Delmarva Unleashed Late Summer 2015

Unleashed

Vol. 7 Issue 4 -Late Summer 2015

Delmarva

Complimentary

“Amico”

Bark

of the Town Feeding Raw

Ehrlichiosis

Your Dog Has Your Back The Rehabilitation Center at Haven Lake Animal Hospital 1

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contents Vol. 7 Issue 4 Late Summer 2015

6 Bark of the Town 8 Feeding Raw 10 Your Dog Has Your Back 16 Million Dollar Dog 18 Common Dog Expressions & Their Origins 20 All Rabies Vaccines Are Not Created Equal 24 Life Vests on the Market Today 26 Ehrlichiosis 28 The Rehabilitation Center at Haven Lake Animal Hospital 32 Doggie Socials

Delmarva Unleashed Publisher Sandy Phillips Editor LouAnn Davis Creative Director Farin Lewis creative@grandlivingmag.com Contributing Writers Nicolette Craig Polly Elliott Brandon Phillips John Maniatty, V.M.D. Debra Offenbacker, D.V.M. Gina Sales Jaclyn Wolinski, D.M.V.

Advertising Info: (410)726-7334

On the Cover:

“Amico Del Collo” proudly owned by Patti & Jack Glessner of Cambridge, MD. Delmarva Unleashed is published six times a year; Winter, Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Fall, and Holiday. It is circulated throughout Maryland’s Lower Shore, Mid Shore and onto Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The magazine can also be found throughout Delaware and is published by Grand Living Magazine, LLC. Delmarva Unleashed is protected under trademark registration. No portion in whole or part may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Copyright 2015©, Grand Living Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. Content in Delmarva Unleashed is intended to provide information only and is in no way meant to treat or diagnose. Always consult with a speciality professional to address your own personal needs. The company makes every effort to ensure that all information presented is correct, however, we do not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy of the information, and reliance on information provided, is solely at your own risk.

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Dog Bites Gingerbread House Competition

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Bark of the Town

Canine Vision Update Recent scientific studies have disproved the myth that dogs only see in black and white. While current thinking is that dogs see far less colors than humans, there is now scientific evidence that indicates they can see yellows and blues, as well as a variety of shades of grey.

How techy is your pup?

Research at Yale University indicates that our dogs can make choices on touch screens using both their paws and noses. This also indicates that they can clearly see flat screens and defined objects on them. During the study, once dogs were shown how to utilize the technology, they then made a variety of choices by touching boxes on a screen.

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Ancestral Canines According to LiveScience, a new study pinpoints the origin of dogs to between 18,800 and 32,100 years ago.

It is believed that at this time man's best friend gained the title of “dog” in Europe.

The study places the origin of dogs before the rise of agriculture, suggesting that human hunter-gatherers tamed the wolf. Whereas previous genetic studies had placed the origin of dogs in the Middle East or Asia. This research is the first to focus on the genetics of ancient dogs, rather than looking at modern dogs and trying to work backwards for their origin.

Recent studies at the University of California suggests that “wolves first started hanging around humans during a time when people hunted large animals like mammoth. The remains of mammoth and other megafauna carcasses would have been good eating, and friendlier wolves may have gradually started interacting with the human hunter-gatherers,” forging bonds from a common need for food.

Are Left-Pawed Dogs More Aggressive?

Research published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior indicates dogs who favor their left paw are more likely to show aggression towards strangers than their right-pawed counterparts.

Dr. Luke Schneider, from the University of Adelaide, England said: “We found that dogs with a preference for left paws were reported by their owners to show high levels of aggression towards strangers. The left pawed dogs scored almost twice as high as dogs with no preference and higher than dogs who favored right paws.

“There is research in the human world indicating that positive and negative emotions can be located in the left and right hemispheres of the brain, said Schneider. It appears to be the same in many animal species, including dogs.

Negative emotions are located in the right hemisphere and controlled by the

left side of the body.”

Approximately 75 animals took part in the assessment, including both pedigreed and crossbreed dogs. The majority of pedigreed pups involved were labradors, border collies, golden retrievers and Shetland sheepdogs.

