4 Legs & a Tail 2016 Keene Fall

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Leaf Peeping Season 2016 Southern NH & VT

The Demon Cat! Saving A Horse Just When You Thought Your Vet Heard It All...

How To Rescue An Animal D.M. in Older Dogs

15 Outrageous Pet Owner Requests of Vets Dr. Andy Roark DVM, MS

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s the man pulled off his shirt and draped it over his dog, I remember thinking, “I hope my technician comes in right about now. No, wait. I don’t.”

The appointment had been uneventful until I informed the dog’s owner that his dog had a heart murmur. The man replied, “If you think he’s got a heart murmur, listen to this!” and off came his shirt.

While the request was odd, I have to admit I was intrigued. It turned out the man did indeed have a much more impressive heart murmur than his dog.

In fact, he was just a week away from surgery to have the heart defect corrected.

As he retrieved his shirt and his dog, I couldn’t help but notice a look of almost paternal pride on the man’s face. It was as if he was considering his dog’s mild heart abnormality and thinking, “Yep, that’s my boy.”

While I’m glad that I got a chance to bring this little family closer, the incident did cause me to stop and consider some of the more unusual interactions between pet owners and veterinarians.

Above and Beyond As a profession, veterinary medicine is one in which we are used to going to great lengths to meet the needs of the families we serve. Being asked to make a house call, visit a sick patient outside in the owner’s car or stay past closing time are all quite common in our line of work.

Still, even in this business, while we strive to make pets and their people as happy as possible, there are some requests that strike us as a bit much. On my Facebook page, I asked veterinary professionals to tell me some of the most bizarre requests they’ve gotten from pet owners. Here’s what they reported:

1. We had a client who wanted us to neuter her dog instead of spay her because it

was cheaper.

2. A client was boarding a dog at the clinic and requested that we keep a photo

of the family in the kennel with the dog. And not only the photo, but a frame

that you can record messages into. The family requested that we play the

message at least six times a day.

3. We once had a woman who wanted us to take a look at her duck because it

“wasn’t swimming.” Her chicken was fine, but it sure wasn't a duck!

4. We had a client claim that the reason her cat kept getting sick was because it

was urinating on mothballs and that the urine added to the mothballs was

making meth, so the cat was high.

5. I had a client ask for a copy of my license so she could open up a veterinary

account at a distributor to get “flea medicine.” She promised not to buy

controlled drugs.

6. I was asked if I could provide a list of veterinary medications that could be used

by humans and if I could help procure these medications in case of a doomsday

scenario. (This client is a “prepper.”)

7. We were asked to perform a private cremation for a cat's tail after he had a tail

amputation. We did it, too!

8. We had a client bring in a cat to be neutered. He asked if, prior to the surgery,

we could place his cat in a kennel with a female cat for one final ... . Our sharp

receptionist politely responded with, "I'm sorry, sir, but we no longer offer

that service."

9. We had a client insist we refer to her pet as “Mister” until he got to

“know” us. He would then let us know when it was OK for us to use his

given name.

10. A pet owner asked for testicles from his dog back (after the dog was neutered)

so he could keep them in a jar at his office. When his daughter was old enough to

date, he planned to bring the boyfriend in the room and explain what happened to

the last boyfriend who didn't treat her well.

11. Umm, we’ve had more than one person lift a shirt to show us a rash.

12. A client asked the male doctor to dress like a woman and wear a wig because

the dog didn’t like men.

13. We had a client come in the other day for an exam, worried about the two large

lumps on their “female” dog’s underbelly. Turns out the dog was not a female

after all!

14. New clients requested that I cover the windows and turn out the lights when

they arrived for their pets’ appointments — because they were vampires. (They

ended up being wonderful pet owners.) New staff members thought I had lost

my mind when I informed them of this client’s special needs.

15. We had a client ask if she could hold her kid’s birthday party in our hospital

during work hours.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. See the complete list of more than 500 submissions on Dr. Andy Roark’s Facebook page.

Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail

®

2. How to Rescue an Animal, Part 2, John Peaveler

Pg. 4

A must read if you're the one who stops at the side of the road to help an injured animal

4. Tap Into This Maple, Cathy White

How one rescue dog turned therapy dog found a friend for life

6. A Flight for Life: Transport Flights Save Animal Lives, Amee Able 8. Is My Food Safe For My Pets?, Diane Stewart What’s

good for the table may be deadly for your pet

9. Everything You Need to Know About Dog & Cat Nutrition, Sarah Zabek

Pg. 16

12. Big Jake’s Story, Rebecca Roy Slated for slaughter, a lucky horse gets a second chance in New Hampshire 13. Animal Communication at Draft Gratitude Horse Rescue, Brandie Wells 14. Winning the Battle Against Lyme Disease, Colleen Campbell Affordable ways to prevent and treat tick-borne diseases 16. Loosen Up!, Dorothy Crosby A

little relaxation before you mount your horse

18. Training and the Art of Patience, Bethany King It’s never too late to teach your dog a new trick 19. The Demon Possessed Cat Cured by Extractions, Sandra Waugh, VMD, MS The ghoulish tale of a black cat and her return to "the good side."

21. Meet Biscuit, Vermont's Arson Dog October is National Fire Prevention Month.

After a suspicious fire is when Biscuit goes to work

23. Purrs in the House Again, Maggie Thompson The magic when adding a cat to the family

24. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall: Dog Lovers, Kate Kelly They were the Hollywood power couple of the 1940's and 50's.

Then along came Harvey the dog 25. To Spray or Not to Spray, Scott Borthwick The stinking truth pertaining to when a skunk will spray

26. Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs, Catherine MacLean, DVM It

is the Lou Gehrig’s disease of dogs. What to look for and solutions to manage this affliction

4 Legs & a Tail Volume K.316 P.O. Box 841

Senior Editor: Scott Palzer Office Manager: Beth Hoehn

Lebanon, NH 03766

Graphic Design:

603-727-9214

Kristin Wolff, Lacey Dardis,

TimH.4LT@gmail.com Fall 2016

Publishers: Tim Goodwin, Tim Hoehn

Kerry Rowland Sales: Karyn Swett

Pg. 23

If you have a tale about a tail or a photo that will make us smile, we’d like to hear from you. 4 Legs & a Tail is published quarterly and distributed free of charge throughout Southern NH & VT. 4 Legs & a Tail, Inc. is locally owned and operated and acts as a moderator without approving, disapproving or guaranteeing the validity or accuracy of any data or claim.

Any reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 1

How To Rescue an Animal, Part 2

John Peaveler

A few years ago I was out for a morning run, crossing one of the many

bridges over the Vltava River in the Czech Republic capital of Prague, when a flightless swan made its way into traffic. By coincidence, there was a police car there within moments with two officers, doubtless more comfortable with criminals than displaced birds. I explained in broken English that I am an animal professional, a coincidence they seemed happy to embrace. I set them to work blocking traffic while I went about trying to catch this poor terrified swan. I kept my body between the

swan and any point of danger, and then grabbed her neck just below the head in a lightening quick movement. I carefully supported her body and carried her down the bank to the river she had obviously wandered away from.

For part two in this animal rescue series, I want to focus on three lessons from the story of this swan.

Lesson One: You need to always ensure that the place you are working is safe.

That means safe for you, safe for other people, and safe for the animal. None of these is optional. The police had secured

the road so that I could concentrate on safe and effective handling. You cannot manage traffic alone, and you can’t maintain scene safety in busy areas without proper measures. Always make sure your vehicle is not blocking traffic or otherwise posing a danger to others. Handling requires focus, so take steps in advance to make sure you don’t end up somewhere dangerous.

Take a look around before you start, and remember where it’s safe and what areas to avoid. For the swan and I, that meant the space between stopped cars and between the rails on the bridge.

Lesson Two: I had enough experience to know how to capture a bird effectively.

I hadn’t worked with swans before, but I had worked with birds of prey, ducks, chickens, and flamingos. I was confident and capable because I was experienced.

If you want to be prepared to rescue animals when the need arises but you don’t have the skills, then it’s time to build your resume. Volunteering at an animal shelter is a great place to begin. You can get experience on a farm, in wildlife centers, and with wildlife rehabilitators. Keep in mind that you usually have to earn the right to handle animals, working your way up through various important, but Continued Next Page

John Peaveler

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perhaps less interesting jobs. Stick with it.

Those jobs are vital to animal care organizations, so just keep watching, learning, and volunteering. There is no substitute for experience in animal care and animal rescue.

Lesson Three: Learn from my mistakes.

My actions that day certainly kept a swan from being hit by a car or being roughly handled. However, nothing addressed the root of the trouble, the swan could not fly.

There was clearly some medical reason the swan ended up in traffic, and for all I know the same bird ended up hit by a car later the same morning. Obviously, I had a few obstacles: no local phone, no vehicle, no place to bring the swan in the interim, no local acquaintances or friends of any kind, and not speaking the language. It was an unusual scenario, and was not much more I could reasonably have done. However, northern New England is vastly more hospitable for rescuing animals, whether pets, farm, or wild animals. State warden services maintain lists of licensed rehabilitators, and it’s not difficult to find out which animal shelter services any given area. If you intend to help the next time you see an animal in need, research now where you would take them.

Finally, a few tips on how to actually catch a small animal. Handling birds and small mammals does not need to be difficult, with the right tools and training.

Whether a cat, woodchuck, or a swan, your basic equipment should include gloves long enough and thick enough for the species, a cage, and a towel or light blanket.

