Lost and Found in Yellowstone Country, Montana. Here is a list of resources to check if you have lost or found a dog, or if you would like to adopt a dog in the Billings, Montana (Yellowstone County) or surrounding area. Includes important health reasons to spay or neuter your dog, and "the top 10 reasons to adopt a pet" from a shelter. By popular demand, we feature our clients' Bulletin Board at bottom of the Lost & Found page.



Microchipping can be as important as vaccinations, because more dogs are lost forever, than die from disease. If you don't microchip, DO keep an ID tag on your dog's collar... no matter what you or your dog's lifestyle is... remember what defines an "accident or unexpected event" - that's when they get lost! Many dogs afraid of loud noise panic, break out and run away from thunderstorms, firecrackers, backfires, gun shots etc. Statistics suggest that ID improves the chance of recovering a lost pet by over 90%.


Canine Vaccinations; A summary of which vaccines are needed by dogs in Montana, and which are not.


Dog Normals: Know normals for temperature, respiration, heart rate and pregnancy in dogs By Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM, About.com Guide.

Reverse Sneezing

Reverse sneezing is not often a cause for concern. Reverse sneezing is not actually a sneeze at all, but describes a condition known as an inspiratory paroxysmal respiration or pharyngeal gag reflex. It is termed "reverse sneeze" because the dog is inhaling air rapidly and forcefully instead of expelling air, as with a normal sneeze. Reverse sneezing is not a serious condition, nor is it usually any cause for concern - but rather is a temporary spasm that occurs when the soft palate and throat become irritated - characterized by a dog sucking air or gasping and snorting. The dog looks and acts normal before the episode, which usually lasts from a few seconds to a couple minutes, and immediately resumes being normal afterwards. It occurs in most all dogs sooner or later, and in small breeds more often. Dogs may develop this problem with age, but some (especially smaller breeds) can have these episodes their entire lives. Although causes are not fully understood, these spasms can occur in response to strong smells, dust, viruses, leash pulling and/or excitement.
Treatment: Reverse sneezing is not a serious condition, and it rarely requires veterinarian treatment. Reverse sneezing might be helped with light throat massage or by covering your dog's nose long enough to encourage her to swallow, which may remove any irritant that could be causing it. Otherwise, there is little reason for concern unless it begins to happen with alarming frequency.



Is Your Pooch Too Pudgy? from Pfizer. Half of the dogs and cats in this country are overweight, putting them at risk of joint pain, diabetes, and shortened life spans. "Overfeeding a fat cat or dog is basically loving it to death." Includes advice on putting your pet on a diet, and best exercise for dogs by breed.

Pfizer Article: Is My Dog Overweight? Includes Body Assessment Rating for Canines.

How to trim a dog's nails. Showing the structure of the nail, a video on how to train a young dog to willingly accept nail trimming, and a video how to retrain a dog that hates nail trimming. "All dogs hate nail trims, it's just different degrees of hate," says Anne.


Noise Phobia: Help for dogs frightened of thunder, fireworks, as well as separation anxiety, travel anxiety, compulsive behaviors, etc.

Dogs Riding in Back of Pickup is Road to Trouble... great article by Dr Ed Jorden, (reprinted w/ permission).


Behavior! Dog obedience, training, behavior issues, socializing your dog. What is socializing? Did you know lack of proper socializing done at an early enough age... leads to many dogs being euthanized? Veterinarian staff see this happen all to often....
Do you own your dog, or does your dog own you? Don't wait until it is too late. Read about the magic age (7 to 12 weeks) when puppies most easily learn to accept things and learn a lifetime of good behavior. During those weeks, introduce your puppy to every stimulus you expect it to be exposed to in its lifetime, including having its nails held, being restrained, being handed to a stranger, being on a leash and collar without pulling, car rides, being groomed (clipper noise etc.), and again, BEING RESTRAINED. Never let go, or give in, WHILE the puppy is resisting. ALWAYS let go, (that is the reward) and/or stop the stimulus WHEN the puppy is accepting it calmly. Never give in when your puppy is having a tantrum. Teaching these manners and putting yourself in the leadership position right from the start, avoids a lifetime of problems later. Your puppy must have hours of playing with other puppies, in order that she does not learn to be a bully, or to be insecure and timid. Your dog will be unbelievably happier if you socialize him! Read the definition of what Socialization really is, and what it really involves. It might not be what you thought... Read about behaviors such as: jumping up, leash training, pulling on the leash, barking, fighting, being timid, biting, clipping nails, fear (storms, fireworks, grooming, Veterinary office), coming when called, general training and tricks. What you need to teach your dog, how to teach it, and when.


