color underneath? Then there's a good chance that's your dog's adult haircolor.

Most Popular Puppy Names in the World

What are the world’s favorite puppy names? Sadie, Max, Buddy...your dog may even have one of these common names. Here is a list of (some of) the most popular names in the world. 

Introduction
You likely know a dog with one of the most common names in the world. Throughout the years, Spot and Lady have been some of the dog owner population’s favorite puppy names. You could probably name a few more: Sadie, Max, Buddy... What are some of the world’s most popular puppy names? Here are some of the most commonly used names in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Australia, as well as some of the most popular celebrities that owners name their pets after.


Popular Names in the United States
Buddy, Max, Daisy, Bella, Lucy, Jack, Molly, Charlie, Sadie, and Rocky all topped the list for popular dog names in 2010--in that order. Other common names include: Jake, Bailey, Charlie, Toby, Cody, Buster, Maggie, Chloe, Sophie, Abby, and Zoe. Do you know a dog with one of these names? It’s likely that you do.


Popular Names in Canada
The top Canadian dog names are similar to the top names in the United States. They are as follows: Buddy, Max, Charlie, Bailey, Lucky, Shadow, Rocky, Jake, Jack, Toby, Maggie, Bella, Daisy, Molly, Sadie, Lola, Lucy, Sophie, and Sasha (not necessarily in that order). I bet you know a dog with one of these common names.


Popular Names in Mexico
Adela, Adolfo, Diego: What other dog names are popular in Mexico? Carlos, Maya, Ignacio, Luna, Frida, Jose, Gabriel, Felipe... And the list goes on. Most of these names are more common in Mexico than they are in most other countries, so you may not know anyone who has chosen one of these names for their puppy.


Popular Names in the United Kingdom
What are some favorite puppy names in the U.K.? There are several names on this list that are not on the others. They include: Alfie, Max, Barney, Charlie, Jake, Jasper, Murphy, Sam, Ben, Buster, Molly, Poppy, Jess, Meg, Millie, Cassie, Lily, Bonnie, Holly, and Rosie. 


Popular Names in Australia
Finally, for the most popular Aussie dog names: Max, Sam, Jack, Jake, Toby, Oscar, Charlie, Jess, Zac, Monty, Jessie, Molly, Chloe, Bonnie, Lucy, Sasha, Sally, Tess, Daisy, and Zoe. Again, we see a lot of repeats, but there are a few names we haven’t seen yet.


Popular Celebrity Pet Names
Owners commonly name their pets after their favorite celebrities: Houdini, Beyonce, Madonna, Twiggy, Cher, Oprah, Lady Gaga, Coco Chanel and Shakira. “Here, Houdini, here boy--where are you hiding?” 

Conclusion
There you have it--the most popular puppy names in the world. I bet you know at least one dog with one of these names. Of course, some of the names that are listed under one country and not listed under another may be used in the other countries, although not as commonly. And many of these names will continue to be favorites around the world.




XOXO
Mila



P.S. You may have noticed that Mila is not on any of these lists. I am fine with that. My name may not be popular, but it is unique to me.
P.P.S. This article was researched and written by doggy-mom, Tonya Hillukka.





Pet Names that Topped the List in 2010
Popular Dog Names

Morkie Care Tips: What You Need to Know Before Getting a New Puppy

It's Mila again, checking back in with my loyal readers.

Last time we chatted, I touched on caring for a Morkie. This time, I want to talk to you a little more about what's involved in taking care of our particular breed. For the most part, it is just like having any other dog, but you should know that we do require a little extra special care.

Grooming 

The most important grooming tip you should know before getting a Maltese-Yorkie (Morkie) puppy: If you don't regularly keep up on our grooming, you will need to spend extra time on it later.

Morkies typically have soft, fine hair that grows and grows. It needs to be combed and brushed daily to prevent tangles; most pet parents like to give us "puppy cuts" to keep our hair short and manageable. When my hair starts to grow out, I really get scruffy looking! In fact, I was just at the groomer for the first time a few weeks ago (my mom has always cut my hair herself), and my hair is already starting to get shaggy.

My eyes get really watery, too. When the hair gets too long around my eyes, it pokes them and tears run down my face, leaving red stains. This means the hair around my eyes needs to be trimmed often.

I used to be terrified of the nail clippers. I was really good at struggling when they came out! But I usually get treats when I sit still, so I'm getting better now.

