Lcdmaprilmay2014 web

volume 10, issue 3

magazine

TM

april/may 2014

animal advocate kathleen donnelly neutering male puppies without surgery coping with leash reactivity

ask the trainer: thunderphobia

LIFE WITH FRANKIE

Publisher Leah England (843) 478-0266 leah@lowcountrydog.com

contents

Advertising Information (843) 284-3094 Communications Gillian Nicol gillian@lowcountrydog.com Guest Photographers Oliva Rae James www.oliviaraejames.com Guest Writer Kelly Rae Smith Accounting Carrie Clark Financial Services (843) 367-9969 carriecl@comcast.net Lowcountry Dog Magazine PO Box 22 Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465 Web: lowcountrydog.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/leahengland Facebook: facebook.com/lowcountrydog

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april/may 2014 animal advocate kathleen donnelly 4 hip displaysia 10

This magazine is printed on 100% recycled paper.

Continue the green process by recycling this copy.

Lowcountry Dog’s mission is to be the leading local resource for dog owners regarding regional events, health and wellness information, trends, style and lifestyle choices. We also strive to be a mouthpiece to the public for various dog related non-profits and promote pet adoption and other responsible pet care practices.

Dog lovers can pick up the bimonthly magazine for free at most area veterinarians and pet stores throughout the lowcountry, as well as numerous restaurants, coffee bars and retailers. A full distribution list is posted to the magazine’s web site, lowcountrydog.com. Subscriptions are also available. Please call 843-478-0266 for more information.

neutering male puppies without surgery 8 life with frankie 14 calendar of events 21 training 22 Coping with Leash Reactivity health & wellness 24 Dogs Do the Darnedest Things adoption 28

The entire contents of this magazine are copyrighted

by Lowcountry Dog Magazine with all rights reserved.

Reproduction of any material from this issue is expressly forbidden without permission of the publisher.

Lowcountry Dog Magazine does not endorse or guarantee any product, service, or vendor mentioned or pictured in this magazine in editorial or advertising space. Views expressed by authors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Cover photo and middle Table of Contents photo by Olivia Rae James. 1st Table of Contents photo by Laura Olsen Imagery.

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Animal Advocate

KATHLEEN DONNELLY

TEXT BY KELLY RAE SMITH

PHOTOS BY LAURA OLSEN

The basic rituals involved in keeping our furry ones fed, exercised, and thoroughly loved is fully commendable and sure makes us feel good about ourselves—but there are others who, frankly, leave us in the dust. That’s why the Lowcountry Dog Magazine Animal Advocate of the Year campaign has sought out some of the best everyday folks who are out there making things happen like no other, like our first nominee Kathleen Donnelly.

Nominated by her own vet Danielle Cain, DVM at the Animal Hospital of North Charleston, Donnelly is a busy marketing consultant who always has two to three dogs (two are hers, one is shared with her mother) in her care on any given day. Taking the time to walk or run them for half an hour before and after work plus lunches no matter the busy schedule at hand is one of the things that got Cain’s attention. “Kathleen is no stay-at-home mom with family to help her out with these chores,” Cain says. “She works fullJennifer and Salty.

time in marketing, and personally takes on the exercise of two to three dogs every day, religiously, and has for years. We all get in our good grooves with our pets, and then a few lazy weeks go by, but she is absolutely committed to their daily workouts.”

And that’s only for starters. A few years ago, Donnelly decided to start volunteering for the Charleston Animal Society. She didn’t accept an easy role and still insists on doing the job that requires a lot of attention, physical commitment, and heart.

“I volunteer in the Canine Kennels where dogs are kept and cared for until they’re in adoptable condition, when they move up to what’s called the adoption floor. So when people walk in they see the ones that are on the adoption floor, the 15 or so up there. But they don’t see the other over 200 dogs that are in the back that aren’t ready yet because of health issues, behavioral issues, haven’t been safely tested yet, or they’re

Top: Kathleen poses with her two rescue dogs, Klaus and Honey. Below: photos of several of the dogs she has fostered over the years.

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on a five-day hold to see if their owners come back, and things like that. What I do is come in and try to get them some exercise and socialize them. A lot of these dogs are in really sad shape. They’ve been starved or they have heartworm conditions, or they’re abused or had been used in dogfighting. And so giving them attention, that‘s definitely one of the most rewarding things I do.”

From this sobering experience, Donnelly found that fostering dogs was her next calling. After turning 40, she made it a mission to foster 26 dogs over the course of the rest of her life, naming all of them in alphabetical order so as to accurately keep up with the number. In just three years, she’s already on the letter “G.”. After working so much with the canine kennel, it was difficult to leave the needy dogs behind, and so she’s been taking one home every now and then ever since.