There were no dogs with traditionally “aggressive” traits used in the experiment.

To establish the dogs’ preference, the canines were given a special toy containing food. They were then observed as they interacted with it. Because the object was cylindrical, the animals were required to use a paw in order to hold the toy while they tried to get to the food inside.

The study notes that not all dogs showed a favor toward one paw. About 1/3 of the dogs were right-pawed, and an equal number left-pawed. The remaining group of dogs showed no preference and appeared ambidextrous.

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by Sandy Phillips

Feeding Raw W hile feeding raw is still very controversial, the diet which emphasize

raw meat, bones, fruits, and vegetables, continues to grow in popularity.

Sled dogs and racing greyhounds have been fed raw diets for decades with great success.

In 1993, Australian veterinarian, Ian Billinghurst, suggested feeding the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or BARF diet. His idea is that adult dogs would thrive on a more primal diet suggested by what canines would have eaten before domestication, including raw, meaty boxes and vegetable scraps. From his perspective, grain-based, commercially-processed, kibbles were harmful to a dog’s health.

Many mainstream veterinarians don’t approve of the raw diet and neither does the FDA, who cites potential risks from bacterial contamination to 8

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both humans and canines when raw food is not properly handled. They also contend that raw diets are not nutritionally balanced and that there is a potential for choking, broken teeth or internal puncture from whole bones.

Some of these concerns come from pet parents who think feeding “raw” means tossing whole raw chicken or a slab of beef your dog’s way. This is a very unsafe practice for several reasons!

On the other hand, proponents of the raw diet say the benefits include better coat condition, cleaner teeth, higher energy levels and smaller stools. Dogs on a raw diet also tend to be more lean because carbs in the diet are greatly reduced.

In the last decade, commercially prepared “raw” diets have entered the market. Nature’s Variety was one

of the first, and they offer raw diets stated to be completely balanced, meeting AFFCO standards just like commercial kibble. Stella and Chewy, another main stream brand, offers both frozen and a freeze-dried alternative that fits in the raw diet, offering pet owners on a very tight schedule the opportunity to feed raw without the thawing process. Again, their products are stated to meet AFFCO standards.

In short, the major concerns are the bacterial contamination when feeding raw. This problem can be minimized with superior kitchen hygiene. This means practicing the same kitchen and food preparation rules you would use when preparing your own meals. Your dog’s bowl should be washed with hot soapy water (a dishwasher is best) after each meal. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after thawing and serving, and wash any surfaces which the raw meat has come in contact with.

Frozen raw food should be thawed in the refrigerator and used within 24 hours of thawing, just like any raw meat you would be eating yourself.

There are variations and different philosophies even among raw proponents. Some follow the “prey” model, which believes that dogs do not need fruits and veggies. There are also models that involve cooking for your dogs just as you do yourself. In many cases, this is another area where our vets have concerns. It’s not just the bacterial contamination they worry about, but that a homemade diet may not meet all of your dog’s nutritional needs. Your vet is still the best person to have the dietary discussion with. If you really want to feed raw, then ask

your vet to suggest the method, be it commercial raw or home-prepared raw, which they can get behind. Weigh the pros and cons, but keep in mind that if your dog has specific dietary needs, those must be the priority. Your vet may get on board with a raw diet if your dog also gets a vitamin or probiotic as well. Then too, the commercial brands such as Stella and Chewy and Instinct, have those already added, so maybe your vet will feel good about starting there.

Be sure to talk with your vet about the transition to a raw diet. Quick switches, just like changing kibble, can cause gastric upset and leave your dog feeling lethargic. Many dogs will detox when they are switched to a raw diet, and they are touted as beneficial for dogs with allergies. During the change-over period, you may notice more hair loss or other coat changes as the body adapts. Increased earwax production and mucus in the stools have been associated with canine detox. These changes are only temporary and will resolve without intervention.

If earwax production is very plentiful, you will want to gently clean the ears.

