January 2015
8
Articles 5 Pet Smiles by MetroPet Fans! 6 New Year’s Resolutions for your Pets 8 Top Purina Farm’s Facts 10 Choosing the Right Dog 12 100 Ways to Help Rescue Groups 14 The Positive Effects of Hydrotherapy
14 24
24 Dogs Are Like A Hydraulic System 27 Meet the Breed - Scottish Terrier 28 Landscaping for Pets 30 The Next Adventures of Chip 32 Pawzzle 34 Pet Services Directory
Happy New Year! The holiday season is over and the new year has begun. January is a great month to set goals, create new routines, clean out the closets, and get ready for some fun!
New Year’s Resolutions for Pets
It is the start of a new year! This is a great time to create new year resolutions for you to spend time with your pet. These plans might include taking your dog for walks both in the neighborhood and in new places, like dog parks or pet friendly shopping centers. This gives them an opportunity to see and smell new places! And, don’t forget to play with your cats and birds.
If you don’t have a pet, but are thinking about adding one, be sure to read the article on page 10. It provides lots of valuable information about choosing the right pet for your lifestyle. Don’t want to adopt, but ready to spend time with pets? Consider becoming a volunteer at a local shelter or with a rescue group. Check out the 100 ways that you can help rescue organizations. You might be surprised at how easy it is!
Play Day At Purina!
Have you ever been to Purina Farms? On January 24, the facility will be open to dogs for an indoor play day. See the informative article and coupon in this issue. Don’t think exercise for dogs is important? Check out the article on page 24 titled Dogs are Like Hydraulic Systems.
The Positive Effects of HydroTherapy
What do you know about water therapy for dogs? The article on page 16 showcases the amazing results for Captain, a pup rescued and saved by 4 Paws Rescue.
Senior Pet Wellness
Senior pets need different types of diets, exercise and other special attention. Check out the very informative article starting on page 19.
New Section — Smiling Dogs!
We have a new page of smiling dog photos! Please send us your favorite photo of your smiling dog!
MetroPet is Growing
Is your company, or one you frequent, looking for a way to reach thousands of pet readers? If yes, please encourage them to contact Nancy Hayes at 314-650-7959 or nutz4mutts@ gmail.com. She has some great ideas and is ready to help!
Thank you
As always, thank you to our advertisers — without them, this magazine would not be possible. Thank you to our wonderful writers. And, finally thank you to our readers. Please support our advertisers and tell them, “I saw your ad in MetroPet magazine!”
Happy New Year! Sincerely,
Barbara Riedel Publisher
Publisher Barbara Riedel barbara@metropetmag.com
Advertising Sales Nancy Hayes 314-650-7959 Barbara Riedel 913.548.1433
Editor/Production Manager Dan O’Leary editor@metropetmag.com
Contact MetroPet PO Box 480065 Kansas City, MO 64148 Phone: 913.548.1433 Fax: 913.387.4313
Magazine Layout ROI Marketing 816.942.1600 • roi@kc.rr.com
Contributing Authors Kaylyn Colatruglio Mike Deathe Heddie Leger Mary Sellaro Erin Quigley, DVM
Publishing Policy: Articles printed in the MetroPet Magazine express the opinions of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the formal position of MetroPet Magazine. Acceptance of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement by MetroPet Magazine. Articles: Readers are invited to submit articles for consideration for publication to editor@metropetmag.com. All materials are subject to editorial review. © 2014 MetroPet Magazine. All rights reserved. Request reprint permissions at info@metropetmag.com. MetroPet Magazine is owned and published by ROI Marketing Services, all rights reserved.
Meet Our
Stars!
Wes - Available for Adoption from Gateway Pet Guardians
Dottie
Aimery
Lucy
Snoot
Wylie
Buddy
Available for Adoption from Needy Paws Rescue
Manny
Nala
best photo contest Sadie
enter at: petzlife.com/smile
Silas
Enter for a chance to win a years supply of PetzLife products. Plus, your pet will be in a full page ad in Modern Dog Magazine!
BEFORE
Tucker
AFTER 30 DAYS
Val
Thanks to all the contributors! We received so many photos we couldn’t publish them all in this issue — more coming next month! www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
Naturally Removes Plaque & Tartar, Controls Bacteria and Freshens Breath.