“Kathleen has also fostered dogs from CAS over the last few years and personally takes on the responsibility to find them Forever Homes,” Cain says. “I know there are a lot of foster parents out there in Charleston, but Kathleen will actually make a Facebook page for them, parade them around town, investigate the potential new home, and even keeps 6

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up with them after they are adopted. I know she derives a lot of personal pleasure visiting dogs that she has placed to make sure they are healthy and happy. How many foster parents do that?”

Fostering is an additional challenge for Donnelly and her own dogs since one of her pups has fear aggression, and so any foster dog has to be walked separately and, of course, given as much attention as possible, since that’s what these dogs need the most. Her first foster dog was an emaciated nine-month old pitbull who stole her heart when Donnelly first saw her at the shelter. After trying to take her out back to get some exercise, the pitiful frame of a pup walked back over to Donnelly and put her head in her lap.

That’s when she knew she had to help the helpless, this animal who desperately needed an advocate that day.

But when Lowcountry Dog contacted Donnelly about being a nominee, she responded, “Did you mean to send this to me?” And that’s why she’s so special.

To Donnelly, she hasn’t even reached the heroic heights she’d like to—but to countless pets, she’s a star. For the rest of us, she’s a model to be followed.

“She may not be a public figure,” Cain tells us. “She didn’t start a charity,

change any laws, or invent a two-day cure for Parvo. But Kathleen does as much for dogs in Charleston as five other dog lovers put together on her own time and her own dime. She’s invested so much of her personal time, finances, and heart into helping as many as she possibly can.

She does it by herself, without support, never looking for thanks or recognition, because she loves dogs. Kathleen Donnelly is a great example of what one regular Charlestonian can do when they are doing it out of Love.”

This is the first article in our series on Animal Advocates of the Lowcountry. After all nominees are featured, we will open online voting and one winner of the Animal Advocate of the Year will be recognized for their outstanding work.

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Hip Dysplasia

by Jennifer Au, DVM, DACVS, CCRT Charleston Veterinary Referral Center

The canine hip or coxofemoral joint is a ‘ball and socket’ joint very similar to humans. The ‘ball’ is the head of the femur or the top of the thighbone. The ‘socket’ is the acetabulum of the pelvis, which forms a cup the ‘ball’ should fit into snugly. Hip dysplasia is a developmental disease affecting millions of dogs each year.

All dogs can be affected but typically the large to giant breeds have more issues. German Shepherd Dogs, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers and Newfoundlands are just a few of the breeds commonly affected. The end result of hip dysplasia is osteoarthritis also called arthritis, which can be mild, moderate or severe. Hip dysplasia, being a developmental disease, means the hips appear normal when the puppy is born but fail to continue to develop normally as the puppy grows. The disease is typically bilateral affecting both hips, but can be unilateral in 3-30% of dogs. There are other causes of osteoarthritis of the canine hip besides hip dysplasia such as trauma resulting in fracture or dislocation of the hip joint. In smaller dogs we can see osteoarthritis secondary to damage to the blood supply of the hip, a disease known as avascular necrosis of the femoral head or Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. Avascular necrosis is typically unilateral whereas hip dysplasia is typically bilateral.

In order for your dog to develop hip dysplasia he must first have the genes for the disease. However, environmental factors can influence how much those genes get expressed. This means you can help or hurt your puppy by the type of food, supplementation and activity it gets not only while developing but also through its entire life. Over feeding or feeding a diet too nutritionally rich, over supplementing, (especially calcium), and excessive activity can potentially increase the expression of the genes while the puppy is developing. In large to giant breed puppies, veterinarians typically recommend a good quality large-breed puppy diet that allows the puppy to reach its full growth potential but at a slower rate allowing the bones, ligaments and muscles to keep up with the growth.

What are the signs of hip dysplasia? Dogs with hip dysplasia may have a rear limb lameness of one or both back legs. They may show a reluctance to run or jump, be slow to rise, or ‘bunny hop’ when running, using both back legs together rather than separate. Some owners report their dog ‘walks like a girl’ with a sway to the back end. In more affected dogs you may see muscle atrophy to one or both rear limbs or the gluteal/rump region.

Dogs may shift the weight forward onto the front legs to decrease stress on the hips. The signs may be more evident after play

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or after a period of rest. Dogs with hip dysplasia may show no clinical signs and be able to run, jump and play or be so affected their quality of life is negatively influenced. There are other diseases, both orthopedic and neurologic in origin, which can sometimes look similar to the signs of hip dysplasia. Orthopedic diseases such as cranial cruciate ligament tears (CCL or ACL tears) and muscle injury can have similar clinical signs to hip dysplasia. Neurologic diseases such as herniating or bulging discs in the lower back, lumbosacral disease and some neuropathies can also present similarly to hip dysplasia. A physical exam by your family veterinarian should help identify the problem. Once the initial diagnosis is made it is always a good idea to have your pet evaluated by board-certified veterinary surgeon to confirm the diagnosis, make sure there is not more than one problem and discuss treatment options for both the short and long term.