Do your homework here because raw is not for everyone. Maybe your dog would be better on freeze-dried food or maybe you are really just a kibble person because of your lifestyle. Whichever you choose, be sure your dog’s food is free from meat byproducts, fillers and artificial anything.

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Your Dog Has Your Back

by Polly Elliott

A

recent study at Kyoto University in Japan suggests that our dogs understand the principal of “social cooperation.” This type of behavior is only seen in a small group of animals on Earth, including humans and capuchins. Interestingly, the social behavior is not present in all primates, putting dogs in a very unique group.

Kazuo Fujita, Professor of comparative cognition at Kyoto, tested three groups of 18 dogs using role play. Dogs in each group watched their owners open a box with some degree of difficulty. In the first group, the dog’s owner asked for help from one of the other people, and was refused. In the second group, the owner asked for help and was assisted in opening the box.

In the third group, those asked to assist remained neutral, not offering or refusing help.

After observing the box-opening scenario, dogs in the study were offered food from both the person who offered assistance and the person that rebuffed their human.

The dogs happily accepted food from the person offering assistance but snubbed the person who refused assistance to their human.“We discovered, for the first time, that dogs make social and emotional evalu10

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Your Dog Has Your Back, from pg. 9 ations of people regardless of their direct interest,” said Fujita.

According to the study published in the journal of Animal Behaviour, the dogs showed no preference for accepting food in other scenarios. “That the dogs don’t always act out of immediate self-interest is evidence of their ability to cooperate socially, a trait found in only a few species,” Fujita continued. “There is a similar study that showed tufted capuchins have this ability, but there is no evidence that chimpanzees demonstrate a preference unless there is a direct benefit to them,” he said. If the dogs were acting solely out of self-interest, an equal number of animals would have ac-

cepted food from each person, without preference. “This ability is a key factors in building a highly collaborative society, and this study shows that dogs share that ability with humans,” Fujita said. According to the research paper, this trait is present among humans from about the age of three.

Million Dollar Dog, from pg. 16

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Million Dollar Dog

Ten of the World’s Most Expensive Pet Accessories

by Nicolette Craig

V enture away from an average pet supply store into the land of the de-

signer pooch and you will find a very different standard of living. Here are 10 of the most expensive items ever sold exclusively for dogs.

1. In 2008, a female surgeon from Gloucestershire invested $250,000 in an architect-designed dog house for her Great Danes. The house came complete with sheepskin-lined, temperature-controlled dog beds, an 16

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18”deep spa bath, a $150,000 sound system and 52” plasma TV, as well as automatic dog food and filtered water dispensers.

2. A Thai jewelry designer shocked the world when he designed a $4.2 million dog tiara for his Maltese terrier. The tiara was created from titanium and decorated with more than 100 karats diamonds and 153 karats of emeralds.

3. The “I love Dogs” designers, from New York, have come up with a series of diamond encrusted collars, that are the most expensive dog collars in the world. They range from the relatively cheap “La Jeune Tulipe” collar, which costs $150,000, to the 52 karat $3.2 million “Amour, Amour” collar, adorned with over 1600 hand-set diamonds set on 18-karat white gold. This is currently the most expensive collar to date. You wouldn’t want that to get lost in the garden!

4. To go with the posh collar, owners with “too much” money on their hands could always go for a designer doggie outfit.

Italian designer Roberto Cavalli has come up with a range of dog clothing, including satin-trimmed bath robes, silk shorts, jackets and velour tracksuits priced from $110 to $1200.

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5. For the dog who is not content to sleep on a “normal” dog bed, designer Davis Salmon has come up with a series of “Pet Pavilions,” which range from the Louis XVI Style based on the opulence of Versailles - a snip at $13,390, to the rosewood Louis XV Style bed based on an 18th century commode at a massive $23,990.

6. Alternatively, if you can’t quite stretch to that, why not go for a $3,000, 22 karat gold thread mattress, based on the human $30,000 version.

7. If your dog is forever jumping up on the sofa, solve the problem by buying him his own.

The Swarovski dog thrones, designed by Julia Mai, are a perfect solution at just under $1600.

