4 legs and a Tail - Rutland Spring 2016

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Mud Season 2016 Western Vermont

Battling For Elephants Revolutionary Therapy For Hip Dysplasia America’s First Seeing Eye Dog Wild Cats In Our Neighborhoods

4 LEGS & A TAIL FUN! What 5 Things Are Different?

Rabbit Ears, Dog’s Ear, Dog’s Foot, Coloring on Dogs Muzzel, Green Egg Missing

Inside 4 Legs & a Tail W J Y M R S V O X X O E B L E

V O A H I R A V I E V N L K C

Y E O N V O Q I F T H Z A Y U

F U Q D E J P N Y I M O C W T

D E D U C T I O N S Z X K T E

BLACKBEAR CHICKENS DEDUCTION ELEPHANT FERAL GOAT

D E V R D H Q T Y A K A B I R

S R F X S N U T T R L Q E U V

W N K U Q Q N C L A Y M A W V

J Y E X B A J F K P G U R E K

M U G K H A P E D P H O T I V

A H I P C G V R W H N E A N Y

PARASITE PUG SQUIRREL VETERANS WOODCHUCK

N B E C P I S A W V R N Z T M

T L Z H K G H L V A C A Z U H

E R P U G G Z C N S A Z G G B

L E R R I U Q S Y X Z M T I U

This Centaur Cooking Dinner

A Fowl at the Matinee Movies

A man in a movie theater notices what looks like a chicken sitting next to him. “Are you a chicken?” asked the man, surprised. “Yes.” “What are you doing at the movies?” The chicken replied, “Well, I liked the book.” source: http://jokes4us.com/animaljokes/chickenjokes.html

Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail

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2. Attis, John Peaveler

Pg. 2

A young, street-wise pup helps rescue dogs in Kuwait

A new Film by Vermont Youth focuses on the threat of Elephant and Rhino Extinction

Vermont Therapy Dogs, on duty at Fletcher Allen Health Care

Shake up your routine, Cross Training has numerous benefits

Late night at the local radio station with a “special” guest

3. Vermont Battles for Elephants

4. Alternatively Speaking: Food as Medicine, Dr. Anne Carroll, DVM, CVA 6. Play with Me, Steve Reiman 7. Cross Training for Equine Fitness, Jessica Stewart Riley 9. Play Misty for Me, Tim Hoehn

10. Prevention is Key, Robert Macpherson, DVM

The facts about preventative health care for your pet

hit of Pittsfield, VT

11. Painted Bunting Delights Vermont Bird Watchers, Kent McFarland

With only a handful of sightings over the past decade, this beautiful bird was the 12.

13 14.

15.

How Can You Help Feral Cats in Your Neighborhood?

Amy Woodman-Dubuc -

Pg. 13

Humane Options for Feral Cat populations

The Seeing Eye - The origins of the oldest existing guide dog school in the world Skunked! - Helpful tips after your pets encounter The French Fry Protection Racket, Mark Carlson

Pay up or “Something Bad Might Happen”

16. Backyard Chickens 101, Susan Dyer DVM

Pet, Egg Layer or Broiler: great information for your chicken’s health

17. Now That You’ve Adopted a Puppy: The Beginning of Your New Together- Adventures!, Mike Eigenbrode 18. Improving Your Pet’s Oral Health, Kristin Esterbrook, DVM 19. A Tale of Hip Dysplasia, Catherine MacLean, DVM

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21.

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Ways to deal with this abnormal development or growth of the hips

Paddock Partners, Heidi Jo Hauri-Gill

Summer Camp is a great place for learning to ride and develop skills

Canine Point of View, Michelle Grimes

Have a Scared dog? Here are some tips to help them feel comfortable and relaxed

Why is My Cat Peeing Outside the Box? Serena Peeters, DVM

Behavioral or Medical causes can be at the root

Let’s Avoid Conflict; Follow these guidelines

The odd, but true origins of Maple Sugaring

23. Living with Black Bears

25. Green Up Your Pets!, M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM 26. A Sweet History (That’s a Little Squirrely), Tanya Sousa 27. Spring- Keeping Your Pet Healthy, John Eustis, DVM 4 Legs & a Tail Volume R.116 P.O. Box 841 Lebanon, NH 03766 603-727-9214 TimH.4LT@gmail.com Spring 2016

Publishers: Tim Goodwin, Tim Hoehn Senior Editor: Scott Palzer Office Manager: Beth Hoehn Graphic Design: Monica Reinfeld, Lacey Dardis, Kate Haas Sales: Pat Pockette

Pg. 19 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 Western 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.

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ATTIS John Peaveler - W. Fairlee, VT

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t was spring of 2005 when I first saw him, standing in an empty lot. Black and white body, long black ears, his face innocent and sad, a look of fear etched on his young features. As a naive but committed new animal rescuer, I passionately wanted to get him off the streets, to help however I could. I had a profound ignorance of dogs, but a burning desire to learn and to save this species that had so recently touched my life. I followed him a few times, observing his fear of people, the quiet little overgrown fields where he sought safety.

Once he stood across the street from a feral cat and barked at her, too afraid to approach a cat to take its food. Another time, in my own folly, I managed to sneak up on him while he slept, thinking perhaps, if I could get well inside his flight zone I might be able to break through to him. He awoke with a start when I was about three feet away and he ran off barking. From that encounter on, I too was his enemy. Someone in his neighborhood tried to burn him out of a patch of reeds, and his fear grew.

While I was away for a couple of weeks, a colleague received word that he would be poisoned or shot if he wasn’t removed, so she borrowed a trap and started trying. We were all so green then. First she caught chickens, but finally she caught him, little more than a frightened 9 month old puppy, six months after he had first been seen living on the streets outside of Kuwait City, Kuwait.

I returned from my trip elated that he had been caught and ready with a name: Attis. I simply knew in my heart that he and I were meant for each other.

His training was complicated at first and entailed never leaving my side at all until he learned to trust me, then we worked on basic obedience. My training was much more profound. First I learned his breed: English Pointer. Then I learned his nature: timid around others, desperate for companionship, anxious to please, fiercely inquisitive. As our relationship evolved, so did my career, progressing from building and operating a shelter in Kuwait under the incredible leadership of then E.D. Ayeshah Al-Humaidhi, and moving into an ever increasing role in animal capture, rescue, and population management.

It turns out that scared little puppy had an incredible gift, and it wasn’t 2 4 Legs & a Tail

Attis on duty-John and Attis pose for a picture during dog management operations at the Abdaliya Nature Preserve in Western Kuwait, 2014.

Attis at hospital- Attis on a visit to the U.S. Army military hospital at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, 2015.

pointing at birds. I had been doing dog population surveys for a pilot program in Ahmadi, Kuwait, and taking him for runs around my work hours. As we ran, I kept him on a close recall and observed his behavior, particularly when we approached strange dogs. Time after time I watched him walk into a group of feral dogs and perfectly display the submissive traits needed to avoid confrontation and peacefully engage their seeking or curiosity system. Attis was exactly the tool I needed to count dogs.

No street dog would ignore a strange animal in their territory, and 999 times out of 1,000 (probably more, we caught thousands) he would walk away unscathed having provided me with an opportunity to count and observe every animal in a given territory. He was bitten twice that I recall, though never seriously. It was as if his time on the streets connected him to other street dogs and he could say to them “hey, I know what you’re going through. I’ve been there, but life’s not all bad. Let’s play.” He literally saved hundreds of dogs by building their trust in a country where animal abuse is commonplace, and then transferring that trust to me so that I could catch them and take them out of the hostile desert and into the shelter.

His trust, however, extends only to me. Once, my well-meaning wife sent him with the groomers and he got loose, running around a strange neighborhood until I arrived, using my vehicle siren to recall him as I regularly did in the field. I don’t believe any dog has ever run faster than he did when he heard and then saw my truck, and I have seen this dog outrun every challenger flat out in his prime. He was never groomed again.

He’s older now, and tired. Years of hard work in the desert have taken their toll, but as I look at him, I remember the puppy, the professional. And I remember how we found each other. I didn’t know he was a pure bred dog. I just loved his spirit, his innocence, and his floppy ears.

Our relationship didn’t start because I went looking for a particular dog or a particular breed of dog. I just found a dog and in each other we found our best friends and colleagues. Long live Attis!

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,Vermont and continues to work and write at home and abroad.

Spring 2016

Vermont Battles For Elephants IVORY FREE VERMONT ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF A TEN-MINUTE FILM MADE BY VERMONT YOUTH THAT HIGHTLIGHTS THE THREAT OF ELEPHANT AND RHINO EXTINCTION

vory Free Vermont, an all-volunteer organization working to outlaw the sale of elephant ivory and rhino horn in Vermont, is pleased to announce the completion of a ten-minute film about the dire threat of extinction that these two iconic species face. Made by local youth, Vermont Battles for Elephants casts a poignant and compelling spotlight on this critically time-sensitive conservation issue.

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Spearheaded by twelve-year-old Taegen Yardley of Charlotte, Vermont Battles for Elephants is a collaboration with Vermont Commons School, the college preparatory school located in South Burlington. Taegen is an integral member of Ivory Free Vermont and its efforts to pass H.297, a bill that would outlaw the sale of elephant ivory and rhino horn in the Green Mountain State. Taegen and other students at the school, together with Mark Cline Lucey, the chair of the social studies department who is also a filmmaker, have created a powerful and heartfelt film that articulates why these gentle giants must be saved. According to Mark, “When my student Taegen came to me with the idea to make a short film in support of bill H.297, I was thrilled at the opportunity to combine my concern for wildlife with my love of filmmaking.” And according to Taegen: “We have created this short film to help raise awareness about both the conservation and humanitarian reasons as to why it is so important to ban the sale of ivory.

Vermont must pass bill H.297, without exemptions, and become the first state in New England to stand up for these iconic species and help save them from extinction. We will keep fighting until we have closed all of the loopholes in each and every state.”

More than 35,000 elephants are killed every year—that’s one every fifteen minutes—for their ivory. Between 2010 and 2012 alone, poachers slaughtered more than 100,000 African elephants (about a quarter of their entire population on earth). A rhino is slaughtered once every eight hours for its horn. Research has firmly established the links between terrorist organizations and the poaching of these wild and wonderful creatures.

This amazing film, Vermont Battles for Elephants, is gaining international traction and has been tweeted by the Embassy of the Republic of Gabon to the United States; and New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak, who successfully championed the first complete ivory and rhino horn sales ban in 2014. It has also been shared by Richard Ruggiero, chief of the Division of International Conservation at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. To view the film please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRM6y3XnezE. For more information about this critical situation, the Vermont bill H.297, and how you can support it, please visit: www.ivoryfreevermont.org.