Housebreaking your Dog or Puppy. Several training guides from different sources... provide great guidelines to housebreak your puppy or dog. Here are a couple quotes: "It is interesting to note, it is not any harder to train a dog than a puppy ... and much easier than a baby." "Do NOT attempt to punish the dog, as it is your fault - not his for not being there or not noticing that the dog needed to go out. If you must punish someone, then roll up a newspaper and hit yourself over the head and scold yourself." Also, Crate Training. All dogs should be crate trained, the right way.


What You Do to Annoy Your Dog, by Amy Shojai. ~Paw Nation


The irresponsible Dog Owner. Of course WE would never do ANY of these things... right?



Spaying and Neutering your dog. If your dog's health and happiness is your primary concern, don't listen to old wives' tales. You might be surprised at the all the reasons to have this done, and what the risks are to your dog when you don't! Learn why dogs should be spayed or neutered around 6 months of age. Learn why female dogs should be spayed before they ever come in season. Learn more about the interesting physiological differences between neutered/spayed and intact dogs.


Should I debark my dog?


Bring Your Pet to College. US News, by Ryan Lytle, May 2011. These schools are among those that offer flexible policies for students with pets.



What breeds of dog do we recommend (and which breeds, not so much) and why?
The responsible Pit Bull owner, a great pdf printout written by a Pit Bull Rescuer for Rimrock Humane Society, Roundup Montana. We highly recommend you read this wonderful handout about owning a pit bull, pit-cross dog or any "Bully breed" - very informative and important reading!


10 things your Veterinarian won't tell you. (Still working on this, they are pretty tight-lipped).





10 Things You Probably
Didn't Know About Dogs.

Dogs and humans have been living side-by-side for about 15,000 years, so you might think we know each other pretty well. But there's more to dogs than fetching and playing dead. Here are some little-known facts about man's best friend.








Search Dogs ROCK!

Did you know that National Disaster Search Dog Foundation dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues nationwide? Often the dogs that are chosen are ones that have been turned in because they keep escaping from their yards. It shows they are already using their brain for how to get around barriers – important for a dog searching through rubble. The types of dogs that most often are chosen for Search and Rescue work include Labs, Goldens, Border Collies and mixes of these breeds. These are working dogs that typically have the right (high) level of energy and drive for this sort of work.

"We are looking for workaholic dogs with an intense toy drive. These dogs are usually very driven and a bit ‘crazy’, which does not usually make for a good pet dog. Many families cannot handle these dogs and many of them end up in shelters."
(Jan Peterson – Search Dog Foundation canine recruiter).


(left: photo from book, Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him)





The Things You NEVER Want to See on Your Dog Food Label...by Dr Becker. Lockwood veterinarians do not necessarily support all claims made by Dr Becker, as she is on the extreme end of holistic veterinary practice. However, this article is excellent information on "...how to make sense of pet food nutrition labels. Whether or not it's deliberate, pet food companies seem to go out of their way to make ingredient labels confusing and even misleading."

Many people believe older dogs should eat differently than adult dogs. The reality is nutritional requirements should be tailored to the individual dog -- not based simply on the age of the animal. In fact, Neither AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) nor the National Research Council (NRC) provides guidelines for senior dog formulas: They make no distinction between the nutritional requirements for adult dogs and for senior dogs. As a result, the ingredients used in pet food marketed for ‘seniors’ is determined by the manufacturer and varies widely.


Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes - How To Make Your Own Dog Food - Raw Dog Food.

There are all kinds of free homemade pet food recipes offered online. And like most free advice, there is also a lot of confusion & contradictions in recommendations, such as which ingredients to use, which to avoid, the basic ratio of nutritients in recipes, supplements, whether or not to feed cooked recipes or raw, whether bones should be fed or not, etc. This link is a very good overview of these issues, and is a great introduction to providing your dog with a homemade diet. Most homemade dogfood recipes contain not less than 2 parts protein (from human-grade meat), and up to 1 part carbohydrates, and 1 part vegetables. Recommendations will range from there to a diet of almost all meat. If you are interested in more raw pet food & feeding information, check out this website: Pet-Grub.com.


Homemade Doggy Treat Recipes. Most recipes here are adapted from pet recipes found on hobbyfarm.com, and there are a few links to other good homemade pet foods.


Breeding dogs & care of orphan puppies.
How to find a good dog breeder. So you’ve decided to get a dog. You’re prepared to feed, exercise, train, clean up after, work through problems with, and love a dog every day for the next 10 to 20 years... See also: Good Breeder Checklist. These articles help identify the trademarks of puppy mills, which are to be avoided.

The Problem with Puppy Mills.

