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Western Vermont Winter 2019
Controlling Your Pet’s Weight This Winter Preparing Your Pets for Guests Help for Vermont Equine Business Owners Inspirational Stories from Around the World
Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail
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2-5. Inspirational Stories From Around the World 6. E-cigarettes & Pets: A New Concern Sarah Cosgrove - Respiratory Therapist & Master Level Tobacco Treatment Specialist
8. The Note How the new homeowners discovered a way to pay it forward
9. Our Favorite Blueberry Dog Biscuit Recipe 10. Animal Drug Safety Warning 11. Not My Dog, Karen Sturtevant
The mystery of a walk gone bad
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12. Charity Begins at Home Pat Jauch
Be aware of who's asking for your donation
13. New Study could Help VT Horse Business Owners Jessica Stewart Riley
The Vermont Horse Council looks at the impact of the equine industry on the state
14. Bravo For Bravo Sarah Tuck Gillens The true Antartic adventure of Bravo and his owner, Dartmouth graduate Jack Tuck
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16. Cold Weather Safety for Pets Erin Forbes 17. Your Pet's Chipped Tooth Kristin Esterbrook - DVM Preventing accidents for your pets dental health 18. Alternatively Speaking: A Holistic Look at Matters of the Heart Dr. Anne Carroll DVM, CVA 20. Weight Control for Dogs in Winter Months Patrick Sturgeon & Ben Burroughs A comprehensive plan to keep your pet fit
21. Home with Your Dog for the Holidays Maria Karunungan and Megan O’Hara 22. Taking Care of Business in the Winter
Helpful tips to get your dog to take care of business fast
23. Polar Bears
Fun facts that will blow your mind
24. 8 Tips for Award Winning Pet Photography Joshua Dustin 26. Diabetic Alert Dog Permits Teacher to Live Normally Kate Kelly 28. The Fairy Dogmother – and Other Classic Tails Tanya Sousa 4 Legs & a Tail Volume R.418 P.O. Box 841 Lebanon, NH 03766
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603-727-9214
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Sales Manager: Ashley Charron
Winter 2019
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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GEO, A TRULY HEROIC DOG G
eo is a charming half-breed of German Shepherd and Collie who saved the life of his ten-year-old owner, Charlie Riley. Charlie was playing on the street with his pet when suddenly a truck rushed onto the pavement at high-speed, racing straight at the boy. The dog instantly pushed Charlie aside and took the brunt of the blow from the advancing truck. Geo was thrown onto the road, and the truck, trying to escape from the scene, ran down the poor animal one more time. The brave dog miraculously survived, but he received several internal injuries, and his legs and spine were broken. Thankfully, timely veterinary care saved Geo from death, but he had to undergo lengthy treatment and rehabilitation. Now, the dog is completely healthy. He enjoys life among his family that is infinitely grateful to him for saving their son.
*We will not sell or give your information to a third party R418 2 4 Legs & a Tail
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Dolphin Lifeguard T
odd Endris, a professional surfer, narrowly escaped death thanks to the help of some dolphins. In August, while conquering the waves, Todd was attacked by a great white shark which was almost 16.4 ft (5 m) long. After several attempts to get away from the fierce predator, Todd almost lost the strength to keep fighting, but suddenly a group of dolphins came to his aid. They formed a protective ring around the injured surfer, keeping the shark at a distance. This amazing team of unexpected rescuers accompanied Todd to the shore, allowing him to get first aid.
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photo by Jill Canillas Daley
The Just Lions I
t turns out that even a ruthless predator like a lion can show empathy towards other animals or even people. In Ethiopia, a group of men kidnapped a 12-yearold girl in order to marry her forcibly to a member of their community. A week later, the girl was found in the jungle under the protection of three lions. It turned out that when the lions saw the men beating the girl, they kicked away the intruders and guarded her. When the police found the little girl, the lions retreated. However, they went back to the jungle only when the girl safely returned home. In her testimony, she said that lions protected her until the police came. 4 4 Legs & a Tail
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Rudolph and Crew Given Green Light to Fly I
Dr. Kimberly May
t’s officially ON! Dr. Rene Carlson, AVMA past president and current president of the World Veterinary Association, recently trekked to the North Pole to perform veterinary exams on some very special patients: Santa’s reindeer. Just like any animal traveling across state or country borders, Santa’s reindeer need to have health certificates and a clean bill of health. Given their rapid rate of travel around the globe and the number of stops they make, if any of Santa’s reindeer were carrying an infectious disease, we could have an outbreak of disastrous proportions! In addition, if any of the reindeer were not healthy enough to travel, it would put them at higher risk of illness if exposed to an ill animal, and they could become ill and also put the other reindeer at risk. In other words, keeping the reindeer healthy not only protects them, but also protects the other animals of the world. And let’s not forget the people – reindeer can carry some diseases, such as brucellosis and tuberculosis, which can also infect people. Fortunately, all nine reindeer – including that famous red-nosed one – are perfect specimens of health, and were given full RTF (Ready To Fly) status. We’ve posted the official Certificate of Inspection, and there’s a short video of Dr. Carlson’s exam. We’ve also got more resources, including a press release, photos and a longer video from a previous visit, and answers to frequently asked questions about Santa’s reindeer. Winter 2019
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E-Cigarettes & Pets- A New Concern Sarah Cosgrove Respiratory Therapist & Master Level Tobacco Treatment Specialist Rutland Regional Medical Center
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o your pets smoke? That sounds like a ridiculous question, but if someone smokes around your pets, they are breathing in that smoke. If you can smell it, those around you are breathing it. Second-hand smoke comes from anything that is smoked: cigarettes, cigars and pipes. We know that second-hand smoke is a known carcinogen that can cause cancer in both dogs and cats. There are hundreds of chemicals in the smoke of the tobacco cigarettes that can cause countless diseases such as lung cancer and heart problems in pets. Did you know that dogs whose owners smoke are twice as likely to develop cancer? Long-nosed dogs tend to get nasal and sinus cancer while short-nosed dogs are more prone to lung cancer. The good thing is research has confirmed that e-cigarettes don’t have any of those chemicals. The bad news is for smokers with pets, e-cigarettes can pose an even bigger danger than second-hand tobacco smoke. The nicotine in e-cigarettes is highly toxic to pets. E-cigarettes are made to resemble traditional cigarettes; the battery-operated devices aerosolize liquid containing nicotine, turning it into
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a fine mist that can be inhaled. This is known in the e-cigarette world as vaping. The labels on e-cigarettes clearly state: “keep away from children and pets”. Because most e-cigarette liquid, also known as e-juices, contain nicotine, if consumed can be extremely dangerous for children as well as pets. Poisoning from e-cigarettes is a relatively new threat to animals and many pet owners don’t realize that nicotine poses such a serious threat of poisoning to dogs and cats. Pets can be tempted by e-cigarette capsules, leading them to chew or even swallow them. The scent of the flavored e–juices can be very tempting to dogs. They can easily use their needle-sharp teeth to pierce through the packing. There has been a significant increase in cases of nicotine poisoning in pets that have ingested e-cigarettes or liquid nicotine solution. Nicotine poisoning in pets has a rapid onset of symptoms, usually occurring within fifteen minutes to an hour following ingestion. Symptoms for dogs and cats include: vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart and respiration rate, tremors, weakness, seizures, coma and even cardiac arrest. In most cases, if they receive prompt veterinary care nicotine poisoning is not fatal. In addition to the toxicity of nicotine, the actual e-cigarette casing can result in oral injury when chewed and can cause gastrointestinal upset with the risk of choking. Over the past few years, with the increased popularity of e-cigarettes, reported cases of nicotine poisoning in pets has more than doubled. While dogs account for the majority of cases, nicotine in e-cigarettes and liquid refill solution are very toxic to cats as well. When one “vapes” around their pets the chemicals from the e-juice can stick to their coats, the nicotine and other chemicals can be absorbed through their skin or the lining of their mouth when they clean themselves. E-cigarette vapor contains a chemical called propylene glycol, which is proven to cause anemia in kittens. Cats can ingest propylene glycol by licking or chewing on an e-cigarette. When nicotine is absorbed through the skin or mouth, it goes directly into the bloodstream, which means more of the nicotine gets directly into your pet’s system. Keep e- cigarettes and e-juices out of reach of your pets. Pet owners should be very careful to store e-cigarettes and other tobacco products out of the reach of pets. Do not vape around your pets. If your pet has consumed any nicotine products, e- cigarette or the e-juice contacts your veterinarian as soon as possible. Remember nicotine is dangerous to your pets. Winter 2019
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The Note
A young couple recently moved into their first home. As they walked into
the kitchen, they found a note from the previous owners. It wasn’t long after the moving boxes were unpacked that the young couple met the new “neighbor.” They were more than happy to continue the tradition.