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Alternatively Speaking: Food as Medicine E very Friday night in our house is movie night. The night is

Dr. Anne Carroll, DVM, CVA

special partly for the movie, but also because we usually make fish sticks and boxed mac and cheese for dinner. We don’t eat “junk” food that often but as an occasional treat it’s fine. We mainly eat fresh whole foods that have not been pulverized into new shapes, dehydrated, or preserved with all kinds of chemicals. We know that the better we eat, the more our bodies will have the resources with which to maintain their health and avoid illness.

We typically do not think like this when feeding our pets. Ever since the first grain company realized they could feed pets as well as livestock, our pets have been eating dry processed food. Convenience and low expense made it popular, and having a “complete and balanced” meal without having to think, sealed the deal. While the dog food corporations tell us this food is the best nutritionally and should be fed exclusively, holistic practitioners do not agree. Processed diets contain high glycemic starches and use synthetic nutrients to replace all the real food value destroyed in processing. These nutrients are a shadow of the biological value of the proteins, antioxidants, vitamins and enzymes found in fresh foods. Also, every species has evolved specific digestive and metabolic processes in order to eat the diets they have evolved on. To replace meat, bones, cartilage, and organ meats with processed starches and grains can stress systems, especially over years of feeding.

Not every pet can eat a perfect fresh diet all the time. But since most pets eat processed foods most of the time, it is important to include diet as part of their medical management when illness occurs. Hippocrates says, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” but my favorite quote is a Chinese proverb “The man who takes his pill but neglects his diet wastes his doctor’s skills.” Diet is not only a tool to prevent illness, but it can help treat it as well, or if left unaddressed, can impair treatment.

Using diet as part of a medical plan: Most ancient medical philosophies dictated including or avoiding certain foods based a person’s body type or condition. Many cultures advocate eating or avoiding certain foods during illness. Modern science provides insight into how we can support stressed tissues by feeding them better. Combining all of these sources of knowledge together as part of a medical plan is a large part of the holistic medical approach.

Button was underweight and had diarrhea from the day she was brought home as a kitten. She did not play and slept all day.

Conventional approaches including antibiotics, probiotics, dewormers, canned food, dry food, and prescription food were tried. Nothing seemed to work, her weight dropped and her labwork showed signs of liver stress. India, a 6 year old Bengal cat, also struggled with diarrhea due to a rare parasite. With treatment his condition did improve until he was about 3 years old.

He began having diarrhea again, despite antibiotics, prescription food, and medications to address nausea, he dropped from 4 4 Legs & a Tail

17 to 14 ½ pounds over a year. He was not active, grumpy and hunched from a crampy tummy he did not want to play or be with the family. For both of these cats, the answer was a quality commercial raw diet. These raw diets are very plain, minimally processed meat and none of the vegetables or starches.

For both the response was immediate, diarrhea stopped and they returned to being thriving kitties. Button grew and became a proper terror, while India gained 2 pounds and was his happy content self again.

Veterinary prescription diets were not the answer.

Prescription foods are designed to help an impaired organ or body system function, mainly by reducing nutrients difficult for the body to manage, impaired by illness. They let the body work around its problem more than trying to feed the impaired body as a whole. These diets can be extremely useful in taking some work load off the body until an acute crisis has passed. But for chronic illness, the limitation of normal nutrients may not be ideal for all patients. In many cases, even those involving organ failure, supporting the organs so they can heal while feeding the body ideal nutrients can be much better. For Button and India, a diet much closer to their natural one to allowed them to thrive. Raw diets are not for every pet, but just as we take care to feed the exotic animals in the zoo exactly what they eat in the wild to keep them healthy, understanding how our domestic dogs and cats work internally to digest and process nutrients gives us valuable information regarding their ideal diet.

Food therapy is not just for digestive complaints.

Veterinarians have been treating skin allergies and urinary issues with food. Any body organ can be supported by providing the nutrients those systems need most to thrive.

The debate over ideal feeding will always exist, despite the debate on content, no one disputes that food does play a significant role in health. Holistic exams evaluate your pet right from the start, identifying weaknesses and match them up with the diet that supports health while avoiding feeding things that are Spring 2016

stressful to their biology. When illness does occur, consider nutrition a valuable tool to help treat disease and promote healing. After all, you are what you eat!

Dr.Anne Carroll is owner of the Chelsea Animal Hospital where she practices both conventional medicine and surgery, as well as several alternative modalities, including traditional Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Her associate Dr. Betty Jo Black brings classical homeopathy to the practice. For more information on alternative veterinary medicine visit their website at www.chelseaanimalhospital.com

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Play With Me L

"Dr." Jordan, a Therapy Dog of Vermont plays ball with young patient.

Steve Reiman

ily, her half-sister Jordan, and I were on duty in the

old Emergency Room of Fletcher Allen Health Care. A nurse who knew us well welcomed us and asked if we would help her with a patient. These are words I love to hear. Then she said “He is in X-ray right now and I’ll bring him over after we know the damage.” Soon thereafter, I could hear him coming.

The little fellow had lost the end of the fingers in a car door accident.

The nurse was holding him up by his injured hand. He was screaming, kicking, hot, and sweaty. As she brought him around a corner, he saw my two German Shepherds looking straight at him. Lily had a small Frisbee in her mouth and Jordan was holding a tennis ball. Both were dressed in hospital scrubs, with stethoscopes, pagers, and FAHC photo ID badges identifying them as Dr. Lily and Dr. Jordan. As the boy saw them, he immediately stopped screaming and stared intently at the two dogs in costume.

Jordan placed her tennis ball at her feet and kicked it to the little boy. It was a trick she loved to do to get people to play with her. The boy watched the ball roll slowly to his feet and I dropped to my knees and asked, “Will you play with my dog?”

The boy, taken completely by surprise by the unexpected visitors, slowly reached down and pushed the ball back to Jordan.

The dog picked up the ball, chewed it a few times, put it on the floor again, and kicked it back to the boy. During their little game, the nurse and her assistant sewed up the boy’s injured fingers. The nurse thanked me saying that she had no idea how she was going to stitch up the boy until we came along. This photo was taken later in the waiting room.

To Learn more about joining the team, visit www.TherapyDogs.org

Lab puppy singing a tune. Photo by Katie Peltz

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Cross-Training For Equine Fitness Jessica Stewart Riley - Randolph Center, VT

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ingwork can be boring. There, I said it. And I am a person who prefers

riding in the ring to riding on the trail. But when done on a regular basis, it can be easy to lose your motivation for working on the fundamentals within the confines of the 4 walls of the arena or ring. We begin to do the same patterns or exercises over and over again: walk both directions, trot both directions, then canter both directions with a circle or two thrown in for some excitement. Unfortunately, just like heading to the gym and jogging on the treadmill for 45 minutes every day, this is only minimally beneficial for our horses. It does help them to maintain a low level of fitness, but it does not aim to improve things like coordination, balance, proprioception (awareness of self), cardiovascular endurance, and physical strength, areas that positively influence the horse’s ability to perform the tasks we ask of him with ease and grace. The best human athletes cross-train to keep their bodies in shape, so why wouldn’t we vary our horse’s training regimen? Two areas I have found especially beneficial for crosstraining my own horses are: • In-hand work: stretches and backing • Ground poles, cavaletti, and small jumps In-hand work can help teach your horse correct posture, like engaging his abdominal muscles, lifting his back, and stretching his neck forward, or the correct response for something like bending or moving off the rider’s leg. These types of exercises are especially beneficial because they remove some of the elements of human error that can occur when riding. I like to perform lateral neck Continued NEXT PAGE

Spring 2016

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stretches, belly-lifts, tail pulls and backing. It’s important not to perform any stretches when the horse’s muscles are cold, so I always save the stretching for the end of a workout before my horse has cooled off completely. One activity that has caused a marked improvement in my own horse’s topline (back and top of neck) and hindquarter muscles, is backing in hand. I started off just backing a few steps each day and have worked up to backing one entire circuit of the arena in both directions. It’s important that the horse maintain a soft and relaxed neck posture and that you give frequent breaks if you see signs of him tiring, i.e. resistance to continue, repeated raising of the

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head, stressed or anxious facial expression, etc.

Ground poles are another fantastic way to shake up your routine and crosstrain in the arena. In my experience, horses seem to enjoy doing exercises with ground poles because they are different, and riders find them interesting and fun.

They are incredibly beneficial for loosening the joints of the hind end and teaching the horse to bring his legs further under his body. This in turn enables the horse to raise his back and engage his abdominals while making movement more efficient and comfortable to ride. Working over ground poles also improves the horse’s balance and proprioception, making

performing in their given discipline that much easier. In time, you can work up to raised poles, cavaletti, and even a small jump. You also don’t need fancy ground poles; 8-10’ long tree limbs that have had the branches removed so there aren’t any sharp edges or even PVC pipes can be used in place of more expensive lumber. PVC pipes do tend to be lighter than a 4’ by 4’ but the most important thing is to make it work for you and your horse!

Most horse people know how important it is to work their horse consistently if they want to have a happy and successful equine athlete, but doing the same thing day after day can get boring and cause a loss in motivation. Changing up your riding routine to include stretching and ground poles is a great way to make riding fun and interesting again, while also benefitting your horse. If you are new to either of these types of exercises, I strongly encourage you to seek the advice of an experienced professional so neither you or your horse becomes injured. If you would like more information on equine fitness, stretching and ground pole exercises, as well as proper warm-ups and cool-downs, there are two books I would highly recommend: Equine Fitness: A Conditioning Program of Exercises and Routines for Your Horse and 101 Western Dressage Exercises for Horse and Rider, both by Jec Aristotle Ballou. You certainly don’t have to ride western to appreciate the last book; you just have to enjoy riding! Happy Cross-training!

Jessica Stewart Riley is and Assistant Professor and the director of the Vermont Technical College Equine Studies Program in Randolph Center,VT. She is a graduate of Johnson State College, UVM, and Vermont Tech, as well as a member of the American Quarter Horse Association Professional Horsemen and an American Riding Instructor Association Certified instructor in Western, Huntseat on the Flat, and Stable Management. www.vtc.edu/equinestudies Spring 2016

y t s i M y Pla or Me F Tim Hoehn

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istening to the radio is easy.

Whether it’s on a long drive or in a crowded mini-van bringing the kids to school, there’s something about a song that takes you back… That familiar voice talking about the events of the day, it makes you appreciate your local radio station.

Thirty years ago, I was that familiar voice. I had always wanted to be a disc jockey. The opportunity to come to Vermont as a late night DJ, was the beginning of a career that would stretch over two decades. In the movie Play Misty for Me, Clint Eastwood played the part of an overnight DJ whose late night caller turned into a stalker (before there were stalkers).

A cinema thriller, it launched Eastwood’s modern day career. I was hoping for something similar (minus the stalker).

I can tell you, being a DJ was enjoyable. Doing the graveyard shift was not.

Too much coffee, too many callers complaining about insufferable insomnia, and the occasional listener who needed to share their thoughts on who actually killed Kennedy. But, I was learning my trade, and these were the dues that needed to be paid for future fame and fortune.

One day, the owner of the station came into the studio asking for a favor.