Oh, and I really, really don't like baths. When I'm in the tub, I pace back and forth, hoping the water will miss me. Once, last summer, I learned how to swim...only after being plopped in the swimming pool. I swam straight to the edge and climbed out. But, if I don't get washed up every week or two, my hair gets ultra oily.

Feeding

You should know that Morkies are susceptible to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.

This means, if we get too busy playing, we might forget to eat and suddenly pass out. There are tubes of calorie-packed paste that can be used to get our blood sugar back up quickly.

Of course, you should always feed your pets the best quality food you can afford. Morkies don't have large appetites, but we should optimally be fed three small meals a day. You will want to avoid giving your puppy table scraps, although certain human foods are okay in moderation.

Health

Being a small breed dog, Morkies are susceptible to most any small breed health problem. 

Myself, I have luxating patellas, or slipping kneecaps. I will eventually need surgery to correct them, but for now, they don't bother me much. I just walk kind of funny sometimes.

And you should take your dog to the veterinarian for vaccinations and yearly exams. They will give you heartworm prevention medicine - heartworms are very dangerous - and flea and tick medicine. Other than that, just make sure to keep your pet healthy and happy, and bring him/her to the vet if anything seems wrong.

These are the most important Morkie care tips to remember. You can read more about caring for your Morkie dog here.

XOXO
Mila

Should You Get a Morkie Dog? It Depends.

From a Morkie's point of view, I would only want the best for my sisters and brothers. So, when you ask me if you should get a Maltese-Yorkie dog hybrid, I feel like I should ask you a few questions first.

1. Do you have small children in your household?

If your answer is "yes", you may want to consider getting a larger, more calm dog. Morkies are small - very small - and we have delicate bones. We are also very energetic. So, there is a chance that your children and the puppy will get riled up and, well, someone could get hurt. To be honest, I always feel kind of nervous around kids.

2. Do you live in an apartment?

This time if you answered "yes" to the question, then a Morkie could be the perfect choice for you. Being a small dog  breed, we don't get anxious to go out for walks (of course, like any other dog, we do love walks!). If need be, we can easily burn our energy indoors. I love to play with my big sister, Loki - she's a cat...

Loki & I get all snuggly together.

If I haven't answered your question yet about whether to get a Morkie dog, here are some more points to consider:

• Morkies are very loyal, loving pets. After I got used to living with my new parents, I decided I didn't want my mom to leave the room without me. 
• I love nearly anyone I meet, even if they don't love me back.
• We are very easy to housebreak and train. I was nearly potty trained the very first day here; I only had one accident that day! And I'm doing pretty well with the tricks my mom is teaching me, although sometimes I just can't stop barking when the treats come out.
• We make great traveling companions. Oh, how I love car rides...
• Some rental properties don't allow larger dogs, but we always fit beneath the weight limit. Most Morkies weigh between six and eight pounds.

On the other hand...

• Morkies are very excitable, and that may be a problem for people who are, er, more laid-back. We like to play a lot, and even though we try to be quiet, sometimes just can't help ourselves when company comes.
• We have long hair that requires a lot of grooming. This means regular haircuts, daily hairbrushing and trimming around the eyes. Our eyes also get very watery, which causes staining underneath. But on the plus side, you can always put cute little bows in our hair - well, if yours will let you, that is.
• We are susceptible to health problems, just like any other pooch. For example, if we get too busy playing and forget to eat, our blood sugar can dip too low. I've never had that problem, but I do have luxating patellas, meaning my kneecaps sometimes slip out of place. This is common in small dogs, and I will eventually need surgery to correct it.
• Small bladders. I can hold it for a long time, but that doesn't mean I like to.

This is me when I was two months old.

Thanks for stopping by! If you have decided a Morkie puppy is a good choice for your family, read this article for more information about how to care for your new pet.

XOXO
Mila

P.S. Read more...
Should I get a large dog or a small dog?
More Morkie dog breed care tips

Who am I?

Question: What is my favorite city?

Answer: New Yorkie!

No, I'm not a Yorkie, exactly. I'm part Maltese, too. Who am I, anyway?

They call me a Morkie. I'm small and cute, and everyone just oohs and ahhs when they see me. My name is Mila, and this is my blog.

This blog is all about me, and I'm going to teach you everything you need to know about living with a Morkie. There's a lot to say, so you'll learn over time.

Do you love a Morkie? Tell me all about him or her in the comments.