One more step would include an animal appropriate net (not a fishing net). Be aware of injuries and always take precautions against disease, particularly rabies.

Many animals can be immobilized simply by throwing a towel over them and using gloved hands to pick them up, towel and all, and place them in a crate or safely in a vehicle.

Want to know more? Get involved in animal rescue through an established organization, and look for one of my Humane Animal Handling and Capture courses.

Final tip: when appropriate, take pictures of the animal you are rescuing. Before and after photos can make a real difference in helping organizations fundraise and can make sure more animals get rescued in the future. Be safe out there.

Part One of this article can be read on our archive at 4LegsAndATail.com John Peaveler is an Animal Welfare Consultant with over ten years experience working with all types of animals on three continents He lives with his wife and two children in West Fairlee, VT and continues to work and write at home and abroad.

Fall 2016

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Tap Into This Maple D

Cathy White - Walpole,NH

ogs aren’t just born to therapy work. Training a therapy dog is an arduous task, for both handler and dog. Most therapy dogs are Golden Retrievers, Labs, or breeds easily taught and known for excelling in other areas of obedience.

Right?

Not always. These statements are often true of dogs that do this amazing work; but sometimes you come across a team like Nikki Sauber and her dog Maple, about whom these statements don’t apply. Their story is not typical.

Nikki, 26, a Gilsum resident, wears a lot of hats as an Administrative Specialist with Monadnock United Way in Keene.

An Antioch grad who majored in Environmental Studies, she has a packed schedule; when she’s not working fulltime, she’s volunteering. Nikki’s on the Board of Directors of the Monadnock Time Exchange and recently completed volunteer work on a local sustainable energy project. In keeping with that spirit, Nikki ultimately wasn’t content to simply adopt a dog for companionship.

Her journey began on a crisp fall day a few years back at Bedford’s Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire. Nikki attended

a promotion at the shelter; and was considering a hound she’d viewed online.

While that dog proved to be “too big and too goofy” for her, she was taken with a beautiful brindle dog sweetly sitting in her crate, and asked for an introduction.

Nikki offered the dog her hands, palms up.

The dog, then named “Francesca”, quietly approached and lovingly rested her head in Nikki’s outstretched hands. That was the moment when “we picked each other” says Nikki.

Nikki & Maple Best Friends Forever

Three weeks earlier, the one and a half year old dog had been found living in a box in the woods with two younger dogs. Her behavior seemed almost maternal towards them; and it appeared to her rescuers that she had been looking after them.

But now, Nikki would look after her.

The adoption was approved and the two dollar fee was paid. No, that isn’t a misprint. ARLNH’s promotion that day based the adoption fee on the time one entered their facility. Since Nikki had arrived at 2:00 p.m., she paid just two dollars for Francesca. For “the best two dollars I ever spent”, Nikki got a beautiful, sweet-natured, vetted, spayed and, as it happened, trained companion. The only issue: her name.

It didn’t suit her and she didn’t answer to it. “Maple” came about due to her rich brindled coat, which sports shades of ambers and browns, reminiscent of rich maple syrup. The sugar maples that day were also ablaze with color; so Maple was a natural choice.

Nikki, still a grad-student at this time, often brought Maple to Antioch’s campus.

She noticed the calming effect Maple had on stressed-out students. She also observed this effect when she would bring Maple to her part-time receptionist’s job at a local massage practice. Clients would see her beautiful dog and ask to pet her. Nikki saw these clients visibly relax before their massage sessions. “Therapy before therapy”, she says.

Maple’s soothing effect on people gave Nikki the idea to try canine therapy work.

After contacting the Monadnock Humane Continued Next Page

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Society, she and Maple were invited to come in for an evaluation. Without any additional or specialized training or classes, they began the three observed visits and the test that are requirements to register with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, a national organization. They passed with flying colors, and became an ATD team early this year.

They participate regularly in local programs. Paws to Read at MHS finds Maple quietly listening to young children practice reading. At Paws 2 Play, Keene State College’s program for freshmen, Maple offers furry comfort weekly to dozens of students who are experiencing the stress of living away from home for the first time.

Nikki is looking for other opportunities that can fit into her busy schedule.

So, besides being a natural at therapy work, and not requiring abundant training to register as a therapy dog, what makes Maple so special, so different? Well, as Nikki herself will tell you with pride: “She’s a pit bull.”

Pit bulls are not a recognized breed.

They’re a “type”, encompassing many breeds and mixes. Staffordshire and American Staffordshire Bull terriers and similar breeds that people now think of as pit bulls were once known as “nanny dogs” because of their loyal, affectionate disposition and love of children. Now these breeds fall under the pit bull umbrella,

Fall 2016

and are possibly (and unfairly) the most maligned of dogs. Landlords and insurance companies routinely discriminate against PB owners. Many towns and cities have implemented breed specific legislation (BSL), banning pit bulls; even though BSL is opposed by the ASPCA, the CDC, and other credible organizations.

ATD registers pit bulls/mixes. Some therapy dog organizations won’t. Of the 17,311 dogs registered with ATD at this writing, only 146 were pit bull types. That’s under 1%.

Sadly, misconceptions about these dogs will continue. But, Maple the Therapy Dog, as sweet as the syrup she’s named for, is proof that pit bulls are naturally capable of wonderful things.

Cathy White lives in Walpole with her husband, Jeff. They have been owned

by Labradors of every color for almost 30 years. Cathy is a Boston University alum, with a degree in print communications. They have two grown sons. A stay-at-home Lab mom; she spends a lot of time baking, cooking, gardening, doing yoga and reading. She also participates in the Paws to Read program with Harry. Having taught Pre-school and Pre-K, early childhood literacy is massively important to her. Harry, her seven year old yellow Labrador named after Harry Potter.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 5

A Flight for Life: Transport Flights Save Animal Lives Amee Abel

O n a recent evening, animal welfare workers from around New England gathered at tiny Keene Dillant-Hopkins airport in Swanzey, NH. Raging thunderstorms had

plagued the area all day. They had driven through the stormy weather; now they worried the flight might be delayed. N620CA, the plane they waited for, carried precious cargo. Forty dogs were aboard the tiny twin-engine Cessna. Its pressurized cabin was loaded from floor to ceiling with crates of dogs going for the ride of their life. They were flying away from a region where pet overpopulation is the norm, and sweet, healthy, but unwanted dogs die daily.

In New England, spay/neuter has become a cultural norm, shelters routinely are able to place 90% and higher of their animals. Down south, where pet population control is less widely practiced, shelters typically struggle to ensure This border-collie mix a “live release rate” puppy looks skittish, of between 40-60 perbut MHS' Kerri Cuevas is decidedly optimistic cent. Almost half the about his future. animals taken into shelters down south are killed because there are too many dogs and cats.

Tonight’s flight orchestrates a multiplicity of animal welfare groups.

At the sending end, Operation Pets Alive (www. operationpetsalive.org) works with shelters throughout Montgomery County, Texas, to identify and take charge of those at-risk dogs who present the best profile as adoption candidates. Cloud Nine Rescue Flights, a non-profit dedicated to providing safe, fast, and cost-effective air transports, operates the plane. On the receiving end this evening are Monadnock Humane Society, Upper Valley Humane Society, Dakin From right, Jon Starbuck (an MHS volunteer), Keith Blasi and Humane Society, and PAWS New England.

Ted DuPuis (both of Cloud Nine Rescue Flights) lift a heavy crate off the plane

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Continued Next Page

Fall 2016

“Our first responsibility is animals from our community, of course,” says Emily Kerylow, Shelter Operations Manager at Monadnock Humane Society. “Often, those animals need a lot of care before they are ready for adoption.”

MHS began working with OPA a number of years ago. “They meet our standards of providing animals with full medical records, so we know about the dogs we are receiving. The dogs OPA sends to us typically are adoptable in a week or so after they arrive.”

“No one in the northeast today really understands what’s going on down here unless you’ve seen it,” says Marcia Piotter, President of Operations Pets Alive. A veteran of almost thirty years in animal welfare work, she struggles to find a way to explain. “…The intake pens…there’s a mother with eleven newborn puppies in one corner, a mother with seven older puppies in another corner and a crate with a bunch of five month old cattle dog puppies nearly bald from mange. That’s just the intake area. It’s awful” Over the years, OPA has worked the kinks out of its transport system. They’ve built relationships with a number of shelters in the Northeast who dependably welcome dogs on a predictable schedule.

Marcia and her team enter Montgomery County shelters knowing just how many dogs they can bring out. OPA holds them for two weeks in a foster home and provides basic medical. “We try to give the Northeast shelters exactly what they are looking for. We ask them to put fifty dollars per dog into our local spay/neuter program so we make every transport a double-whammy on our pet population: one into a home and one more who can’t have puppies.” For some shelters, this feels too much like buying dogs, so the contribution is voluntary, and not a condition for receiving dogs from OPA. Tonight’s flight is the third flown in Cloud Nine Rescue Flight’s new used Cessna 414 with double the capacity of their original plane. This new acquisition needs some vital work to keep it flying.

They are seeking donations for a $27,000 replacement of propellers. “I do it for the dogs,” Ted DuPuis says of the operation he runs. “I don’t take a salary. I never will.

The new plane will let us do more.”

Monadnock Humane Society’s, Beth Doyle arrived at the airport in her own truck rather than her organization’s van; its air conditioning will keep the dogs comfortable. For Doyle, this is the tail end of a work day that started at 6 a.m. In the seven years she’s been at MHS she’s seen a steady decrease in the numbers of owner-surrenders of pregnant female dogs, Overall, the number of dogs coming in to MHS from its service area has decreased.