Willing to learn and wanting to please, I said, “Sure” without question. Now, it seems that his family cat, Misty, had developed a severe ear infection. The ear-ooze was stinking up the house, and more of the medication drops where landing on the floor, than in the cat’s ears.

“Would you mind if I leave the cat at the station and you clean her ears twice a day? Thanks!”

The radio industry is notorious for giving titles to employees, in lieu of cash.

Hence, I became “The Keeper of the Cat”.

To be honest, I could think of hundreds of titles I would have preferred, and thousands of tasks I would have welcomed.

But, one must pay those dues. I guess I missed that day at Broadcasting School when they talked about radio cats.

At first, cleaning this cat’s ears seemed a demeaning task. For as much as I despised this chore, I realized it was no walk in the park for her either. As with any job, the longer you do it, the less deprecating it becomes. Twice a day, it was ointment, Q-tips and a small “good girl” treat. As the days turned into weeks and Misty’s conditioned improved, I could tell she was truly appreciative of my efforts.

Unlike major market radio stations, overnights in Vermont are a one man gig, and a lonely one at that. The time Spring 2016

between 3am and 4am is the equivalent of three daylight hours. Ask any nurse on an 11-7 shift. But, mine was no longer a one man show, I had Misty!

It’s amazing how the company of a cat can change one’s perspective.

All of a sudden, a side-kick made the late nights of Vermont entertaining.

When I was talking on-air, Misty would jump up with affection, and rub her back against the microphone. At times she would purr so loud, that I could actually hear her in my headphones.

Once, I left her for a moment in the studio with Anne Murray spinning on the turntable. When I returned, there was Misty watching the music play…George Jones? What happened to Anne Murray?

It seems when a cat reduces the speed of Anne Murray from 45 rpms to 33 rpms, she sounds a lot like George Jones.

Misty was my foxhole-worthy bud.

On more than one occasion, my cat nap was abruptly interrupted by a scratchy tongue, just in time for me to start the next song without missing a beat. As 4:30 would roll around, she became the regular reminder to check the newswire. At 6am, it was time for a cleaning, and time for both of us to sign off, until later that night.

Just a couple of nocturnal animals, one by choice, the other by nature.

The day finally came when I moved to a better time-slot. Although Misty’s infec-

tion had cleared up long before, she too moved (back to the owners home and family).

Did my boss really not want to deal with his sick cat? Ed Stokes owned WCVR in Randolph for more than a decade, and he was a smart man.

Maybe he saw a young man, a long way from home, doing a lonely job. And, let’s face it, it’s times like that you can use a friend like Misty.

Tim Hoehn was a disc jockey for three years at Northcountry 102,WVCR in Randolph,VT in the early 1980’s. When he’s not publishing 4 Legs & a Tail, he’s now listening to the radio with his cat, Phoebe.

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Prevention Is Key! Robert MacPherson, DVM

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he team at RVCSC believes that prevention and early detection of disease are key to providing exceptional care for you and your furry family members. Dr. Macpherson has provided some facts explaining why prevention is so important: Fact: 1 in every 12 cats over the age of 10 and 1 in every 67 dogs develop kidney disease. Early assessment of blood work allows for earlier detection of disease by establishing trends and watching for changes in kidney values. Early detection and treatment can then increase the longevity of your pet by 2 years or more.

Fact: By 2 years of age, 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some form of periodontal disease (a disease around the teeth).

Careful assessment of dental health at each examination allows detection of disease at the earliest stages. This early detection leads to treatments that prevent progression to a worsening disease, which can lead to infections, pain and loss of teeth. The earlier that periodontal disease is detected and a professional dental cleaning performed, the better the overall health of your pet and the less costly the procedure.

Fact: Over 50% of dogs and cats presenting to veterinary clin-

ics have some degree of obesity. Obesity affects the health of many body systems, including the joints, lungs and heart.

Maintaining an ideal body weight can lengthen an animal’s life by almost 2 years. At each exam the body condition score will be assessed, allowing your veterinarian to see where your pet lies in relation to the ideal body condition score.

Remember, an ideal weight leads to a longer, improved life.

Fact: 10% of all animals that appear healthy on examination have hidden diseases. Dogs and cats have evolved to be great concealers of disease, which in the wild allows them to survive rather than become prey for another animal. This means they also hide things from us very well. Examinations performed once or twice a year allow for assessment of problems. Combining this with tests, including blood work and urinalysis, allows for a full assessment of not only external health but also internal health as well. Early detection of disease is the key to treating as well as preventing disease.

Fact: One pill administered once a month can prevent heartworm disease, prevent and treat whipworms, roundworms, and hookworms and stop the flea life cycle. Prevention is the key since many of these parasites can cause diseases in people, especially in homes where young children reside.

Fact: Over 60% of cats of all ages have arthritis at some point during their life.

Arthritis is not just a dog disease. Pain is extremely hard to detect in cats because they try to hide their diseases so well.

Signs of your cat being in pain include decreased activity, decreased mobility such as being able to jump, decreased grooming, altered personality, decreased appetite and signs of aggression or vocalization when being touched. These changes, if seen, need to be brought to the attention of your veterinarian, who can prescribe supplements and medications to enhance your cat’s quality of life.

Dr. Macpherson graduated from Ontario Veterinary College in 1992 and has worked in Vermont since 1999. His passion is surgery and he specializes in orthopedic issues like cranial cruciate ligament disease and knee cap luxation repairs, as well as more advanced soft tissue surgeries. He knows his success is owed in large part to having a tremendous team of individuals who share the passion for providing animals and their owners the very best in medical and surgical care at Rutland Clinic & Surgical Center.

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Spring 2016

A male Painted Bunting photographed near a bird feeder in Pittsfield, Vermont. © K.P. McFarland

Painted Bunting Delights Vermont Bird Watchers Kent McFarland, Norwich, VT

B

ird watchers are flocking to Pittsfield, Vermont as news spreads of a

male Painted Bunting visiting feeders at several residences there. This represents the sixth state record for the species according to the Vermont Bird Records Committee (VBRC). The first accepted report by the VBRC was submitted by Karl & Winifred Droge. They described a pair in Danby on 11-13 May 1993. The first record with a photograph was by Susan Klein in Shelburne on 6 May 1997. Three additional reports have since been accepted by the committee. A complete map of records can be viewed on Vermont eBird, a project of the Vermont Atlas of Life.

Unfortunately, the bird seems to have an injured or deformed foot. A similar individual wintered in Connecticut for several years with a similarly deformed foot. This bird disappeared around March 14. The bird in Pittsfield was first discovered on March 16, leading to speculation that this might actually be the bird from Connecticut. However, the Connecticut bird was back at its feeder a short time later.

A relatively common finch, Painted Buntings breed in the coastal Southeast and in the south-central U.S., where they often come to feeders. They are caught and sold illegally as cage birds, particularly in Mexico and the Caribbean, a practice that puts pressure on their breeding populations.

A co-founder of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, Kent McFarland is a conservation biologist, photographer, writer and naturalist with over 20 years of experience across the Americas. Kent’s writing and images have appeared widely in magazines, newspapers, and mobile field guides. He’s co-host of Outdoor Radio, a monthly natural history series on Vermont Public Radio.

Spring 2016

www.4LegsAndATail.com 11

How Can You Help Feral Cats in Your Neighborhood?

Amy Woodman - Dubuc

W

hen any of us sees a roaming cat in our

neighborhood, we immediately want to help it. It is a reality of being an animal lover. But before we take action, it is important to take certain steps to ensure we are doing the right thing for each cat. On the outside, cats look similar but in reality, they can be very different, and so their needs and what we should do, is also different.

The first step one must take when a cat is seen roaming, is to identify what type of cat it is. Below are three different categories most cats fall into.

Owned Indoor/Outdoor Cats These cats often return to spending more time outside as the warmer months arrive. An indoor/ outdoor cat may freely approach you and will probably look well fed, with a shiny coat.

Stray Cats A stray cat–a cat who was dumped or lost–is not going to be in as good shape as an indoor/outdoor cat. A stray may have a dirty, scruffy coat, be thin, injured, shelter would be a good alternative, and a humane approach, but and/or flea infested. If a cat shows up suddenly and doesn’t look it is actually quite traumatic for them. Feral cats do very well outgreat, that’s a pretty good sign that they may be lost or dumped. side, they know how to cope with the elements and fare as well outdoors as other wild animals do. Feral cats are not socialized Feral Cats to people, so living in cages or in forced proximity to humans Unlike pets and strays, feral cats will not approach you. You is very stressful. Shelter living is not a humane option for feral won’t be able to pet a feral cat unless it is in extreme distress. A cats. feral cat may even look pretty good as they have an impeccable In the past, many municipalities attempted to manage feral ability to maintain their health. They could be a little fluffier cat colonies by killing them. In the end, this doesn’t work. The than your housecat, especially in the winter, because they grow cat population simply rebounds. Even if cats are removed from a thick coat. You will often see them hanging around abandoned a colony, the resources (such as a rodent population and shelter) buildings or moving from point A to point B. They will never go will remain, and a new colony will move in. toward a human.

Alley Cat Allies, an organization that studies and works on issues related to feral cats, reports, “Scientific evidence indicates Now that you have identified the type of cat you are dealing that removing feral cat populations only opens up the habitat with, it is much easier to know what action you need to take in to an influx of new cats, either from neighboring territories or the best interest of that particular animal. born from survivors. Each time cats are removed, the popula If you find an owned indoor/outdoor cat,check with neightion will rebound through a natural phenomenon known as the bors and see if the cat you are seeing belongs to someone. If you “vacuum effect,” drawing the community into a costly, endless find the owner, leave the cat be.

If you find a stray cat, check with neighbors to see if she cycle of trapping and killing.” belongs to anyone. If she keeps trying to come into your house Many Humane Societies offers spay and neuter services for or meowing, bring her to the shelter that serves your town. It feral cats. is helpful to call ahead in order to ensure there is space in the If you find a feral kitten, the strategy is a little different than for feral adults. The earlier feral kittens are removed from the intake area.

If you find a feral cat, the best thing that you can do for free- colony, the better. There is roughly a 16-week window in which roaming adult cats in your neighborhood is a process called Trap it is possible to socialize feral kittens. You may be able to bring Neuter Return (TNR). As part of a TNR program, feral cats are the litter to your local humane society which will provide care, trapped using a humane trap such as a Havahart, then spayed or medical attention, and socialization for the kittens until they neutered, vaccinated against rabies, and returned to the place can be adopted into a home. they were found. The sterilization keeps them from breeding If you have an unmanaged feral cat colony in your neighborand the vaccination helps them stay healthy. hood, call your shelter and they may be able to discuss options It might seem that trapping feral cats and bringing them to a with you and your neighbors.

