Lowcountry Dog Magazine Aug Sept 2016 by Lowcountry Dog Magazine

Issue No. o6

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AUGUST/SEPT 2016

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FREE

Lowcountry Dogs of

@callmecalliope

FRAZIER's STORY Rise from Abuse

DOGS OF SUMMER Adoptable Dogs!

RESCUE SPOTLIGHTCAROLINA COONHOUND

Our Staff Publisher Brian FOster brian@lowcountrydog.com Chief Canine OFFICER Peanut INTERN Jessica HArrell EDITORIAL COLUMNIST Alicia Williams Southern Vintage Design and Photography www.southernvintagedesign.com CONTRIBUTING Writers Marissa Royle Dr. Janet McKim Dr. Michael Schlicksup Julie Murray

LCDM believes that our dogs are our best friends, and that’s why we need a reliable source to turn to for information on all things “dog” in our community. Our mission is to be the number one local resource for dog owners regarding regional dog-centric and dogwelcoming events, health & wellness information, dog training, trends, and local news. We also strive to be a mouthpiece to the public for various lowcountry-based pet non-profits, and we promote pet adoption and other responsible pet care practices. FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS contact@lowcountrydog.com LOWCOUNTRYDOG.COM

CONTENTS COVER STORY

THE LOWCOUNTRY DOGS OF INSTAGRAM FEATURES

COVER PHOTO AND CONTENTS PHOTO BY OLSEN IMAGERY

04 PEANUT TIPS- SIGNS OF HEARTWORMS

- WHY TEMPERAMENT 06 TRAINING TEST

08 HEALTH AND 12

WELLNESS- XYLITOLSUGARLESS GUM PEACE, LOVE & REAL TALK

26 FRAZIER'S STORY 30 FOSTER: MORE THAN A NAME 32 RESCUE SPOTLIGHT: CAROLINA 36

COONHOUND RESCUE

FOSTER: MORE THAN A NAME. Page 30

RESCUE SPOTLIGHT: CAROLINA COONHOUND RESCUE

DOGS OF SUMMERADOPTABLE DOGS

WWW . LOWCOUNTRYDOG . COM

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Signs of Heartworms

s ' t u n a e P s p i T

1. A soft, dry cough The parasites make their way to the lungs and start multiplying in the lungs and surrounding veins. Coughing may be most noticeable after exercise and may result in fainting. Even light exercise can cause fainting when heartworms are present. 2. Inactivity or lethargy Your pet suddenly seems tired more often, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to go outside, or avoids all physical activity. Dogs with heartworm infection are weakened and find it difficult to be active even when performing small tasks. 3. Weight loss or anorexia Even minor physical activities, such as eating, can become difficult and exhausting chores. 4. Rapid or difficult breathing Along with coughing, breathing problems occur when the worms inhabit the lungs and surrounding veins. Fluid can also build around the blood vessels in the lungs, making it difficult for the lungs to oxygenate the blood. 5. Bulging chest The ribs may seem to protrude, and the chest has a bulging appearance as a result of adult heartworm infection. This symptom can result from weight loss and anorexia caused by heartworms. This can also be caused by fluid buildup in response to the parasiteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence. 6. Allergic reaction Although allergic reaction is more common in cats, it is possible for dogs to show symptoms similar to an allergic reaction or asthmatic symptoms in response to the heartworms or their offspring. 7. Collapse Large numbers of heartworms invade the heart and cause blockage of blood flow (known as caval or vena cava syndrome). Collapse is usually accompanied by shock and red blood cell destruction. Death can follow within days. lowcountry dog 4

Sit, Stay...Behave!