Welcome to your n ew home! We ho p e you buil
d years of here as w memories e did . Yo u are und er no obligation , but we d o ask one favor. I n th e backyard there is a brown , fer cat . For a al l m os t 1 0 years , we have fed h twice a da im y and lef t him wate r on the back porch . Nex t to the garag e , we built little hou him a se to prov ide shelte r from th winter an e d a pl ace to go on r ainy days We wil . l miss ou r home an d this cat Please ta . ke care of bo th .
Enjoy! 8 4 Legs & a Tail
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Blueberry Dog Biscuits • 1½ cups King Arthur Oat Flour • 2½ cups King Arthur Quinoa Flour • ¾ cup King Arthur Golden Flax Meal • ½ cup frozen organic, unsweetened blueberries • ¼ cup olive oil • 1 large egg
DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients with 1 cup water to form a dough. Roll out mixture to ¼ inch thick between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Remove the plastic wrap and cut out biscuits with a cookie cutter. Space biscuits 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, until nicely browned and firm. Transfer biscuits to a wire rack. Winter is the season of dandruff and dry skin, and these treats are full of nutrients that will help keep your dog’s skin and coat soft and healthy.
REMEMBERt:for
trea These are a part of yo ur dog, not the daily diet. plenty! One biscuit is
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Animal Drug Safety Communication: FDA Alerts Pet Owners and Veterinarians About Potential for Neurologic Adverse Events Associated with Certain Flea and Tick Products T
he U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting pet owners and veterinarians to be aware of the potential for neurologic adverse events in dogs and cats when treated with drugs that are in the isoxazoline class. Since these products have obtained their respective FDA approvals, data received by the agency as part of its routine postmarketing activities indicates that some animals receiving Bravecto, Nexgard or Simparica have experienced adverse events such as muscle tremors, ataxia, and seizures. Another product in this class, Credelio, recently received FDA approval. These products are approved for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations, and the treatment and control of tick infestations.
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NOT MY DO G Karen Sturtevant
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ike most pet owners, I work fulltime. Mornings are a blur to get out the door; evenings are a rush to unpack, repack and assemble something that resembles dinner. Weekends are also busy, but in a different way. End-of-week chores and errands need to be done, the house pleads to be put back together and odd and ends finished. Saturday and Sunday are relished by most, me included. During the week prior to going work, I start my day at Vermont English Bulldog Rescue (VEBR) in Williston. Along with other volunteers we ready the dogs for the day long before the sun rises. The same chores are done on weekends, but not beginning at 5 a.m. We allow ourselves a bit of a break and start around 6:15 a.m.––such luxury. On these coveted days, one treat I allow myself is a morning before-theworld wakes walk with my shadow, my little dog, Mommachi, an adopted rescue from VEBR. She’s a spunky spirit and helps me get in my recommended number of daily steps. It was a typical summer Sunday morning, just after 4 a.m. (did I mention Mommachi is a morning dog?) and off we went on our trek. My little Chihuahua/Corgi blend is a sniffer, scratcher and snacker. She sniffs everything within reach, scratches dirt in search of protein-filled insects and grazes all day on bits of kibble and fruit. This Sunday was like a host of others, until it wasn’t. Our walk was uneventful, peaceful in the pre-dawn air. We followed our usual path to a close-by park, through the woods, and returned home––I to my computer, she to her beloved stuffed heggie to chew on his limbs. She has a few favorite lounge spots, but her absolute number one choice is by my side or on my face (in the case of bedtime). So, when she was out of my sight for a number of minutes I went looking for her. I found her lying on her side at the bottom of the stairs, not moving. I feared she had fallen, landing on the hardwood floor. She’s a tiny sixteen pounds––a lot of harm can come to that little body. I tried to stand her up, she slid back down. Her breathing was shallow; all she wanted to do was lie motionless. Some folks I know are cool under pressure, I am not one of them. However, knowing that she could have internal injuries or broken bones, I needed to Winter 2019
help her. I gingerly picked her up, still wearing my disheveled sleeping and walking clothes and bedhead (I must have been quite the sight) and gently set her in her spot of the passenger’s seat in my car. We broke every speed limit to get to the emergency vet by 5 a.m. Fortunately the parking lot and waiting room were empty as I carried her in. With a shaky voice I announced, “I think she may have fallen down the stairs.” A cursory vital check showed a decreased heartrate and blood pressure (unheard of for a nervous Nelly like Mommachi). I recalled our morning adventure and answered routine questions. No, I didn’t hear her thump down the stairs. No, I don’t see how she could have gotten into medication or cleaning agents. Yes, she ate breakfast and did her business. Yes, we walked a familiar route. Wit h ex per ienced h and s, Mommachi’s spine, legs, head and belly were examined–– nothing out of the ordinary. Due to her low vital readings, a urine test was recommended to test for ingestion of marijuana. Marijuana? Mommachi? Surely the veterinarian was kidding. Much to my utter surprise, my innocent, demure canine tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical found in the now-legal drug. On July 1, 2018, Vermont became the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana by way of legislation. During the time of debate, I didn’t pay much attention. What did I care what my fellow citizens did behind closed doors in the privacy of their own world? Mommachi’s system was f lushed with IV fluids and she was given an antivomiting medication. Upon discussion, we surmised that our little adventurer found a marijuana edible and helped herself. Edibles contain a more concentrated amount of THC than dried does. Did she find it on the side of the road on the way to the park, along the jogging path through the woods? We will never know. She just knew it smelled good and gulp, it was gone. Since this incident, I’ve done a bit of research and learned that situations such as this have been steadily increasing over the past few years. Our canine companions have more cannabinoid receptors in their brains than we do,
making the effects more pronounced and potentially serious. There is no doubt the dog is in distress when the drug is in their system. The majority of cases are mild and call for evaluation, supportive observation and care. However, dogs who ingests butter or oils infused with a high concentration of THC can find themselves with a serious case of pancreatitis. With the state legalization and cultural acceptability of cannabis, the stigma of using has been somewhat softened, making the drug more accessible for humans (and their animals). If you suspect your dog has consumed marijuana and observe any of the following symptoms, a trip to the emergency vet is in order. • Dribbling urine • Staggered walking or falling • Lethargy • Low heart rate and blood pressure • Wide, dilated pupils • Easily startled by sudden sounds and movement Reasonable deduction for the canine brain is: if it smells good, it must taste good. On our dark walk Sunday morning, I couldn’t see what was on the ground–– Mommachi couldn’t either, but she could smell it. When Monday rolled around, I had a story to share and pet insurance forms to submit. This type of claim would be a first for us. In my little pup’s case, three full days were needed in order for her to get back to her weird, lovable self. Even the most responsible dog owners find themselves in situations not easily explained and complete vigilance doesn’t always prevent an accident. I know. In hindsight, we chuckle at the whole thing. At the time, it was anything but funny. The upside? I learned the fine art of explanation to the pet insurance company, and Mommachi has a first-hand (or in this case, paw) account of a tale to tell her fellow fur friends. www.4LegsAndATail.com 11
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CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME Pat Jauch - Caledonia Animal Rescue, Inc.
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nyone who has contributed to a national charitable organization can attest to the huge quantity of unwanted trinkets that follow the initial gift. Even some of the most reputable groups will eventually inundate your mailbox with address labels, t-shirts, umbrellas, stationery and other assorted items designed to entice an unwary animal lover to up the ante and make a greater financial donation. While many of these groups provide great services for animals, it is wise to verify where your funds are going and what programs they support. Many organizations have excessive overhead costs associated with their fund raising either because of their practice of hiring “professionals” to target certain individuals or because of the “free gifts” that accompany their solicitations. Others may simply be a sham, claiming to support animals in need when, in fact, they do no such thing. One source to check before making a contribution to a large organization is www.charitynavigator.com This website has researched various charities and rates them based on their actual services, rate of overhead, and legitimacy. Not all charities are listed but the ones that do appear are reliable and worthy of consideration. Recently a new scam has appeared in the guise of making purebred puppies available to loving homes. Apparently it is another one of the Nigerian scams designed to appeal to animal lovers. Beware of this and do not fall victim to the heart-wrenching stories that may accompany the request for funds. When contributing to any charity it is important to do your homework. Research the organization. Find out what it does. Learn about its fund raising efforts and how much of its income goes directly to the programs that it represents. Better yet, look toward your local, state and regional groups that are making a difference on behalf of the animals in your area. Many of these groups have volunteers who administer the funds and have no paid employees. This allows your full contribution to go directly to the programs that benefit the animals in your town, county and state.