Spring 2016 12 4 Legs & a Tail

The Seeing Eye Early History

I

n 1927, a young man named Morris Frank (1908-1980) read an article about dogs being trained as guides for blinded veterans of World War I. Frustrated by his own lack of mobility as a blind person, he was inspired to write its author for help. Dorothy Harrison Eustis (1886-1946) was an American training German shepherd police dogs in Switzerland, and when she received Morris Frank’s letter, she agreed to help him. He promised he would return to the United States and spread the word about these wonderful dogs. On June 11, 1928, having completed instruction in Switzerland, he arrived in New York City, proving the ability of his dog, Buddy, by navigating a dangerous street crossing before throngs of news reporters. His one-word telegram to Mrs. Eustis told the entire story: “Success.” The Seeing Eye was born with the dream of making the entire world accessible to people who are blind.

Dates and Locations The Seeing Eye was incorporated in Nashville, Tenn., on Jan. 29, 1929. In 1931, the organization relocated to Whippany, N.J., because the climate in the northeast was more suitable for training dogs.

On June 5, 1965, the cornerstone was laid for the current headquarters in Morris Township, N.J. Renovations to the Washington Valley headquarters were completed in 2013. The 60-acre campus is home to the administrative offices, student residence, veterinary clinic and kennels. In 2001, a breeding station was built on 330 acres in Chester, N.J., which houses the adult breeding dogs and puppies until they are 8-weeks-old. An additional training center is located in downtown Morristown.

Morris and Buddy Street Crossing: The famous New York City street crossing was captured shortly after Morris Frank and Buddy returned from training in Switzerland.

Pioneers from Past to Present The Seeing Eye is the oldest existing guide dog school in the world and continues its role as a pioneer in the guide dog movement. The Seeing Eye has played an integral part in shaping public policy guaranteeing access and accommodation to people who use service animals. From developing a computer information system that calculates the suitability of every

dog in the colony to become a breeder, to funding cutting edge research in DNA sequencing and identifying genetic markers for degenerative eye disease, The Seeing Eye is a research leader in canine genetics, breeding, disease control and behavior. The organization is a founding member of the Council of U.S. Guide dog Schools and a fully accredited member of the International Guide Dog Federation.

Greetings From Sasha

Sam the Moose - Brandon,VT Some people buy themselves a new car every two years. I love to move to a new state every couple of years. What a way to travel and explore new surroundings! From a southern state, I made the move to Vermont.

It was after the moving truck pulled away that I walked out of the garage and met my new neighbor, Sasha, a Doberman/ Rottweiler. Her presence took me by surprise (as did her teeth) and though I tried to move away several times, so did Sasha.

After about five minutes, I heard a hearty laugh from the neighbors porch and a voice hollered, “Hi, I’m your neighbor. I see you’ve already met Sasha.” He quickly explained that Sasha was quite the social butterfly and she was eager to make new friends, which we were from that moment on.

Every now and then while I worked in the garden, Sasha had a stealth like way of sneaking up behind me. We would play on those beautiful spring days until she had had her fill and then trot off as quickly as she arrived.

One day I asked my neighbor if it was alright to share a treat with her. Needless to say, it didn’t take long for Sasha to catch on and she soon became a regular visitor in the morning and afternoon. She was never greedy, but twice a day she would stop by for friendship and treat.

When winter arrived and I retreated to the computer room inside, Sasha quickly discovered the window in my home office.

Every day my friend would peer into the window and bark twice. As I gave her a treat and she trotted off, I often wondered if she could count.

Spring 2016

www.4LegsAndATail.com 13

Help!

My Dog’s Been Skunked!!

Dogs can be very curious. This sometimes can get them into a stink of trouble. If your dog encounters a skunk, it is likely to get sprayed, if it insists on checking out this newly found creature. When a skunk is startled it will make a peculiar purring sound, sometimes growling. Before emitting its sulphuric spray (mercaptan) in self-defense, it will warn its target by raising its tail, standing on its hind legs and stomping its front feet. The mercaptan it sprays not only carries a terrible odor but, if it hits the eyes, will blind the skunk's target for up to two days. Your dog may come home with more than it had bargained for, when it encountered the four legged, striped little fellow. The skunk's spray is not only extremely foul smelling, but it is very hard to get out of a dogs fur. Your dog may smell for quite some time, if you do not act quickly. A fresh spray smells so bad it burns your nose. The closest comparison I can think of, is the smell of burning rubber or plastic. If you or your pet gets sprayed it is important to work quickly to get the skunk oil out and neutralized. If you do not act quickly the smell can last up to 2 years!

Tips: Before You Bathe Your Skunked Dog 1. Before handling your dog, you may want to put on some old clothes. Skunk spray is actually an oil and is very difficult to remove from clothing. Do not let your dog lay in his dog bed or the skunk oils will get on the bed.

2. If possible, leave the dog outside to prevent the odor ridden oils from getting into your house.

3. Determine where the spray hit the dog. Depending on your dog's hair type, you may be able to trim away or comb out some of the affected hair.

4. You can use paper towels to soak up the oils from the coat before you begin washing. If you use a real towel you will most likely have to toss it as the oils may not come out 100%, and your towel will smell for a long time. Be careful not to spread the oils from one part of the dog to another. Only wipe where the oils are already, to avoid making the problem worse.

5. When you're ready to wash the dog, only clean the sprayed area. Skunk spray is oily and can easily be spread all over the dog. You will most likely have to give the dog more than one bath, so save an all-over bath until the second or third washing.

How do I get the odor out?

It may be particularly hard to get the odor out of those dogs who have thick double coats. If quick action is not taken it is possible to smell the odor on your dog for up to two years, especially when the dog gets wet.

It is best to bathe your dog with a shampoo before the skunk's sulphuric spray dries on the fur. After bathing you can try some of the following methods...

Store bought De-Skunking Products There are several products you can buy at the store to de-skunk your dog, which I think work best, but one does not always have them on hand when their dog gets sprayed.

Nature's Miracle Skunk Odor Remover • Earth Friendly Skunk Odor Remover Tomato Juice or Mouthwash A couple of old methods used are, saturating the dog's coat in tomato juice or mouthwash, and then bathing the dog thoroughly with a canine shampoo. However the effectiveness of these methods is questionable and it is said that the tomato juice will leave your dog’s coat all red.

Another Somewhat Effective Method Paul Krebaum, a chemist, invented a new, more effective formula for de-skunking a dog.

WARNING: This mixture can be explosive, as it will fizz and creates pressure if it is enclosed in a seal tight container. Never store unused portion, always discard. Be sure to only mix in an open container and do not try to store or cover it in any way. Do not get the mixture into the dog's eyes, nose or mouth Mix in an open bucket or bowl: 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide ¼ cup baking soda 1 teaspoon of strong liquid soap such as dishwashing detergent.

14 4 Legs & a Tail

Mix the ingredients in an open bucket or bowl. The mixture will fizz. Wet your dog and thoroughly massage the solution into the coat. Be sure to keep the mixture out of the dog’s eyes, nose and mouth. If it is necessary to apply it to the dogs face, very carefully use a washcloth or a sponge. After applying the mixture to all parts of your dog that may have been sprayed, rinse the dog thoroughly.

Spring 2016

The French Fry Protection Racket Mark Carlson

M

y dog is running a protection racket.

For those of you who don’t remember the old gangster films of the 1930s, a protection racket is where a couple of thugs go to some small business and tell the owner that if he don’t pay them some money on a regular basis, ‘Somethin’ bad might happen to his business.’ one will pay any mind.”

Well, my Labrador has apparently been watch “Um…okay. But you remember, the Guide ing late-night Turner Classic Movies.

Dog school says you’re never supposed to have But he don’t want no money. He’s after French people food. It’s not good for you.” It was weak, fries. but it was all I had.

Musket is a retired Guide Dog, but when he was “Oh,” came the silent but determined voice working, I took him everywhere, including resfrom under the table. “I see. Well, if you want to taurants. As an Assistance Animal he had access take the chance…” to all public places. He always behaved as a well “No!” I almost blurted out. “I didn’t mean trained dog. He never caused any trouble. He that. I’m responsible for your health. And was welcomed in restaurants from coast to fries aren’t healthy for you.” coast. Patrons were impressed by how quiet

I swear I heard a snort. “And that double and sweet he was and often commented bacon chili cheeseburger with extra mayo on this. Sometimes they didn’t even is health food? What would Mommy say?” know he was there until it was time He had me there. “You win,” I said, to leave and he poked his big head finally wilting. I had no choice. As bad as out from under the table. “Hey, I his ‘accidents’ might have been, I couldn’t didn’t even know he was down there!” have him telling Jane about my little culiWell, that’s what an Assistance Dog is sup- Soon the order arrived and was placed nary indulgence. “Okay, but just a few.” posed to be. Unseen. before me.

“That’s fine, pal. Nothin’ bad will hap Okay, fine. But there’s a minor hitch, And that’s when the thug under the pen.” in my case. First of all, Musket, like most table made his move. “Hey pal. Nice place After I’d paid up, the meal went fine.

Labradors, loves food. Right? Nope, not you got here. I wouldn’t want nothin’ bad But you know the lesson. ‘Once you’ve even close. I think, given a choice between to happen to it.” given in to them, you’re theirs for life.’ At breathing and food, he’d give up breath- “What do you mean, Musket?” I was least I got to eat my burger in peace. ing. When I took Musket into a restaurant, trying to be calm, but I felt a tiny chill. The Until the next time. his nose immediately began to twitch. pressure was being applied.

It buzzed so fast it sounded like a hive of “Well, things happen, y’know? I mean, Note: this is humorous satire. I don’t angry bees. suppose somehow something bumped encourage anyone to give dogs food at the He knew this was a magic place where your elbow just as you were picking up table, and certainly not people food. So stop nice people brought you food for noth- your cup of coffee. That would make a dialing the ASPCA and PETA. And for dog’s ing. Of course, like any other kid today, he mess, wouldn’t it?” sake, don’t call my wife! knew nothing of paying for food. I never “Yeah, I guess it would. I’ll have to be let him have the credit card. Food just careful, huh? Heh, heh.”

Originally published in San Diego Pets appeared.

For a long moment, no sound came Magazine May 2013 After being led to my table, I told from under the table but the buzzing Musket to go underneath and lie down. He of a cold nose. “Yeah, but no matter how did this right away. Then I sat down and careful you try to be, you can’t anticipate When not visiting his in-laws in South discussed my order with the waitress. “By everything. I might, ah, ‘accidentally’ Royalton, Mark Carlson spends much of the way,” I usually said, “my Guide Dog is grab the tablecloth with my teeth and pull his time in North County, CA with his wife, under the table, so if you feel something it down. Just think of the mess that would Jane and his Labrador Retriever, Saffron. licking your ankle, don’t freak out.” make.”

