Vol. 3 Issue 1 - January/February 2011
Unleashed Delmarva
21st Century Cats Winter Coat Care How to Calm Your Pets Tummy Tail Waggers for the Home Delmarva Pets
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contents Vol. 3 Issue 1- January/February 2011
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Winter Coat Care
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How to Calm Your Pets Tummy
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21st Century Cats
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Tail Waggers
Delmarva Unleashed A Supplement of Grand Living Magazine Publisher Sandy Phillips Associate Publisher Farin Phillips Editor Lou Ann Hill Creative Sandy Phillips Farin Phillips Contributing Writers Dr. John Maniatty Grand Living Main Office: (410)726-7334 Field Manager Brandon Phillips
10 Delmarva Pets
Delmarva Unleashed Cover:
Exploring the Winter Weather
Get a Fastrack Dog
Canine Microbial Supplement 443.880.3879 2
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Winter
Coat Care
by Farin Phillips Humans aren’t the only ones that have a tendency to develop dry skin during the winter months; your “best friend” can also find dry skin a challenge too. Pets don’t have to suffer. There are a number of preventative measures that can help you both enjoy a scratch-free winter. Implement a brushing routine for your pet. Not only will it reduce pet hair around your house, the brushing will stimulate the skin’s oil production. By removing excess dead skin, and encouraging blood flow to the hair follicles, brushing is one of the simplest ways to promote a pet’s healthy coat. The increase in oil itself will help to prevent the dry, itchy skin. Brushing your pet also offers the opportunity to go over their coat with a “fine-toothed comb” alerting you to any skin issues you may not have noticed previously. The dry, indoor air that comes with winter can also have an effect on a pet’s coat. Excessive scratching, general discomfort, and a dull coat, are all indicators that your pet’s skin is starting to dry out. You can help prevent this by washing your pet regularly with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Do not bathe your pet outside during the winter months. Not only is it cold, the harsh elements can actually make their coat problems worse. If your bathroom is not conducive to bathing your dog, visit the “do-it-yourself pet wash”, or make an appointment with a professional groomer. It’s the same as a human; nobody wants to have cold, wet hair when it is already cold outside. If you choose the homebath method, consider blow-drying your pet’s coat after the bath. Just make sure that you use a low setting, and don’t hold the hair dryer too close to them, so you don’t burn their skin. Running a humidifier in the home is another way to add moisture to the coat. In fact, both your skin and theirs will benefit from the moist air. Winter nutrition is also important. In addition to feeding a quality pet food, add a tablespoon of flax oil or olive oil to your pet’s food. This will help to keep their coat healthy from the inside out. Check with your veterinarian for particular recommendations for your individual pet.
Consider canine apparel. (No, it’s not just for little dogs or just for fashion.) Pet sweaters and coats are practical and can help to protect your pet during the harsh winter months. They will keep the wind and snow off, and help prevent that “wet dog in the house” routine. Doggy boots are also a great idea. Not only do they make a fashion statement, but they can keep the ice, snow, and de-icing salt off your pet’s paws and away from your carpets and floors. (Continued on page 11)
All Paws Large and Small West Ocean City, MD
Rose Stivers
Adoption Hours Tues.- Sat.11 am - 5 pm
410.726.4692
410-749-7603
5130 Citation Dr. Salisbury, MD
Gotta Go? John Maniatty, V.M.D.
How to Calm Your Pet’s Tummy It’s Saturday night. Your veterinarian is closed, and the dog is scratching at the door for the fourth time. You get up to let her out and by the time you get to the door it is too late. She has diarrhea on the floor, again. This is an all too familiar scenario I hear about on Monday mornings. Pet owners ask if there was anything they could have done at home, to make this frustrating situation bearable. The first thing I tell them is to withhold food for 24 to 48. Most pets are smarter than we are because we try to eat and they usually do not. The reason we take the food away is that it also takes away a possible gastrointestinal (GI) irritant and decreases the amount of diarrhea produced. If this is not possible, because you have a multipet household where you have to leave food out, instead, do timed feedings for the other pets in the house, while your sick pet’s stomach recovers. When starting back on food, allow 3-4 small meals throughout the day of a
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bland diet, such as prescription canned diets like Hills I/D or Purina EN. You can even offer a home-cooked diet like cooked rice/pasta and cooked meat, or even cottage cheese. With the home-cooked diets, I recommend ¾ parts rice/pasta to ¼ part meat portions (i.e. boneless chicken, ground beef or turkey with the fat drained off). The main idea is to keep it bland. Once the stools are formed, in 3-4 days, gradually mix in their regular food, over the next 7 days. The next step, while we let the GI tract settle down, is to replace fluids. Water is good, but sometimes electrolyte replacement is needed, especially if the diarrhea is watery and frequent, or vomiting is occurring too. Electrolyte replacement can be done with Pedialyte (which can be found in the infant aisle of the grocery store), or Gatorade. Give small amounts of fluids frequently. If you give a large bowl of water or electrolyte replacement without feeding, the pet may drink too much, feel too full and vomiting will ensue. This will worsen the dehydration you are trying to overcome.
