The Home News Pet Supplement

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Photo by Unleashed Photography

2019 Pet Supplement

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V E T E R I N A RY C A R E FO R D O G S & C AT S

EDWARD A. SHELLY, VMD CAROL T. FILCHNER, DVM JODIE SANTORE, VMD BENJAMIN J. SHELLY, VMD General Medicine On Site Blood Testing Dentistry

General Surgery Rabbits & Other Pocket Pals

Orthopedic Surgery

Radiology

Laser Therapy

TWO LOCATIONS BLUE RIDGE VET CLINIC 610-767-4896 1124 Myrtle Rd., Walnutport blueridgeveterinary.com

LITTLE GAP ANIMAL HOSPITAL 610-826-2793 2695 Little Gap Rd., Palmerton littlegapanimalhospital.com

Hours by appointment

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The Home News 2019 Pet Supplement || AUGUST 22, 2019

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE CAUSING DOG DEATHS www.lifewithdogs.tv Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, has been killing hundreds of dogs in the US, and scientists warn that the problem will only get worse as the planet continues to warm. Do not allow dogs to come into contact with water where this bacteria relative is present, and please share this information with others – you may be saving lives.

It is likely that the number of deaths is much higher than the 200+ that have been reported. Due to the wide range of symptoms that can be caused by numerous other factors, many might believe there was another cause of toxicity. Most owners would not suspect that their dog’s sudden illness and death could be caused by a trip to a beach they have been to dozens of times before.

The deadly organisms have been found in bodies of water from coast to coast, particularly in warm, shallow, undisturbed areas of lakes, ponds, streams, and large

puddles that receive a lot of sunlight. Though this is especially problematic in the hotter summer months, algae can still be found in many areas. Drought can lower water and air circulation levels, causing large blooms, followed by die-offs that push algae up to the surface.

Dogs may be attracted to the smell of algal scum and can be quickly poisoned from drinking the water.

It is advisable to not even allow dogs to swim or wade in affected water. They should not be allowed to lick their fur or paws and should be bathed immediately continued on page 4 >>

The Home News Office Location: 255E S. Best Ave. (Rt. 145) Walnutport, PA 18088 Phone: 610-923-0382 Fax: 610-923-0383 E-mail: News@HomeNewsPA.com Paul & Lisa Prass - Publishers William J. Halbfoerster, Jr. - Editor Emeritus Catherine Stroh - Associate Publisher Kristy O’Brien - Account Executive Tony Pisco - Art Director Deby Beuscher and Jenna Miller Delivery Drivers

AUGUST 22, 2019 || homenewspa.com

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BLUE-GREEN ALGAE CAUSING DOG DEATHS << continued from page 3

after any contact with the algae-infested water. People should wear rubber gloves while bathing their dogs if they suspect contamination.

Cats, horses, birds and cows can also be poisoned by the algae. Symptoms include lethargy, weakness, pale mucus membranes, disorientation, excessive salivation and tear production, muscle tremors, muscle rigidity, paralysis, seizures, respiratory distress, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody, black or tarry stool, jaundice, shock, coma, and death.

Blue-green algae is also suspected to trigger ALS in people with genetic susceptibility for the fatal neurodegenerative disease. Cyanobacteria blooms can be caused by reckless people who are dumping “sewage and other pollutants, including yard waste such as grass clippings,” as well as “nitrogen and phosphorus, which come from runoff created by development.”

Always take caution when out with your pups, and visit the proper healthcare facilities if you, your kids, or your dogs have been in blue-green algae water. Do not eat fish that has come from this water, and alert the proper officials if you see the algae in a body of water where there are no warning signs posted.

At Allentown Cat Clinic, PC, we treat your cats like the valued family members they are.

Dr. Michele L. Paul

Allentown Cat Clinic, PC

New clients receive $20 off first exam.

4090 W. Tilghman St., Allentown, PA 18104 Phone: (610) 398-3556 Website: www.allentowncatclinic.net

Hours: Mon-Thurs 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM • Sunday: CLOSED

GREAT COMPANIONS offers leading-edge techniques in the field of canine training and behavior to you and your pet. Owned and operated by a behaviorist, GREAT COMPANIONS can offer you the right solution to all of your canine challenges. Come and see how much fun positive motivational dog training can be!