“Which leaves us with the capacity to bring in some easy-to-adopt animals,” she says.

Fall 2016

Wearing a green t-shirt that bears an Upper Valley Humane Society logo, Amy Woodman, UVHS’ Shelter Director, joins in. “We’ve seen a decrease in owner-surrender and an increase in return to owner at UVHS,” she says. “Our first responsibility is to care for our local animals, but we have empty kennels. When we have the space, why not bring in some dogs who might otherwise not make it?”

At last, the runway lights blaze, and minutes later, a sleek twin-engine plane taxis to a stop against a sky full of sculpted grey clouds in the gathering dusk. The airport is so rural there are no gates: the pilot steps onto the tarmac, and we all head out to greet him, and begin the process of getting the dogs. Lifting a pile of folders from a compartment in the wing, Cloud Nine’s DePuis begins a role call—handing all-important paperwork to each organization’s representative. Finally, the crates begin to be handed off the plane, and we get a look at what we’re there for—sweet, wiggly, friendly puppies and dogs destined for long lives and soft beds.

Amee Abel is Community Outreach Coordinator at Monadnock Humane Society. In her spare time, she teaches dog training, or plays with her own three dogs. All photos courtesy Monadnock Humane Society

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Is My Food Safe for My Pets?

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Diane Stewart

s we trade the warm summer nights for the vibrant colors of fall, I find myself looking ahead to holidays and family time. With extra loved ones coming to visit there is inevitably more food on the table…foods that are not always good for our fur babies. Whether stolen scraps or food handed over by relatives when we aren’t looking, we have to keep an eye on what our furry friends are able to get into. Not all human food is bad for our pets, and some can actually be really healthy for them. For example pumpkin can be a good choice for dogs as it is a good source of fiber and vitamin A. Raw or canned pumpkin can also aid in moving things along if your pet experiences digestive troubles.

Whether trick or treating with your kids or passing out treats to the neighborhood kids this Halloween you will want to keep candy out of the reach of your animals. As most people are aware, chocolate is really bad for dogs. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is, although milk chocolate is bad, too. The effects of chocolate ingestion by your animals can not only be vomiting and diarrhea, but also irregular heartbeats, seizures, and death. Candy in general is not good for your pets due to the sugar content. Believe it or not gum is poisonous for dogs as it contains xylitol which can lead to your animal producing too much insulin and can make them a diabetic. It can also lead to kidney failure.

As the holidays arrive, it’s traditional for most people to bake more...and use more nuts.

Macadamia nuts in particular are toxic for pets. I know I enjoy eating and baking with them, but I avoid giving them to my animals. Ingesting them can inhibit locomotory activities and result in weakness, panting, and swollen limbs.

I know Thanksgiving is coming up and there will be lots of turkeys cooked. Just make sure you keep it all out of reach of your dogs. Turkey and chicken bones are a hazard as they can splinter off inside your pet, causing internal damage that leads to an emergency vet visit and possibly surgery.

Having worked with animals for many years, I was quite shocked when I found out milk is not good for your babies. When I was a kid I always heard people saying that you should give kittens milk. In reality it is not very good for them at all. Most animals are lactose intolerant and it will either give them really bad gas or even worse, diarrhea. (This is a great time to give them some pumpkin!). Most dogs do not have enough lactose enzymes for their bodies to support that much dairy.

Grapes and raisins are not safe for dogs. This one I actually was not aware of at first. I have kids and when they would drop a grape or raisin on the floor my dogs would eat them. This is one of the reasons my dogs sit under our chairs every time we eat! Grapes contain a toxin that can cause liver damage and kidney failure. Now that I know just how awful this fruit is, anytime my kids are eating them my dogs are not allowed in the room just in case one is dropped.

The one food I am glad to see on the “bad” list is avocado! I love avocados and am so happy to not share with anyone else, including my pets. Avocado has persin, a fungal based toxin that can cause diarrhea and vomiting along with heart congestion when given to pets.

I know summer is almost over but you may have a few more barbeques before the season is totally over. Remember to keep the corn on the cob away from your dogs.

The kernels can be digested but the cob can get lodged in the small intestine, becoming life threatening.

If this has interested you and you are looking for more food knowledge online, I urge you to consider the source. The information that’s out there should be looked at with some common sense. If you have any questions, please reach out to your veterinarian. Also, in case of any accidental toxic food ingestion, you can access help at petpoisonhelpline.com (the website also has a poison look up that I find very helpful). Keep the whole family safe as you start to cook for the holidays and also in your everyday life!

8 4 Legs & a Tail

Diane Stewart is a veterinary assistant at VCA Windham Animal Hospital in Brattleboro, VT. Her 11 years of experience have been at various hospitals coast to coast, but she is proud and happy to make New England her home.

Fall 2016

Everything You Need to Know About Dog & Cat Nutrition

Sarah Zabek

D

ogs and cats are very different species, and they have unique nutritional needs throughout their lifetimes that you as their caretaker should be aware of.

While both dogs and cats are carnivores, dogs are functional carnivores, and cats are obligate carnivores. Obligate carnivores are “true” carnivores because they depend on the nutrients found only in their prey for their survival.

While obligate carnivores occasionally may consume small amounts of plant material, they cannot effectively digest it. Dogs are functional carnivores, which means that they are able to digest plant material slightly better than cats, but their digestive systems are optimized for digesting meat.

METABOLISM A dog’s metabolism has peaks and valleys like a human’s. Dogs burn calories more slowly than cats, which means that dogs are better suited to go longer without food.

A cat’s metabolism burns consistently all day, which means that they must eat multiple times throughout the day.

They should not go longer than 12 hours without eating unless directed by a veterinarian.

Fall 2016

ESSENTIAL VITAMINS & AMINO ACIDS Unless formulated to meet the nutritional needs of both canine and feline, dogs must eat food formulated for dogs, and cats must eat food formulated for cats.

Dogs are able to synthesize Vitamin A and to a lesser extent Niacin as well.

They therefore do not typically need much supplementation in their food.

Vitamin A and Niacin are two vitamins essential for proper bodily function that cats cannot synthesize and thus must obtained through their diet. Taurine is an essential amino acid that helps protect the liver, kidney, and eyes. Arginine is another essential amino acid that must be included in cats’ diets.

HYDRATION Dogs in good health will seek out water to compensate for what they are not getting in their diet. That means that if your dog eats solely dry kibble Continued Page 11

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(about 10% moisture), they will drink more water on average than a dog that eats a combination of canned food (70%80% moisture) and kibble. Dogs eating raw food (60%-70% moisture) drink substantially less water than dogs on kibble.

Cats have evolved from desert creatures, and as a result they are designed to get the majority of moisture in their diet from their prey. They lack a sufficient thirst drive to drink enough water on their own. Since dry kibble only provides 10% moisture on average, it can help to use a water fountain, offer fresh water daily, and/or change the style or location of the water bowl for your cat.

For optimal feline hydration, it is highly recommended that cats be fed wet food. Canned food is typically 70%80% moisture, which is comparable to a cat’s natural prey. Raw food (60%-70% moisture) is also an excellent option to provide sufficient moisture to keep your cat hydrated.

Regardless of your pet’s diet, fresh water should be provided at all times to maintain optimal hydration and health.

READING THE INGREDIENT LABEL The first ingredients listed on the label for an ideal food for a carnivore will be a combination of whole meat and meal proteins before getting into plant matter.

When evaluating this, it’s important to keep in mind that ingredients are listed on the label by their weight prior to cooking. The cooking process causes whole meat proteins to lose water content and move down the ingredients list. This is not the case for meals, because they have had the water and fat removed prior to cooking. Starches including grains, legumes, potatoes, fruits, and vegetables do not lose as much water as whole meat proteins.

LIFE STAGES When shopping for food for your pet, it’s important to select a food that is formulated with your pet’s breed and life stage in mind. The standard stages as defined by the AAFCO include growth (puppy/kitten), gestation or lactation (pregnant or nursing females), and adult maintenance (animals over one year of age). Pet food for all life stages must meet the nutritional needs of the most demanding life stage, which is growth.

To learn more about pet nutrition and for more resources determining the best formula for your pet, visit The Cheshire Horse blog at www.blog.cheshirehorse.com.

Shop the wide variety of pet foods and supplies available at The Cheshire Horse, on the corner of Whittemore Farm Road and Route 10.

Fall 2016

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Big Jake’s Story Rebecca Roy, founder, Draft Gratitude Horse Rescue, Winchester, NH

agedTBelgian his is the story of Big Jake, an gelding who found him-

time he reached this buyer, Big Jake was missing an eye (that was removed self just a few stops away from being because of cancer) and also had some slaughtered. And was saved in the nick cancer cells removed from his nose.

Things were not looking up for Big Jake, of time.

Big Jake was owned by a “kill buyer” because an aged horse with medical in South Carolina. A “kill buyer” is some- needs often has a very poor chance of one who buys horses for the purpose of escaping the horse slaughter pipeline. shipping them to be slaughtered. By the But on New Year’s Eve 2016, things started to turn around for this beautiful Belgian draft horse. Draft Gratitude got the call that Big Jake needed our help. Through a joint effort with Equine Rescue Network, we put together a plan to bail him out and get him to a safe foster home as quickly as possible.

Big Jake arrived at his foster home in North Carolina just a few days later. But, he was very unsettled; he was stressed, sweating and pacing. He stayed there for a few weeks, but the stress on him and his caregiver was taking its toll.