I have seen many dogs referred for hip dysplasia but when they were thoroughly evaluated, there were confounding problems that caused the dog to appear as though the hip dysplasia was the problem, when in fact it was the other disease process that had ‘tipped the scales’ causing the dog to show clinical signs. I see this most commonly with cranial cruciate ligament tears. Once the confounding disease is appropriately treated a lot of dogs return to an active life in the face of their hip dysplasia.

How is hip dysplasia diagnosed? The first step to diagnosis is a thorough physical exam. One of the earliest signs of hip dysplasia is laxity or looseness of the hip joint. In young dogs, typically under 1 year of age, a specific palpation test looking for laxity of the hip joint is performed called the Ortolani Test. This physical exam test can be performed without sedation, but some dogs will require sedation. The dog lies on his side while the knee (stifle) is brought towards midline and the hip pushed dorsally, or towards the spine of the dog. If laxity is present the hip will subluxate (dislocate), or shift out of position. This shift is usually subtle and may not be readily apparent even to a skilled examiner.

Next the knee is abducted or moved away from midline to the dog’s side. During this portion of the exam the veterinarian is looking and feeling for a sound ‘clunk’ as the ball of the hip drops back into the socket. The laxity or looseness of the hip joint is an early indication of dysplasia. As the disease progresses the hip joint remodels to eliminate the laxity. The remodeling consists of thickening of the soft tissue structures of the hip such as the joint capsule, changes to the boney shape of the femoral head and acetabulum along with formation of bone spurs (osteophytes).

This combination of changes is known as osteoarthritis. Radiographs of the pelvis and hips are the next step in the diagnosis of hip dysplasia. Dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred due to the ability to pass on the genes to the offspring.

The good news is most dogs, >70%, can have a good quality of life if appropriate medical management guidelines are followed. For dogs that do not do well with medical management there are surgical options to help your pet. In following articles we can talk about what I mean by medical management along with discussing surgical options. In the meantime, if you are worried about hip dysplasia in your friend please come see me at Charleston Veterinary Referral Center. I will perform a complete exam and talk to you about available options to help your pet be active for years to come.

Charleston Veterinary Referral Center, is a specialty referral and 24-hour, 7-day-a-week emergency and critical care veterinary hospital.

Dr. Au is part of CVRC’s Center for Orthopedic and Minimally Invasive Surgery. More information may be found at www.CharlestonVRC.com or on Facebook at Facebook.com/CharlestonVRC.

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Neutering Male Puppies without Surgery

by Lynne M. Flood, DVM

A new drug available to veterinarians offers an alternative to traditional surgical neutering for male puppies. Veterinarians must be certified in its use before offering the treatment. The drug is injected into each testicle separately to render the puppy unable to reproduce. The puppy is sedated for the procedure and then tattooed afterward to permanently mark its status as sterilized. The drug is licensed for use in puppies three to ten months of age.

The drug, called ZeuterinTM, is available from Ark Sciences, a mission-based company hoping to “dramatically reduce pet euthanasia in the US, help control roaming dog populations globally, and to provide humane alternatives for farm animal castrations” (www.arksciences.com.) The company predicts the cost for humane societies to use this treatment may be one-fifth the cost of performing traditional surgeries.

The effects of ZeuterinTM treatment are not identical to the effects of surgical neutering. The puppy is left with the ability to produce some reproductive hormones, meaning that some male behaviors may develop as the puppy reaches adulthood.

Surgical neutering results in a low hormone level, removing the male dog’s motivation to seek out females in heat and reducing aggression, as well as the drive to escape, to mount other dogs, and to mark territory. ZeuterinTM injections may not prevent diseases associated with male hormones, such as prostatic disease or testicular or perianal tumors in dogs.

Another difference between the two procedures involves the dog’s appearance. With surgical neutering, the testicles are removed, whereas this procedure leaves the testicles in place, rendering them sterile. The dog cannot be easily identified as neutered unless its tattoo is visualized.

From the Ark Sciences web site frequently asked questions section: “Many dog owners are understandably concerned about onlookers and ‘dog run’ friends giving them the evil eye-assuming their anatomically correct male dog is intact. To address this concern, we are finishing up final designs on collar add-ons and fun T-shirts for dogs neutered via zinc rather than castration to flaunt their special status.”

The company reports a relatively low (1.1%) complication rate serious enough to require surgery to remove the affected testicles. More commonly, from the client information sheet: “Mild, temporary swelling of the testicles is an expected reaction to the injection which you will notice within 24 - 48 hours after 12

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the injection. Your dog's testicles may remain slightly enlarged but non-painful for a few months after the injection.”