WHY TEMPERMENT TEST WRITTEN BY MARISSA ROYLE, RILEYS PLACE PET RETREAT PHOTO BY JAYMATRI.COM lowcountry dog 6

Most daycare/boarding facilities now require a temperament test. However, every facility has their own clever name for it. Your facility may call it “trial day,” “free first day,” or “Temperament Test.” These all refer to a temperament test, which basically means they want to get to know all about your pet. No two people’s personalities are identical, and the same can be said for our pets. By understanding what makes each dog tick, trainers and handlers are better able to put together successful playgroups. What is a successful pay group you ask? Basically it means that there are no injuries to any of the participants and the dogs leave physically and mentally tired but not overly exhausted. However, not all temperament tests are created equally. Currently there are no guidelines or set rules for having temperament tests or how these tests would be carried out. All of this is completely up to the discretion of the owners and operators. Despite the lack of guidelines, there is a standard measuring tool that many non-profit agencies use when in-taking pets. This is the ASPCA SAFER test. According to the ASPCA’s SAFER website “Safer is an aggression assessment that is a predictive consistent method for evaluating the probability of canine aggression in individual dogs that takes about 10 minutes.”

The particularly nice thing about the Safer Assessment is that it is uniform across the country. This allows for a better matching and sorting of dogs. A temperament test is only as good as the person who is administering the test. If the handler administering the test is not adept at reading dog body language then the chances of something going wrong when that dog is in future playgroups rises. Don’t be afraid to ask your facility “Who conducts the test” and “What are their qualifications?” I promise, you won’t regret it. Among other things, temperament tests evaluate a dog’s play style. You might guess at some of the more obvious categories. For example, is this dog aggressive with other dogs? Does it like big dogs or little dogs? Is it a flight risk? However, what you might not think about are things such as: Is the dog anxious, excited or aggressive? Is the dog more independent or does he like to be right in the middle of things? Does she gravitate towards the handler or are they more timid when a human approaches? Really great temperament tests will check for kennel aggression, resource guarding and bathroom habits, as all of these things tell a lot about each dog. Based on the results of a temperament test,

your facility will determine first if the dog is eligible for services. Don’t worry too much, most pets can participate in some form of boarding, if not boarding and daycare. They will also determine which play group(s) your dog is eligible for during future visits. Again, don’t be afraid to ask how your dog did. The facility’s answer will give you more insight into how they run their program. If they just say “great,” probe for more information. Most all pets experience some level of stress when away from their parents. Things that you thought Fluffy would never do, she does at daycare because she is more stressed out. Kujo, who you thought would never get along with small dogs, might just love little Cupcake when they get to the play area because you and your energy are not around. No matter which facility you choose, you can be assured that with a proper evaluation, your pet will be safer because they took the time to assess the dog as an individual.

Health

Wellness

XYLITOL: A HANDFUL OF SUGAR FREE GUM CAN LAND YOUR DOG IN INTENSIVE CARE

Written by Dr. Janet McKim, VCA

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is safe for humans but toxic to dogs. When a dog ingests xylitol, it signals the pancreas to release insulin, LOTS of insulin. Insulin lowers blood sugar, in this case rapidly. Depending on how much xylitol is ingested and how much your dog weighs, his blood sugar can drop dangerously low (hypoglycemia), resulting in the following signs:

Vomiting • Weakness • Incoordination/difficulty walking or standing (walking like he’s drunk) • Depression/lethargy • Tremors • Seizures • Coma •

lowcountry dog 8

In severe cases liver failure can follow hypoglycemia.

What should you do if you suspect your dog has eaten a product containing xylitol? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait for clinical symptoms - Take your dog to your veterinarian. If after hours take him to the emergency clinic. - Time is of the essence in successfully treating this toxin - If you have a package of the ingested item bring that too -

What will my vet do for my dog? Calculate the approximate amount of xylitol ingested - The amount varies greatly from brand to brand - It might take 10 pieces of one brand of gum to intoxicate your dog, but only 2 pieces of another brand - Run lab work to check your dogs blood sugar and potassium levels - If ingestion is very recent and your dog is not yet symptomatic, your vet may induce vomiting - It can be dangerous to induce vomiting in a dog who is already showing symptoms - The gag reflex may be suppressed increasing the chance of aspiration - This can produce life threatening pneumonia - If blood glucose or potassium are abnormal or clinical symptoms are already apparent, hospitalization is required to provide treatment -