Big Jake was able to board at stay at a stable for a few weeks, until we could schedule a ride for him up to our facility in New Hampshire. He was more content at the stable than at his foster home, most likely due do the presence of other horses. Horses are herd animals and their instincts tell them being in a herd means survival.

A few weeks later, very close to Valentine’s Day, Big Jake arrived in New Hampshire. He was very thin, had super shaggy hair, and a random stitch remaining in his left eye socket from when his eye had been removed.

He had a difficult time negotiating the exit ramp to get off the trailer because he had no vision on his left side.

The next day, we immediately got to work on his care plan. He was seen by two of our vets, one for general care, and the other for a consultation on his eye. His teeth were floated, he was dewormed, and our grain representative built a feed regime for him.

Amazingly, Big Jake had one of the fastest body condition recoveries that we have seen. The good news is that he is a healthy weight now, the bad news is that he was so thin simply because he wasn’t fed appropriately.

Big Jake is a great ol’ guy, quite the character, and great to work around. He even picks up his feet! We are honored to be providing him exceptional care with the help of his monthly team. We are still working on his cancer. We are trying different holistic options and also working with our vet on a drug to 12 4 Legs & a Tail

Draft Gratitude is an all-volunteer, nonprofit draft horse rescue in Winchester, NH. Draft Gratitude saves draft horses from slaughter by providing a second chance and a place to call home. For more information please visit www.draftgratitude.com or call Becky Roy at 603-762-3266.

help reduce the cancerous tissue around his lip in hopes that we can surgically reduce a small remaining amount of cancerous tissue.

The best news is that Big Jake is safe for the rest of his life.

Big Jake was also the beginning inspiration of our Monthly Giving Team.

We knew that Big Jake would need ongoing care and that he may stay with us here at the farm for the rest of his life depending on his cancer. We reached out to our Facebook community looking for monthly supporters for Big Jake.

I’m excited to share that Big Jake has monthly sponsors from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas and Oregon!

Monthly giving is a gift that makes a HUGE impact. The average cost of daily care for one draft horse is $12. For just $12, you can provide shelter, feed, farrier care, and routine veterinary care for one draft horse, for one day, each month. We would love to have you on our team.

Draft Gratitude was founded in 2014

by Rebecca Roy. Rebecca has always had a soft spot for draft horses. The idea of rescuing unwanted draft horses had bounced around her heart for several years after owning an old Belgian mare named Rita. Rita lived out the end of her life on Rebecca’s small farm, both having a huge impact on each other.

Rebecca lives in Winchester with her husband, Jay, and their son, Cody.

Fall 2016

Animal Communication at Draft Gratitude, Horse Rescue Brandi Wells

T here is much to be said about the language between animals and humans.

There is a soul connection. Humans and animals operate on the same vibration frequency. There is an unspoken interspecies language.

Draft Gratitude Horse Rescue, located in Winchester, NH was looking for insight into their horses and sought me out.

I am an Animal communicator.

Telepathic animal communication is valuable in many different situations, enhancing shared knowledge and mutual understanding between animals and their persons. Past issues affect animals when stored as energies, such as memories or traumas. These energies result in tensions that cause the animal to alter its authentic behavior and create a distressed state.

Unaddressed, that state of distress can manifest into symptoms and/or disease.

Animals relaying descriptions of their symptoms, feelings and pains can be helpful to veterinary health professionals in their diagnostic process. Communicating meaningfully about these issues helps the situation immensely.

One excerpt from my field notes as I explored Draft Gratitude: “Sylvia. She is grounding energy for Beau.

She grew up in one location, in an underground stone, open-style barn. There is an elderly couple that had a handful of horses.

They started out with good intentions. The man was the one who trained them to pull. Sylvia was the head of the herd. They used to be well cared for and were brought into stalls each night, but as time went Fall 2016

on, he wasn’t able to keep up. He eventually just threw them food in this open barn, they were among a lot of chickens.

The barn was not clean… a lot of chicken droppings and dust.

She may display allergies, but she is healing in her lungs. The man smoked a pipe and had a son who lived down the road. He would try to help when he could but was not consistent because he traveled a lot for work; a trucker or traveling job? Feels as if they were located in Western NY. She still grieves her loss of home. She displays good health and a steady, stable personality.”

By tuning into depression and grief, I can see their manifestations in emotional and physical health problems. Addressing these underlying issues appropriately can improve balance and well being. Specific behavior problems can be investigated and understood through telepathic communication, and training techniques can be improved with the animal’s cooperation.

Assisting animals with transitions and environment changes helps prevent anxiety and abandonment fears. Interspecies understanding is greatly enhanced through human and animal communication.

The reality is that humans and animals store emotion on a cellular level. The body/ mind/soul connection is real. Once healing begins through understanding, we are able to release negative energies and invite the positive, higher vibrational energies.

With this increased awareness and closeness, you can create more loving relationships and transitions with your animal friends, indeed, with all of nature.

As I tuned in to hear the stories of these beautiful creatures at Draft Gratitude, I realized that emotion runs deep in their souls. Yet, they are still gentle giants who ground our energy, just by being near them.

Draft Gratitude rescues draft horses from kill or neglect type situations. Once rehabilitated, these horses are paired with

qualified adoptive homes to be used for light work including farming, homesteading, pleasure driving, riding, and companionship. Horses that are not able to be adopted for any reason, will live out their lives in their care.

Draft Gratitude is a non-profit, all volunteer organization. Volunteers and contributors make saving lives possible. Caring for these deserving draft horses is an honor for draft Gratitude and they are grateful to be able to provide a soft landing for as many as they can.

I connected with many horses, but one rhythm ran through the sessions, they all have a journey to be honored and are grateful for this beautiful landing place at the rescue.

Brandie Wells invites leashed or crated cats and dogs into her space at Keene Intuition on Main St. They may roam freely during the session or she will also travel to farms and residential locations within 10 miles of Keene, NH without a travel fee.

For location and donations: Draft Gratitude, 148 Ashuelot Street, Winchester NH 03470 www.draftgratitude.com Love and Light, Brandie Wells, Compassionate Clairvoyant Host of Soul Central, A1R International Radio Tues., 9:30pm EST Certified Angel Card Reader, Psychic Medium & Animal Communicator Readings, Parties, Paranormal Investigations & Psychic Events Owner of Keene Intuition 47 Main St, Ste 4, Keene, NH 03431 603-313-1895 Brandiewells.com

www.4LegsAndATail.com 13

Winning the Battle Against Lyme Disease Colleen Campbell

H aving my horses out in fields is important for their mental and physical health, but tick borne diseases are always a concern. I met Joyce Belcher at the

Equine Affaire. She had a wealth of knowledge and an affordable product to prevent and treat tick-borne diseases. I have used it on my own horses and dogs this year. I have found one dead tick on one horse and the symptoms of Lyme have disappeared from my animals (3 out of 4 were diagnosed with Lyme and one had unexplained swellings all around his body). I was so impressed with how effective Bor-l-immune was, that I asked her to write about Lyme and herbal prevention. I hope this helps you as much as it helped me!

Lyme disease was first named in 1975 in Lyme, CT. when a significant number of children and adults had a unique form of juvenile arthritis at 100 times the average. Lyme disease is caused by a particular kind of bacterium known as a spirochete.

The spirochete that causes Lyme disease is from the genus Borrelia burgdorferi. Numerous Borrelia organisms affect us and our pets, 3 main Borrelia are considered to be the cause of Lyme Borreliosis. All of these cause a different Lyme-type infection explaining why there are different symptoms of the disease such as relapsing fever, joint degeneration and central nervous system disruptions of varying sorts.

Common symptoms of Lyme in dogs and horses are behavioral changes and arthritic type symptoms. These symptoms include, but are not limited to: irritability, fatigue, brain fog, lack luster, not interested in work, stubborn, hyperactivity, spooks easily, loses interest in eating, unexplained lameness or soreness.

Lyme spirochetes resemble a corkscrew shaped worm. They colonize in collagen, around the joints, eyes, and brain, where they feed. Spirochetes are very difficult for researchers to work with which is why so little is known about them. Even after 60+ years of bacterial research, they still can’t be grown in a lab.

They’re very thin, making them hard to see under a microscope without unusual lighting and specific equipment.

Lyme disease is primarily passed through deer ticks but it’s not the only way. Lyme Spirochetes have been found in biting flies, mites, mosquitoes, fleas, human breast milk, tears, semen, and urine. Transmission to humans thru biting flies has been documented in CT. Transmission thru mites has been documented in Germany. Direct transmission thru mosquitoes has not yet been documented but there is reason to believe that it does occur.

Continued Next Page

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When a tick bites, the Interluken2 levels are reduced through tick saliva. Astragalus is one of the most important herbs to use in the prevention of Lyme. It increases Interluken2 levels, enhances function in spleen and thymus. Keeping these levels high may significantly reduce the likelihood of infection. Studies have found that during Lyme infection the higher the CD4 white blood cell levels, the better the resistance the animal will have to the infection as well as a better response with treatment if already infected. Lower CD4 counts correlated to increased spirochete load.

Prevention is better than treatment.

A healthy immune systems is the most important preventative measure against any tick borne disease, it will lessen the chance of damage or invasion by the spi-

rochetes. If the immune system is out of balance, the spirochetes will prevail and damage collagen throughout the body. We can help balance the immune system through nutrition, liver support and non-chemical fly/tick sprays.