Now that you have controlled intake, you want to control output. Several over-the-counter meds can be used to slow diarrhea and settle an upset stomach. My favorite for dogs is Bismuth subsalicylate, i.e. Pepto Bismol, Kao Pectate or Gastro-Cote. Dosing is as follows: Weight in Pounds <5 4.5-10 11-17 17-22 22-44 45-66 >67
Dose 0.9 ml for every 1lb (262mg/15ml) ¼ caplet ½ caplet ¾ caplet 1 caplet 1 1/2 caplet 2 caplets
Bismuth subsalicylate can be toxic to cats, due to the saliscylate portion that is like aspirin. It’s also not recommended for dogs on steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory meds, such as aspirin, rimadyl, metacam or previcox. In these cases, I recommend Loperamide, trade name Imodium A-D, Pepto Diarrhea control, Kao Pectate II caplets. Dosing as follows: Cat weight in pounds Dose 4 0.3 ml of liquid suspension 0.2mg/ml 5 0.5ml of liquid suspension 0.2mg/ml 6 0.7ml of liquid suspension 0.2mg/ml 7-13 ¼ 2mg caplet >14 ½ caplet In cats you have to watch for excitatory reaction as side effect. Dog weight in pounds Dose 2 mg caplet 6-11 ¼ 12-22 ½ 23-44 1 45-65 1½ 66-88 2 >89 2½ Not recommended for collies and related breeds. As with any situation, treatment always must be individualized for each patient. Small dogs/puppies and small cats/kittens are prone to dehydration much faster, and it would be beneficial to seek medical attention immediately. Fluid administration in other routes besides oral, such as IV or below the skin, may be needed. This can be true for larger pets that are vomiting and have diarrhea. Also with small/young puppies and kittens, low blood sugar is a danger and needs to be diagnosed and addressed. There are some things that can be done at home, prior to taking your pet to the veterinarian, but if you see no improvement, seek immediate emergency attention. Hopefully, this will offer you some help on those restless nights to make informed decisions about your furry “kids.”
Dr. John Maniatty is a board-certified veterinarian in practice at the Ocean City Animal Hospital, Ocean City, MD.
Common Pet Myths Debunked Whether it's a tip from a neighbor or something you discover on the Internet, myths about dogs can steer you in the wrong direction. Here are the facts about a few common myths: My dog’s nose is warm and dry. Does that mean he’s sick? If your dog has a dry nose, it means your dog has a dry nose. A dry nose has nothing to do with a dog’s health. Focus on the unusual to detect signs of a potential problem. Call your vet if you notice swelling, difficult breathing or if your dog has a runny nose for more than a couple of days. Brushing a dog’s teeth is silly. Actually, your dog will have the last laugh when his breath makes your eyes water. Routinely brushing your dog’s teeth not only freshens breath, it also limits the risk of oral disease and gives you a chance to notice anything unusual happening to teeth and gums. Don’t brush off brushing. It can make your dog more pleasant to be around and help prevent an array of serious health problems down the road. Ask your veterinarian for help getting started. Can a canine tell what color T-shirt you’re wearing? It depends on which dog you’re asking. Dogs can distinguish colors, but not as well as humans. So don’t ask them to coordinate your outfits. The fact is different types of dogs tend to see different colors. Color is just one of many visual messages canines detect in their environment. Brightness, movement and contrast also help a pooch see eye-to-eye with the world around them. When dogs scarf down grass like it’s Fettuccini Alfredo, does that mean they’re sick? While several theories about animal grass consumption exist, veterinarians have no proven answers. However, research indicates an amazing possibility: Animals may just like to eat grass. So don’t panic if your dog nibbles at the lawn from time to time. If the nibbling turns into a daily feast, talk to your veterinarian. Hills Science Diet
21st Century Cats
Preparation: If you are not currently using a flushable litter in the litter box, make the change now. Some cats don’t like to change litters, and during the last phase of training, you will want to use flushable litter so that clean up is easy. Be sure kitty is comfortable with the new litter before the first lesson begins. Lesson 1 - The Initial Move: Begin by gradually moving your cat’s litter box closer to the toilet. Small increments of about a foot a day work best. Kitty should be comfortable with each move of the litter box before moving it again. For some cats, this means moving it only a foot closer to the toilet every couple of days. Others will not mind it moving each day. When the cat is comfortable with the litter box next to the toilet for a couple of days, you can move on to the next lesson.