What is the prognosis for my dog after he has eaten a product containing xylitol? It depends on the amount ingested and how soon your seek veterinary care - Small amounts causing a moderate decrease in glucose will likely do well with supportive care - Large amounts, especially if care is not sought until severe signs are present (seizures, unable to walk), may develop liver failure as well as hypoglycemia and die. -

What other products contain Xylitol? •Xylitol is becoming a popular sugar substitute and is routinely found in: -Toothpaste -Sugarless candy -Sugarless bakery products -Some brands of peanut butter How can I prevent my dog from being intoxicated with Xylitol? • Read labels carefully – if a product contains xylitol keep it out of reach of your dog • Don’t use peanut butter to hide pills in, unless you are sure it is xylitol free Where can I get more information about xylitol?

lowcountry dog 10

NEW MOBILE APP COMING SOON

Boo You... Many of you probably know of the classic Charleston military college, The Citadel. Their mascot is an adorable English Bulldog that a lot of locals, tourists, current students, and alumni hold very close to their heart. It really is awesome when a simple mascot can bring together a group of people in a harmonious manner. However when I saw the front page of the July 1st Post and Courier that Boo, The Citadel’s current mascot, was having her second litter of puppies - I was instantly infuriated. Our city passionately strives so hard to be a “No-Kill Charleston,” and breeding a dog (no matter how pure or adorable) is an unacceptable example of how a “No-Kill” attitude was developed. The fact that the euthanasia rate of companion animals within South Carolina stands at seventy-five percent brings me to the obvious conclusion that Boo’s puppies just aren’t something to be excited about. Naturally I went straight to social media to voice my opinion and I was flabbergasted about how much backlash I received from people. One of the first comments read, “Boo’s puppies don’t need to be rescued.” I started to see red. Well duh Boo’s puppies specifically do not need to be rescued. I have no doubt that these pups are going to only the finest of homes; that isn’t the point though. lowcountry dog 12

The point is: broadcasting the ideology that breeding is a good thing when we are dealing with the detrimental effects of animal overpopulation is sickening. It certainly doesn’t make jobs in the animal rescue world easier either. Many tried to make “responsible breeding” an excuse for this type of behavior, but as long as there is a surplus of animals, “responsible breeding” will never exist. Not to mention that English Bulldogs are classified as a bully breed: a breed that rescuers try so desperately to save, a breed that is the most commonly misunderstood, a breed that is generally euthanized first in overcrowded shelters, a breed that is regularly owner surrendered, a breed that is restricted from certain areas, and a breed that is typically never given a second chance. So why is it that bringing in a whole new set of “this breed” is looked at as being cute? I just don’t get it. It also boggles my mind as to why Boo wasn’t spayed in the first place, let alone after her initial pregnancy. If The Citadel claims to provide such “great care of their mascots,” then wouldn’t they be aware of the health benefits associated with being fixed? Spaying your female dog allows them to live longer, healthier lives, helps prevent uterine infections and reduces the risk of breast tumors. Another fun fact - in case you did not know - is that altering your pet helps control the pet homelessness crisis. Additionally, society needs to be aware that when animals “do the deed,” the animal is not conscious of the consequences of reproduction. Unlike humans, dogs do not have access to birth control nor are they aware of what’s really going on besides the fact that it feels good.