He is an award writer and an aviation his Most often the waitress was enchanted Now I was really sweating. I tried to torian, with numerous articles and books

by Musket and asked if he would like some eat, but the food had lost all its flavor. “I including his latest, Confessions of a water. Once that was settled, I ordered my think I understand what you’re saying. So Guide Dog. Legally blind, he travels and food. I’m a typical American guy. I like what do I do?” works with Saffron, and is a member of hamburgers. Since I like to keep things “It ain’t much. Really, you’ll never simple I ask for French fries rather than a notice it. Just ‘accidentally drop a few several aviation, maritime, and veteran baked potato or rice. fries on the floor. You’re a blind guy, so no organizations. www.musketmania.com

Spring 2016

www.4LegsAndATail.com 15

Backyard Chickens 101 Dr. Susan Dyer, DVM - Bradford, VT

Some Quick Facts

Many backyard chickens live approximately 8–10 years They have only three good productive years 70% of the cost of raising chickens is spent on feed In monogastric animals, like chickens, energy comes mainly from carbohydrates and fats since fibre-contain ing cellulose cannot be digested White eggs are laid by chickens with white ear lobes, while brown eggs are laid by chickens with red ear lobes.

B

ackyard chickens are becoming more and more popular as production animals (meat or eggs) and pets. Many households start with a few pullets (birds under 1 year old) or chicks, but the flock grows as time goes on. There are many considerations to owning chickens, and I will address a few here.

There are many different breeds of birds and assessing which breed would suit your family or farmstead is ideal. There are many online resources to learn traits of different breeds of birds. For example, if you are going for a breed that is going to live for a long time, then a breed that is less of a production animal will definitely live longer. On the other hand, production birds are bred to maximize their potential output of eggs or meat in the shortest time possible. Most high production egg laying birds are limited to about 3-4 years old before their usefulness has gone. Whereas, a lesser producing bird may live for up to 10-12 years.

Shelter must be provided from predators and weather extremes. Good ventilation is a must to prevent respiratory disease but must be balanced by preventing drafts. The substrate on the floor of a chicken coop should be kept clean and dry.

Overcrowding is a common problem in the winter time when the birds are confined for extended periods of time. Birds that are overcrowded will break eggs and peck on each other causing illness and damage. Much of this can be alleviated by providing enrichment and adequate space. Enrichment can consist of heads of cabbage suspended from the ceiling for pecking at, supplementing with live food like crickets and mealworms, and giving a dust bath of sand in a litter box.

Many birds are housed with access to the outdoors, whether free range or confined to a pen. Birds with this access are at risk of predators or developing mites, avian influenza, infectious laryngotracheitis or intestinal parasites, to name a few. This is not to say that they shouldn’t have access, but as a provider for your birds, it is good to know the risks involved with different sorts of housing.

16 4 Legs & a Tail

Given the multitude of diseases that birds can acquire, I do not recommend getting birds from other private homes. There are many contagious diseases (a few mentioned above) that can affect your entire flock that the other party may not even be aware that they have. This can be due to a “carrier state” in their own birds where they’ve been exposed to a milder form of a disease or perhaps they survived a bout as a younger bird.

This can allow an apparently healthy bird to enter your flock and cause an outbreak of disease. I recommend hatching your own chicks or purchasing day old chicks from a hatchery rather than acquiring from a local private party, unless these will be your only birds.

The food offered must meet the requirements of the different life stages as developed for the poultry industry:

Life stage

Age

Ration

Egg layer

Day 1 to 6 weeks

Starter

7–18 weeks

Grower

19–70 weeks

Layer

Day 1 to 3 weeks

Starter

4–7 weeks

Finisher

Broiler (meat)

Feeding commercial pellets is recommended as the basis for a diet. Many diseases are made worse by dietary deficiencies. So, feed a pelleted diet as the majority of the diet and supplement occasionally with other products like ground or cracked corn, millet, barley or table scraps.

Birds that are housed on the ground rarely require grit supplementation, but those that are indoors only, or on hard packed dirt, will need a coarse sand or gravel to allow them to digest their food properly. A litter box with sand for birds housed indoors can also allow them to have more natural behaviors in dust bathing and if they have mites, allowing them to mechanically remove the parasites.

Chickens can make lively and entertaining pets or can be a production animal for meat or eggs or both. Feel free to consult with your veterinarian or local feed store for feeding and housing tips.

Dr. Susan Dyer sees chickens, dogs, cats, birds, and exotic pets at Bradford Veterinary Clinic in Bradford, VT, 802-222-4903. www.bradfordvet.com Spring 2016

Now That You’ve Adopted a Puppy: The Beginning of Your New Together-Adventures!

Mike Eigenbrode

So you finally decided to make the leap and you’ve adopted an adorable little

puppy! Driving away from the shelter, you look back at your new furry family member in the backseat and the cuteness is more than palpable. A friend has lent you a proper crate for your new best friend, but what else do you need? What’s the next step? New puppy ownership can be both an exciting and stressful time. Your local feed supply and pet store is here to support you during this time of transition with your adorable new addition to the family and help you experience the joys and rewards of life with your new fourlegged loved one.

First, you’ll want to focus on keeping your furry friend safe and under control as he or she experiences this new world around them. Perhaps the most important thing you can teach your new pet is to “come” when you call. Proper recall training is the best way to avoid the dangers and hazards that will attract your puppy like a magnet; you need to ensure that when you call them away from a busy street or a dangerous situation, they will listen. Your puppy will be naturally curious, but having your puppy run amok shouldn’t be an option, so finding a collar and leash that serves your needs and represents your new puppy’s style is important. In addition, you may want to consider adding a harness or a “no-pull” option, which can be extremely helpful in training. The best way to fit a new pet is to bring them into our store and we will spend some time sizing and fitting your puppy. Just like you, we take the safety, health, and well-being of your new fourlegged loved one to heart.

What about finding the right food?

Let’s be honest, there are a lot of options out there and it can be challenging to know where to begin in providing proper nutrition for your pet. Most pet food brands offer “puppy” and “large breed puppy” diets, which are specifically formulated to provide the correct nutrition for your growing best friend. When it comes to your pet’s health, it’s important that you buy from a location that you can trust and feel comfortable with; sound nutritional advice early on can help you avoid certain dietary challenges or bad eating habits down the road. Finding a quality food that doesn’t use dyes, fillers, or low-grade ingredients during the early stages of development will help to ensure Spring 2016

that your pet stays healthy and active for many years to come.

At this stage, as you’re heading home from the shelter, there are probably quite a few things that haven’t even crossed your mind yet when it comes to caring for your new four-legged friend. From what treats and toys work best, to bedding

options, dental health, flea/tick protection, housebreaking and training supplies, and a variety of others, there are certainly a lot of things to consider. Keep in mind that this whole transition with your new pet is meant to be enjoyable for both of you, so try not to stress too much and just take things one step at a time.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 17

Improving Your Pet’s Oral Health I

t can be daunting to consider the task of brushing your pet’s teeth daily, but the many benefits make the effort very important to their health. Brushing helps reduce the accumulation of plaque and tartar, which are associated with bacteria and cause periodontal disease and halitosis. Left untreated, periodontal disease progresses causing soft tissue attachment loss, then bone loss, and finally tooth loss.

This is a gradual process and can mean years of deep infection, inflammation and pain. Periodontal disease has also been linked to disease and infection in other parts of the body such as the heart and kidneys.

Bacteria laden plaque accumulation on the tooth will begin to harden into tartar in as little as 24 hours. While plaque can be brushed away, tartar cannot and this is why brushing the teeth once a month or even once a week is ineffective.

Daily brushing is the most effective way to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.

The best time to introduce a toothbrush to cats and dogs is around 6 months when the adult teeth are in place.

Although it is a good idea to acclimate your pet to handling the lips and mouth when they are young puppies and kittens,

Kristin Esterbrook,DVM

brushing while pets are still teething may cause pain, and therefore cause a negative association with the toothbrush.

When beginning the process of brushing your pet’s teeth, start slowly and use treats and a lot of praise. Use a toothbrush designed for pets, or a small head, soft bristled human brush. Use flavored pet toothpaste or plain water. NEVER use human toothpaste. Pets will swallow the toothpaste and fluoride in human toothpaste is harmful to the stomach lining.

Start by brushing one tooth and then treating and praising. You may find it helpful to allow your pet to lick the toothpaste and chew the brush at first, then slip the brush to the tooth surface and give a few quick brushing strokes. Concentrate

near the gum line, where most plaque and tartar accumulate. When your pet seems to accept this readily, gradually over days or weeks increase the number of teeth you are brushing until all teeth are included.

The outer surfaces are the focus. There is no need to brush the inner surfaces that face the tongue and palate, or the biting surfaces. These surfaces do not accumulate the heavy tartar that the outer surfaces do. The entire mouth should take less than 10 seconds to brush. A lot of praise, petting, and treats during and after brushing help your pet enjoy the experience.

While regular brushing is not a substitute for professional oral assessment and treatment under anesthesia, it can certainly help reduce the frequency of this type of veterinary visit. The breed, diet and genetics of your pet also play a role. Some pets require professional dental treatments every 6 to 12 months, while others can go several years between treatments. There are also several products on the market that have been tested in clinical trials and proven effective in reducing

plaque and/or tartar, and can be used in addition to brushing. These products include foods, chews, treats and water additives. They have the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of approval.

For a list, go to the website www.vohc.org.

There are some cases where brushing your pet’s teeth is not advised. These are situations where brushing could be painful such as when your pet has advanced, untreated periodontal disease, fractured teeth or tooth resorptive lesions.

Schedule a visit with your veterinarian before you start brushing your pet’s teeth to determine if it is appropriate for your pet, and to determine if an oral assessment and treatment under anesthesia prior to beginning a brushing program is needed.

Kristin Esterbrook, DVM is a Rutland native who has recently relocated back to Vermont from Massachusetts.

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Dr. Esterbrook has been practicing Veterinary Medicine for fourteen years.

She received her Veterinary Medical Degree from Ross University. Her special interests include dentistry and internal medicine Riverside Veterinary Care & Dental Service in Rutland and Ludlow,VT. www.RiversideVetCare.com Spring 2016

A Tale of Hip Dysplasia, Arthritis, and Lasers H

Catherine MacLean, DVM - Grantham, NH

ip dysplasia is most common in large breed dogs.

Most people have heard of hip dysplasia, but don’t necessarily know exactly what it is. Hip dysplasia occurs when there is abnormal development or growth of the hips. It essentially means that there is a poor fit between the “ball and socket” of a hip. This occurs when a puppy is growing. The head of the femur (thigh bone) is the ball and the acetabulum is the socket part of the pelvis. When these two pieces don’t fit together well, the joint doesn’t get well lubricated and therefore doesn’t glide smoothly when the dog walks. This eventually leads to arthritis because the dog’s body is trying to stabilize the joint.

Some dogs will exhibit pain from hip dysplasia at a young age, while other dogs are much older before their hip dysplasia becomes a problem. Lighter dogs with more muscle mass (i.e. younger dogs have better muscle mass than older dogs) are less likely to have issues with hip dysplasia unless it’s very severe.