Owner & Trainer: Ali Brown, M.Ed., CPDT, CDBC Great Dog Training for the Lehigh Valley, Allentown and Bethlehem!

610-737-1550

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The Home News 2019 Pet Supplement || AUGUST 22, 2019

The Dog’s Not Going To Clean Up After Himself!

Groom & Bond With Your Companion Without The Shock

• The most advanced anti-static glove • Latex-free, thermo plastic with unique anti-static properties • Greater dexterity to grip using your finger tips with our functional design

Pet Waste Cleanup Service • 610-533-8082

• Specially designed massage points work on all breeds • Smooth areas for wiping eyes & face, keeping you connected • Machine washable and Made in the USA

Run Free Hospice Program

610-730-4467

AUGUST 22, 2019 || homenewspa.com

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Affordable Pet Vaccines Inc. 3350 MacArthur Road Whitehall PA 18052

1-855-738-8227 • www.AffordablePetVaccines.com •Routine Veterinary Care •Physical Exam •Blood Work •General Surgery •Minor Illness, Scrapes, Bumps, and Bruises •Preventative Care •Vaccination •Flea and Tick Preventative •Heartworm Preventative •Vaccine Packages Available Appointments and Walk-in Services Open Hours Tuesday and Wednesday 10 AM-1 PM and 4-7 PM Thursday 4-7 PM

Monday and Weekend Hours Vary Please Check Website for Schedule

Cash and Credit. Cash Discount Available.

SAVE $ 5 ON ANY VACCINATION PACKAGE OF $65 OR MORE Must present coupon at time of purchase.

One coupon per visit.

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The Home News 2019 Pet Supplement || AUGUST 22, 2019

PET PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

Meet Jager!

Jager is a 3-year-old Toy Fox Terrier. He loves to chase after his favorite balls and jump around after bubbles. Jager enjoys when his paw friends Tank, Dexter and Jaxon come over to visit and play. Jager loves going on long walks and car rides with Mom and Dad and often visits with his Memmy, Pappy, Nana and Pop Pop, where he gets lots of love and treats.

Community Veterinary Practice Arthur R Hulshizer, MS, VMD • Kelli Carpenter, DVM

2550 Community Drive, Bath

www.CommunityVeterinaryPractice.com • 610-837-5888 Mon,Tues,Thurs- 9 am -7 pm • Wed & Fri- 9 am -5 pm Sat- 9 am-noon Check us out on Facebook!

Now offering cat & dog grooming!

We are a full-service veterinary medical facility • • • • • •

Behavioral Medicine Cardiology Dental Care Euthanasia Microchipping Nutritional Counseling

• Parasite Prevention and Control • Rabbits and small mammals • Reptiles • Surgery

AUGUST 22, 2019 || homenewspa.com

• • • • • •

Birds (Avian Medicine) Cat Boarding Critical care Fully stocked pharmacy Orthopedic Surgery Pain management

• • • • • •

Puppy and kitten care Radiology (xrays) Senior Care Ultrasound Vaccinations Wellness exams

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PAW PARK OPENING CEREMONY

By Home News Staff The dream of the ongoing project “Paw Park” is now a reality- join in on the “paw-ty” at the opening ceremony of Bath’s new dog park, “Paw Park,” on Sunday, October 13 at 3 p.m. on North Chestnut Street in Bath. All are welcome to attend.

CHERRYVILLE ANIMAL HOSPITAL P.C.

Kailly Muthard Head Trainer/Owner

496 Willow Rd., Walnutport NEW PATIENTS WELCOME

Educanine Training Services

• Complete medical & surgical care of dogs, cats & exotics • Preventative care • Vaccinations

BOARDING AVAILABLE

Russel S. Myers, V.M.D. Carla Myers, V.M.D.

Education. Cooperation. Admiration.