Localized reactions, when they occur, cause complications which are similar to those post-surgery: pain, biting and licking the scrotal region, dermatitis, ulceration, infection, dryness or bruising of the scrotum. Systemic reactions reported include: increased white blood cell count, vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, and diarrhea.

The company hopes to market the drug to private practice veterinarians as an alternative to surgery. The drug was launched previously (in 2003) under another name, by another company, which failed financially. Ark Sciences hopes by requiring veterinarians to be certified before offering the treatment, the complication rate will be reduced and the alternative will catch on in popularity.

If local veterinarians choose to become certified in offering ZeuterinTM, Lowcountry dog owners may soon be offered an alternative to surgery for dog neutering. It is difficult to predict whether or not owners will consider the differences in appearance and in hormone levels to be a desirable outcome and whether the potential for increased aggression within a community pet population would warrant changing traditional recommendations by local veterinarians.

Lynne M. Flood, DVM is owner veterinarian of Daniel Island Animal Hospital in Charleston, SC. She can be reached at (843) 881-7228 or info@ danielislandvet.com

Daniel Island Animal Hospital Lynne M. Flood, DVM Bridget Luke, DVM Allison Chappell, DVM Katie Rainwater, DVM Matthew J. Hosking, DVM

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photography and text by olivia rae james

LIFE WITH

I never planned on getting a dog. It wasn’t something I begged for or dreamed about as a kid -- in fact, I was frightened by most and uninterested in the rest. I used to enjoy the shock on people’s faces when I told them that I’m just not a dog person.

My transition to crazy dog lady was unanticipated and immediate. From the second Blake and I met Frankie we were in deep love. We held her in our palms and giggled while she waddled. She weighed only two pounds and seemed to hover over the ground since her legs were so short. We called her The Fancy Hamster.

Eight months later, life without Frankie is unimaginable. She licks up tears, demands belly rubs upon greeting, and cocks her head to the side when making important decisions. She runs in circles until she loses her balance and won’t let me finish a yogurt alone. She loves to spoon in the mornings, walk along

the battery while the sun sets, and bark aggressively at brooms and vacuums. She makes us laugh so hard I could swear she’s human.

I know you’re not supposed to compare animals to kids, but she’s our baby. The first time I dropped her off for a haircut, I drove away crying (“...but they don’t know how she likes to be held!”); when I wake up she’s the first thing I think about (usually because she’s hogging my pillow); and even when she’s misbehaving, all it takes is a few seconds of staring into her eyes before I’m cracking up. That face gets me every time.

Now, like every dog-owner, I’m convinced that Frankie is the smartest, funniest, most amazing and loyal companion in the universe. I guess I can officially call myself a dog person.

FRANKIE Lowcountrydog

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happy hounds

daisy

ellie and marty katey

spartacus dugan emma odie and olive

hammond

lorenzo

tesoro

tyra sue

stewie

misty lou

zoso

pumpkin

cooper & dolphin

hattie

cooper

Upload photos of your happy hound at www.lowcountrydog.com/share/photo All breeds and mixed breeds accepted.

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jackson

upcoming events recurring events

gourmet lunch boxes, children’s activities, educational booths, canine concessions and much more!

every saturday & sunday pet helpers adoptions at petco, may 31st 9:30am-3:00pm star west ashley. www.pethelpers.org southeastern therapy animal every saturday cas adopt-a- resources introductory thon at petsmart mt pleasant. therapy dog workshop. Franke www.charlestonanimalsociety.org

special events april 26th 9:00 am dodger runs 5K. A fun event for an important cause! JOIN US in our race against cancer!!! We welcome runners and walkers of all ages! Participating with your dog is encouraged, but not required. Also, you can bring your dog to enjoy the event and spend quality time together without participating in the run. All proceeds help the Canine Cancer Care, Inc Non-Profit Organization accomplish it's mission.

1/2 Mile Tot Trot starts at 9:00AM. 1 Mile Kids Fun Run starts at 9:15AM. 5K Walk/Run starts at 9:30AM. 5K Run/ Walk with Dog & without Dog - $25.

1 Mile Kids Fun Run (Ages 7-14) - $15.

1/2 Mile Tot Trot (Ages 6 & Under) $10. Free Veterinary Consultations.

Bounce House, Music, Food, Beverages, Vendors, Kids' Games, and Pet Contests.

For more information visit our website at www.caninecancercare.org

april 26th 9:00 am charleston dog show at marion square We are pleased to invite you to the 11th Annual Charleston Dog Show…….a fun family event for Lowcountry dogs and their owners. We will begin with a Blessing of the Dogs, followed by friendly canine competition, dog vendors and silent auction with pet art, microchipping, dog rescue village,

Home, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 Advance registration is required.