Some dogs will display severe hip dysplasia on x-rays, but will have no clinical signs.

If your dog is diagnosed with hip dysplasia, there are a variety of treatment options. The following surgical options are available: Triple pelvic osteotomy: This is commonly done in dogs 8-18 months of age that have dysplasia without degenerative arthritis changes. With this surgery the poor fitting acetabulum (socket) is basically sawed free of the rest of the pelvis and repositioned so that a tighter fit to the femoral head is obtained.

Surgical plates are then used to stabilize the joint. After care involves 3-4 months of exercise restriction.

Femoral Head/Neck Ostectomy (FHO): This surgery is best for dogs under 50 pounds or very active dogs. With this surgery the femoral head (ball) is removed, which allows the joint to heal as a false joint. Recovery time is much faster with this procedure and it tends to be cheaper than other surgical options.

Total Hip Replacement: This procedure is for dogs with established degenerative hip changes. Although the thought of a dog having a hip replacement may sound extreme, it has been done in dogs for over 20 years and is often very successful.

Usually only one hip is done at a time and the recovery period is about three months.

If surgery is not an option, then non-surgical options include management of the arthritis pain with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, joint supplements, fish oil, acupuncture, or laser therapy.

Chief, one of my patients, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at 11 years of age. Chief’s owner brought him to me in late November because he was acting strangely with his hind end.

Chief’s owner had noticed that he was walking oddly with his hind end and having a hard time getting up and down off of the floor. She felt that the change was fairly sudden. On exam, I noticed that Chief was walking with decreased range of motion in his right hind leg and expressed pain on manipulation of his right hind limb. I decided to take x-rays and diagnosed Chief with hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis. His right hind limb was worse than the left. The owner and I discussed medical management options since surgery was not an option for Chief. The owner really wanted to try laser therapy to see if it would help give him some pain relief.

When people hear the word laser therapy, two things seem to happen. First, there is a look of bewilderment on their face and I get the feeling that they are thinking of Star Wars. The second thing is that people often think it’s very expensive and are usually shocked at how economical laser therapy can be.

Laser therapy works by using wavelengths of light. The wavelengths of light work on a cellular level and interact with the metabolic activity within a cell, which causes improvement in Spring 2016

Chief, showing tremendous sucess after laser therapy.

the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This leads to beneficial effects and increases cellular function and health.

Class IV laser therapy reduces inflammation, increases circulation, and promotes healing and endorphin release.

Chief started his laser therapy for hip dysplasia and arthritis on November 30th and had a second treatment on December 2nd. After Chief’s second laser therapy treatment, his owner noticed a huge improvement. Chief is now having no issues getting up and down off of the floor and he’s playing and wanting to move around more.

Laser therapy can’t help everything; but it can be used in conjunction with medications or by itself for many conditions.

We use it in our clinic for skin issues, post-surgery, arthritis, back pain, and acute injuries to name just a few. If you believe your pet is suffering from hip dysplasia, make sure to talk to your veterinarian to explore the various treatment options that are available for your pet.

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 19

Paddock Partners Heidi Jo Hauri-Gill

Dear Heidi I have a horse in my backyard and I am starting to think about ways that I can help my kids learn to ride. I don’t want to have them do riding lessons every week because I am also a rider and I can help them, I just don’t know where to start.

Beth, Grafton, NH Dear Beth Thank you for your question! I completely understand! So much comes naturally once you have been around horses, but the educational part is so important.

The last thing anyone needs in their busy life is yet another weekly commitment. My suggestion is to find some summer camp programs and start interviewing the owners. Find out about their certification, and the discipline they are trained in. Very important to keep in mind, is what sort of training did the trainers have?

Horses are an interesting topic, and one that has a lot of science behind it for many reasons. Some of the older practices have gone by the wayside as science has proven them not to be optimal. You want

ie z a M

to find a place that is current and has educated leaders with credentials. Then ask for a tour. See if you feel like the environment is good for your kids.

Right now it is hard to imagine a tour as all of our farms are in winter mode, and imagining the joys of summer camp may seem a big leap. But you can tell if there is

With many of our family and friends returning from a long war, the Vermont Department of Corrections has been addressing the needs of our veterans, thanks to the efforts of the Blue Star Mothers of Vermont. According to program coordinator Terri Sabens, inmates at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, VT began training service dogs last winter to assist returning military personnel. As a former volunteer with Soldiers Angels, Sabens spent more than a year reaching out to the Vermont DOC. “PTSD is a widespread issue that many of our veterans face. There are just too many related suicides that can’t be ignored.”

Mazie was the first puppy to be raised by inmates through the BSMVT pet program. She was placed with her veteran last Mother’s Day. He was taking 16 prescriptions for his PTSD when he got her, to date he has cut that number down to ZERO prescriptions that he depends on for his anxiety. He says it’s all because of her.

Thank you Blue Star Mothers of VT and the Vermont Department of Corrections. Most of all, we extend our gratitude to all veterans who have served our country.

20 4 Legs & a Tail

room for fun horse related activities, how many horses do they have to teach with, what is the trainer-to-student ratio, do they have a safe place to eat and stay out of the sun? What is the schedule like? How often do they ride? Some summer camps are a really fun place to hang out and take care of horses, others are more based on learning how to ride, and others blend the two. What other activities do they offer? Is there a well rounded approach to horses, and how humans have to be healthy and fit to be around horses? How will the kids cool off on those hot days?

For your situation I would strongly consider a program that has at least one riding lesson, not just ride, but lesson per day. It needs to have practical experience, but not necessarily each kid caring for their own horse, yours can do that at home. If they can get some knowledge of tack and its care, feeding, basic health, and most importantly of all, Safety around the horses, you have found a well rounded program. If they are doing arts and crafts all day that may not be your destination, or if they are only going out for trail rides. Think about what you want to have your kids come home with and then find the program that suits! I think you will find that this area has programs to suit everyone in different ways. Good Luck!

Heidi Jo Hauri-Gill is the owner of First Choice Riding Academy in Enfield, NH. She is a graduate of Westmoreland Davis International Equestrian Institute, as well as UNH. Although Heidi’s passion is teaching and training she is also an L-Graduate with distinction. Heidi incorporates cavaletti and jumping in every horse/rider’s training plans. www.firstchoiceridingacademy.com Spring 2016

Canine Point of View Michelle Grimes

Dear Canine Point of View, I recently adopted a very sweet, young adult dog named Bowie.

I am helping him acclimate by maintaining daily structure and routine. He has become quite comfortable with me but sometimes acts afraid of things that aren’t scary. I’m enjoying our new relationship but want him to know he doesn’t have to be afraid of everything. What else can I do to help him adjust?

Thank-you, Bowies’ Mom - Jennifer Harmen, Rutland, VT Hi Jennifer, Congratulations on your new family member. When faced with an anxious, fearful or shy pup, it can be challenging to help them feel comfortable and relaxed. Fortunately there are things you can put into practice now, to help build a relationship based on positivity and trust.

Look at situations from Bowie’s point of view. You state he is sometimes afraid of things that aren’t scary. I often hear this statement and remind owners, this is a subjective observation. There is in fact an underlying reason for the fearful reaction displayed. Willingness to understand how dogs learn (starting with the extremely critical socialization period that begins at just a few weeks of age1) will enable you to offer support in the most successful way.

Be observant. Proficiency in reading Bowie’s body language will allow you to monitor his state of mind. Recognizing subtle stress signals provides you with valuable information, in turn giving you an opportunity to provide the most appropriate response for that particular situation. Lip licking, turning away and yawning out of context are a few minute gestures indicative of stress.

Allow Bowie to make decisions. Never force Bowie to confront the trigger in a way that is overwhelming. Coaxing him to engage in something just because it doesn’t appear scary to you could potentially be harmful to your relationship. Forcing a dog to do something they don’t want to do will not make them any less scared. In fact, you could make things worse and loose his trust. In human terms, would you like being pushed or pulled towards something you fear just because your friend says it’s going to be ok? I didn’t think so. Telling me I have nothing to be afraid of while we walk through the dark woods will do nothing to comfort my insecurities at that moment.

Desensitization and Counter Conditioning. By using these two techniques, we can often modify behavior in animals.

Desensitization involves slowly exposing the animal to the situation, with very low intensity; so low that it does not result in the undesired behavior or reaction. Counter conditioning means conditioning (training) the animal to display a behavior that is counter to (mutually exclusive of) an unacceptable behavior in response to a particular stimulus. Combined, these techniques offer a way for the animal to gradually be taught acceptable behavior in the face of a stimulus (event that provokes a specific reaction) that used to elicit problem behavior.

Consequently, these techniques must be implemented systematically with thought and planning. If the incremental increases are too large, or occur too quickly, the techniques will either not be effective, or may even make the problem worse.

Classical Conditioning. If you are familiar with Bowie’s specific triggers, classical conditioning (pairing the scary thing 1 www.dogstardaily.com/training/puppy-personality-development

Spring 2016

with something Bowie really loves) might be beneficial. High value food / treats such as hot dog, cheese pieces or deli ends work well as the paring reward. The reward should be something novel, small and easily ingested. Leave the dry milk bones for less significant treat times.

For example, if Bowie fears people, Classical Conditioning would mean that every time you pass a stranger, he gets a steady stream of hot dog bits until the person has passed. We want to condition an emotional response so that he will automatically have a good feeling when seeing a new person.

Foundation Behaviors. Fancy training isn’t necessary to build confidence. Teaching Bowie basic commands can instill confidence by providing predictability. By asking for simple behaviors, such as “sit” or “stay” and rewarding for the appropriate response, Bowie stays in an active thinking mode versus a reactive instinctual mode. Because dogs learn by association, behaviors previously rewarded (from their point of view, not ours) will be repeated. Keeping him in an active thinking state with training exercises he is favorably rewarded for, instills confidence.

These suggestions along with maintaining the structure and routine you’ve already started will help keep you moving in the right direction. I encourage you to look into group training classes as well as visiting the webpage for the link provided.

Seeking out scientific based canine behavior information will assist you in becoming a supportive and empowering canine guardian. Bowie is a lucky dog for sure. www.dogstardaily.com/training/ puppy-personality-development Michelle Grimes CPDT-KA, of K9 Insights is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer & Behavior Consultant specializing in Positive Reinforcement Training for all breeds. She has been in the animal welfare field for over 13 year and is a full time Emergency & Critical Care Veterinary Nurse Technician at SAVES in Lebanon. Michelle@k9insights.com or www.k9insights.com www.4LegsAndATail.com 21

Why is My Cat Peeing Outside the Box? D

oes your cat have a bad habit of peeing in the potted plant or on your favorite chair? Cats have a way of marching to the beat of their own drum, and sometimes they take to peeing everywhere but their litter box. This is referred to as “Inappropriate Urination,” and it is one of the most common reasons cats are surrendered to shelters. If your cat has begun urinating outside the box there may be a behavioral or medical cause that can be addressed.