Using toxins such as spot-on chemicals can directly and negatively affect the immune system and compromise the liver. Effective herbs that support/ balance the immune system and deter parasites are a safer, healthier choice. It’s important that we support the liver, the organ that regulates the health of the collagen, (connective tissue, ligaments, tendons), where the spirochetes do damage.

We need to support and strengthen, not deplete and damage, in order to win the battle with Lyme. It is necessary to use a complete body-system detox that moves and cleanses the lymphatic system, blood, liver, kidneys, promotes bile and removes heavy metals to assist the body during spirochete die-off.

Herbs that help prevent as well as lower titers should have the following chemistry: Anti-spirochetal, anti-inflammatory, enhance immune function, immune modulating, protect heart muscle, protect and enhance liver function, clear infection from the body, cross the blood brain barrier, anti-parasitic, nutritive, lymphatic mover, diuretic and diaphoretics to help excrete toxins, antioxidant. (Email Joyce Belcher if you want to know more about specific herbs.) Vitamin C is a catalyst for bones, tissues, cartilage to promote proper healing. A few recommendations: Amalaki, Ala, DHEA, Soloman’s seal, Hemp seed for horses.

When using antibiotics, a species appropriate pre/probiotics given 2 hours after each dose will keep the immune system at its best. Antibiotics are not selective; they kill bad and good bacteria. The body needs vitality (good bacteria) in order to stay healthy and fight pathogens. 80% of the immune system is in the gut.

Colleen CampbelI has been riding since she was very young, trying disciplines from Hunt seat to Saddle seat before finding western. Interning at UVM Morgan Horse farm she also received an Associates in Equine Studies from Umass Amherst. She learned the natural Horsemanship method from Joe Delano, with whom she still works. For 7 years she has been running her training and lesson business, Campbell Equine, in Leverett, MA. Her newest project is Heroes, Horses and Hounds, a non-profit education center focusing on rescue, rehab and animal assisted therapy certifications and programs this Summer!

Want some Bor-L-Immune? http://herbs-for-life-3.myshopify.com/#_l_1j

Joyce Belcher is a certified herbalist-formulator specializing in organic medicinal formulations for animals. She resides in York, ME, and is the founder of Herbs for Life, Inc. manufacturer of the Pet Wellness Blends™ and Veterinary Botanicals™ product lines. Ms. Belcher has spent years advancing her herbal studies mentoring with several highly-respected experts in the field of veterinary herbalism.

Her areas of expertise include immune balance, the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease in dogs and horses, and custom medicinals in veterinary herbalism. In her practice, Joyce Belcher formulates herbal medicine and supplements for holistic and integrative veterinarians and educates animal owners to be proactive in caring for the health of their animals.

Fall 2016

Cheshire Shed

www.4LegsAndATail.com 15

Loosen Up! Dorothy Crosby - Stoddard,NH

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hile teaching lessons and clinics this fall, I have encountered many riders with body tension. All of us, riders and non-riders alike, carry tension somewhere; life sees to that! Whether job or illness related, relationship propelled or financially induced, we feel the results: back or shoulder pain, stiffness, headaches….the list goes on. Horse people also experience many variables related to horseback riding: feeling insecure or unbalanced in the saddle, problem behaviors, lack of confidence, or previous bad experiences, to name a few. Riders need to be aware of that tension and how it affects our horses, too. Of course you’ve noticed how the horse will “twitch” when a fly lands on them; is there any doubt that they feel us when we work with them or sit astride?

Sally Swift, founder of Centered Riding®, once commented that our main job as riders should be to “get out of the horse’s way” so he can do his job. She gave us the information on “comparable parts” and how our body parts affect them and theirs affect us; in essence we mirror each other. Tight shoulder? Tight hips? Your horse may have difficulty moving his. Tense muscles? Your horse may react with exaggerated energy or with sluggishness, depending on his personality and where you are tense.

There is good news: we can eliminate some of our own tension, thereby minimizing theirs, helping them move freely and enabling us to be more effective, “soft”, and confident.

Perhaps a little “Shake Out” will help you relax before you mount. The goal is to free the muscles over your joints, thus lengthening them and allowing more room for movement. First, test the freedom of your arm by moving it in all directions and noting how it feels: light or heavy, moving freely or tight? Beginning with your wrist, move your forearm to slowly shake your wrist, gradually increasing the speed as you become familiar with the feeling. It will eventually shake and wobble in all directions. Clench your fist and shake again; you will notice that the tension prevents freedom of movement.

In fact, if you create tension anywhere in your body it affects your other body parts in some way! Loosely shake out your wrist again. Then shake out your elbow by moving your upper arm. Shake out your shoulder by creating a rotary motion in your torso; let your arm hang down like a stone on a string so you are allowing it to move freely and voluntarily. Each part you are moving must be permitted to “flop” so it can dangle and not be forced to move with muscle. Now test your arm by moving it around again; is it different? Drop it to your side and note how it feels: lighter, tingly, heavier? Chances are it’s a little longer than the other with the muscles relaxed. Repeat the sequence with the other arm…

Next, how do your legs feel? Balance yourself, it’s ok to hold a chair or someone’s shoulder, and stand on one foot. With your other knee slightly Continued Next Page

16 4 Legs & a Tail

Fall 2016

bent, loosen your ankle by shaking your lower leg as if you were shaking water off your toes. Note the effect of tightening your toes as you shake! With free toes, loosen your ankle again. Now your knee: holding your thigh, allow your lower leg and foot to dangle. Move your thigh and hip to swing your leg gently forward and back, but without circular motion as the knee doesn’t move that way! Your hip joint and socket are in the bendable crease between your thigh and pelvis, a couple inches below your waist; with your hand feel it move both in the crease and on the outside of your leg about where the outside seam of your pants would be. Rebalancing on the same leg, let the hanging leg be floppy as you gently wobble your hips around. Return your foot to the ground, evaluating as you did with your arm; it probably feels longer and more active. Repeat with the other leg to make yourself even.

Finally, standing with both feet about shoulder width apart, alternatingly flex both knees forward and slightly out to wobble your pelvis and move your spine, freeing up your back, neck and head as it ripples from bottom to top.

You now have a new, relaxed, even, and aware self!

There are many mounted and unmounted Centered Riding exercises and techniques that can help eliminate tension and create softness and balance for us and the horse. There’s nothing better than a relaxed, tension free ride!

This is a good place to start.

Find your horse's rhythm, and loosen in sync with the rhythm.

Dorothy Crosby is certified both as a Level lll Centered Riding Instructor/Clinician and a CHA Instructor for both English and Western riders. She manages a small farm in Stoddard, NH, where Equi-librium is based; workshops, clinics, and lessons are also offered off the farm. Dorothy teaches adults and children, emphasizing safety and fun while learning, and incorporating Centered Riding into: recreational and trail riding, dressage, jumping, driving, long-lining and in-hand work. With over 50 years of horse experience, Dorothy began riding as a child, continuing on to be a Jr. Instructor in High School and Equestrian Team Co-Captain in college. She has been a Veterinary Technician, 4-H Leader, and Pony Club Instructor.

Dorothy loves what happens when humans and equines connect and form a partnership; her passion is teaching horses and humans of all ages and levels of experience.

Fall 2016

www.4LegsAndATail.com 17

Training and the Art of Patience I

Bethany King

could have sworn I placed a paper napkin on the end table in preparation for lunch being eaten in the living room. However, there were no napkins to be found. Hmm, maybe I was mistaken. I placed a couple of napkins on the end table and returned to the kitchen to finish making lunch. Returning to the living room, the napkins had vanished again. What was going on? Looking around the living room didn’t turn up the napkins, until I looked in our newly adopted dog’s kennel.

There was Kalvin, two years old, happily shredding pilfered paper napkins with a sparkle in his eye and a wagging tail! Here I come to break up his fun. A teachable moment for him. He came out and I gave him praise for his recall from stolen treasure. I retrieved the paper napkins and disposed of them.

I decided Kalvin would need to learn a solid “leave it” cue, generally used before a dog picks up an item (which would then require a “drop it”). It can save your dog’s life. Think of a bottle of pills being dropped on the floor. We want our dogs to “leave it” and know they will not gobble up what they see.

Leave it can be taught in different ways and there are different kinds of leave it.

It can be implied, (the dog doesn’t need you around to tell them leave it), or the dog responds when you tell them “leave it”.

I like to teach both. Implied leave its are great for dropped food. I might notice the food had fallen, you can bet the dog did. Implied leave its enable you to leave out items, like paper napkins, without your dog snatching them. With holidays you don’t want to worry about that bowl of candy or that fresh pumpkin pie. (Some dogs cannot be left unattended with food or other items they are known to chew/swallow. Always keep safety in mind.) Have your dog on a leash with a short lead. Have a bag with rewards ready. Toss Implied Leave it a treat your dog cannot reach at the end Implied leave it helps dogs develop impulse control. It teaches the dog you can of the leash. The dog will probably pull get what you want by not trying to get what you want. Make this a game for the to try and get to it. Stand still or encourdog. You will need a small container or plate and several pea sized pieces of food. age the dog to come back. When the dog I start sitting. Load small pieces of food into one hand and then close into a fist, returns reward him. Teach him that coming fingers facing up. I lower my hand to dog’s nose level, anchoring my elbow to my knee. away from what he wants results in good The dog is going to try to get the food. They nose at, nibble on, paw at and try to get things. Start walking towards the thrown the food out of your hand. Don’t say anything at this point. Be patient. Wait for that treat. If the dog charges ahead be ready split second the dog backs away from your hand, then open your hand (don’t spill any to stop and reward him for coming away. treats). If the dog comes forward, close your hand. The dog to moves away, then open Once close to the thrown treat I step your hand. Continue until you can leave your hand open for a beat without your dog on the leash so I can pick it up without trying to snatch and grab. Once your dog isn’t trying to take the food, use your free the dog beating me to it. I do not give the hand to pick up one treat. If the dog moves forward put the treat back in the original dog the treat off the ground. I reward them hand and close it. The goal is to pick up a single treat and reward our dog for not taking with one from my pocket if they sit or food from the forbidden hand. The dog is teaching itself “I get the food by not trying don’t try to grab the treat from the floor. to get the food!” You are not moving your hand away, the dog needs to move away.