484-602-4054 Kailly@educaninetrainingservices.com educaninetrainingservices.com

•Endoscopy •Radiology •Ultrasound •Dentistry •Orthopedics •On-site lab-Visa/MC www.cherryvilleanimalhospitalpc.com

610-767-7505

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e e Street, Bath, PA 18014 Hero 310 S. Walnut

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Fax 610-837-7411 Monday-Friday 9am-7pm Saturday 9am-3pm • Sunday Closed Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Sat 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Closed Sun.

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capsules • creams • ointments lotions • sugar free • vet meds The Home News 2019 Pet Supplement || AUGUST 22, 2019

PEANUT BUTTER:

Mix together 1-cup peanut butter, half of a ripe banana, and enough water to make the mixture liquidy.

Spoon into Kong toy or ice cube tray and freeze. Check the peanut butter label for xylitol, and don’t use if it contains it. Xylitol is toxic to dogs.

WATERMELON:

KEEP COOL WITH HOMEMADE PUPSICLES www.doghealth.com We all want to give our dogs a fun treat from time to time, but many human foods either don’t agree with dogs’ systems or are downright toxic to them.

Luckily, some foods are perfectly safe for dogs, and some of them make great popsicle ingredients. Not only are they fun treats, but they can also help you keep your dog hydrated during warm weather or perhaps when your dog isn’t eating or drinking well.

Blend together watermelon, a little honey, and water until smooth. Freeze in Kong toy or ice cube tray.You can also simply freeze small chunks of watermelon on a tray.

CHICKEN:

Combine minced, cooked chicken with water or low-sodium chicken broth. Freeze in molds or ice cube tray.

STRAWBERRY YOGURT:

Clean and remove the stems from strawberries. Dip them in a small amount of plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt. Freeze separately on a tray and combine into a bag or glass container once frozen.

PUMPKIN:

Combine 1 cup pureed 100 perecent pumpkin and 2 cups plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt. Freeze in small amounts in molds, Kong toy, or ice cube tray.

TRUST YOUR PETS TO US

610-262-0307

Daily dog walking Feed/water pets Dog-waste removal/litter box maintenance Daily text/email updates Administer medications Take in mail/newspaper

rapsitters@yahoo.com Find us on AUGUST 22, 2019 || homenewspa.com

Bonded Insured 9

SO YOU WANT TO OWN A FERRET?

By Cait Isaacs, www.all-about-ferrets.com You’ve seen them in movies and on TV shows, and the local pet store usually has some for sale. They seem to be intelligent and cuddly. But what do you really know about owning a ferret?

Ferrets live an average of 6-8 years, although some can be as old as 10. They tend to sleep a lot (about 18 hours a day!), but when they are awake they are very playful and fun to watch.

The domestic ferret is not to be confused with their wild cousins, the Black Footed Ferret, which is an endangered species. Never take a ferret from the wild to keep as a house pet.

Many people have the misconception that ferrets stink! Although they do have a slightly musky odor, it is not an offensive scent, and occasional bathing helps with this. Most ferrets sold in North America for pets have also been descented and neutered before sale, and this aids in cutting any odor they might otherwise have.

The name ferret is derived from the latin furonem, which means “thief.” If you’ve ever owned a ferret, you know the name is well deserved. They will steal and

HanoverView Animal Hospital 484-281-8080 Wellness Exams Vaccinations Medical Care Surgery Dental Care In-house Laboratory Radiology Ultrasound

Dr. Denae Ervin Dr. Laura Yenser Dr. Tim Mosebey Dr. Charlie Rinehimer Find us on Facebook

7122 Beth Bath Pike, Bath, PA (East side of Rt. 512) hanoverviewanimalhospital.com 10

hide anything that appeals to them, especially if it is shiny and easy to carry off.

There are many good quality commercial ferret foods on the market. It used to be a common misconception that you could feed ferrets a quality cat food, but research has shown that a quality ferret food is recommended. Ferrets require a diet high in protein (34 to 36 percent) and one that contains about 20 percent fat. The source of the protein should be animal protein…vegetable protein is not adequate for a ferret’s metabolism, as it is indigestible to them. Be sure to read the labels at your pet food supply store to ensure adequate nutrition.You can give your ferret treats such as apples, raisins and bananas or there are commercial treats available at your pet food supply store. Treats should be given sparingly, and are a great incentive for training purposes.