Seating is limited. Contact Barbara at fluffydogtherapy@comcast.net for registration materials or 843-991-6723 for more information.

may 31st rd 7:00am green and lean 5k run/walk. The Green and Lean 5K raises funds for environmental education and litter prevention programs within the City of Charleston and neighboring communities.

Through the generosity of participants and sponsors, this race has become a premier race in the tri-county region.

This is a family friendly race where stroller and leashed dogs are welcome!

In fact we have a prize for the first stroller and the first leashed dog to cross the finish line. The 5K Run will begin at 8:00 a.m. on May 31, 2014, with t-shirt pick-up and late registration beginning at 7:00 a.m. This USA TF certified 5K Run begins at Brittlebank Park, passes by The Citadel campus, circles beautiful Hampton Park, and concludes back at Brittlebank Park.

Another unique aspect of the race is engaging children with Clara’s Tot Trot, a 50-yard dash for ages 1-5 and a 1/4 mile for ages 6-10. These races start at 9:00 a.m. inside Brittlebank Park. Each child participating in the Tot Trot will receive a t-shirt and race bib. We hope to see you and your whole family on May 31st, 2014! http://www. greenandlean5k.com

Questions? Comments?

Call 843-478-0266.

Want to submit event information?

Visit www.lowcountrydog.com and click on Add an Event. We will do our best to include your event as space allows. Our online calendar lists all events in full.

Coping with Leash Reactivity

By Diana Nichols Pappert Animal Antics

“There have been many evenings that I wish I didn’t need to walk my dog in public. His reaction to seeing people, other dogs, bicyclists, joggers and cars is embarrassing. He will lunge, bark, growl and snarl at everything that passes by. It has gotten to the point where I try to walk him very early in the morning or really late at night, just to avoid seeing other people.”

Unfortunately, this scenario can be all too common for some people while walking their dogs on a leash. Leash reactivity develops for many reasons; it could be because of a lack of proper socialization as a puppy, a dislike of other dogs, because of a bad experience or simply an emotional fear response. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to watch off leash dogs greet each other and play, you will not see dogs approaching each other head on. They will approach in curved fashion and sniff the new dog. For dogs that do not observe this form of canine etiquette, problems will arise. For many dogs, being on a leash can force them into a situation where they are uncomfortable, and barking, growling and lunging will work for them by increasing the distance between them and the other person/dog.

Every time your dog is in a situation where he feels threatened, the dog’s biochemistry is triggered to protect the animal. This is the flight or fight response. When the dog is off leash 22

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there is the opportunity to flee from the scary stimulus, but when on leash the opportunity to leave is taken away leaving them with only one other option, to fight. Once your dog is in an aroused state, it is very difficult to get him back to a relaxed state.

Dogs can go through a gamut of emotional responses to stimuli in the environment; panic, anxiety, frustration and most importantly stress. Anxiety is a sense of foreboding or fear, and with anxiety the fear can be real or imagined.

The brain will process the emotion the same way for both. Panic tends to be a very rapid response, and with this type of behavior there is usually a lot of rehearsal for dogs to get to this level.

Frustration, most often, doesn’t result in true aggression, however; while your dog is on a leash they can certainly act as though they are going to create a problem. Frustration is caused by not gaining access to something desired. In this case, your dog’s desire to meet and greet another dog is overwhelming, and they will display aggressive behaviors when denied this opportunity. The last on the list is stress. Small amounts of stress can actually be motivating, however; long term or prolonged levels of stress can be very detrimental. Stress can be caused by anything that is exciting or threatening.

In either case, this type of stress will trigger the dog’s flight or fight response.

This stress response will cause the animals brain to be flooded with adrenaline, preparing the body for immediate action.

So now you want to take your dog for a walk, your dog perceives a threat (real or imagined) or is just overly excited, in either case – when your dog encounters his first stimulus your dog’s brain goes into ‘flight or fight’ mode. Once your dog in this high aroused state, it can take hours, or with some dogs even days, to return to a normal biological state. Which is why once your dog reacts, it is very difficult to get them to focus and behave.

Fortunately, there is a way to fix these problems. Here are some of the basics: There is a law in positive training that says; any behavior that is reinforced will be repeated. This can work for you and against you. If you are walking your dog and he reacts and this causes an increase in distance between him and his trigger, this behavior is now reinforced. Your dog has just learned that his behavior can make the scary person, dog, bicycle, etc., go away. This behavior will increase in frequency since it is working for him so well. There is also a way to use positive reinforcement to alter your dog’s behavior, removing some of the emotional responses to the negative stimuli.

To begin, your must first start with management. Manage situations and do not give your dog the opportunity

to rehearse these behaviors. Manage the situation so that your dog can be successful and comfortable while being out on a leash. Train your dog to turn with you and walk the other direction, which allows your dog to relax and move away from the scary stimulus, instead of allowing him to lunge and bark to make the scary object leave.