Repeat. The dog learns to not bother chas When successful try placing pieces of food on your knee. Cover and uncover when the ing after the thrown food and waits for their dog moves away. Reward one piece for leaving it alone. The longer your dog leaves the food reward. When I’m 99% sure the dog won’t the more they can earn. Lastly try it on the floor (this is usually the hardest for the dog). go for the food, I start saying “leave it” as The “It’s your choice” game, can be played with food in a container or on a plate. Place I toss the treat. We’ve taught the behavior food in container, cover, uncover when dog moves away and reward from container if the we want first and then put a name to it. dog doesn’t try to take the food. Also try a piece from the container, place it on the floor, Your dog will know that leave it means wait and then place it in the container. Reward your dog’s success! I practice as many come look at me and get your reward! The ways as possible. The dog learns to generalize, not just leave things that are in my hand. biggest test will be practicing with your The second way is to teach a verbal cue. Leave it, as a verbal command, is going dog off leash. Practice a lot so you’re setto mean look/move away from item and look at me. ting up for success. Do some gentle body blocking if needed, but don’t use intimidation or fear to teach. The dog should offer the behavior. Buddy doesn’t need shoes?

Leave it! That cat isn’t for you. Leave it!

I use it with Kalvin on walks when there are mystery items on the ground, or if he’s trying to befriend a dog that isn’t interested. Sky’s the limit on the uses for leave it. Happy training!

18 4 Legs & a Tail

Bethany King is a certified trainer and AKC CGC evaluator with over 8 years experience working with human students and their dogs. She shares her home with many animals including her 10 year old registered therapy dog Kalvin, a poodle mix.

Fall 2016

The Demon Possessed Cat Cured by Exorcism Extractions Sandra L Waugh VMD, MS - Windsor, VT

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n honor of Halloween herein is the tale of Quinn, a black female cat who was presented as a Valentine’s Day gift, but who had a few quirks to her personality, to say the least. Things started out normally but then progressed to a nightmare at about 7 months of age in July 2012.

Quinn was agitated all the time, unfriendly, even attacking her owner. She would sit on the countertop screaming and yelling (then would swat the owner if she came near). She would whip her head back and forth - if she could have spun it around on her neck, she would have!! Then she would smash the side of her head onto the sink or into the cupboards. The owner could hear her teeth grinding onto the sharp corner of the cupboard.

The complete “exorcism” required several dental procedures. In January 2013 Quinn had an area of swollen, red gum near the right lower molar. The area was

Fall 2016

Quinn giving the “evil eye” as a kitten.

Quinn in her “demon days”.

biopsied and was found to be inflammatory in nature, cause unknown. The area healed but then returned, and it became apparent that the gum was coming into contact with the sharp point of the upper fourth premolar. In July 2013 this tooth was extracted and Quinn became much happier for a short while, then began hitting her head on the cupboards, this time specifically on the right side.

On Halloween in 2013 dental radiographs were taken which showed a fairly subtle change in the periodontal ligament space on the upper right canine tooth, Continued Next Page

www.4LegsAndATail.com 19

indicating early periodontal disease. The upper left canine was normal. When the upper right canine was extracted a small hole (called an oronasal fistula) was found in the bone that sits between the tooth root on the mouth side and the nasal passage on the nose side. This small hole allowed fluid and bacteria to travel into the nasal passage which can be very annoying to some animals. Unfortunately oronasal fistulas are not apparent on radiographs and are found only after extraction. They are caused by various diseases but most commonly by periodontal disease.

Below is a comparison of a normal upper right canine tooth in an almost 4 year old cat and Quinn’s radiograph from 2013 when she was almost 2 years old. The angle of the radiographs is slightly different which changes the appearance of the tooth. The black line that outlines the tooth is called the periodontal ligament space because the periodontal ligament lives there. This ligament attaches to the bone of the skull and the root of the tooth. It provides support to the tooth, nutrition to the root and allows the tooth a small amount of “give” when encountering something hard. Periodontal disease causes the ligament to disappear.

Normal tooth in 4 year old cat. The periodontal ligament space is well defined around the entire root.

Quinn’s tooth showing loss of definition of the peridontal ligament space at the end of the root (red circle).

Cats are such wonderfully fascinating creatures! Normally one would expect to see signs of periodontal disease (bone loss and widening of the periodontal ligament space) in the area indicated by the yellow circles. But not in Quinn’s case.

The area affected by periodontal disease was at the end of the root, indicated by the red circle. Comparison of the normal tooth with Quinn’s tooth shows a loss of definition in the outline of the tooth.

Things were great for a while, then Quinn began banging the left side of her head onto the cupboard. Time for more dental surgery! In April 2014 dental radiographs were taken and the upper left canine tooth now had early periodontal disease changes. After it was extracted a small oronasal fistula was found.

Since then Quinn has had an entire change of personality. Now she picks up toys and carries them around in her mouth. She loves to play with the plastic pull tab from milk jugs and especially the safety seal on Half and Half cartons. She eats like a champ. She occasionally sleeps in the bed with the owner which she had not done before. She is much more lovable. She did not want her head touched before, now she wants lots of rubbing everywhere and particularly on the top of her head.

And should she start banging her head on the cupboards again her mouth is the first place to look!

The moral of the story is that seemingly small changes in the teeth can cause big changes in behavior and personality. If Quinn could only talk (English) she would certainly have communicated her distress about her teeth. In fact, she was communicating her distress but sometimes it takes humans a while to get it right.

Most cats are not as obvious in demonstrating pain. Many cats keep a “stiff upper lip” when in pain and become less active, more inclined to hide or have a change in a normal routine, all of which can be quite subtle. With pain the posture may change from relaxed or slightly curled up to tense or crouched and/or hunched. The facial expression may change from bright and alert to a head down posture with squinting, slanted, and/or closed eyes. A very nice reference for helping owners in evaluating pain in the cat and the dog is available from Colorado State University Flint Animal Cancer Center. Search for “feline acute pain scale” and “canine acute pain scale” in your favorite web search engine and look for csuanimalcancercenter.org in the title. A one page document with pictures and text can be downloaded or printed.

Brattleboro Tire

20 4 Legs & a Tail

Dr. Waugh is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

She also holds a Masters Degree from Washington State University of Veterinary Medicine and is owner of Windsor Veterinary & Dental Services.

Fall 2016

Meet Biscuit,

Vermont’s Arson Dog I

thought, wouldn’t it be cool to have a picture in the next issue of 4 Legs & a Tail of one of Rutland’s Police Dogs?

I had just driven by a K-9 unit and wrote myself a note to swing by the barracks on my lunch break.

I expected to meet a big German Shepherd and hear about them chasing down bad guys and detecting drugs.

Instead, I met a very sweet 7 year old Black Lab named Biscuit. Biscuit and her handler Det. Sgt David Sutton are constant companions. Biscuit is an Arson Dog. Arson Dogs, or Accelerant Detection Canines, are trained to sniff out minute traces of accelerant (gasoline, lighter fluid, etc.) that may have been used to start a fire. Each dog works and lives with their handler, a law enforcement officer or firefighter trained to investigate fire scenes.

The canine and handler are required to complete 200 hours of training. Every 3 months they must also travel to the Connecticut State Police K9 Academy, and train with the staff. They stay for approxi-

mately three days working various fire scenes.

While Trooper Sutton talked to me about the continued training and job responsibilities, Biscuit spent her time close to me enjoying being petted and meeting a new friend. She was quiet but ever alert to everything around her.

If a fire occurs and there is a question about its origin, Biscuit gets a call. When an accelerant is used to start a fire, the fire is actually burning the vapors of the accelerant. No fire will ever burn off all of the accelerant and minute traces are left behind. Once the area where the fire began is found , Biscuit is brought to that area to find the exact spot it started. When she detects the spot, she will sit and look at her handler. The handler will display an open hand held high as a signal for “show me.” Biscuit will quickly point to the spot and then sit back down.

Without Biscuit, a large area where the fire was thought to have begun would need Continued Next Page

Det Sgt David Sutton & Biscuit

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n October 24, 2013 one of Rutland’s most distinguished residents arrived to the scene of the Church Street Congregational Church in Burlington. Just one day earlier, the historic downtown landmark was engulfed in flames, in what fire officials deemed as suspicious.

This is when Biscuit went to work. As Vermont’s only trained arson dog, she has been a part of the investigation team of several fires. In the case of the Congressional Church fire, a lighter was discovered at the site.

Soon after Aliaksandr Bychkou of Burlington was charged with arson.

Fall 2016

www.4LegsAndATail.com 21

to be sent to the lab to find out exactly what accelerant was used. Biscuit can identify a much smaller area, that will be cut out and sent to the lab, saving the state a lot of time and money.