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Phase 2 of o you the project will know how many be starting this horses there are fall. The second in Vermont? Or study will look at how much money individual horse the equine indusow ner sh ip in try brings in to Vermont and the Vermont? How economic impact about how much it h as on t he money is spent on state. This study horse feed, veteriis important for nary and farrier several reasons. Grazing horses at the Vermont Tech Equine Studies Facility. care, horse trailThere has not been ers and towing a study of this vehicles, and farm type ever conductequipment? What ed (other states are the employhave this data). ment opportunities A similar study for someone interwas conducted in ested in owning or 1996 and a demoworking in a stable, graphic study was breeding, or trainconducted in 2003. ing horses? There Therefore, t he are many of us that data is quite outwould find that dated. The study information useful, w ill also help Jessica Stewart Riley and a new study gather informabeing conducted tion pertaining to by the Vermont Horse Council aims to information to support legislative and outdoor recreation and working lands. discover the answers to these questions regulatory efforts. The steering committee is in the and more. The Vermont Horse Council A collaborative steering committee process of raising $15,000 to fund this is a 501c3, non-profit organization estab- has been created with individuals rep- phase. Numerous applications have lished in 1975, and focused on providing resenting a diverse population of horse been submitted to a variety of foundaa unified voice for all horse owners in owners, non-profit organizations, and tions, as well as the USDA in the hopes the state. The organization does this businesses in the state of Vermont, of receiving donations, but these are not through providing educational oppor- including officials from the Green guaranteed. This information is critical tunities and scholarships, establishing Mountain Horse Association, Vermont to support the equine industry as the and helping to maintain public trail Hunter Jumper Association, Vermont most recent information is nearly two access, and enhancing public awareness Morgan Horse Association, Vermont decades old and does not include any ecoof legislation and regulation that affects Farm Bureau, and the Vermont Large nomic information. The Vermont Horse horse owners, as well as many other Animal Clinic. Council needs your help. If you would valuable initiatives related to safety and The study is comprised of two phases like to learn more about the Vermont support of the industry. At the conclu- – in Phase 1, a volunteer corps surveyed Horse Council’s Equine Economic Impact sion of the VT Equine Industry Summit over 400 people at 25 events this sum- Study or make a donation, you can find in 2016 and 2017, the attendees, equine- mer, including the Vermont Summer more information at vthorsecouncil.org. related business owners and members Festival in Dorset, the Vermont Morgan Every donation, however large or small, of equine organizations, identified an Heritage Days Horse Show in Tunbridge, contributes to a study that could benefit economic impact study as their number the Festival of Eventing at GMHA in South the hardworking horse person living just one priority. Little information exists Woodstock, weekly Rodeos held at Pond down your street! about the equine industry in Vermont– Hill Ranch in Castleton, as well as some no data about the number of horses in smaller events throughout the state. These Jessica Stewart Riley is an Vermont, how many jobs exist in this events bring many people into the state Assistant Professor and the sector, or how the industry impacts with their horses. They spend money on director of the Vermont Technical one of Vermont’s most prized assets, competing, housing, dining, fuel, etc. The College Equine Studies Program in its working landscape or Vermont’s University of Vermont Center for Rural Randolph Center, VT. She is a economy. Data gathered as a part of the Studies was contracted to develop the graduate of Johnson State College, current study will provide information survey tool and to manage the data and UVM, and Vermont Tech, as well needed to support business financial create a final report of this survey. Phase 1 as a member of the American decisions (should a new business be funding was provided by Vermont equine Quarter Horse Association started? Should an established business businesses, individuals, and organizations Professional Horsemen and expand or close?), support organiza- including the Farm Bureau, Vermont an American Riding Instructor tions providing therapeutic or rescue Morgan Horse Association, Yankee Farm Association Certified instructor in services, as well as equine-related aca- Credit, Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Western, Huntseat on the Flat, and demic programs (what is the need for Alliance. The Vermont Horse Council Stable Management. these types of services?), and provide provides administration for the project. www.vtc.edu/equinestudies Winter 2019 www.4LegsAndATail.com 13
New Study could Help VT Horse Business Owners
Bravo for Bravo
“How’s that pup of yours?”asked an older trainer, Dutch Dolleman. “Bravo’s growing bigger every day, watches everything like he knows someSarah Tuck Gillens thing important is going to happen.” Jack replied setting me down in the dog pen. Jack smelled like leather, he and Dutch were making sled dog harnesses. I ran over to Mom who sniffed me all over. She said that Dutch knew a lot about dogs and surviving in cold climates. Settlements would be built around Antarctica as the International Geophysical Year was starting, the first worldwide scientific survey of our planet. Scientists would come from all over the world to study the climate, the environment, and atmosphere. My brother and I do our own studies of the environment at our dog hut, “Dogheim”. We sniff the frosty air and smell penguins. We dig the hard packed ice and find more ice. We watch the sky come alive with shooting, waving colors at night, it makes our hair stand on end. Photo by: Cliff Dickey. NSF 1957. John Tuck with Bravo in front row. “Mom, what’s your job when you are done raising us?” I asked as I burrowed into her thick fur. “We dogs are here just in case,” Mom n 1956, I was just a pup. I woke up one morning six feet from the floor, said, “If any transport planes land and cradled in the warm hands and silky beard of a tall man, John Tuck, Jr., a Naval can’t get back to McMurdo, then drivSeabee officer known as Jack. My name is Bravo. I was born at McMurdo Station ers, dogs, and sleds would be dropped in the Antarctic. Jack’s job was to handle sled dogs. My job was to follow Jack by parachutes for a rescue operation.” around. “Yikes! I’m glad we’re not sled dogs yet!” I wandered outside and listened to Jack and Dutch. Jack had graduated from Dartmouth College and studied reindeer in Greenland. When he heard about this opportunity, he wanted the Navy to send him. He worked with the other Seabees gathered around Dick Bowers, the building leader. I loved listening to the plans for the pole. Dick was warning the guys about the dangerous, difficult adventure ahead. “No one has attempted this before. We’ll be about 850 miles inland from here and 9000 feet about sea level. We’ll be flown in by ski planes and our supplies will be dropped from the air. October is the start of summer here so we can expect temperatures to rise to around zero degrees. We will have some blizzards but the sun will be visible until March.” “What’s the first building to be erected?” asked Jack. “We’ll build a Quonset hut with a heater and cook stove. Some men may sleep in tents and some will sleep inside,” Dick answered. “We’ll use the bulldozer to even out the ice and snow for the bases of all the other buildings, if it drops from the plane safely.” “Heater and cook stove,” sounded good to my puppy ears. I wasn’t sure