Counter Conditioning is how we can change your dog’s emotional state.

Instead of feeling fear and frustration, we can change that to a positive and relaxed state. Counter Conditioning changes a previous conditioned response, i.e. bark, lunge, growl, to a conditioned stimulus, i.e. look at me and you’ll get cookies. The old behavior is changed or reversed with the new conditioning procedure. This changes your dog’s behavior from fearful or anxious to joyful and relaxed. Simply put; you revise the meaning of the cue (scary thing) to change the unwanted behaviors.

To begin you will need to work with your dog below threshold, which means begin at a distance that your dog still feels comfortable and is not being reactive.

This will vary for each dog, so observe your dog’s body language and make sure he’s at a distance that makes him comfortable.

As your dog notices the stimulus (that triggers a reaction), begin feeding your dog small and yummy treats. Feed one treat at a time as fast as you can. Continue uninterrupted until the stimulus has gone.

Repeat again with the next scary person or dog. What your dog is slowly learning is that the scary stimulus becomes a predictor for good things to happen. Scary person/dog = yummy goodies. continued on page 27

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Dogs

Do The

Darnedest Things

by Cara Daniel, DVM, CVA Tidewater Veterinary

Tucker Daniel

Having a one year old labrador retriever can be fun when he is running around playing, acting goofy, or is sleeping serenely. However, my dog, Tucker, has a knack for getting into trouble. We have been very careful to put any kind of food, drinks, small toys or other potential foreign bodies out of his reach. Yet, he has a way of waiting for the perfect moment when he is unattended for literally 1-2 minutes to get into trouble. One of Tucker’s favorite pastimes is to get into the trash, and he has no problem innocently walking around with the lid on his head.

He literally pulled an old bag of grapes out of the trash can and proceeded to eat all of them while my husband was 10 feet away.

Luckily, we caught him in the act and were able to treat him quickly. This was 2 weeks after eating a ½ bag of semisweet chocolate chips in 30 seconds flat while we were putting up groceries. Again he was caught in the act and promptly treated. And this 24

Lowcountrydog

was only a week after eating 4 hot dogs and at least one piece of cake at a party.

For most of you, your pets are probably not as mischievous as mine, so this is not a concern. I have, however, seen quite a few other poor dogs lately who have gotten ahold of things that could have made them very sick. The one thing they all had in common was attentive owners who caught them in the act or right afterwards and brought them straight in for prompt treatment.

I wanted to briefly touch on some common toxic foods, plants, and other things pets may get into.

As spring nears and things start to bloom, plants are an important consideration. The beautiful lilies we see at Easter can be lethal. Azaleas and tulips both can cause salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and neurologic signs. Oleanders are another very common plant in the lowcountry, and they can

cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and cardiac problems. Sago palms are very toxic, and it only takes a small amount of seeds to cause liver failure and death.

Although many dogs will chew on intact plants, some will not bother with a plant in the yard, but have a whole new interest when it is on the ground. So, be careful when doing yard work not to leave any potentially dangerous trimmings within your pet’s reach or out on the curb where someone else’s dog could quickly eat them.

For more information on poisonous plants, please visit www.aspca.org website.

As for foods, some common ones are chocolate, grapes/raisins, onions, rising dough, and xylitol found in gum and sugar free candy. Any food that is out of the ordinary can cause an upset stomach, especially fatty foods. Dogs can even make themselves sick on their own dog food.

Some will eat a whole bag if they have the opportunity!! And most of them would do

it again the next day if they could, because sadly, they do not usually learn much from the experience. We, however, can learn a lot from these experiences. Prevention is by far the best way to go. Keep dog food in a bin with a closed lid and inside a closet/pantry with a door. Keep human food inside pantries/cabinets or up high where they cannot reach it. Tucker is tall enough to grab things off of the table, so we clean up any mealtime leftovers and dishes before we leave the room – or else!

I once accidentally left some dishes on the table while I was putting my children to sleep, and I came back to a 75 pound dog on top of the table – licking the bowls and staring at me, because he was too scared to get down. Dogs also enjoy alcoholic beverages, so beware of leaving a halfdrunk glass of wine or cocktail out. You may come home or wake up to a stumbling or even comatose dog.

Medications, either human or pets can be a problem as well. Sometimes a dog will swipe up a pill that falls on the ground and was not meant for him/her.

How frustrating is that if you cannot get

Paws in Paradise

them to take their own medication? It is important to keep any pill bottles out of their reach and feed pets separately if one of them receives medication. While the flavored medications we sometimes prescribe for your pets are great because it makes them easy to administer, it can be a problem if a bottle is left out, as a dog may eat the whole bottle in one sitting. Other concerns for the “garbage gut” pets are rocks, golf balls, string, corn cobs, razor blades, sticks, needles, socks, panty hose, and anything else small enough for them to swallow, but may cause damage passing through the gastrointestinal tract along the way.