The actuality that Boo’s first litter was considered an “uh-oh,” is completely ignorant because it could have totally been avoided. (Do we even know what happened to the first litter of puppies anyway?) The actuality that Boo’s second litter was planned shows even more ignorance. Also unlike humans, dogs do not know when they are pregnant; they only know that they are miserable. When Boo and her stud were hooking up, she had no idea of what was going to happen next. She had no idea as to why she was feeling so dismal. She had no idea that she was going to bring seven puppies onto this Earth. She had no idea that two of those puppies were going to die. I’m no dog whisperer, but I’m pretty sure Boo would have been happiest if the breeding process would have been skipped all together. We also need to bear in mind that English Bulldogs already have difficult time breathing as well as difficult mobility. So could you imagine the discomfort Boo was going through during pregnancy? My heart aches for her. When I looked at the online version of Boo’s article I was appalled by how many people expressed interest in owning one of Boo’s puppies. So amidst my social media madness I touched on the fact that if you buy from a breeder, you are also part of the animal overpopulation problem and provided a link to an English Bulldog Rescue website. One individual responded to me and said, “telling people to adopt from a dog rescue and not breed because the world has an excess of animals is like telling humans they shouldn’t reproduce because the world has an excess of babies.” Well – apples and oranges.

This statement made by this clueless mortal goes back to the previous mentioned fact that people have the power of choice and animals do not. As I stated earlier: people know that babies are a possibility after having sex, dogs do not. Of course people also tried to argue that buying a pet from a breeder was not part of the problem. I responded to that with, “yes, it is.” When a breeder receives money for an animal that was purchased from them, it is only encouraging them to create more animals. For every dog that is being bought, there is one in the shelter that is not being adopted. Don’t get me wrong; because someone buys from a breeder, it doesn’t make him or her a horrible person. However, it does make him or her still part of the problem. Another person defended Boo’s personal litters with, “it was probably a fundraiser for the school.” Seriously? Is one of the oldest military colleges in the United States truly lacking in funds? Even if that were so, could the school not find a more ethical, responsible fundraiser? There is no in-between with this scenario, people. You’re either part of the problem or you’re part of the solution. Which will you decide? Lastly to justify Boo’s breeding, the reasoning of “tradition” was brought up. I’m a simple Southern gal, and I was raised to love traditions. However, I also realize that it is 2016 and some traditions just need to end. When we have the knowledge that an appealing “tradition” stimulates a problem, the tradition needs to go. When we have a tradition that regresses our progress, the tradition needs to go. When we have the resources to make a better decision but then choose not to because of the sake of “tradition,” the tradition needs to go. Seriously y’all, I could write a novel about why I think Boo having puppies isn’t as great as it may seem. As an animal rescuer myself, I realize that there are bigger issues to get worked up about regarding the safety of animals. However my personal problem here is, why does our community preach the word of rescue and then applaud a new batch of puppies from a local trademark? It just doesn’t add up. What kind of twisted message are we sending here? A story of the birth of puppies has been told a million times. A story of a college saving a dog that then becomes their mascot is not only completely individualistic, but motivation to do good in this messed up world. We need more good. We need to be the good.

About The Cover... Our cover dog is Calliope. She was fostered and later adopted in 2010 by LCDM Publisher, Brian Foster and former LCDM photographer Laura Olsen. She currently lives in Texas with Laura but her Instagram account @callmecalliope was the inspiration for this issue's cover story.

ADOPTION

Saturday, Sept 3rd 10-2pma 9500 Dorchester Road, STE 350

EVENT

When you think about Instagram accounts with thousands of followers, certain names come to mind. Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift, David Beckham… these are just a few. But what about Buddy, Baxter, and Lucky? It may be hard for some to believe, but dogs can have hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram too! In fact, the most followed dog on Instagram, Marnie the Dog, has over one million followers of her own. However, it isn’t just the elite dogs of New York City who earn these followers; we have a few local dogs who have become Insta-celebrities as well!

Lowcountry Dogs of Written by Jessica Harrell Photography by Southern Vintage Photography and Design

lowcountry dog 16

Meet Marlo! Marlo, along with his mate Tucker and their new sister Indiana have almost 16,000 followers on Instagram. Marlo's family fosters a lot of pups so their instagram feed is always full of cute pups!

Lowcountry Dogs of Instagram come in all shapes and sizes. Meet Finnegan! Finn is a rescue pittie who loves to ham it up on Instagram. His mommy works at a doggie daycare and Finn loves to goto work with her and play with all the pups, big or small.