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about bulldozers falling from the sky, that sounded scary!. Our mom taught us survival skills such as digging into the snow to keep warm in a blizzard. I was hoping these men knew how to dig in too! The time of departure for the pole arrived, but so did bad weather. After several days of frantic activity, the men and equipment settled down like new fallen snow. Piles of bags were everywhere and the sled dogs, going to the pole, were snoozing. “Why aren’t they more excited?” I yipped to my brother, as I paced in my pen pleading to go. I wanted to be with the guys; Jack, Bowers, Bristol, Woody, Montgomery, Nolen, Randall, and Powell. No one had ever lived at the pole, it was an awful place. Now these men were going to build places to live for the winter and carry out science projects like: movement of glaciers, gravity experiments, seismology studies, the airglow and auroras, geomagnetism, ionosphere physics, and cosmic rays. I sensed that these brave men were anxious, but they were strong and smart too. I loved to watch them work together, joking as they got a lot done. I wanted to be part of the fun and work with Jack! On November 20, 1956, I watched two ski planes with Jack, Lt. Bowers and his crew of builders, and eleven sled dogs take off. A third ski plane carried more men, and big Globemaster planes flew along to help locate the Pole, drop the dog food, sled and harnesses, and heavy equipment. I thought my heart would break when Bravo-A Malamute Husky Jack climbed into the plane and disappeared. I ran in circles in my pen until Old Dutch came over and held me tightly against his big jacket. “He’ll be back. He’ll be OK,” Dutch kept telling me. “29 degrees below zero at the pole, the men are in tents and the dogs are sleeping outside,” I heard the radioman report to Dutch. Brrrr! Supplies were streaming onto the pole damaged, because the ropes tying them to parachutes broke when released from the supply planes. One bulldozer buried itself thirty feet in the snow. Parachutes would land and sail away across the snow because of high winds. I love to chase things, but the men were getting tired of chasing them down, and wanted to solve the problem. A week later the scientist, Dr. Siple, came to visit Dutch. He said that mail was delivered for the first time at the South Pole. Dr. Siple was a big man, a leader. I sat and behaved myself when he was around. He told Dutch that Jack had been asked to be the Navy officer in charge at the pole “You’re mighty lucky,” he told Siple, “Jack’s as fine as they come. This pup Bravo, you’ve been eyeing as mascot for the Pole Station will be all yours now. He’s really Jack’s dog, and Jack will insist on having him.” Jack came back to McMurdo to work out a solution for the wrecked supplies. I turned myself inside out, I was so glad to see him! Jack let me roam around with him and played tug of war with me. He tied supplies onto wooden pallets and wrapped them in canvas. Hopefully these pallets would drop safely. Besides building materials, delicate scientific equipment would be flown in by ski planes along with nine scientists led by Dr. Paul Siple. “I just heard the admiral has appointed you as the Navy support officer in charge at the pole this winter. Long, dark days in that awful cold, what are you going to do for entertainment?” Dutch said, smiling at Jack, but winking at me. “Dutch, we’ve seen most of the movies by now. The men like to read and we plan to give lectures.” Jack turned and looked at me. I sat very still except for my tail, which couldn’t help but wag. “What do you say, Bravo? Do you want to spend the winter with eighteen guys and a lot of cold weather?” Jack asked as he hugged me. I licked his bearded face and howled in delight. All I needed was to be with Jack. We were off on a great adventure! Sarah Gillens lives in Plainfield, NH, is an Medical Technologist and writes stories that will interest children in science and history. Finding her distant relative, Jack Tuck, led to this story about Jack’s dog, Bravo Winter 2019
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COLD WEATHER SAFETY FOR PETS Erin Forbes, DVM - Vermont Veterinary Medical Association
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inter has come to Vermont and this means colder weather, snow, and ice. And importantly, winter’s cold means potential dangers for our pets. Pets are susceptible to the cold, just like people. Some pets are more at risk if they have certain medical conditions, less body fat, or shorter coats. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help make winter enjoyable for everyone. • IF POSSIBLE, KEEP YOUR CATS AND DOGS INSIDE DURING COLD WEATHER: It is a common misconception that pets are more resistant to the cold because they have fur. Cats and dogs can get frostbitten, become hypothermic, and get seriously ill if they are outside for too long. Even dogs with thicker coats, such as Huskies, should not be left outside for long periods of time in below freezing weather. • IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO HOUSE YOUR DOG INSIDE, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES OUTSIDE: your pets should have access to a warm solid shelter and fresh, non frozen water (either change water frequently or use a pet-safe heated bowl). The shelter floor should be off the ground and have thick, dry bedding: this helps keep the pet warm and dry. The shelter’s door should be located away from prevailing winds. • BE MINDFUL BEFORE STARTING YOUR ENGINE: When you are getting ready to leave in the morning, always look underneath your car and bang on the hood. Warm engines are very appealing to outdoor and feral cats, so making noise will make sure any cats who may have taken shelter under your car will abandon their temporary bed. • KEEP THEM WAGGING ON YOUR WINTER WALKS: When you take your dog for a walk check their paws frequently and wipe their feet at the end of the walk. If you check your dog’s paw pads, you will catch weather injury right away--paw pads can crack and bleed or ice can accumulate between their toes. If your dog seems to routinely have issues with his or her paw pads consider getting dog boots for them to wear. If your dog has a short coat or seems bothered by the cold weather, consider a sweater or dog coat. • PRACTICE POST-WALK HEALTH: When out for a walk, your dog may acquire antifreeze or other dangerous chemicals on their fur so make sure to wipe your dog down when you return from a walk. This way your dog won’t be able to lick these chemicals off their fur. It is also recommended to use pet-safe de-icers on your property to protect your pets. • BE MINDFUL OF OLDER PETS: If your pet seems to slow down in the winter, they may have arthritis. Colder weather can exacerbate the pain of arthritis and you may see your pet less willing to go on a walk, not able to jump as well as they used to, or seeking more comfortable bedding. If you see the signs, or are concerned at all, speak to your veterinarian. These are just a few pieces of advice to help make winter a little safer for dogs and cats. If you have any concerns about your pet this winter or need information, please contact your veterinarian. The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional organization of 375 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine. 16 4 Legs & a Tail
Winter 2019
Your Pet's Chipped Tooth W
hen presenting their feline or canine family members, our clients will often direct our attention to the teeth. Chipped, broken, fractured, or worn teeth can be a source of pain and infection for pets, and should be evaluated by your veterinarian promptly. A minor chip may only involve the enamel of the tooth, and in a large breed, may not need immediate treatment. But the tiniest chip from the tip of a canine tooth in a cat, almost always involves the deeper pulp chamber of the tooth. This part of the tooth includes the blood supply and nerves of the tooth, and exposure to the oral cavity may lead to bacterial infection of the tooth and pain for the cat. Some tooth fractures are more obvious. When a large portion of the crown is suddenly missing, there has almost certainly been a traumatic event causing a fracture. Usually, the pet has chewed or bitten something hard such as a bone or rock or metal. Even ice cubes have caused tooth fractures. As a rule, if an object is too hard to make an imprint with a thumbnail or if you could plausibly use the object to drive a nail into a wall like a hammer, it is too hard for your pet to chew. A very common scenario, especially with larger breeds, is a mouth full of teeth that appear to all be fractured. But on close inspection, these teeth are often actually worn. Wear, or abrasion occurs gradually. The culprit many times is a tennis ball. Because the wearing occurs gradually, teeth have time to protect themselves by producing tertiary dentin which is layered between the enamel of the crown and the sensitive pulp chamber. This extra layering of dentin can protect the tooth from infection, and also the nerve endings from pain. However, sometimes the wearing occurs too rapidly for this protective layer to be completed, and areas of sensitivity, and bacterial access occur. In all of the above situations, it is very difficult and often impossible to thoroughly evaluate the tooth in the exam room.