A ferret should have a cage that is large enough for them to move around in. They are very active animals when awake, and it is likely you will want to confine them to a cage when you are not home.

Ferrets can be trained to use a litter box. Here are a few suggestions: 1. Initially, keep the litter box in the ferret’s cage. Generally a ferret will use the box, and can be rewarded with a small treat when they do so. 2. After the ferret is used to using the litter box in the cage, you can gradually move the litter box further from the cage if you wish. 3. When your ferret is out of the cage, take them to the litter box frequently and reward them when they use the box with lots of praise and perhaps a small treat. 4. Ferrets back up to defecate or urinate, so if you notice your ferret backing into a corner when out of the cage, take them to the litter box.

Ferrets love to play! They will play with almost anything, so it’s very important that the toys they have available to them are safe. Things that are sharp or have small parts that can be swallowed should be avoided. Soft rubber toys are not a good choice as ferrets have sharp teeth and will destroy them quickly.

Most of what a ferret plays with ends up in its mouth, so it’s much like “baby proofing” your house. Suggestions for ferret toys: 1. Hard plastic balls 2. Hard rubber balls 3. T hings they can crawl into…commercial ferret “tubes,” or a section of PVC pipe at least 3” in diameter 4. Paper bags and cardboard boxes 5. R attles, teething rings, etc. (toys made safe for human babies) 6. Small stuffed animals.

The Home News 2019 Pet Supplement || AUGUST 22, 2019

10 AMAZING CANINE FACTS www.vetwest.com

1. T he tallest dogs are the Great Dane and Irish

Wolfhound 2. T he smallest dogs are the Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier and Toy Poodle 3. A dog’s hearing is very acute. They can register sounds of 35,000 vibrations a second (compared to our 20,000) 4. D ogs have a wonderful sense of smell. A Fox Terrier has 147 million “smelling cells” and a German Shepherd has 220 million compared to a humans 5 million 5. T he oldest reliable age recorded for a dog is 29 years and 5 months - an Australian Cattle Dog called Bluey.

6. A ll dogs, regardless of breed, are direct descendants of wolves.

Technically they are all the same species, which means they can breed together and produce fertile offspring 7. T wo dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic - a Pekinese and a Pomeranian 8. T he Poodle’s “haircut” was originally to improve its swimming ability as a retriever 9. D ogs take between 10-30 breaths a minute 10. Dogs don’t have an appendix.

Jewel’s “Wruff” Cuts

Professional Grooming & Bathing, Hand Drying & Styling, Quality Shampoos, Natural Oils & Conditioners, Eyes & Ears Cleaned, Nails Clipped, By Appt. Only.

No Tranquilizers.

Julia & Tom Glick 427 McKeever Lane, Northampton

610-440-0079

AUGUST 22, 2019 || homenewspa.com

10 AMAZING FELINE FACTS www.vetwest.com

1. A quivering cats tail is the greatest sign of love a cat can give you 2. A cat can jump five times as high as it is tall 3. If a cat snores, or rolls over on his back to expose his belly, it means it trusts you 4. Cats respond more readily to names that end in an “ee” sound 5. Compared to a dog’s 10 vocalization sounds, cats have 100 different vocalization sounds 6. Cats purr at the same frequency as an idling diesel engine, approximately 26 cycles per second 7. Sir Isaac Newton, discoverer of the principles of gravity, also invented the cat flap 8. A cat will almost never “meow” at another cat.

This sound is mostly reserved for humans 9. Cats have the largest eyes of any mammal in relation to body size 10. The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a pattern that is unique, just like the fingerprint of a human.

4548 Lehigh Drive (Rt. 248), Walnutport • 610-767-2249 Show listings at www.beckysdi.com

Pets welcome at Becky’s Drive-In! -Pets must remain on leash and be quiet for fellow moviegoers -Owner must clean up after pet (bags available at ticket office) -No pets permitted in refreshment stand

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