My Name is Milk is an ambassoder for pitbulls fighting against BSL. He is a service dog and training to be a therapy dog. Lex and Meatloaf along with lil doxie friend love to post hilarous pics on their instagram feed.

Photography by Lowndes Photography

Captain is no stranger to Lowcountry Dog Magazine. He won our costume contest last October and is a figure head for Great Dane Rescue. Captain along with his first mates Pawley and Roc love to cause mischief that their mom catches on camera! Captain was recently diagnosed with Wobblers Syndrome and is in recovery! lowcountry dog 20

Lowcountry Dogs of

October

22 from 10-3

Charleston Area Convention Center

yappy hour 9/1 SIP Taproom, James Island 9/15 Garage 75, James Island 9/29 TBA

Frazier's Story Written by Dr. Michael Schlicksup, DACVS Photos provided by Veterinary Specialty Care

RISE FROM ABUSE

As veterinarians we see thousands of cases a year. While all of these cases are important, few cases are so memorable that we carry them with us for an entire career. This past May I saw one of those cases. I was half way through my appointment day at Veterinary Specialty Care in Mt. Pleasant when an emergency was added to my schedule. It was a Pit-bull, and the Humane Society was suspicious that his previous owner had purposely mutilated him in an attempt to punish him for some bad behavior. lowcountry dog 26

He was a young, abused Pit-bull so I told my nurse to get a muzzle, as these dogs tend to be unpredictable and aggressive. There in the exam room in front of me was an emaciated, heartworm positive, flea ridden young dog with badly cropped ears and tail, named Frazier. His wound was horrific and unspeakable. As the legal case to catch and punish the person(s) who did this to him plays out in court, I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mention the specific injury. My nurse and I got down on the floor with Frazier to look at the wound, the muzzle never left her pocket. The edges of the wound were perfectly symmetrical as if it was done with a sharp blade. It was not fresh, and he had obviously been wandering for some period of time with the wound open to the external environment. We discussed the case as I sat there on the floor next to Frazier. He really only had one option, a major reconstructive procedure that would close the wound, remove the remaining unhealthy tissue and allow his bodily functions to return to normal. Once healed he would not be anatomically normal but could go back to being a happy, healthy, active dog with a normal lifespan. As I said this he scooted across the floor and laid his head in my lap.

That was it, in less then 5 minutes I was in- emotionally invested and connected with this dog. The next day he underwent the 2-hour procedure to put everything back to its appropriate place. He recovered well, and began spending his days at the hospital and evenings with the large Schlicksup family (2 young kids, 2 dogs and 2 cats) so he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to live in the hospital. Transitioning a young, large breed dog with a history of abuse into a new environment can be challenging however Rescue Dog (as my 3 year old son named him) did great at our house.

Animal abuse is a problem that is similar to an iceberg in what we see in animals is just the tip of the problem. This abuse is strongly correlated with domestic violence, violence/abuse of children, and mental disease. Additionally it is is commonly performed by males under the age of 30. Resources and laws to investigate and punish animal abusers are weak at best, and most cases are never prosecuted. The flip side is that as Frazier has healed and looks for his forever home he shows an amazing ability to forgive, as most abused dogs do. They do not hold what one human did to them against all of us. In fact it’s usually the exact opposite; they are constantly trying to find that human with which they can forever bond. Unfortunately, as Frazier and I have bonded, he cannot stay with the Schlicksup’s forever and is still looking for his permanent home. Adopting him does require some work, as Pitbull’s are a large breed with a bad reputation. He needs a home with a strong owner, who is a leader and provides rules, and in return you’ll have a forever bond. Dr. Michael Schlicksup, DACVS is a board certified surgeon who practices at Veterinary Specialty Care in Mt. Pleasant. He specializes in minimally invasive surgery, arthroscopic procedures and reconstructive surgery.