Winter 2019
Kristin Esterbrook, DVM
Even with the most compliant patient, our eyes are not able to see the entire picture. Anesthesia with a well lit field and magnification, dental instruments such as a dental explorer, and dental x-rays are almost always necessary to differentiate the benign enamel chip or the gradually worn tooth that is not a source of pain from those that need treatment. A large fracture always needs some form of treatment. With the help of your veterinarian will decide the best treatment Fractured upper left 4th premolar. for your pet taking into consideration your pet's demeanor and lifestyle, your your veterinarian for advice on the best valuable time, and finances. A referral products to maintain oral health includto a veterinary dental specialist may be ing strong, intact teeth. necessary for certain treatment options. Although accidents happen and some Kristin Esterbrook, DVM is a Rutland tooth fractures are unavoidable, there are native who has recently relocated steps we can take to decrease the chance of back to Vermont from Massachusetts. tooth trauma in our pets. No hard chews! Dr. Esterbrook has been practicing Use the thumbnail rule. Even ice cubes or Veterinary Medicine for fourteen years. those cow hooves we see in pet stores are She received her Veterinary Medical too hard for pet's teeth. No tennis balls. Degree from Ross University. Use rubber balls for those games of fetch. Her special interests include denThe fuzz of the tennis ball is abrasive tistry and internal medicine Riverside and over time will wear you pet's teeth. Veterinary Care & Dental Service in If you are unsure if a toy, treat or chew Rutland and Ludlow, VT. is appropriate for your pet's teeth, ask www.RiversideVetCare.com
www.4LegsAndATail.com 17
Alternatively Speaking:
A Holistic Look at Matters of the Heart Dr. Anne Carroll DVM, CVA
H
umans are used to constantly hearing about heart health in the news, but this is not a typical focus for animals since it is a far less common issue for them. However that changed this July after the FDA issued a statement regarding a possible dietary link to heart disease in dogs. Veterinarians are still investigating this mystery and it may turn out not to be diet related, but now seems a good time to look at how diet is related to heart health, what breeds are prone to heart conditions, and how to prevent and treat heart disease holistically in both dogs and cats. Before we get into the dietary connection, let’s look at the bigger picture of heart function in our furry friends. The heart is certainly an amazing organ. With each heartbeat, the left muscular side of heart pumps oxygen and nutrient-rich blood around the body and back to the heart, while at the same time the right chambers are sending returned blood back to the lungs to re-oxygenate. An electrical system in the heart muscle synchronizes contractions and valve openings to rapidly move blood. We can compare this modern description to the Chinese portrait of the heart, which has its roots in intuition and observation. They equally recognized the heart’s vital role in maintaining life but more poetically describe it as “the shape of a closed lotus flower”, situated underneath the lung and above the liver, where it functions as Master of the blood and ves-
18 4 Legs & a Tail
Kellyn
sels. Emperor of the body, it has a dual function of also being the seat of consciousness and intelligence, or ‘”shen”. Both Western and Eastern perspectives agree that the heart provides essential circulation to feed the entire body, including the heart itself, which needs a good supply of oxygen and nutrients to be able to exercise nonstop. The heart’s need for nutrition increases in disease since it is working harder to pump blood when it is weakened by damage and trying to heal itself. Even before damage occurs, nutrition affects the
development of heart disease. Certain breeds such as Newfoundlands, Boxers, Great Danes, Dobermans and Cocker Spaniels can have trouble assimilating taurine, an amino acid found in meat. Affected dogs need higher levels of dietary supplementation to avoid damage to their heart muscle. In contrast, smaller breeds like Miniature Poodles, Yorkies and Beagles tend to develop problems with their valves as they age. In either group, part of this genetic tendency may involve a tendency to have inflammatory damage to their hearts. Studies have found a link between inflammation markers and heart disease in cats and dogs, and that inflammation is often a result of dietary stresses. Because of these links, nutritional supplements and therapeutic foods are a mainstay of holistic treatment of heart disease. As an example we can look at the case of “Kellyn , an 8 ½ year old Doberman who seemed tired, and was diagnosed with heart failure. Dobermans are especially prone to heart disease, and like other large dogs the disease is silent until the heart muscle is so damaged they go into failure. His cardiologist started him on medications, and advised his owner that his expected survival was 6 months. We started him on nutritional supplements specific to supporting the diseased heart. At his recheck ultrasound a month and a half later, his cardiologist was amazed at how much improvement he had, beyond the effects his heart drugs would have on his condition. Kellyn continued on supports for a year and a half before his liver failed as a result of his heart disease at the age of ten. Alfie was a cat determined to use up all of his nine lives. Adopted in middle age, he was allergic, and then diagnosed with heart failure when poor circulation created fluid build-up in his lungs and weakness from lack of blood supply. His heart did better on medications for several months but his kidneys declined, so they had to cut back and in the meantime the new meds for his allergies aggravated his liver. So he came to us on six medications trying to juggle all his issues but Winter 2019
Alfie
he was still very itchy and not eating or feeling well. Over a period of time we used herbs, medications and nutrition to alleviate the allergies, and as those helped we slowly removed or reduced some of the drugs we felt may be bothering him. From a Chinese perspective, heart failure is a stagnation of Qi (energy), Blood and fluids in the Upper Burner (chest). So we used Chinese herbs to address that pattern and Alfie was able to feel better on fewer drugs, which also helped his kidneys and liver feel better. He lived a year and a half longer with a good quality of life overall, far exceeding our expectations given where he started from. As important as nutrition is, without improved circulation those nutrients can’t reach the heart well. As in Kellyn’s case of heart failure, often drug therapy is needed to restore circulation to give us time to use other therapies. But sometimes the drugs can cause problems too, so in our practice we use acupuncture and Chinese herbs with or to replace drugs when needed. “Alfie” the cat and “Sana” the Pomeranian are good examples of this.
when the valves are allowing blood to flow backwards in the heart. She was feeling well but the ultrasound of her heart showed that her heart was close to failure and the cardiologist gave her medications to use if she began to cough. When she started the heart medications, like Alfie she did not tolerate the drugs and her kidney failure was suddenly worse than her heart disease. She was not eating, her weight dropped dangerously, and she would fall over trying to walk. We used nutrition, acupuncture, and herbs for her heart and kidneys, and it took months but she slowly stabilized and eventually returned to her old self. At her recheck a year later her murmur was improved and since she could not take any other medications, her cardiologist felt she did not need another ultrasound. She did finally pass at the age of 16, almost three years after she began treatment. These cases all involved advanced disease, and we always encourage early diagnosis or better yet prevention when possible to improve success. Especially if you have a breed at risk, prevention is invaluable with heart disease! Starting when young we encourage nutritional supplementation and a diet including fresh ingredients to reduce inflammation. Knowing the effects of emotional stress on the body, we address anxiety, timidity or anger in all patients since those are signs of imbalances that affect health over time, not just the heart. Annual checkups are very important to detect murmurs, allowing us to start early supports to minimize the use of drugs. As little dogs age, owners can watch for coughs or reduced ability to exercise. For at-risk large breeds we suggest an ultrasound between the age of 4 and 6 to see if the heart muscle is showing signs of disease before failure occurs that is seen outwardly. For cats, disease is often unpredictable and silent until it reaches advanced stages. The best prevention is avoiding processed dry cat foods and obesity to reduce the metabolic stress and inflammation in a carnivore trying
to process starchy materials they are not designed to eat. So as usual, we end up talking about diet as a major factor in health. This brings us full circle to that FDA statement about diet and heart disease. The reason these handful of cases are drawing attention is that the dogs affected were not the typical breeds, but instead Retrievers, Whippets, a Shih Tzu, a Bulldog, Miniature Schnauzers, and even some mixed breeds. Veterinarians are focusing on a possible dietary cause because we saw the same issue in cats getting inadequate taurine in the first diets made in the mid 60’s. Dogs have never had that issue, but the trend in dog food today is to feed unheard of quantities of potatoes, peas, chickpeas, and lentils in place of undesirable grains. So far, we have no idea why these dogs developed heart disease, since most of them had normal taurine levels when tested. It may be that there is a limit to how many non-animal proteins you can use in dog food, or something unrelated to diet at all. In the meantime, no matter what dry or canned foods you feed your pet, consider some form of fresh meat as part of their diet, or a taurine supplement. Talk to your holistic veterinarian about what would be appropriate for your pet’s individual needs and how to introduce that. And until the time when advances in science can explain this and the other medical mysteries out there, we can rely on the poetry of Chinese medicine and the inherent knowledge of whole food nutrition to promote health for not just the heart, but the whole. Dr. Anne Carroll is owner of the Chelsea Animal Hospital where she and her associates practice conventional medicine and surgery as well as several alternative modalities including traditional Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. For more information on alternative veterinary medicine visit their website at www.chelseaanimalhospital.com
Sana
Sana the little Pomeranian was seen for a routine checkup, but in listening to her heart a murmur was heard. Murmurs are the sound of blood turbulence created Winter 2019
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Weight Control for Dogs in Winter Months
to closely monitor your dog’s activity. Accurately tracking your pet’s activity levels is possible with one of many pet activity monitors available today. These small devices mount on Fido’s collar and can double as a GPS to locate Patrick Sturgeon & Ben Burroughs a lost pet. Most devices generate simple reports and even offer pet parents s the leaves change and the first Step 2: Monitor & Plan for Activity: reminders if too much time has elapsed dusting of snow sets in, we often notice Once you understand your pet’s since their dog was active. This is a our four-legged friends are not as excited physical status, then you can evaluate simple way to track Fido’s activity and to run outside first thing in the morning. activity needs encourage additional playtime. Then, the temperature drops further, we based on breed, have less daylight, and these trips out- age, and behavStep 3: Assess Lifestyle & side become shorter and less frequent. ior. We all know Nutritional Needs: This can be a bad combination for many “that dog” – the Dogs who live predominantly indoors pets as it can lead to weight gain. It can one smiling and vs. those who spend most of their time also compound health & joint issues in bounding through outdoors regardless of the temperamany older pets. A variety of steps can be snow with a thick ture have very different caloric needs. taken however to ensure our four-legged coat of fur. Not all Experts explain that dogs who spend friends maintain a healthy weight with- our pets possess most of their time outdoors during wina robust coat, but out sacrificing on nutrition. ter months shiver just like humans. they want to go Shivering can have a massive caloric out regardless of Step 1: Assess your Dog’s Health: impact on your dog. So, understanding This step considers many variables, the cold. So, by this need may result in more feedings. such as your dog’s age, breed, and ten- understanding breed and behavior, a Consult with a veterinarian or pet food dencies. When in doubt, consult a pet parent can invest in winter coats nutritional expert before changing your veterinarian. Veterinarians can do more to ensure even short hair breeds can pet’s meal plan. than give you the eyeball test; they can enjoy the snow if they have a drive to If your four-legged friend spends let you know whether your dog is at a venture out. more time indoors during the winter, healthy weight or potentially flag Fido If an unbridled desire to run free is feeding less for regular meals is not the as overweight. Together, you can create not in your dog’s nature and the thought answer. However, cutting back on treats a plan for increased activity and better of walking your pet in the cold gives you early in the seathe chills, you may need to develop a plan son may offer nutrition during the winter months.