Biscuit travels the whole state of Vermont working day and night. Sometimes she even gets called to the neighboring states when they need her expertise. Biscuit also has a lot of fun doing demonstrations at local schools. A little accelerant will be put on a teacher’s or student’s shoelaces. Biscuit will then search the whole class until she finds it.

I was lucky enough to observe her as Trooper Sutton did a demonstration for me.

Biscuit searched the entire room until she found the spot where the tiniest drop of accelerant was present. In under 30 seconds, she had found the spot and was sitting, staring at her handler.

The bond between these two is very tight. 24/7, they are side by side working.

There is no question that they are lucky to have each other, and that Rutland and the whole state of Vermont are lucky to have them and the services they provide.

The Liable of an Innocent Cow T

he Great Chicago Fire destroyed 3.3 square miles of Chicago, Illinois, burning for two days in 1871—between October 8th and October 10th. It killed hundreds of people, left more than 100,000 homeless (nearly one third of Chicago’s residents at the time), destroyed roughly 17,000 buildings, and caused a couple hundred million of dollars in damage (about $4-$5 billion today).

A popular story often told about how of the Great Chicago Fire started is that a cow owned by Kate O’Leary kicked a lit lantern over and that started the flames. The story has even been the subject of a children’s song:

Late one night, when we were all in bed, Mrs. O’Leary lit a lantern in the shed.

Her cow kicked it over, Then winked her eye and said, “There’ll be a hot time in the old town tonight!”

It may come as a disappoint to some to learn that the cow story isn’t true— the man who wrote the O’Leary story for the Chicago Republican, Michael Ahern, later admitted that he had made the cow angle up in order to create a more interesting tale. But the fire certainly did start in the vicinity of a barn owned by the O’Learys.

However, the exact cause of the fire was never determined, though Catherine O’Leary was used as a scapegoat of sorts. O’Leary was an Irish Catholic immigrant—despised by many people at the time—so she made an easy target. In addition to Ahern’s retraction of his cow story, t h e O ’ L e a r ys claimed to have been asleep by the time the fire started, so there would have been no lantern in the barn for a cow to kick.

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Fall 2016

Heading into cold weather is the perfect time to adopt a good "mouser" like Periwinkle.

Purrs in the House Again I

By Maggie Thompson

t had been over five months since Coffee Bean died, our seventeen-year-old cat. I sensed another cat in our future, but knew I had to get beyond grieving Beanie, beyond looking for a cat just like her.

Many evenings before bed I’d review the pictures and profiles of available cats on the Central Vermont Humane Society website.

Could I imagine myself with this one? That one? Sometimes I just needed reassurance that when I was ready, there would be cats.

I liked looking at the photos, reading about their known histories and personalities.

I felt wistful just driving by the Humane Society, knowing cats were in there.

I waited until after the holidays. I wanted to make sure my husband Ron wanted another cat. After all, life was easier without one. We could sleep through the night undisturbed, reclaim the living room chair that Beanie had usurped, and be relieved of hairball incidents and worse, that had cropped up in Beanie’s elder years. Yes, it was easier without a cat.

But with “easier” came a gnawing absence. We lacked an important, even sacred, dimension that animals offer. They live in the present and are expert at settling me into a more balanced perspective.

Then there’s the joy animals invite with their playfulness, curiosity and affection.

They are unencumbered by regrets about the past or worries about the future.

One Thursday in February, I visited CVHS. I spent time with Abbey, Hermione and Peanut, acknowledged Molokai and Kahoona. But it was Periwinkle who caught my eye – a petite silver gray with soft stripes and big blossom eyes, about three years old.

Timid, she winced when I reached gently Fall 2016

ago? No. I was ready to love her with my whole heart and give her all the time she needed to learn to trust us.

She spent the first two weeks under the dining room hutch, allowing us to reach under and pet her, nuzzling our hands and purring. Little by little she ventured out.

Now, she romps with toys. She plays catch, batting her ball right to me so I can roll it back to her. Seventy-four times back and forth in one session is our record! She is fascinated with fabric, tossing napkins and dishtowels. Recently she has begun blanket diving, semi-somersaulting into her fleece throw. She likes to rub against my legs when I’m cooking. She often bounds from room to room for no apparent reason. Home alone one afternoon, I heard notes from our piano, played with tentative paws. Some mornings I’m greeted by my computer mouse on the floor – her mouser instinct.

In quieter times we lie on our sides in the sun together on the living room floor.

Periwinkle does half-mast sultry blinks, a sign of trust, and stretches a front paw toward me, gently spreading her toes. I do slow blinks back to her and imitate her paw.

She’s settling in, and so are we, happily.

to pet her. However, no hissing or scratchMaggie Thompson, a farm girl from ing. She was just afraid, no doubt from the recent upheaval in her feline life. Though Illinois, lives in Calais, Vermont. Periwinkle she was not comfortable being held, she is the fifth Thompson cat, following in the pawprints of Coffee Bean, Callie Cat, maintained riveting eye contact with me, Pumpkin Eleanor, and Princess Elijah. following my every movement.

Later in the lobby, I filled out the inventory used to match cats with families. Periwinkle was on the other side of the window, her gaze still fixed on me. I realized I was filling out the questionnaire with her in mind, her blue-green eyes and sweet face pulling at my heart.

As I pulled out of the parking lot, tears surprised me. Grieving Coffee Bean anew?

Struck by the loss of all the cats, dogs and cows I have loved?

The next day, Ron and I were on the doorstep when CVHS opened. An hour later, Ron was on his way back to work and Periwinkle and I were headed home.

Was it unwise to adopt a stray cat that nothing was known about prior to ten days

www.4LegsAndATail.com 23

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall: Dog Lovers KATE KELLY

B

oth Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall loved dogs. She was partial to cocker spaniels and had two of them–one named Droopy and another, Puddle. Bogart owned several breeds during his lifetime including a Newfoundland terrier, a couple of Scottish terriers, and a Sealyham terrier (a breed that originated in Wales).

MET ON FILM SET The couple met in 1944 while filming the Howard Hawks film, To Have and Have Not. Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957), already a star from Casablanca, played the leading male, and Lauren Bacall (1924-2014) was a newcomer in the role of the ingénue.

Both Bacall’s mother and Howard Hawks were dead-set against the budding romance between the two stars. Hawks felt it interfered with their work. Bacall’s mother was opposed to her daughter dating a married man 25 years her senior—particularly one who was known to drink heavily.

LOVE CONQUERED ALL But disapproval did not deter the couple. They were again paired to work together in Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep (1945). During this time, they decided to marry.

Bogart got a divorce from his second wife, and the two were married on a friend’s farm in Ohio.

Since both Bogart and Bacall were “dog” people, it was only natural that their friend presented them with a one-week old boxer puppy, born on the farm just days before their nuptials. From that time forward, the boxer breed became the household’s breed of choice.

They named the puppy Harvey after the invisible rabbit in Mary Chase’s 1944 play of the same name (later made into a motion picture). Harvey proved to be a very smart dog. Lauren Bacall reported that since he wasn’t allowed on furniture, he was quite accommodating about the rule—he just put two paws on the couch at a time. If the couple had a fight, then the no-furniture rule went out the window and Harvey sat between them until they were ready to make up.

BOGART AND BACALL AND THEIR BOXERS Shortly, two more boxers came to live with them—George and Baby. But Harvey was always the alpha dog. If you see just one boxer in photos with the movie stars, you can be sure it’s Harvey.

Throughout their 12 years together, Bogart and Bacall shared a happy if not perfect marriage. Part of their joy in being together was their love of dogs and the pleasure they took in raising their two children.

Harvey was part of the family through to the very end. He died just 6 months after Bogart passed away in 1957.

24 4 Legs & a Tail

This article first appeared on the website, www.americacomesalive.com During the summer, America Comes Alive publishes more stories about American dogs and other animals. Visit the website and sign up for “American Dogs” to receive the stores in your In Box. Or email Kate Kelly at kate@americacomesalive.com Fall 2016

T

he first skunk I ever caught was back in 1975. I caught it in a foothold trap and it was very much alive. All the stories I had heard on the best way to dispatch a skunk, was to be at least 10 feet away before shooting. I played it safe and shot from 15 feet away. The skunk sprayed and died. Being 15 feet away I knew I was scent free, and headed off to school. While I was opening my locker the girl next to me started screaming that there must be a skunk in the school and I was sent home. Turns out the essence was on my boots.

There are a lot of myths pertaining to when a skunk will spray. So let’s address a few.

A skunk won’t spray in a cage trap especially if you put a tarp over it: This is true about 95% of the time.

However there are exceptions. I caught a skunk in a Hav-A-Hart and successfully wrapped it up with a tarp and placed it in the back of my new pickup with a cap on it. No way this skunk is going to spray right? Well that is what I thought, so I proceeded to my next stop. The next stop was a friend’s woodshop where I picked up wood shavings for bedding for my wife’s horses once a week. When I pulled into the yard my friend’s dog started barking and jumped up against the truck. Needless to say I did not get my shavings that week.

Baby skunks don’t spray: Yes they do, and are more likely to spray than an adult, as they are not yet in full control of their functions.

A skunk needs both hind feet on the ground and tail in the air: A basement restaurant located in a nearby town called. The panic stricken employee said there was a skunk trapped in the stair well and it was the only entrance he had a key for and they needed to open in two hours. I rushed over and was able to coax the skunk into a solid plastic trap designed specifically for skunks. When I picked it up vertically the skunk fell further into the trap and sprayed. Fortunately, the essence was contained in the trap and the smell left with me. Unfortunately, there were no nearby parking spots, so I had to carry the smelly guy down the main street through crowds of unhappy shoppers, to my truck.