One of many fosters

FOSTER... MORE THAN A NAME

By Brian Foster

Let’s start at the beginning; dogs have always been a huge part of my life. My first dog was named Buzz. He was a mutt from the humane society that my older sister picked out for her 5th Birthday. I was barely walking at the time, but Buzz and I grew up together. He was the family dog until I was 17 years old. I had always loved animals. I had an encyclopedia of dogs when I was a kid, from which I studied and learned about every breed. However, I didn’t realize it then, but it would come to help me in the future. Searching for feral pups

My girl, Jasmine

When I was 20, I was living in Marietta, GA and going to college. I worked at Papa Johns Pizza and a fellow employee came in one day with a new puppy that looked like Chewbacca from Star Wars. It was a Chow Chow puppy, and I was instantly in love. He told me about the lady down the street whose dog had puppies that she was selling for $5. What did a 20-year-old long haired college kid that played in a rock band, went to college fulltime and worked full-time need with an 8 week old fluffy puppy? Absolutely nothing! I had no business or time to raise a puppy, but I did just that. I named her Jasmine, and we spent the next 15 years together learning how to be grown ups. She was my best friend and went everywhere with me, but that’s a whole different story for another article. lowcountry dog 30

In 2002, Jasmine and I packed our stuff and moved from Atlanta to Charleston. I was recently divorced, had sold my home and was starting new with a new job, new house and new friends. Jasmine was with me until April 11, 2009. She lived to 15 years old, and I could say that my live was forever changed by her presence. Because of my love for her and her companionship, in July of 2009, I found myself walking into Pet Helpers for the very first time. My world was again forever changed as I adopted Peanut. Peanut was a 3year-old mama dog that was found as a stray. She was scared and terrified of everything, and I saw that she needed me as much as I needed her. Because of her, I started volunteering at the shelter and helping others find their “Peanut”! Then I discovered fostering! I bet they used to get me confused all the time when my file said “FOSTER” It’s a verb, but it’s also my name. My first fosters were neonate puppies just ten days old and without a mama. The shelter that they came into didn’t have the space, funding or resources to care for these little bundles. The situation was dire; they would be put down if no one stepped up. Calls were made and a rescue plan was put into place. They were transferred to Pet Helpers, and when I said “Yes!” I became an extension of the shelter. The fostering tale begins here. I learned a lot from that first group and haven’t stopped since. People always ask me how do I do it without keeping them all. It’s pretty simple actually. I am providing these foster dogs with a second chance and then finding them a forever home. There is no sad ending to that story. I only “foster failed” once and that was to a little beagle puppy I named Calliope. She graces the cover of this issue. She wore me down and she ended up staying at the Foster Zoo, as it has been referred to.

Calliope is now 6 years old and lives with her mom in Texas. Since that first group, I have fostered well over 100 puppies, adult dogs, kittens and even a few special needs dogs. I also started rescuing dogs and working with feral populations on James Island. I was featured on the docu-reality show GIVE ME SHELTER which aired on Animal Planet and Nat Geo Wild. I have rescued over 300 dogs and puppies and have helped adopt out over a thousand animals since 2009. Why do I do it? Because I can. It is that simple. I became involved with Lowcountry Dog Magazine in 2011 and in 2015, I bought it from the previous publisher. I use this magazine as a way to let people know about animal rescue and all the local rescues to have a voice in the community. Animal rescue has changed my life, and my goal is to help people understand how important it is to get involved and help these homeless animals. Now its just Peanut and me trying to save the world one issue at a time!

Want to help, its really simple: 1. SPAY and NEUTER YOUR PETS 2. Support local rescues by either volunteering or donating. 3. FOSTER! This is probably one of the most crucial needs any rescue has. What is only a few weeks to you means a lifetime to these animals! 4. Adopt Don't Shop

CAROLINA COONHOUND RESCUE

Rescue Spotlight Written By Julie Murray Photos provided by Carolina Coonhound lowcountry dog 28 dog 32 lowcountry

Living in the Lowcountry is synonymous with certain things sweet tea, pluff mud and hound dogs! This month, I spoke with Kelly Postell, founder of Carolina Coonhound Rescue (CCR) and found out why we should be proud to be associated with such a wonderful breed of dog.