A
caloric savings to offset the lower activity levels. Or, if you cannot resist treating your four-legged friends, seek out low calorie training treats. Zuke’s and Fruitables “minis” training treats offer generous portions at a low-calorie point. If you still have concerns about diet, consult with a veterinarian. A lower calorie diet may be needed. Lower calorie over the counter (OTC) diets can include lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, and fish and have lower added fat contents. Brands such as Merrick, Annamaet, Blue Buffalo, Weruva, and others manufacture lower calorie diets that meet all other nutritional requirements. In drastic situations a veterinarian may suggest a prescription diet which takes many of the previous OTC formulas and layers in added fiber to promote satiety. These diets are also backed by extensive clinical trials. If you follow these steps, your dog should emerge from the winter cold in peak health and ready to run through the mud come April!
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Winter 2019
Home with Your Dog for the Holidays Maria Karunungan and Megan O’Hara
P lanning a wonderful, memorable get-together with family or friends
this holiday season? Worrying if your dog will behave around great-aunt Suzie? Worry not! Here are some tips to ensure your dog stays on Santa’s nice list this holiday season: Just as you would never try out a new hair style on the day of a major event, you may not appreciate discovering at the last minute how well (or poorly) your dog behaves when your guests arrive dressed in their holiday finest. If you’re not sure how your dog will react, it might be a good idea to rehearse arrivals with a neighbor or local friend ahead of time. That way you’ll have plenty of time to polish your dog’s manners before your long-lost sister-in-law arrives with her new kitten, Pipsqueak--just in case your dog thinks she looks like fun to chase around the house. While you’re deliberating on what ingredients to buy for the holiday meal, don’t forget to make sure your dog’s “pantry” is full as well. Stock up on longlasting consumables and treats, such as frozen Kongs, bully sticks or pig’s ears, to help your dog settle quickly when guests arrive. This gives you the added benefit of keeping him out of trouble while you’re entertaining your guests. Dogs enjoy working on chew toys in the same way you or I would get engrossed in a good book or movie.
If your dog has never seen holiday decorations before, she may think they look like a tasty snack! It’s a good idea to set up your decorations several weeks in advance, and place a pen or gate between your dog and the tree or other decorations, and let your dog get used to these being around. Otherwise Fifi may decide to help herself to the presents under the tree early if not carefully supervised! Providing your dog with more interesting and meaningful things to do, such as rousing games of tug with her own toys, may help mitigate her interest in the holiday décor and allow the tinsel and candy canes to lose their novelty. The old adage, “a tired dog is a good dog,” has stood the test of time for a reason – it’s generally very true, particularly for young dogs or high energy breeds. Consider taking your dog for an off-leash romp through the woods or give them a chance to blow off steam at the dog park earlier in the day before important events such as your guests’ arrival, a big family dinner, or the exchange of gifts. Or send the dog and the kids out to the backyard to play in the snow while you’re baking the pie – they’ll wear each other out and come in tired and hungry! If you really want to impress your guests, here are a few training exercises you can practice ahead of time with your dog to help him be on his best behavior
for the big day. Teach Sparky to sit when greeting people at the front door so he isn’t knocking over your three-year old niece. Stash treats by the door so that when the doorbell rings you can ask him to sit and stay. When he does, reward him with a treat for a job well done! Another useful skill is teaching your dog how to stay on his bed during dinner. This prevents him from drooling on your guests’ laps and possibly scoring some of Aunt Sally’s stuffing. The easiest way to train this habit is to give him a special, longlasting chew toy, such as a stuffed frozen Kong or a bully stick, after he lays down on his bed. “Leave it” is another super handy cue for those times when guests are milling about with a drink in one hand and a cookie in the other to prevent Lassie from jumping up to nab the cookie. And lastly, train a cute trick such as offering a paw to “shake” or rolling over to “play dead” to amuse your guests and give your dog a fun way to participate in the festivities. These are skills your dog can learn at home with the help of a private trainer, or through training classes if you’re planning in advance! Maria Karunungan and Megan O’Hara of Fetch the Leash encourage everyone to take their upcoming class, “Impress Your Guests” at their training facility on Pearl St in downtown Burlington! www.4LegsAndATail.com 21
Taking Care of Business in the Winter I
t can be a challenge to get even the best housetrained pet to do their business outdoors on a bitterly cold, snowy day. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to encourage your pet to use outdoor bathroom areas and avoid indoor accidents all winter long.
Why Pets May Avoid Outdoor Potty Time in Winter
Understanding your pet’s reluctance to use an outdoor bathroom area in winter can help you take steps to keep your pet comfortable. Both cats and dogs are sensitive to very cold temperatures, particularly if they do not have a heavier winter coat, and extreme cold can be painful on their delicate paws and noses. Deep snow may brush against their bottoms if they must squat, and that sensation can be disturbing. An icy surface is slippery and unsteady, and can make a pet more tentative about being outdoors. Snow and ice will also cover scent markers that indicate a familiar outdoor bathroom area, making your pet more nervous about where they are. Even large landmarks – visual, auditory and scent clues – can be changed or eliminated in winter, making your pet feel nervous and vulnerable. When all these factors are added up, it’s no surprise that your pet may prefer an accident indoors rather than using an outdoor potty area.
Encouraging Outdoor Winter Bathroom Breaks
It is possible to encourage your pet to do their business outdoor even on stormy, chilly winter days, but it takes some dedicated effort on your part to be sure they are safe and comfortable.
Walk and Play Outdoors
Many pets are reluctant to use the bathroom outdoors in winter because they are not used to winter weather conditions. Taking short walks, playing outdoor games and otherwise exposing 22 4 Legs & a Tail
your pet to snow, ice and cold in safe, fun ways can help them feel more at ease in winter conditions so they are not too nervous to do their business. Train Your Pet to Go on Command Using a verbal command – “Do your business!” “Go pee!” “Get busy!” etc. – to train your pet to do bathroom business can help them feel more comfortable in uncertain conditions. They will trust your command, and that training will be reinforced if you offer praise or a treat after they perform appropriately. Once your pet is trained, they will follow that command even in winter weather. Create a Winter Potty Area Give your pet a safe, comfortable area to do their business outdoors in winter by clearing snow and ice. This will also make existing scent markers stronger, encouraging your pet to use the same area. Providing a simple windbreak can ease any discomfort on windy days, and if the area is under cover – such as under a large patio table or trampoline – it will be easy to keep the snow accumulation minimal.
room commands so your pet will go more easily even in unusual conditions.