Studded with 16 Swarovski crystals, the owners will be pleased to know that the seat covers are machine washable, although I’m sure they have staff to do that.

Continued pg. 12

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Common Dog Expressions and Their Origins

“Dog Days of Summer”

“See a Man about a Dog”

The “Dog Days of Summer,” are the hot and humid days from July through September. Before central air, dogs would find a cool shady spot to rest, spending the heat of the day focusing on staying cool. Their humans would join them, doing very little activity, simply getting through the sweltering heat.

From the prohibition years, a man would often use the phrase, “gotta see a man about a dog,” to excuse himself from a conversation. While their exact destination would really be unknown, it was often believed they were referring to purchasing or consuming alcohol.

“Every Dog Has It’s Day” First appearing in the poem, “Young and Old” taken from the Water Babies Collection, Charles Kingsley wrote “Young blood must have its course, lad; and every dog his day.” Andy Warhol explained the phrase by saying that everyone will have their fifteen minutes of fame.

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“Work like a Dog” This expression doesn’t refer to hard work, dogs with jobs work very hard, and all for no monetary compensation.

The dog will gladly do his task for the verbal or edible reward at the end of his “shift.” They take pride in their status and work hard to maintain their position in the pack.

Continued pg. 22

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“All Rabies Vaccines Are NOT Created Equal”

by Jaclyn Wolinski, D.V.M.

W

hat do you think about when you hear the word “Rabies?” Do you think about the fact that 55,000 people worldwide died from Rabies last year?

Do you think about the rabid raccoon that attacked a man near Northside Park in Ocean City this summer?

Well, now I hope you’re thinking, “is my pet up-to-date on its Rabies vaccine?” Keeping your pet’s Rabies vaccine current is extremely important, whether you go to a Rabies clinic or your local vet. While Rabies clinics are generally very easy and inexpensive, visiting your vet comes with many advantages such as a complete physical exam to fully evaluate your pet’s overall health, other vaccines and information to fully protect and take 20

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care of your pet, and perhaps even a totally different kind of Rabies vaccine for cats.

The type of vaccine used at Rabies clinics, a killed-virus vaccine that offers one or three years of protection, depending on your pet’s vaccination history, is the same type used by most veterinarians, but some veterinarians offer a second kind of Rabies vaccine. It’s called a Purevax Rabies vaccine and it’s been made especially for cats for several reasons.

Whether you’re a cat lover or not, most people can agree that cats are unique creatures; they’re not “little dogs.” One of their differences is their sensitivity to injections, including vaccines. They can develop so much inflammation at the site where they’ve

been vaccinated that those cells can actually mutate, leading to cancer weeks or years after vaccination.

These vaccine-associated sarcomas affect as many as one in 1000 cats.

The Purevax Rabies vaccine has been designed to prevent the risk of fibrosarcomas. Manufacturers removed the additives and adjuvants that are included in most vaccines to give the immune system a “kick” to make it produce antibodies that can last 3 years. Without those additives, the immunity produced by the Purevax Rabies vaccine doesn’t last as long, only 1 year, but the vaccine itself is much safer. So if you’re frustrated by the fact that this vaccine doesn’t last as long or costs a little bit more, ask yourself, “do I want to risk my cat being the one in 1000?”

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Common Dog Expressions and Their Origins, Continued from pg. 19

“Three Dog Night” The geographic source of this phrase is believed to be Australia, but it’s often debated to have originated in North America with the Eskimos. The phrase is a “rudimentary nightly temperature gauge.” Dogs would huddle with humans at night to benefit from mutual warmth. When temperatures dropped below freezing, three dogs were often called into the bed to keep the owner from freezing to death. The phrase was cemented in literature by Jane Resh Thomas’ book Courage at Indian Deep.

“Beware of Dog” According to the book, The Truth About Dogs by Stephen Budiansky, Romans use this phrase as a warning to visitors who may be a threat to their families home. The words “cave canem” were often found in mosaics of the floor near the door to their flats.