If you pick up a skunk by the tail it won’t spray: This I have not tried on a live skunk, however one fall a customer called with a dead animal smell in their basement. After searching awhile I found a pile of chewed up insulation behind the oil tank. I looked through it and found a dead skunk in it. The scent glands on a skunk are located next to the tail. The skunk was starting to decay, so I picked it up by the tail and the tail came loose, Fall 2016

To Spray or Not To Spray Scott Borthwick - Canaan, NH

unleashing the wrath of God right into the forced hot furnace which was running. On the bright side I did solve the dead animal smell problem.

Man likes to believe that animals will behave in a certain way, however no one tells the animals. My advice is if a skunk is not bothering you, leave it alone. If it is bothering you call a professional.

Scott Borthwick owns Estate Wildlife Control. He lives in Canaan, NH with his wife Donna, two dogs, a couple of horses and one tough old chicken named Henrietta.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 25

Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs Catherine MacLean, DVM - Grantham, NH

A nyone who has been blessed with a pet that has made it into the golden years of life knows that as time progresses, things can become more

Rusty is never late for his acupuncture appointment

difficult for our beloved furry friends. One thing that some dog owners may see with their dog is a disease called degenerative myelopathy.

Degenerative myelopathy is a spinal cord disorder that is slow to progress. It looks very similar to Lou Gehrig’s disease in humans. Degenerative myelopathy commonly affects older dogs and for a long time it was thought that only German Shephard dogs were affected by it. We now know it can affect any breed of dog. It is caused by a genetic mutation in the affected dog’s DNA. This genetic mutation inhibits neurons in the spinal cord from transmitting signals from the dog’s brain to the rest of the body and vice versa.

Degenerative myelopathy usually starts with the affected dog being uncoordinated in the hind legs (ataxia); dragging its hind legs, which causes these dogs to have worn toe nails; and general hind end weakness. Over the course of months to sometimes years these symptoms will progress. Owners may see their dog knuckling over on their hind paws (weight bearing on the tops of the paws instead of the bottom), having difficulty walking without support, and difficulty supporting weight on their hind legs. These signs eventually progress to loss of use of the hind legs and possible weakness in the front legs. As horrible as all of this sounds, degenerative myelopathy is not painful.

That being said, dogs that suffer from degenerative myelopathy may become sore from overuse of other areas of their body while trying to compensate for their hind end weakness.

In the perfect world, to “correctly” diagnose degenerative myelopathy an owner would take their dog to a neurologist, have their dog’s spinal fluid analyzed, and have an MRI done to rule out other possible causes of the clinical signs mentioned above. In reality, most owners can’t afford the expensive diagnostics mentioned, and most general practitioners can confidently diagnose degenerative myelopathy with a thorough physical and neurological exam.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for degenerative myelopathy and the long term prognosis is poor. Most owners are lucky if they get a year with their dog after it’s been diagnosed. Quality of life for these dogs can be maintained with good nursing care. This means keeping sores that may occur on hind paws or limbs clean, physical therapy, acupuncture, and even wheelchairs. There is also a physical toll that takes place on the owner since dogs affected with this disease need a lot of lifting and support when moving.

Over the past year I have managed three dogs with degenerative myelopathy in three different ways. One dog was a Burmese Mountain dog. The first time I saw her for degenerative myelopathy was when her owner noticed that she was walking with her back paws knuckled over which was causing abrasions on her hind paws.

We treated her with nursing care, kept her moving, and gave her pain medication.

Continued Next Page

26 4 Legs & a Tail

Fall 2016

Almost a year after her initial diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy, she lost control of her hind legs and we sent her over the rainbow bridge.

The second dog I treated was a 15-yearold Old English Sheepdog. When I first started seeing him, he only had arthritis in his hind end. Eventually his owner started noticing that his dog was ataxic in the hind end and he was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy. This patient was already on pain medication for his arthritis. The owner opted for treating his dog with laser therapy. I can’t say for sure if the laser therapy was helping this patient more with his arthritis or his degenerative myelopathy. We found that if he received laser therapy every other week his clinical signs seemed less severe and he was able to move better in general.

Unfortunately, after about seven months of treatment, this patient’s quality of life began to deteriorate and he was also sent over the rainbow bridge.

My third patient, Rusty, was more recently diagnosed. Rusty is a 13-year-old mixed breed dog that was diagnosed by his regular veterinarian. The owner sought me out for acupuncture treatment. Overall Rusty is in great shape and there are no obvious signs of arthritis or back pain on physical exam. He has been receiving acupuncture for about three months and both the owner and I can see a big differ-

Fall 2016

ence. He comes every other week for his treatment and usually leaves with a spring in his step. The owner has also noticed that Rusty is more willing to go for walks.

Time will tell how well acupuncture will manage his degenerative myelopathy.

The important thing to remember with degenerative myelopathy is that the condition itself is not painful to the dog, but is more “painful” for the owner to watch. If you have a dog with degenerative myelopathy it is important to remember that it’s about the quality of your dog’s life and not the quantity of the days. Even though there is no cure for degenerative myelopathy, this disease can be managed for a while.

It takes dedication from the owner and an understanding that time is limited.

Dr. MacLean completed her Bachelor of Science from Penn State University, her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Atlantic Veterinary College, and her pet acupuncture certification from Chi Institute. Her areas of special interest include general practice and acupuncture. She opened Sugar River Animal Hospital in 2013, and she has been practicing veterinary medicine since 2010. Dr. MacLean’s family consists of her husband Matt, her daughter Katarina, and their three pets: Jack and Misty, two cats, and Arrow, a dog.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 27

28 4 Legs & a Tail

Fall 2016

15 Outrageous Pet Owner Requests of Vets Dr. Andy Roark DVM, MS

A

s the man pulled off his shirt and draped it over his dog, I remember thinking, “I hope my technician comes in right about now. No, wait. I don’t.”

The appointment had been uneventful until I informed the dog’s owner that his dog had a heart murmur. The man replied, “If you think he’s got a heart murmur, listen to this!” and off came his shirt.

While the request was odd, I have to admit I was intrigued. It turned out the man did indeed have a much more impressive heart murmur than his dog.

In fact, he was just a week away from surgery to have the heart defect corrected.

As he retrieved his shirt and his dog, I couldn’t help but notice a look of almost paternal pride on the man’s face. It was as if he was considering his dog’s mild heart abnormality and thinking, “Yep, that’s my boy.”

While I’m glad that I got a chance to bring this little family closer, the incident did cause me to stop and consider some of the more unusual interactions between pet owners and veterinarians.

Above and Beyond As a profession, veterinary medicine is one in which we are used to going to great lengths to meet the needs of the families we serve. Being asked to make a house call, visit a sick patient outside in the owner’s car or stay past closing time are all quite common in our line of work.

Still, even in this business, while we strive to make pets and their people as happy as possible, there are some requests that strike us as a bit much. On my Facebook page, I asked veterinary professionals to tell me some of the most bizarre requests they’ve gotten from pet owners. Here’s what they reported:

1. We had a client who wanted us to neuter her dog instead of spay her because it

was cheaper.

2. A client was boarding a dog at the clinic and requested that we keep a photo

of the family in the kennel with the dog. And not only the photo, but a frame

that you can record messages into. The family requested that we play the

message at least six times a day.

3. We once had a woman who wanted us to take a look at her duck because it

“wasn’t swimming.” Her chicken was fine, but it sure wasn't a duck!

4. We had a client claim that the reason her cat kept getting sick was because it

was urinating on mothballs and that the urine added to the mothballs was

making meth, so the cat was high.

5. I had a client ask for a copy of my license so she could open up a veterinary

account at a distributor to get “flea medicine.” She promised not to buy

controlled drugs.

6. I was asked if I could provide a list of veterinary medications that could be used

by humans and if I could help procure these medications in case of a doomsday

scenario. (This client is a “prepper.”)

7. We were asked to perform a private cremation for a cat's tail after he had a tail

amputation. We did it, too!

8. We had a client bring in a cat to be neutered. He asked if, prior to the surgery,

we could place his cat in a kennel with a female cat for one final ... . Our sharp

receptionist politely responded with, "I'm sorry, sir, but we no longer offer

that service."

9. We had a client insist we refer to her pet as “Mister” until he got to

“know” us. He would then let us know when it was OK for us to use his

given name.

10. A pet owner asked for testicles from his dog back (after the dog was neutered)

so he could keep them in a jar at his office. When his daughter was old enough to

date, he planned to bring the boyfriend in the room and explain what happened to

the last boyfriend who didn't treat her well.

11. Umm, we’ve had more than one person lift a shirt to show us a rash.

12. A client asked the male doctor to dress like a woman and wear a wig because

the dog didn’t like men.

13. We had a client come in the other day for an exam, worried about the two large

lumps on their “female” dog’s underbelly. Turns out the dog was not a female

after all!

14. New clients requested that I cover the windows and turn out the lights when

they arrived for their pets’ appointments — because they were vampires. (They

ended up being wonderful pet owners.) New staff members thought I had lost

my mind when I informed them of this client’s special needs.

15. We had a client ask if she could hold her kid’s birthday party in our hospital

during work hours.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. See the complete list of more than 500 submissions on Dr. Andy Roark’s Facebook page.

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