Consider Indoor Potty Areas
Despite the best training and all the appropriate steps to help your pet feel comfortable doing bathroom business outdoors in winter, indoor accidents are to be expected. It may be worthwhile to consider an indoor potty area using puppy training pads or newspapers, not only to provide your pet an indoor alternative to accidents, but in case there are days when the weather is just too bad and dangerous for you or your pet to be outside. Keep the area clean and take your pet outdoors whenever possible, and eventually they will learn to be comfortable outdoors even during the coldest winter days. To learn more about taking care of your pets, talk with the experts at the Pet and Aquarium Center or visit their website at www.NHPets.com
Bundle Up Pets that naturally grow heavy winter coats will be more comfortable outdoors on cold days, but if your pet does not, it may be necessary to use a snug sweater to help them keep warm. Be sure the sweater is the appropriate size so your pet’s waste will not create a bigger mess. Boots, booties or socks can also be helpful to give your pet better traction outdoors and to keep their feet comfortable. Accompany Your Pet If your pet seems nervous outdoors in winter, it may be necessary for you to accompany them on bathroom breaks. Stay near your pet without crowding them, but do not return indoors until they have gone potty. This is a great opportunity to reinforce verbal bath-
Rosie Celebrating Winter
Winter 2019
The
Polar Bear
P
olar bears live at the periphery of the northern polar ice cap, in the Arctic circle. Polynyas (water areas surrounded by ice) or patches of unfrozen sea, along with shore leads (patches of water between ice sheets and coasts) are their favorite hangouts, as these places are populated by seals. No polar bears are found at the South pole and the surrounding Antarctic region. That’s where penguins reside.
pounds. Their average weight is about 352 to 680 kg (770 to 1,500 lb), which is just about half a ton! Adult females are about half the size of male polar bears. Now you may be wondering how polar bears manage to stay warm and alive in such freezing temperatures. The reason is a 4 inch thick layer of blubber fat, which lies under their skin. It is like a layer of insulation which protects them from the cold, helping them maintain their body temperature. In Polar bears are champion swimmers. fact, the layers of fat lock down the heat They can swim at a rate of 6 miles per hour in sea water at sub-zero temperatures. None of our gold medal winning Olympic swimmers would stand a chance against a polar bear. These bears have been known to swim for hundreds of miles non-stop, on the trot, resting on ice sheets for a while in between. On land, polar bears can travel at top speeds of 40 kilometers per hour. Polar bears are the largest bears on earth. They are also the largest land carnivores (meat-eaters) in the world. Newborn polar bears are as small as rats, but as they grow up, they tower up to 10 feet in height and weigh more than 1400 Winter 2019
in their body so efficiently, that they almost don’t show up on an infra-red sensitive (night-vision) camera! Polar bear’s fur is not white, even though it may appear to be so. Each hair in the polar bear’s fur, is in fact transparent. They look white because they reflect the white color of the ice. The polar bear fur is also oily and waterrepellant, so that it can easily dry itself. Contrary to popular perception, the color of polar bear skin is in fact black, which is well disguised by their fur.
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8 Tips
for Award Winning Pet Photography Joshua Dustin
Y
ou’re playing with your four legged friend on a nice fall afternoon and once again you catch him posing, picture perfect as usual. You snap a photo- it’s adorable, but it lacks something. It’s not the eye-grabbing advertisement you saw at the big chain pet store, but what’s different? Surely Fido is cute enough. Right? My name is Joshua, I’m a Professional Pet Photographer/owner of The Dog Blog, and I’m here to teach you my top 8 tips that will take your pet photos from dust-collecting to awe inspiring.
1. Focus on the Eyes This is a common rule of thumb for just about any portrait photography, capturing the “soul” of the subject (in this case, your dog). This can be done in a number of ways, but if you own a dslr, my go-to solution for tack sharp eye focusing is switching to a continuous autofocus mode that will track the eye whether it moves closer or further away from you. This allows you to focus more on composition of your pet photos and less on focus acquisition. 2. Control the Depth of Field Mastering this alone can make your pet photos go from boring to eye-catching. Controlling the depth of field can allow you to “blur the background” more or less. For DSLR users this is done by manipulating the aperture value. A lower number indicates a more shallow depth of field, and applied along with tip #1 this can make for some beautiful subject isolation. For cell phone photographers, many new cell phones incorporate a “portrait mode” in the camera app that will simulate the “blur effect” with great results! 24 4 Legs & a Tail
Winter 2019
3. Get Down to Dog Level! Most pet photos I see are taken from the same angle; eye level. Taking photos of your pet while standing gives the viewer an average experience, they always see animals from this view! Getting down level with or lower than an animal yields much more interesting results, giving the viewer a new look at a subject that they are already familiar with. It also allows you to capture more of your pets surroundings, which adds complexity and context to a photograph and brings me to my next tip. 4. Consider the Landscape This is a technique I find to be very unutilized and I practice it a lot in my shoots with clients. If you and Fido are taking pictures at a beautiful beach, INCREASING your depth of field and allowing more of the landscape to be in focus can really draw a viewer in and give them an idea of what inspired you to take the photograph in the first place! Including colorful landscapes in some of my portrait photos almost always leads to an unexpected “wow” moment for my clients. 5. Capture Your Pets’ Personality! Building context for an image is important for any type of photography, but I’ve found that animals are by nature so expressive in body language it becomes almost a prerequisite for an outstanding final image. One of the questions I’m most commonly asked while I’m at a shoot is “What should I have him do?” My answer? Nothing. I think capturing a pet in its most natural element is critical to displaying what type of dog Fido is, how he was behaving during the shoot, and how he interacts with his surroundings. It makes the photo much more personal and relatable. 6. Action This one might go without saying, animals in action is, simply put, awesome. Capturing Fido jumping through that hoop however is much easier said than done! On cell phones, it can be very, very difficult to capture these moments due to a lack of features that these portable cameras bring to the table. For DSLR users however, you have some options. Raising the shutter speed by shooting in manual or shutter priority mode can eliminate motion blur and stop your pet mid-air. By utilizing the continuous autofocus mode that your camera offers, you can ensure that the focus tracks your pet throughout its erratic movements. Combining these two features is the best way to get tack sharp stopmotion photographs. 7. Compliment Your Colors Finally, an easy one! Being aware of color is crucial when taking photos of animals. If Fido has orange fur, compose the photo so that a complimentary color is present in his surroundings. I often choose a blue sky, a body of water, or even some very green foliage! This creates more contrast in your photos and allows you to isolate the subject of your photo even further. You can even use color to guide the viewer's eyes towards important subjects! 8. Get Comfortable Last but not least, let’s not forget that our pets are animals and above all they need to feel comfortable. Dogs especially can get a bit nervous around cameras and unfamiliar noises. For this reason, I shoot utilizing only natural lighting with no flash. A terrified dog doesn’t make for a cooperative model! At the end of the day, it’s all about having a good time and loving animals - so give lots of treats and go have some fun! Winter 2019
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Diabetic Alert Dog Permits Teacher to Live Normally Kate Kelly
I ja is a trained service dog (diabetic alert dog) who signals her owner
when blood glucose levels are changing and then alerts her as to whether the levels are rising or falling so appropriate action can be taken. Ija has made it possible for teacher Lisa Loftis to live more easily with type 1 diabetes. “Before Ija, my glucose levels would sometimes change dramatically enough that I would have to pull out of a classroom for 15 minutes or so until the insulin took effect,” says Lisa Loftis, who teaches language arts in a high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Clearly this was not permitting me to be the teacher I needed to be.”
In her mid-40s, she found herself in an emergency room, and the diagnosis did not take long. Her blood sugar was very high, but even doctors were quite surprised to see a full-blown case is Type 1 diabetes present in someone her age with no history of diabetes. Perhaps because she was older, Loftis immediately began doing research. She knew little about what causes glucose variations (primarily diet, exercise, and stress) and why her body was no longer able to produce insulin. “The doctor sent me home with syringes and vials and I monitored my diabetes with finger pricks throughout the day….it was all very cumbersome for someone just learning to manage the disease.” She researched by talking to other patients and attended conferences. Her doctor was very open to some of the new ideas she brought in with her. “With my daughter leaving for college, I began thinking that a diabetic alert dog would make it safer to live alone, Loftis says. “But I didn’t know how to get one until I was at a conference where I learned about that Assistance Dogs of the West.”