by Sandy Phillips Toilet training your cat is an easier task than you might think. There are a variety of techniques you can use, and an assortment of products to assist you with the process. Teaching your cat to use the toilet can offer several advantages as a cat owner. You can eliminate expensive cat litter, the daily chore of cleaning the litter box, and the odor that tells on you when you haven’t fulfilled your obligation as a kitty parent. Going away for a week, or even a weekend, can be much easier on the pet sitter or your generous neighbor. Instead of facing litter box cleaning, they simply flush, when they come by, to feed and water the plants. The rate of success in toilet training your cat is directly connected to the cat’s personality. Sociable cats, that love being praised, make excellent candidates for toilet training. The length of time, to a litter-box free home, is also relative to each individual cat, and can range from a couple of weeks to a few months. Patience is key when you begin this process. 6
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Lesson 2 - Elevation: The next step is to gradually elevate the litter box. Put something non-slippery, like newspapers or cardboard, underneath the litter box. The normal rate of lift should be about two inches each day. You need to be very attentive that Kitty is comfortable with each increment before another increase. The first lift may go unnoticed, resulting in over confidence on your part, that kitty is a quick learner. As the litter box rises, be sure that is it stable. Your cat needs to feel and be safe throughout the entire process. One slip and your whole process will be set back to square one, and you may never achieve your ultimate goal. The rise of the litter box should continue until it is the same height as the toilet. Note: During this process, be sure the toilet lid is kept up and the seat down. As the litter box rises, Kitty may start jumping up on the toilet to get to the litter box. This is a great bonus since being comfortable with the top of the toilet will play a big part in the final step. Lesson 3 - The Toilet: Purchase a heavy, plastic bowl or tray that will fit snuggly in the toilet. The ideal one will have some holes for drainage. You may find one at your local pet store designed for just this task. This is not the place to cut corners. If you purchase a flimsy one and your cat falls in the toilet, it will never forget the unpleasant dunk, and you will forever clean the litter box! Fill the bowl or tray with a flushable litter and remove the litter box entirely. If you have reached this point in training, you are very close to having a toilet-trained cat! During this phase of training, it’s very beneficial to praise Kitty for sitting on the toilet. Sociable cats should progress rapidly at this point, thriving on your positive reaction and reinforcement. Pay particular attention to where your cat’s paws are, during the use of the litter box in the toilet. Many cats will begin this
phase by sitting entirely in the bowl/tray. As their use progresses, they will often place the front two paws on the seat and gradually the back paws will follow. Not until you see that they are sitting with all four paws on the seat should you move onto the next lesson. Lesson 4 - The Finer Points: When Kitty is sitting on the toilet in a proper kitty fashion, begin decreasing the level of litter in the bowl/tray at a rate Kitty is comfortable with. Be aware, as the amount of litter decreases, the amount of odor may increase. Be sure to clean the bowl/tray often, preferably after each use. This is when the flushable cat litter is beneficial. Just through the bowl/tray contents in the bowl, flush and rinse the bowl/tray. Refill with the correct amount of litter and replace. When you have weaned Kitty to very little litter in the bowl/tray, begin replacing the litter with water. The water will help mask any serious urine odor at this point, and you and Kitty will both find it a more pleasant experience. Be vigilant to behavior; if Kitty stops using the toilet with the change-over to water, you may be moving along too quickly. If at any time your cat regresses, go back to the last step where it was comfortable, for a few days. When the water in the bowl has reached several inches, and Kitty is using it regularly, it’s time to remove the bowl/tray. Kitty is fully trained at this point, and instead of cleaning the litter box, you only need to flush regularly. Now, if we can only find a way to teach them to flush! There are a few negatives, with regards to toilet training your cat. The cat that uses a litter box is easier to monitor for changes in urine or bowel habits, which may indicate an infection or sickness. There is also the possibility that, if you change the location of your residence, your cat will not make the change to a different toilet easily. However, once trained, some cats simply prefer the toilet, and a change of home is not a problem. The most important thing in toilet training is to make the change gradually, and at your cats own individual pace. Be sure the toilet is always easy for kitty to use, with the lid up and seat down. Flush regularly. Like dirty litter boxes, cats do not like smelly toilets.
Show your “real” Valentine how much you care with a new toy or treats! By the way, we also have food, beds, clothing, etc. 11934 Ocean Gateway (Rt. 50 East ) Ocean City
410.213.7490
Donation boxes available for needy pets at local shelters.
VCA Delmarva Animal Hospital
Puttin’ on the Pounds?