“Salty Dog” “Salty Dog” is nautical slang for an experienced sailor who has spent much of his life aboard a ship. Ship mates often see a “salty dog” as more credible in matters pertaining to shipboard life and duties.”

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by Gina Sales

Life Vests On The Market Today

W armer weather means enjoying the beautiful outdoors and water ac-

tivities. For dog lovers who are lucky enough to own a boat, or fortunate to be able to incorporate water with their active lifestyle, flotation life vests for humans are a must. The same should apply for our four-legged family members. Some of the most common breeds, such as Labs and Goldies, were engineered to love the water, while other breeds like our two Shibas require a little persuasion. Regardless of what type of dog or dogs you own, if you love the water, your dogs will eventually love the water too.

Swimming comes natural for many dogs - almost as natural as walking or running and is a great form of exercise. Hydro-therapy has also been proven to greatly improve a dog’s recovery from injury or anxiety, and you can’t forget the resulting bond which is strengthened between you and your 24

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Pooch. Needless to say, the advantages of incorporating water into your dog’s active lifestyle are well documented.

Your dog could be the Michael Phelps of the dog-swimming world, but you can never be too safe when it comes to water. You should never leave your dog unattended around water, and always have your dog wear a vest, particularly if you and your family are planning on enjoying the water for an extended period of time.

The properties and technology behind dog lover’s favorite dog life vests, such as the EzyDog Seadog Flotation Vest or the Kurgo Surf N Turf Life Vest are for the most part, similar.

Quality construction, incorporating high-buoyancy materials such as foam or rubber, water-repelling materials like neoprene or nylon, and multifunctioning features such as carry handles or D-Rings.

These flotation apparatus are also

ergonomically designed to fit dogs of all sizes, and allow for full range of motion when walking, running, or swimming. It’s easy to find the right size for your dog. Your pooch is fitted correctly if the vest spans the entire length of the back from the base of neck to the base of the tail. The vest should also wrap completely around the chest and belly, or have at least three attachment points on the underside of the life vest, not only to keep your pooch comfortable, but also to ensure a safe and secure attachment which prevents your pooch from slipping through the jacket.

Dog life vests like the Doggles Flotation Jacket take it one step further by adding a flotation pillow that conveniently and securely attaches to the underside of your dog’s neck, preventing

your dog from dipping its head below the water surface.

Sadly dogs will drown each year here on the shore, but don’t let your dog become another statistic. Get them a well-fitted life jacket for their water outings!

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Ehrlichiosis

by Debra Offenbacker, D.V.M.

C

anine ehrlichiosis, also known as ‘canine rickettsiosis’, ‘canine hemorrhagic fever’, ‘canine typhus’, ‘tracker dog disease’ and ‘tropical canine pancytopenia,’ is a tick-borne disease of dogs. Canine ehrlichiosis was first recognized during the Vietnam War when large numbers of military dogs, mainly German Shepherds, became infected by the disease.

Ehrlichia are a type of organism called Rickettsia, which tend to infect the white blood cells of their host.

There are several different species of Ehrlichia and each strain infects a different type of white blood cell. The most common species of Ehrlichia infecting our canine companions is Ehrlichia canis. Ehrlichia canis infects specific white blood cells called monocytes, which help remove dead or damaged tissues and can occur in response to chronic infections.

Ehrlichia canis is spread by the Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) and is found throughout the United States. Ticks have four life stages: Egg, larva, nymph, and adult.

Ticks lay their eggs in secluded areas with dense vegetation. Two weeks after the eggs hatch, the ticks are in 26

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the larva stage. During this time, the larvae move into grass and search for their first blood meal which would be a bird or rodent, which is when the tick becomes infected with Ehrlichiosis. When the first blood meal is completed, the nymph stage starts.

Nymphs tend to remain inactive during the winter and begin moving again in the spring. Nymphs usually find a blood meal on either a rodent, pet or human. Once this blood meal is completed, and the nymph falls off the host, the tick moves into the adult stage. Throughout the fall, male and female adults find a host, either a rodent, pet or human, and feed for 8 to 12 days. While attached to the host, ticks will mate. When both ticks fall off, the male dies. The female tick remains inactive throughout the winter, and in the spring, lays her eggs and the cycle repeats itself. Ticks tend to have a two-year lifespan. During any blood meal, Ehrlichia can be transmitted from the tick to the host species.