Cats are notoriously picky, so if the litter box isn’t exactly to their specifications they may not use it. If your cats are peeing directly next to the box they may be trying to tell you that the box isn’t clean enough to meet their standards. In addition to daily cleanings, using a sandy or odorless litter that better mimics outdoor conditions may make the box more appealing to your cat. Cats are attracted back to places they have previously urinated based on odor, so if they pee outside the box make sure you clean the area very well to remove the smell. It may be helpful to obtain a special cleaner from your veterinarian or pet store that is specifically

22 4 Legs & a Tail

Serena Peeters, DVM

designed to eliminate the odor of urine.

Because nothing with cats is ever simple, many cats will also reject covered or self cleaning boxes so I recommend staying away from those options if you are having litter box troubles.

Additionally, some cats will avoid boxes that include those nice mats designed to keep your feline friends from tracking litter all over the house.

It’s also important to keep tabs on how many available boxes are present in the home. The recommended guide is n + 1 where n equals the number of cats you have. So for example, if you have two cats then you should have three litter boxes. It’s also necessary to distribute your boxes throughout the house because your cat will see several boxes in a row simply as one giant box, not three individual boxes.

Sometimes, even if you have the litter boxes set up perfectly, your cats will still urinate elsewhere because they are upset with you. If you have recently been away on vacation or if there has been a lot of stressful activity going on in the home, you may notice your cat urinating on your bed or clothes. This is a behavioral problem and can sometimes be solved with the help of things like pheromone sprays and environmental enrichment.

Providing your cat with various toys, things to climb on, and cozy hideaways helps to lower their stress levels and keep them occupied, which in turn makes them less likely to take their frustrations out on your new sheets.

If you’ve already got a handle on the behavioral side of things it’s possible that your cat is experiencing a medical problem. There are several conditions which can affect urination in cats and cause them to be more likely to pee outside of their litter box. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a very common cause of inappropriate urination and cats are particularly likely to develop a UTI after a stressful event. This is because unlike humans, who tend to get GI upset secondary to stress, cats express stress through their bladder. This is another reason why environmental enrichment and monitoring stress levels is very important.

If you notice your cat repeatedly climbing in and out of the box, straining

to urinate, or peeing outside the litter box these can all be signs of a UTI. If your cat is straining to pee and nothing is coming out they may actually have a urinary blockage which is a medical emergency.

Just like people, cats may develop bladder stones that are very irritating and affect their urination habits. Additionally, if your kitty has kidney disease or diabetes this will not only predispose them to getting UTIs but also cause them to drink so much water that they can’t help but pee all over the house.

If your cat suddenly starts peeing all over the house, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian. Your vet will want to look at a urine sample to check for evidence of infection and they may also take an x-ray of the bladder to check for stones.

UTIs are very treatable with antibiotics and some stones can be dissolved with special diets. If you have an older cat your veterinarian may also want to do some blood work to check for things like diabetes or kidney disease. Not only will your vet help diagnose and treat disease, they will also give you to the tools and guidance you need to get your kitty back to peeing in all the right places.

Spring 2016

Living With Black Bears B

lack bears are found in most forested portions of Vermont. They generally rely on wild foods such as berries, cherries, beechnuts, and acorns to survive.

However, as humans move into bear habitat, bears can become attracted to other foods such as birdseed, garbage, and pet food. You can help the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department maintain a healthy bear population by reducing the chance you will attract bears to your property.

Bird feeders, barbecue grills, garbage, and dirty campsites can become appealing food sources. They are also deadly — the bear could be struck by a motor vehicle in a populated area, injured or shot by someone protecting their property, or have to be destroyed. When a bear is being fed (directly or indirectly), its life expectancy is likely reduced.

Black bears are normally shy and not aggressive to humans. However, a bear that has been fed by humans loses this shyness and can become a potential danger to human safety. When this occurs, there is often little recourse except to destroy the bear.

Let’s Avoid Conflict; Follow these guidelines to decrease the chance of conflicts with bears: Dispose of garbage frequently. Store it in clean, secure containers (top latched, tied, or chained). Don’t put garbage out at the curb the night before pickup.

Feed pets indoors.

Keep barbecue grills clean and stored inside.

Don’t feed birds from April 1 to December 1 if you live in an area where there are bears. If you see or suspect a bear near your home, remove your bird feeders for at least four weeks or until the bear is no longer in the area.

If you have livestock, dispose of animal carcasses immediately by burying or incinerating.

Support protecting and enhancing natural food sources in areas away from human habitation. For more information about how you can help enhance bear habitat, visit the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department website. Please report any black bear incidents you may have had. To report a backyard visit or damage caused by a bear, go to the Fish & Wildlife website for Wildlife Programs and fill in the form Black Bear Incident Reporting.

Above all, REMEMBER A FED BEAR IS A DEAD BEAR! Visit these websites to learn more about black bears: Be Bear Aware: www.centerforwildlifeinformation.org/BeBearAware/bebearaware.html Continued NEXT PAGE Spring 2016

www.4LegsAndATail.com 23

The black bear, Ursus americanus, is the smallest of the three bear species found in North America. It is the only bear found in Vermont. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s management objective for black bears is to maintain a population that is between 4,500 and 6,000 animals. The highest numbers of bears can be found in the center spine of the Green Mountains, from Massachusetts to Canada, and in the northeastern part of Vermont. The best habitat for black bears in Vermont is a mixture of coniferous trees, hardwoods, wetlands, and variation in terrain. Because they need dense cover to escape danger, the wary and elusive black bears prefer rough and wooded habitats.

Coniferous trees provide concealment and protection from severe weather. Stands of beech and oak, along with wetlands, are important feeding areas for bears. Live weights for adult female black bears in Vermont average between 120 and 180 pounds. In contrast, male black bears are generally larger, weighing 300-400 pounds. Black bears have an excellent sense of smell and hearing. However, their eyesight is not as well developed.

Bear Wise: www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Bearwi se/index.html Help is Available Persons suffering bear damage should contact the nearest Vermont Fish & Wildlife office or local state game warden prior to taking any control action on their own. Fish & Wildlife personnel will recommend appropriate measures or control strategies that can lessen the problem.

Producers of bees/honey, corn, fruit orchards, and livestock interested in learning more about black bear damage, its identification, what to do if damage occurs, and where to go for assistance should contact their local Vermont Fish & Wildlife local game warden: www.vtfishandwildlife.com/about_staff.cfm USFWS

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Spring 2016

Green Up Your Pets!

The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM

E

can be used as mulch or compost (once you scoop out the waste)! These use renewable products such as corn, wheat, paper, or kiln-dried wood. Nearly every local pet or feed store has at least one such kitty litter. Stop using those plastic grocery store bags for your dog’s waste and use ones that break down quickly and naturally and don’t harm the environment.

It is estimated that a million animals (mainly in the ocean) die each year from ingesting plastic, mistaking it for food.

There are several companies that make biodegradable “doggie doo” bags that can be found locally.

You know you can’t resist buying toys for your pets. Did you know there are many companies that make dog and cat toys and beds from recycled plastics, hemp, wool, or cotton? Check with your local pet supply stores, or as a last resort, check online. You can even make your own pet toys at home. Reuse scraps of fabric to make your own braided dog pull toy. Cat owners all know that most of the time the cats have more fun playing in bags or boxes than they do with toys from the store. You can even crumple up your old bills and have the satisfaction of seeing your cats bat them around the house. Cats find cords and stringy toys irresistible to play with, but they also like to try to eat them. This can cause serious illness, so

put them away when you’re done playing.

Avoid plastic food and water dishes and use ones made from metal or glass or better yet, look for ones made from sustainable materials. There is at least one company that makes food and water dishes from bamboo, for example.

So green up your pets! These are small things that you can do to help make the environment a safer and better place for wildlife and all of those future puppies and kittens.

The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional organization of 340 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine.

arth Day (April 22) and Vermont Green up Day (May 2) is the perfect time to consider some Earth friendly practices to help the environment, when it comes to our furry companions. Plastic is everywhere, and only 27% of plastic is recycled. Landfills can only hold so much and even then it takes 450 years for plastic to start to degrade. If we can use products for our pets made from recycled plastic or even better from renewable resources, it is better for our pets and the environment in the long run.

Consider making homemade treats to avoid buying ones pre-packaged in plastic. While there are a million recipes online for homemade dog biscuits, double check the ingredient list with your veterinarian before making them to ensure they are safe for your pet. An even simpler way (if your pet eats canned food) is to take some of your pet’s canned food, cut it into small strips, and bake in the oven until it is brick consistency.

Homemade diets are a great idea, but they can be tricky because you must ensure that the diet has the proper balance of ingredients, vitamins, and minerals.

Animals can become very sick on some homemade diets if they are not balanced: check with your veterinarian first. Just because “Dr. Google” says it’s so, doesn’t mean that recipe is complete and balanced.

There are at least five types of kitty litter that are not only biodegradable, they Spring 2016

www.4LegsAndATail.com 25

A Sweet History (That’s a Little Squirrely)

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Tanya Sousa

’m not sure how many people know where maple sugaring originated, but many would guess we learned it from the Native Americans. They wouldn’t be too far off. Various tribes known as the Eastern Woodland Indians, the most famous of this group being the Iroquois and Cherokee nations, were seen by Jacques Cartier tapping maples in 1540.

Settlers soon discovered the Native Americans had a really good idea and began tapping trees on their own.

But like most stories and histories, the answer is never that simple. There’s a surprise twist.

When author and professor Brend Heinrich of the Department of Zoology, UVM decided to study some long-reported but unsubstantiated animal behavior, it lead him to vast early spring maple

26 4 Legs & a Tail

groves in Maine and Vermont. He also researched maple tapping practices and myths of Native American peoples such as the Iroquois. He found the answer to the riddle - discovered the genius who made the sweet and lucrative business of maple sugaring possible today. It was a creature most people in the maple sugaring industry consider a scourge and an arch-enemy. None other than the tiny red squirrel!

It’s true. The animal that chews through plastic tap lines on occasion to get sap, may feel he has every right to do so, because he’s the very reason we have the delicious taste and the money it brings in the first place.

The Iroquois have an ancient myth about the red squirrel’s role in the discovery. A youth in the woods saw a squirrel biting off the tip of a twig and licking the sap. The youth, curious, tried it too. And so, a grand discovery was made.

The details of how Native Americans realized the watery sap could be thicker, sweeter, even turned to sugar is also a credit to the smarts and behavior of this small, nimble rodent.

Heinrich, in 1989-1990, watched red squirrels “systematically harvesting sugar and syrup from sugar maple trees,” according to his paper, Maple Sugaring

by Red Squirrels. He studied twentythree sites in the two states and saw the very behavior he’d heard about and read about. Squirrels pruned trees by snipping buds with their teeth, snipped off the tips

of other branches, or slashed v-shaped wounds in the bark of sugar maple trees with their teeth. The odd thing was that the squirrely critters didn’t lick the sap right away. Instead, they left the scene and returned hours later after the sap had oozed onto the bark. The water had mostly if not all evaporated, and left these small furry maple sugar producers with their own syrup or sugar, to lick and eat away.