It is good to be aware of some of the things that can be harmful to your pets if ingested. Your veterinarian is a great source for any questions. Do your best to keep potential hazards out of your pet’s reach, and keep a close eye on dogs that are known for getting into things. That is the one good thing about Tucker and the other dogs I have seen lately. They were all caught soon after their mischievous troublemaking, which allows prompt

treatment.

Most importantly, please call your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about something you think may be toxic or something your pet may have eaten. We certainly understand that sometimes things happen even when you are doing your best to keep your pets out of trouble or be consistent in training.

I was lucky enough to have “the perfect dog” the first time around, but now I have a chocolate “Marley” who keeps my family on our toes.

Dr. Daniel grew up on Sullivan’s Island and graduated from Bishop England High School.

She received her undergraduate degree from Clemson University and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

She is certified in veterinary acupuncture, having completed a course at the Chi Institute in small animal acupuncture. Dr. Daniel is passionate about preventative medicine, focusing on nutrition, neutraceuticals, pet enrichment, multi-modal pain management, and working together with her clients for the best quality of life for their pets.

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Lowcountrydog

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26

Lowcountrydog

continued from page 23 One important note here – it doesn’t matter what your dog is doing, do NOT ask for obedience behaviors, just simply give your dog treats rapidly. With this type of learning we are trying to change an emotional response, it doesn’t matter what else your dog is doing. If your dog erupts into barking, lunging or growling, you are too close to the scary stimulus. At this point you will just have to manage the behavior and try to calmly leave the area quickly The treats that you chose can make a big difference in your dog’s overall response.

The higher the value of the treat, the greater likelihood your dog will be willing to work to get them. Some good high value training treats for your dog are; cheese, rotisserie chicken, turkey hotdogs, cream cheese, peanut butter and tuna treats.

Any treats that you choose to use must be small, soft and easy to consume quickly.

The size of the treat matters too. You want to be able to deliver a lot of treats fast but not fill your dog up.

Now here’s the catch, this isn’t a quick fix for any behavioral issue. This takes time and repetition. Try looking at this as you would to learn anything new. If you start weight training program and want to build more muscle, you will have many trips to the gym and thousands of repetitions of those barbell curls to get your desired result. This isn’t any different. You can definitely get the behaviors you want with your dog – so long as you are patient, persistent and consistent.

It is very important that these training exercises be consistent. Every time the stimulus is presented so are the treats. Do not allow your dog to rehearse the reactive behavior; your dog should always be at a distance that he still feels comfortable.

When in a situation that catches you by surprise, use management techniques to remove yourself and your dog out the situation.

With lots of love, time, patience and persistence you can have a dog that enjoys going out on a leashed walk.

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Lowcountrydog

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Adoption Page

abbe rose

Meet Abbe Rose! She has a playful disposition, and gets along with everyone. Abbe Rose would rather be walked than left in a fence as she can jump fences. If your family needs a new playmate and couch warmer, then you might be the perfect match for Abbe Rose! Visit her at www.

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Meet Kaeru, a sweet female German Shephard mix! With her enthusiastic spirit, Kaeru loves the idea of living in a family with children or other dogs.

Kareu is gentle and affectionate demeanor will make her the perfect addition to any forever family. See if I am your match at www.pethlpers.

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kingsley

Kingsley is super sweet, and is coming around slowly but surely.

He's not aggressive, just scared.

We don't think he was abused, just maybe has never been around humans.

Contact cgumienny@ charlestonanimalsociety.org if you are interested in adopting him.

Meet Sydney, She's currently in the Adoption Ambassador foster program. Her foster mom says Sydney is still shy with my husband but is next to me all day and very affectionate !! No accidents in house, does great on leash. If you are interested please contact cgumienny@charlestonanimalsociety.org or 843-329-1577.

sydney

bryce

Amiga began her life with a dangerous medical condition.

Thanks to overwhelming support from the community, she is on her way toward becoming a normal puppy again! Amiga loves people and has a playful disposition. When she fully recovers, Amiga will be looking for a furever home. Visit her at www.pethelpers.org

amiga

Meet Dino! He is looking for a new chapter in his life with a new family.

He has been living with a foster family since early December. His foster mom is saying all these great things about him: He is a wonderful dog. He is kind, gentle - great with cats & dogs.

If you are interested please contact cgumienny@charlestonanimalsociety.org or 843-329-1577

dino

Faith is a sweet girl with a really cute curlicue tail. She can be very affectionate to people and loves to go on walks but is a little picky about her doggy friends. If you are interested in adopting him, please visit www.summervillespca.org

faith

Valentine is heartworm positive and needs to go through heartworm treatment. We are currently looking for a foster home for Valentine so that he can go through heartworm treatment.