After a good deal of research, Lisa Loftis decided that a diabetes alert dog would make her life safer and easier. Ija was obtained from Assistance Dogs of the West, where she was trained by Sue Barnes, who is co-author of a book on training diabetes alert dogs. This article is to recognize the importance of service animals in our society From Idea to Diabetic Alert Dog and is part of International Assistance Ultimately it took about 18 months Dog Week (August 3-9). for Lisa to apply for and get a dog The Onset of Diabetes trained to help her. The cost of train Unlike most with this disease, Lisa ing a dog at this school is currently Loftis’s symptoms appeared later in life. stated as $15,000; clients are expected to 26 4 Legs & a Tail
Ija Gets into Halloween Spirit for School
pay about one-third of the cost, though assistance is available. Before embarking on her effort, she checked with her school to be certain a service dog could be accommodated. As a result, the school community got behind the effort. The Key Club had a bake sale and as friends heard about the project, she received donations. “It was incredibly wonderful to have this support,” says Loftis. How a Diabetic Alert Dog Works Dogs smell a change in a person’s molecular makeup, so diabetic alert dogs are trained to warn one’s owner of alterations in the body’s blood sugar level. Ija nudges Lisa when she detects a change. When Lisa makes eye contact with Ija, Ija sits if the glucose level is going up. She lies down if the level is falling. “Ija is very persistent,” says Loftis. “Sometimes I don’t respond to her immediately because I’m busy with a student but she keeps nudging me and will even let out a short bark if I wait too long.” Loftis wears a continuous glucose monitor at all times (and it has to be calibrated to a blood sample twice daily), so she has been able to compare what Ija thinks with the science behind what is going on in her body: “Ija is ahead of the monitor by about 15-20 minutes which makes all the difference in the world. If my levels are low, I know to grab a juice box so I can just keep going.” (A glucose monitor works with a small sensor placed under the skin and it transmits readings via radio frequency to a display monitor.) “The variations can be so extreme that at times. If I had waited for the monitor, I would have to pull out of the classroom and sit down for ten minutes or so in order to recover before going on. This way I can make the adjustment in stride,” says Loftis. Diabetic Alert Dog in the Classroom Before Ija arrived, there was a change in principals, but Loftis says the school remained supportive: “There was a lot of paperwork they are required to have on file, but I had it all, and there have been no problems. Winter 2019
“Ija gets a lot of exercise because my job is so active,” says Loftis. “At the end of the day, another teacher or I will throw tennis balls for her for a bit, but she is always on duty. If my insulin changes, she still stops to tell me. And honestly, at the end of the day she is perfectly happy to go home. She’ll be fed, nap on the sofa a bit, and may play with the cat if she feels like it. “We knew she would need time off, so the decision was made that nights were her own to get a good night’s sleep. I rely on the continuous glucose monitor then. Blood sugar doesn’t tend to alter that much then, and the CGM is
adequate for that time. “I also sometimes give her a marrow bone, and then, too, she gets to be off duty to thoroughly enjoy the bone.” All in all, Lisa Loftis and Ija seem very content with their partnership. To check on Ija, visit her facebook page. This article first appeared on www.americacomesalive.com America Comes Alive publishes more stories about American dogs and other animals. Visit the website and sign up for “American Dogs” to receive the stories in your In Box. Or email Kate Kelly at kate@americacomesalive.com
Ija on Vacation
“Our school is unusual in that the layout is open and it’s the teachers who move around, so I’m very active during the day, and this can affect insulin levels,” says Loftis. The students enjoy having Ija at school, and their only disappointment is that they are not permitted to pet her. “I tell them all that when they graduate they will have petting privileges, and some students actually do come back to visit Ija and pet her.” After two years with Ija accompanying her, the school has had no complaints about students with allergies, but Loftis notes that Ija is bathed and groomed regularly and brushed often to minimize dander, which is what causes an allergic reaction. Ija’s Life Ija, now 4, goes everywhere with Loftis. At school her leash is attached to Loftis’ belt loop so that Loftis’ hands are free.
Molly settles in to her new job at Key Communications
Winter 2019
www.4LegsAndATail.com 27
The Fairy Dogmother – and Other Classic Tails Tanya Sousa
L
ittle Pogo bounces all day. She digs in the dirt and sniffs in the grass. She jumps and bumps people hello and races the train along the fence of her yard. When the day is over, Pogo and Dear Person snuggle in bed. Pogo’s eyelids are heavy as she rests on her back. She tucks her head under Dear’s chin. “Do you want to hear a bedtime story, Pogo?” Dear asks every night. Pogo wiggles. She loves to hear bedtime stories! “What will tonight’s story be about?” Pogo asks, but Dear Person can never seem to hear her. Little Pogo can only wait for…
ONCE UPON A TIME… a spotted puppy named Pretty Little Pogo was adopted into a home with two sisters. The sister dogs were jealous. They didn’t like that she wanted to share their toys. They didn’t like to share their soft, warm dog beds. Instead of a soft warm bed, Pretty Little Pogo spent the first year sleeping in the ashes of the hearth. One day a message came to the house by hound dog howl that all the dogs in the kingdom were invited to a Play Ball. Each dog was asked to bring a toy to gain entry into the Grand Yard. Pretty Little Pogo bounced around her sisters. “We will go to the Play Ball! Which toys should we bring?” The first sister pointed her long nose in the air. “We will go?” She sniffed. “These are all our toys and we will not let you take any of our squeakies or pullies or chewies or bouncies. You’ll have to bring one of your own toys or stay home!” Pogo looked around and saw many wonderful things to play with…but none that were hers. She hung her head as her sisters chewed and tossed them all to 28 4 Legs & a Tail
see what would be best to bring to the Play Ball. “This one will surely impress Prince Barkley!” The first sister sniffed again. “He’ll like mine even better!” The second one yipped. The two sister dogs lifted their heads high, each of their mouths full of a toy to present at the Grand Yard Gate. They pranced off and left Pogo standing in front of the house. No sooner were the selfish sisters gone than Pretty Little Pogo saw a bright cloud of white fur flashing in the sunset. There in front of her stood a dog with a glowing coat and kind eyes. Pogo perked her ears. She shivered with fear and excitement all at once and fought the urge to sniff the newcomer. “Who are you?” “I am your Fairy Dogmother of course! I’ve come to help you go to the Play Ball.” “I can’t go to the Play Ball like my sisters,” Pretty Little Pogo explained. “I don’t have my own toy to show at the Grand Yard Gate.” The Fairy Dogmother threw back her head and howled a laugh. She began to wag her tail faster and faster. It started whirling. It started twirling. It moved so fast Pogo almost couldn’t see the lovely long white hairs anymore. Then there was a POP! There on the green grass was a new toy. It had a long rope middle with a knot at one end. The other end was soft. It looked like it would make a mighty squeak if Pogo bit down on it. But was it really a new toy? Pogo lowered her nose. She sniffed one end of it. She sniffed the other end. She sniffed the middle. It didn’t smell like any other dog. It was her first wonderful toy! She bit down on the soft end, and it did make a mighty squeak!
“Now you may go to the Play Ball,” the Fairy Dogmother said. When Pretty Little Pogo arrived at the Grand Yard Gate, she showed the Dobermans her toy and was immediately allowed in. She had never seen so many dogs! So many toys! So much running and jumping and playing and squeaking. There were barks and play-growls and playbows everywhere she looked. “That’s a fine toy!” A voice said behind her. Pogo whirled around and saw none other than Prince Barkley. He play bowed and she pretended to pull the toy away. He grabbed one end and they tugged and tugged until they finally had to each drop their ends and lay down panting and happy. The two dog sisters saw Pretty Little Pogo playing with Prince Barkley and pranced over. “That is one of our toys! You can’t have it! Give it back to us now!” The first sister sniffed. Prince Barkley narrowed his eyes. He sniffed the sisters and then sniffed Pretty Little Pogo. He sniffed the toy. “This toy only smells of Pogo,” he announced. “The toy is hers.” The sisters’ ears drooped low. If they drooped lower they might have dragged on the ground. “That looks like a better toy than any of ours,” the second sister whimpered. “I will happily share my new toy with both of you,” Pretty Little Pogo said. “But we have never shared our toys with you,” the sisters both whined. “I know, but I will still share this toy anyway.” Prince Barkley’s eyes twinkled. “That’s what the Play Ball is all about! Sharing our toys and having the time of our lives!” The three sisters played together with the new toy. They had contests to see who could tug the hardest or find the squeaky part first. Sometimes Pogo won. Sometimes one of her sisters won. They took turns with the other toys, and invited Prince Barkley and many different dogs to play too. By the end of the Play Ball they knew what happily ever after meant. Tanya Sousa is the author of many magazine articles and several children’s picture books. She is also a painter and photographer. Her environmental novel, The Starling God, made the short-list for the national “Green Earth Book Awards,” in the Young Adult Fiction category. Contact her at tanyasousa@ yahoo.com. Find her art and writing at https://www.etsy.com/market/ natureartsexpressed. Winter 2019
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Western Vermont Winter 2019
Controlling Your Pet’s Weight This Winter Preparing Your Pets for Guests Help for Vermont Equine Business Owners Inspirational Stories from Around the World