Ticks need to be attached to the host for approximately 48 hours for the disease to be transmitted.

When a dog becomes sick with Ehrlichiosis there are three phases of

illness: Acute, subclinical and chronic.

The acute phase is generally a mild phase and tends to occur 1-3 weeks after the dog has been bitten by a tick.

The dog may show signs of listlessness, anorexia, enlarged lymph nodes, joint pain/stiffness and a possible fever. Most dogs, if treated, clear the infection, but if the dog is not treated they will move onto the next phase.

In the subclinical phase, the dog may appear normal. Often, the bacteria has sequestered itself in the spleen and “hides out” there. The dog can stay in this phase for months or even years.

The only indication something may be wrong would be abnormalities noted on routine blood work.

When the signs of illness resume, the dog has entered the chronic phase of the infection. Dogs may suffer with weight loss, fever, weakness, abnormal bleeding, inflammation in the eyes (uveitis), inflammation of the kidneys (glomerulonrphritis) and/or neurologic abnormalities. This is most commonly the phase during which animals are seen by a veterinarian.

When Ehrlichia is suspected, checking for antibodies against the Ehrlichia organisms can be accomplished with a simple blood test. However, Ehrlichia is not diagnosed on a singular test result, rather blood work results in combination with clinical signs including fever, enlarged lymph nodes, bleeding, and arthritis in multiple joints leading to a possible diagnosis.

An Ehrlichia infection can be treated with long-term antibiotics such as tetracyclines. A rapid response should be noticed within the first few days.

Even with treatment, it is possible for dogs to become re-infected, as im-

munity is not life-long. Because there is no vaccine, tick control is the best way to prevent your dog from getting Ehrlichia.

Although, dogs diagnosed with Ehrlichia cannot pass the disease onto their owners, Ehrlichiosis can infect humans as well. The Rickettsia is transmitted to humans by the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum), which is found primarily in the southeastern and eastern United States.

Typical symptoms humans present with include fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle ache. These symptoms usually occur within 1-2 weeks after being bitten by a tick. Much like our companion animals, Ehrlichia is diagnosed by clinical signs and laboratory testing and is treated with Doxycycline.

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VCA Delmarva Animal Hospital WHITE

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10311 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, MD 21811 410-629-1800 VCAdelmarva.com

Delmarva Unleashed

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Late Summer 2015

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by Sandy Phillips

The Rehabilitation Center at Haven Lake Animal Hospital

N

ew canine services continue to arrive on Delmarva. In the not-to-distant past, if your dog required major surgery such as orthopedic procedures or oncology, we had to travel to the Western Shore of Maryland or the metropolitan areas of Delaware.

Today, the lower shore has a growing number of canine services which offer pet owners the ability to easily provide the best of medical care, utilizing up to date veterinary modalities.

Some of the latest services to come to the shore are the alternative therapies. For many an aging dog, these services can play a vital role in the quality of life. Chiropractic and acupuncture have been here for a time, and the number of services for those specialties continues to grow as vets’ gain additional training in traditional Chinese medicine.

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Unfortunately with the technology comes higher cost. There has been a huge shift to veterinary medical insurance in recent years, and with it, the ability to open doors for our dogs requiring more than basic care. Rehab services are covered by many plans as long as the origin of the complaint is covered. Things like broken limbs and many major surgeries, for example, often fit the criteria. According to Veterinary Pet Insurance, for rehabilitation services to be covered, they must be supervised by a licensed veterinarian.

Certified Treatment Centers top the list of desired facilities.