The cost of this treatment is paid for with our Foster Medical Funds. If you are interested in fostering Valentine call 843-873-5918 or email tkiraly@sc.rr.

valentine

Meet Bryce. This active 2 year old is about 62 pounds. Bryce is great with dogs and kids, curious about cats.

He is house and crate trained. He is good on leash and has some basic training.To find out how to adopt this wonderful Lab or how you can foster, please visit lowcountrylabrescue.

I’m Bixby and as you can see, I’m a big gorgeous fluffy guy, most likely a Flat Coated Retriever/Neufie mix!

I’m 9 years young and I have plenty of pep in my step. I’m a very good boy in the house. Learn more about me at www.daisysplace.org

I'm a beautiful, sweet yellow Labby (mix) girl! I haven’t had the greatest life, my family never had time for me and they kept me in a crate most of the time. I’m a true Southern Belle, perfectly well behaved in the house and I get along with everyone! Learn more at www.daisysplace.org

As you can see, I’m very handsome – and I’m super sweet! I love my foster mom and dad as well as my furry foster brothers. I dance in circles when my leash comes out, love to go for long walks and I like meeting new dogs. Learn more at www. daisysplace.org

bixby

org.

ellie mae 28

Lowcountrydog

tom sawyer

Want to Save on Veterinary Bills?

It’s an integral part of your morning routine. Still half asleep, you step up to your bathroom sink and pick up your toothbrush. Unfortunately, many pet owners don’t make it a habit of providing good dental hygiene for their pets, too.

However, brushing your pet’s teeth can result in long-term savings.

"Good pet owners are concerned about their pets’ health and are careful to keep their vaccinations up to date, but may forget about the importance of oral health. Great owners know that this is a big mistake, as periodontal disease is the most common health problem that veterinarians find in pets,” explains Dr. Douglas Aspros, president of the AVMA. “Dental health problems are extremely common, and many are very painful and can lead to serious systemic conditions.

I remind pet owners that an untreated dental infection can spread to the heart, kidneys and other organs, and suddenly become life threatening.”

“Unfortunately, only about 1 percent of pet owners brush their pet’s teeth. Not only do more pet owners need to brush their pet’s teeth, but they should also use chew toys, treats and rawhides to help keep their pet’s teeth clean. There are a number of inexpensive and highly effective products available that can help keep your pet’s teeth clean between professional cleanings, explains Dr. Brook A. Niemiec, a board certified veterinary dentist and president of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry.

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Ask the Trainer: Thunderphobia The Problem: My Golden is 4 years old and in the past 2 years has become so afraid of storms. He tries to dig his way out of the house if he's left alone. He's perfectly fine if someone is with him. We've tried crate training but he can escape any crate and were currently trying the thundershirt and have seen some good results but still will destroy the house if we leave. My next step is meds but I'd rather not have to. -Lisa McFann The Solution: Is there any place in the house where your dog feels safe? Many dogs will gravitate to the bathroom because it is both smaller and the plumbing/ ceramics help to ground the static electricity created by the storm. If there is an area in the house where he feels safe, make sure that he always has access to it. One theory about static electricity in the air is that it is actually painful with dogs who have medium to long coats. No one knows for sure, but its worth trying to help him out in that department. Some folks even recommend rubbing the dog down with a anti-static laundry strip. Why not until we know better?

Some other products to try include the DAP Collar. The collar will last about 30 days, and your dog will wear it the entire time period (not just during storms). Make sure to buy the real DAP Collar, and not a knock-off brand. This is great in combination with the Thundershirt.

Nicole Wilde, author of Help for Your Fearful Dog, also recommends using melatonin, a natural hormone. You can check out her book for dosage amounts, as well as checking with your veterinarian about the amount and safety of using melatonin with your dog.

Finally, consider using a CD of thunderstorms to help desensitize your dog to storm noises. Begin with both your dog at a distance from the speakers, and with the volume turned way down. Keep the cd at that level, and play continuously for 24 hours. You can repeat this for several days -- very gradually turning up the volume for a week or more. If your dog startles at the new level of noise, it is probably too high. When you have the volume up to the level of a typical storm -- associate the noise with something wonderful such

as play, a great chewbone, treats, petting, and etc.

Thunderphobia is tough to resolve because there are so many components to storms: drops in barometric pressure, increases in static electricity, rainfall, lightening strikes, and the booming of thunder overhead. Its also heartbreaking for the owner when his or her dog is so distressed. I hope that some of these suggestions will be helpful. You might also speak to your veterinarian about other things he or she can offer you.

Susan Marett has 14 years of full time dog training experience.

Susan is also a Canine Good Citizenship Evaluator for the American Kennel Club and a trainer mentor for Animal Behavior College.

Learn more at www.purelypositive.com