Responsible breeders genetically test their dogs. Different diseases are found in different breeds of dogs, including:
Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (pra-PRCD)
Von Willebrand Disease Type 1 (vWD)
Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC)
Multi Drug Resistance (MDR1)
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Phosphofructokinase Deficiency (PFK)
Neonatal Encephalopathy (NEWS)

MDR1 Gene Defect and Ivermectin Sensitivity in Dogs Dogs most likely to experience serious side effects with ivermectin (wormer) are those dogs that have a genetic mutation known as the deletion mutation of the MDR1 (multi-drug resistant) gene. The symptoms most likely to be seen with dogs that are sensitive to ivermectin due to the MDR1 gene defect are those involving the central nervous system. These symptoms include incoordination, dilated pupils, seizures and coma.

Dogs most likely to be affected by this gene mutation are those of the collie breeds. According to WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, approximately 3 out of 4 Collies in the United States have the mutant MDR1 gene. Also, the frequency (percentage of dogs that are affected) is known to be about the same in France and Australia, so it is likely that most Collies worldwide have this mutation. The MDR1 gene mutation can be found in other breeds, as well as in mixed breed dogs. Here is the list of affected breeds known at this time:

Breed - Approximate Frequency

• Collie 70%
• Long-haired Whippet 65%
• Australian Shepherd 50%
• Australian Shepherd, Mini 50%
• Silken Windhound 30%
• McNab 30%
• English Shepherd 15%
• Shetland Sheepdog 15%
• German Shepherd 10%
• Herding Breed Cross 10%
• Old English Sheepdog 5%
• Mixed Breed 5%
• Border Collie <5%

There is a test that can identify dogs with the MDR1 gene defect. The test is available through the Washington State University Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory and can be performed on either a blood sample or a cheek swab sample. WSU anticipates more breeds will be added to the list as more dogs are tested. You can find a list of other drugs (Acepromazine, Butorphanol, Loperamide/"Imodium", etc) known to cause problems for dogs with the mutant MDR1 gene at WSU's Problem Drugs page.


Currently there is a waiting list to adopt retired MWDs. Lackland Air Force Base in Texas trains all MWDs and handles adoptions. Here's their site: Military Working Dog Program, Department of Defense Military Working Dog School; ALSO: the Official Adoption Website of the DoD Military Working Dog. The Department of Defense says there are close to 3,000 Military Working Dogs in service, with between 600 and 700 in combat zones. Dogs that fail training, or, retiring MWDs need special rehoming with experienced, suitable owners.

RMWDAO Retired Military Working Dog Assistance Organization. Working to reclassify retired working and military dogs. Under the current policy, when the dogs can no longer work they are classified as 'excess equipment.' A proposal in the House of Representatives would classify them as 'canine veterans.'







Heartworm preventative, sold at Lockwood Vet is recommended in Montana every spring through fall (May through October) during mosquito season, and kills other common internal parasites as well (not including tapeworms).


Bio-Spot, sold at Lockwood Vet kills ticks & fleas. Fleas are not usually a big problem because they are not indigenous to Montana, but may be brought in by pets from warmer climates. Ticks can be a problem. We do not recommend flea & tick collars as they do not help much w/ ticks, and the strength of their chemicals can make some pets sick.

dog drinking water in slow motion:


Dog Daily Water Requirement Calculator. How much water does my dog need?
Actually this applies to cats too.

Lockwood veterinarians do not necessarily support all philosophy held & shared by Dr Becker, as she is on the most extreme end of holistic veterinary practice. Lockwood Vets prefer a combination of traditional medical practice combined with sensible holistic practice. Dr Becker's articles cover interesting topics, and contain excellent information which we hope you enjoy as much as we do.

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" Healthy Dog Food: Homemade Recipes" by John Miller Dog food companies spend billions in advertising and (some claim) control vet schools via sponsoring. They will do a lot to make sure you don't realize homemade dog food is infinitely better for your canine! But now, with this eBook, you'll know, in a moment, exactly how to feed your dog, easily and inexpensively. 50 years ago, John Miller wanted to improve his dogs' health. After analyzing commercial dog food formulas, he found they were (and certainly still are) loaded with unhealthy ingredients, binders, preservatives, artificial flavor-enhancers and chemicals. Many dogs have allergies, and their commercial dogfood is the culprit over 90% of the time. John began developing better recipes himself and tried them on his own dogs... using healthy ingredients... soon, he couldn't believe how fast his dogs health and - behavior - improved. And almost as important, he also reduced his dog food expenses by 50%. Encouraged by this, he continued to try over the years, hundreds of new recipes in order to see their effects on dog health and growth. After years of improvements, he reveals -- for your own use -- the best recipes to transform your dog into the healtiest dog of your dreams.