Recently, there have been a few canine rehab facilities pop up in Sussex and New Castle counties. Delmarva Unleashed had the opportunity to visit the most recent, the Rehabilitation Center at Haven Lake Animal

Hospital in Milford, Delaware, a certified facility. The center offers a variety of treatment options and plans, all tailored to your pup’s particular needs. It’s an impressive set-up, when you enter the exercise area. The room is complete with a pool and aquatic treadmill. There are “Fit Paws” balls, just like the giant balls you would see in human rehab centers. There are step and ramp set-ups and several more specifically pet related items, such as cavaletti poles for gait work.

Even with all the technology, the passion was probably the most impressive thing at Haven Lake, Jen Pascucci, therapist, clearly is dedicated to her work. As she shared success stories with us you could clearly hear that failure was not an option. The training she and Dr. Chris Coon, DVM, CCRP, have received from the University of Tennessee has prepared them well to seek every avenue to help pets regain as much mobility as possible and they have a variety of modalities to do so. From veterinary “tens” units to laser therapy, water therapy and floor exercises’, their mission is to find a fit for each patient they see. Often plans include laser therapy by Macy Shahan, LVT, and/or acupuncture by Natalie Titus, DVM and Kathy Francis, DVM, for a well-rounded treatment plan. In general, they are a team of experts that all want to see your pet succeed.

When our dogs are not quite up to par, it can be difficult to tell just what’s going on. Often as dogs age they may develop problems walking, standing, sitting, etc., and it can be difficult to determine just which leg is really causing the discomfort. The Center offers a “stance analyzer,” which can

offer direction. Your dog simply places all fours on the device (it’s a high-tech pad on the floor), and it will detect small shifts in weight as your pup adjusts to a comfort level. Once the team has a clearer picture of what may be going on it’s often easier to hone in on a treatment plan that will offer pain relief and muscle strengthening.

Yes, rehab is not just for post-surgical treatment. Often our older dogs can benefit from a professionally-outlined exercise program. The upside is that your “take home exercises” utilize things you already have at home, like sofa cushions and steps to keep the program going outside of the facility.

Changing gears, the next big thing in the dog world is the “fit canine.” Jen also sees canine athletes who just need a bit of conditioning, maybe from a long winter or a hiatus from competition. Stronger, well-conditioned muscles often help prevent sportsrelated injuries for competitive dogs like DockDogs and Disc Dogs. Haven Lake’s individualized programs can get your dog off on the right paw before and during the competitive season. Gym memberships are available for a modest fee and include use of the underwater tread-mill and pool.

Within a reasonable driving distance from most anywhere in Delaware, the Rehabilitation Center at Haven Lake is a vital partner, working in conjunction with your own vet, for helping your dog achieve the best mobility. No more three hour treks across the bridge or up-state, the Rehabilitation Center at Haven Lake right is here at home.

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Doggie Socials

“Lovin’ Summer Time”

Orville

Jersey

Scooby

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Jacob

Nova

Shadow

Colby

Storm

Angel

Ozie & Armani

Mackenzie Your dog could appear in the DU Doggie Socials!

Send us high-resolution photos of your dog having fun on The Peninsula.

Be sure to include your dog’s name to be eligible and email them to creative@grandlivingmag.com, or post your photos on our Facebook page. Show us your doggies!

Duke Dolce

Mr. Darcy

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THE FASTFETCH CUP Photo: Niki Wheeles Delmarva Shorebirds

FREE TO COMPETE! OPEN TO ALL DOGS!

Small dog category (<35 lbs), Large dog category (35lb+) A fetch competition, with a timed component.

Two remaining qualifing heats for the 2015 finals.

(Your dog must qualify at one.)

Worcester County Fair - August 8, 2015 Pooch Palooza - October 3, 2015 Finals Competition - Pooch Palooza October 3, 2015

Six ribbons awarded at each “heat” event.

Top two winners from each heat are invited to compete in the finals.

Trophy, Champion & Reserve Champion Ribbons awarded at the finals.

Like us on Facebook/PoochPalooza for details & times.

Or visit PoochPalooza.com for competition rules.

DELMARVA UNLEASHED 410-726-7334

Fish Tales, Because I Can Go Too!

Well-behaved leashed dogs welcome!

Located between 21st and 22nd Street

410-289-0990