Heinrich also noticed amazing similarities to the traditional Native American method of harvesting the sap.

They would hack a V-shaped wound in the tree to release the flowing sap – just like the V-shaped wound, but larger, made by the red squirrels.

Are you frowning at what I’m trying to suggest? A pesky rodent is responsible for a wonderful human achievement?

Someone is calling the behavior of this scourge, a mere rodent “smart”? Imagine you’re one of the maple producers reading this.

Red squirrels are one of the tiny percentage of all animals that store food for winter. Humans are also part of that small percentage. They place their stores in piles called “middens” or stuff their stashes under logs or in hollow places. Yes, they forget where they store these sometimes, but we misplace our car keys all the time, don’t we? They also put things in “safe spots” and forget where that spot is.

When stores of food run low in certain years, the clever squirrels learned that sap could be useful. At some point, they even figured out, that there is much more energy and taste to be had by getting the water out of sap, so the good stuff is left behind.

These rodents are good stewards of the forest as well. They start harvesting the sap and sugar as early as January, but around the first of March Heinrich could see the V-shaped marks on the trees increased in number, but never too many. They took what they needed and the tree wounds were well healed by July with the trees no worse for wear.

Who knows? Maybe those red squirrels see those plastic tap lines and think that after generations, we recognized their gift to humans, such a hairless and strange animal with hardly any survival skills at all. Maybe they think we are returning the favor by giving them easier access. Hey, I wouldn’t put anything past them!

Perhaps when they chide us for entering the maple groves with their chatters, screeches, whistles, chirps, rattles, growls, foot stomping and tail flicking, they have the right to ward us off. Seems they were the first in the maple business after all!

Tanya Sousa is a published author of many magazine articles and several children’s picture books. Most recently, her environmental novel, The Starling God, made the short-list for the national “Green Earth Book Awards,” in the Young Adult Fiction category. www.RadiantHen.com www.forestrypress.com Spring 2016

Spring - Keeping Your Pet Healthy S

Dr. John Eustis, Orchard Veterinary Hospital.

pring is here, and with the warmer temperatures we start to see many dogs that are either vomiting, have diarrhea or both. A few years ago I think I figured out why we seem to see this epidemic of GI problems in the spring. My theory is that all the birds, mice, chipmunks and anything else that has died over the winter, in addition to various animal feces that had been frozen for the winter, has now thawed.

For many dogs this is a treat they just can’t resist! Many times these tasty little treats are badly decomposed and contain many different forms of pathogenic bacteria. Also, all of the ponds and lakes thaw, and dogs start drinking out of them again.

Finally, there are several diseases that affect puppies and are more easily transmitted between dogs in the spring when they are outside and mingling more with other dogs.

Most of the time, the first thing that you will notice is vomiting, diarrhea or both. This usually occurs within 6-24 hours of ingestion of the contaminated material. Sometimes the dog just vomits the material up and that is the end of it.

Unfortunately, what usually happens is the dog vomits at first and then begins to have runny, watery and sometimes bloody diarrhea. At this point it is a good idea to get your four-legged friend to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

When a dog is vomiting he’s not able to keep anything like water or food down long enough for it to be absorbed. When he is simultaneously vomiting and having diarrhea, he can become severely dehydrated very quickly. Puppies can be even more quickly and severely affected, as they have little reserves of fat to call on when they can’t eat. Dehydration can lead to kidney failure and death very quickly if left untreated.

Diarrhea in dogs can be caused by many different types of bacteria, several different types of parasites and several types of viruses, some of which can be fatal. Besides eating putrefied remains and feces, dogs drinking from puddles, ponds and streams can get organisms that can cause diarrhea.

One of the parasites that commonly causes diarrhea is call Giardia. It is also known as “beaver fever,” and is the reason that you are told not to drink the water from lakes and rivers when you are camping. While not all dogs that drink from these sources will get sick, some may, and occasionally it can lead to severe and even life-threatening diarrhea and vomiting.

There was a vaccine for the prevention of Giardia, but in my experience it didn’t work very well and has been taken off the market.

Giardia can be prevented by commerSpring 2016

cial filters used for camping or by drinking only bottled or tap water. With some dogs though, it is impossible to prevent ingestion, as they are swimming dogs and will be ingesting the water no matter what.

In these cases I recommend just monitoring your dog. As I said, most dogs will not have any problems.

In puppies there is a virus called Parvovirus that can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting and even death very quickly.

Fortunately, Parvo is a very preventable disease, and is one of the core vaccines that all puppies should get every 3-4 weeks beginning at about 6-8 weeks of age, and continuing until they are 16-20 weeks old.

Regardless of the pup’s vaccine status, if your puppy begins having any of these symptoms, get him to your veterinarian immediately. As I said, puppies have very little reserves and can get very sick, very fast.

Treatment for any of these diseases will depend on what your veterinarian finds when they examine your dog, as well as examining a fecal sample. Many times all that is needed is antibiotics or an antiparasitic, for mild to moderate cases. In more severe cases where there is dehydration and severe vomiting and diarrhea, the dog may need to be hospitalized and given

intravenous fluids, injections of antibiotics and anti-nausea medications.

Prevention of these infections can be as simple as a vaccine for Parvovirus, but can be more problematic in some dogs that insist on eating anything they find on the ground, or drinking out of every puddle or pond they come across. I have several patients that, unfortunately, need to wear a basket muzzle every time they go outdoors. They will eat anything they find, and become sick almost every time.

One owner tells me that whenever her dog is in the woods, he comes back with the basket muzzle packed with dirt and leaves!

Cats can also have most of these same problems, but fortunately cats seem to have them less often. I think because it’s true what they say about cats, they’re finicky eaters.

While not every dog is going to get sick every time it eats something off the ground, many will. With diarrhea and vomiting it’s no fun for the dog, and no fun for the cleaning crew! If your dog is showing these symptoms it is VERY important to get them to your veterinarian as soon as possible. You can speed the diagnosis and become one of your vet’s favorite clients, if you bring a fresh fecal sample along with you.

Reasons To Scoop Recently I noticed a person walking their dog. After the dog pooped, they both kept walking. As a pet owner, part of your responsibility is to pick up after your dog. If doing the right thing isn’t enough, here are a few more reasons to consider: • Hollywood hunk Bradley Cooper can pick up almost any woman he wants, but finds it attractive when women pick up after their dog.

•

Marriage website E-Harmony is considering adding the question, “Do you clean up after your dog?” to their match survey. When we contacted a rival match website, their response was, “They don’t give a crap!”

• Walking your dog and cleaning up after burns more than 200 calories per day.

• In some Vermont communities, failure to pick up can result in a fine up to $500.

• There are several very common diseases that can be transmitted to dogs, cats and people through feces. These include giardia, roundworms, salmonella, and Ecoli.

• Nobody likes to walk through a yard that is hiding “doggie land mines.”

• Flies will consume and lay eggs in feces. These same flies will then come into your house and then spread disease as they pause on your counter and food.

• The shocking truth is that most dogs will engage in the unsavory practice of eating poop at some point in their life. Dogs evolved as carnivore/ scavengers and feces were considered fair game in lean times. www.4LegsAndATail.com 27

What Does it Really Mean?

A

s children we all sang about The Farmer in the Dell (a dell is a V shaped Valley). It was an 18th century nursery rhyme about the natural progression of life in the day; from farmer to husband to father, etc. But, does it still have the same meaning? In this day and age the family farm has all but disappeared and large corporations have taken over as commercial growers to the world. Thus today, The Farmer in the Dell could be “a consortium of agricultural enterprises, organized as a Delaware Limited Partnership (the Dell), for tax and depreciation purposes.”

We decided to take a modern look at other popular phrases, what they used to mean, and what their meaning has evolved into:

28 4 Legs & a Tail

The Saying

Used to Mean

Now Means

A Little Hair of the Dog

A hangover remedy and in ancient times, when bitten by a dog, you rubbed the dogs hair into the wound as a cure.

Where did Donald Trump get that hair piece?

Barking up the Wrong Tree

Communicating with the wrong person.

What’s up with your phone? You need to upgrade your cell plan to 4-G!

The Straw that Broke the Camel’s Back

The final bit needed to tilt the balance over the edge.

What do you mean my health insurance doesn’t cover chiropractic?!

Don’t Beat a Dead Horse

The beating refers to the overusing of the "dead horse". Said horse is a metaphor for a joke, and the fact that it's no longer living implies that it's no longer funny.

It's baseball season!

Yes, the Sox finished last the past two years and Yankee legend Derek Jeter is retired. Let's move on.

Never Look a Gift Horse In the Mouth

Don’t be critical of a present or gift.

My accountant says I can be “gifted” $13,000 with no tax consequence.

You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

As you age, it becomes difficult to learn new patterns of behavior.

Republicans and Democrats will never work together (no matter how many times they utter the word “bi-partisanship”).

When the Cats Away The Mice will Play

An extended period of time in which the boss is absent and thus providing employee’s an untethered opportunity for self-supervision

I just set the company record on Angry Birds!

I think my computer need a new mouse. (ok, maybe this one hasn’t changed much).

Every Dog has his Day

Even the lowest and unluckiest among us will one day have their glory.

Invest heavily in lottery tickets.

He that lies with dogs comes up with fleas.

An association with a person of questionable character will have adverse consequence.

Always consider spending more than $39 for a motel room

Spring 2016

4 LEGS & A TAIL FUN! What 5 Things Are Different?

Rabbit Ears, Dog’s Ear, Dog’s Foot, Coloring on Dogs Muzzel, Green Egg Missing

Inside 4 Legs & a Tail W J Y M R S V O X X O E B L E

V O A H I R A V I E V N L K C

Y E O N V O Q I F T H Z A Y U

F U Q D E J P N Y I M O C W T

D E D U C T I O N S Z X K T E

BLACKBEAR CHICKENS DEDUCTION ELEPHANT FERAL GOAT

D E V R D H Q T Y A K A B I R

S R F X S N U T T R L Q E U V

W N K U Q Q N C L A Y M A W V

J Y E X B A J F K P G U R E K

M U G K H A P E D P H O T I V

A H I P C G V R W H N E A N Y

PARASITE PUG SQUIRREL VETERANS WOODCHUCK

N B E C P I S A W V R N Z T M

T L Z H K G H L V A C A Z U H

E R P U G G Z C N S A Z G G B

L E R R I U Q S Y X Z M T I U

This Centaur Cooking Dinner

A Fowl at the Matinee Movies

A man in a movie theater notices what looks like a chicken sitting next to him. “Are you a chicken?” asked the man, surprised. “Yes.” “What are you doing at the movies?” The chicken replied, “Well, I liked the book.” source: http://jokes4us.com/animaljokes/chickenjokes.html

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