Dental Cleanings 20% Off during February Vaccines Complete Wellness Care Diagnostic , Medical Care & Surgery Boarding & Grooming
A simple formula could help put an overweight pet on a healthier path. Take your pet’s weight in kilograms (weight in pounds divided by 2.2) and multiply it by 30, and then add 70. The result is the number of calories your pet needs each day to maintain his or her current weight. Feed your pet 70% as many calories per day until your pet reaches his or her goal weight, then return to the maintenance instructions on the dog food bag. Check with your veterinarian for your pets ideal weight range. Note that high-quality pet foods will provide calorie information on the bag.
Mon. & Tues. 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Wed. - Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sat. 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
410.629.1800
10311 Old Ocean City Blvd. Berlin, MD www.vcadelmarva.com www.grandlivingmag.com Delmarva Unleashed
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Tail Waggers for the Home
Kiss My Mutt has introduced a new line of eco-friendly, designer indoor and outdoor dog beds. The Eco-Friendly Scavo-Willow Bed, pictured here, offers a water resistant fabric and comfortable fillers made from
recycled plastic bottles. Covers zip off for convenience and are machine washable. The Indoor Eco-Beds add a durable, luxury cotton to the design. You can order online at www.KissMyMutt.com or call 805-259-6352.
Brinsea
has announced the latest accessory for the KatKabin DezRez Outdoor Cat House, the KatKabin EcoGlow Pet Warming Pad. If the winter of 2011 is even close to the winter of 2010 we experienced on Delmarva, your outdoor kitty will be very greatful for this set up. The KatKabin will offer superior shelter from the elements and when combined with the extremely economical warming pad, kitty will have a townhome to weather the storm. All componets are safe for outdoor use and can offer warmth even in sub-zero temperatures. To purchase online, visit www.KatKabin.net or call 888-667-7009.
Posh Pet Staircases, LLC offers top-quality pet staircases that are funtional and elegant in
design. Made in the USA, these dog and cat staircases incorporate the latest in human furniture trends, with superior craftmanship and sturdiness for pet safety. The stairs feature smooth surfaces and removable carpet tile inlays, for easy clean up. Kits require assembly. For more information visit them on the web at www.poshpetstaircases.com.
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Tail Waggers
Your four-legged friends deserve the best nutritional supplements.
Fastrack products give them the natural advantage for health, vitality and
well-being. Fastrack’s direct-fed microbials keep your dogs and cats healthy and active for a lifetime of companionship. Endorsed by kennel owners, breeders and veterinarians, these easy-to-use programs complement your pet’s daily nutrition plan and help them maintain an appetite for good health. To learn more about the Fastrack product that’s right for you pet call The Plaid Dog at 443-880-3879.
Looking for something to keep your buddy busy while confined to the house this winter?
Nina Ottosson’s
range of durable interactive games have been designed to stimulate a dog’s brain whilst reinforcing his relationship with people. Each design has a unique mechanism that requires mental as well as physical dexterity to work through the challenges and reveal hidden food rewards. They can be set to differing levels of complexity, to satisfy all ages and breeds of dog. So whether you have a ‘Forrest Gump’ or an ‘Albert Einstein’, there is a Nina Ottosson game design to suit every dog!
FURminator Inc. has expanded its line of pet deShedding products, with a new lineup of tools,
shampoos, hair care and hygiene solutions. The company has added 17 deShedding tools and 17 shampoos, conditioners, hair care and hygiene solutions. These items allow pet parents to select a product based on their pet’s specific hair length, size and life stage. In addition, each size tool will offer both longand short-hair varieties. Available at your local pet store.
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Winter Coat Care, continued from page 3
Your pet’s paws are yet another aspect of winter care that often falls by the wayside. Foreign objects can become lodged in paws very easily, at any time of the year, but injury rates can increase on frozen ground. You should check your pet’s pads on a regular basis to ensure there are no injuries or anything stuck between toes. Paws can also become very dry during the winter months, particularly if your pet spends a lot of time outside. If this does become a problem for your pet, you will want to ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing lotion safe for use on your pet’s paws. You do not want to use any type of “human” moisturizing lotion. This can actually cause pads to become too soft and potentially lead to additional injury. Rock salt and other chemicals used for ice removal, can cause sores, blistering and sometimes infections. If they do get onto your pet’s paws, they can then be ingested, causing diarrhea and vomiting. Washing your pet’s paws is a good idea. If there is snow on the ground, pay particular attention to the space between dogs toes as well. Small grains of salt can become trapped between the toes, and ice loves to collect there. You might also want to apply Vaseline as a salt barrier. A thin layer will do, however, if you do apply this salt barrier, be sure to wash and dry the paws when they return to the house. Not only will the Vaseline make for a slippery trip across hardwood or vinyl, it’s rather messy on the floor and just another item you don’t want your pet to ingest. You and your pet will enjoy the winter months much more with these tips, but keep in mind if these measures don’t offer relief, a professional inspection by your vet may be in order.
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