TL METROS 5
New Year’s Resolutions for your Pets by Pat Hennessy
The celebration of a new year has been going on for centuries dating back to Babylonian times. The notion of resolutions is loosely based on Janus, a mythical Roman figure, who is depicted with two faces: one for looking back at past events and one for looking toward the future. The month of January was actually named after Janus. The New Year begins at different times for different civilizations: western societies, like the U.S., recognize the solar calendar based on 365 days around the sun and eastern societies, like China, recognize the lunar calendar where the New Year is based on the first full moon after the sun enters Aquarius. Regardless of when the New Year is recognized, the custom of celebrating the passing of time crosses cultures. It is an occasion to reflect on your accomplishments for the past year, bid it goodbye, and set goals for what you want your new year to bring. It is common for us to make resolutions about saving money, losing weight, or cleaning out clutter. While we make lists for ourselves, we must not forget our furry or feathered companions. You may think, “Well, I just got them several new toys for the holiday,” but that is very short term. They do love their toys, but if asked what they would like to have more of (besides food); the answer would be “time with you.” If you were planning on saving more money, wouldn’t you put aside a little bit each week in a savings account? Then, you need to consider some things you could do with your animal companions each week. Not only will it be supporting their mental and physical well-being, but it will be good for you too! When you sit down to fill out your calendar for the year and list the birthdays, anniversaries and other 6
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
appointments write down a day each week for a special activity with your animal family member. Make sure that you commit individual time to each animal in a multipet household.
Some ideas include:
• Do more active things • Take a long leisurely walk (or try a new location if you currently walk in your neighborhood). Dogs assess their environment with their noses and this would really allow them to indulge by checking out new scents. You can even take your cat on a walk around a small area (using a cat harness). • Play games (fetch a ball with your dog, chase the string with your cat, hide a nut or treat inside a toy for your bird). • Train your dog or bird to do a trick (this gives you interaction time with them and gives them an opportunity to earn rewards — always use a special treat for training, one that you don’t give any other time). • Spend more time bonding • Meditate (listen to some soft music and relax with your animal next to you, in your lap, or on your shoulder) • Practice yoga (you can actually do this with your animal companion!) • Do some mindful touching on your dog or cat
(gentle massage or TTouch®, a light touch method), it will relax you both. • Learn one new skill - just for fun (with the added benefit of exercise) • Agility (following an obstacle course with speed and accuracy) • Freestyle (dancing with your dog) • Rally (following a course where each station designates an exercise to perform with unlimited communication and varying skill levels) • Tracking (following your dog as she tracks a scent to find an article) • And if you prefer a low key activity, try one of the “bonding” ideas above. Another way to honor our animal companions is to make a resolution to find ways to improve their health. You can become more educated about pet food and treats by learning what makes good ingredients.
Things you may want to consider:
• Change their daily diet to a higher nutrient based diet (more meats and vegetables and less grains) • Offer higher quality meat-based treats (and save some really special ones for training opportunities) • Add veggies to your pet’s diet as a treat or with a meal (steaming fresh or frozen vegetables for your dog or cat will help them better absorb the nutrients – good choices are green beans, peas, sweet potato). Rinsed fresh veggies are great for birds.
Health and well-being is what we all strive for and our New Year’s resolutions generally mirror that desire. We owe it to our animals to achieve it for them as well. As we turn the pages of our calendars there should be a pawminder to do that little www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
something special for them. All of our animals bring us such joy, but there is a wonderful quote about dogs that sum it up best:
“ He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.” Author unknown
Pat Hennessy is the founder of N2paws, LLC, an organization that provides a holistic approach to companion animal care through behavior education, energy work, and positive training methods. Pat is a Level 2 TTouch® practitioner, CPDT, ACDBC, and member of the IAABC, IAATH and AWA. You may contact N2Paws via email pat@n2paws.com, phone 816-522-7005, or visit the website www.n2paws.com.
We Resolve: to eat better,
live longer ... and poop less!
35 Over ds! Bran
Give us 5 minutes to show you the difference healthy pet foods can make.
www.treats-unleashed.com 913.451.2000 • 4209 W. 119th • Leawood, KS 7
Top Purina Farms Facts No other pet food manufacturer has a physical property open to the general public that showcases its passion for pets. Purina Farms is unique as it isn’t a theme park, a museum or a zoo. It is a pet-centric FREE attraction that offers positive animal encounters for all ages and levels of involvement, from the everyday pet owner to dog and cat enthusiasts. Guests come here to play, spectacle and compete. The property sits on 346 acres of rolling hills about 45 minutes outside of St. Louis and features three main areas: Visitor Center (families with children, school groups and other local organizations like the scouts), Purina Event Center (breeders, enthusiasts and spectators) and Outdoor Competition Areas (six across the property to host enthusiasts, local corporations and the finals of the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge competition) An average of 180,000 pet lovers visit the property each year! Admission and parking are always free unless noted for special events. The Visitor Center, which opened in 1986, is open mid-March to mid-November and features: exhibits on Purina history and pet food manufacturing; indoor theater with educational videos; pet center for dogs and cats; incredible dog arena showcasing rescued dogs performing agility, flying disc and dock diving; wagon rides; farm animals , hayloft play area, gift shop and snack bar. The Purina Event Center, which hosted its first event in 2010, is the newest addition to the Purina Farms property. It is the only building in the country built from the ground up especially for dog and cat events and it is open year-round. Events include all breed conformation shows spotlighting more than 100 different breeds; National specialties featuring one breed of dog; and, performance trials, are the three most common competitions that take place at the facility. The Purina Event Center also hosts pet-related activities like fundraisers and “bring your own dog” events as well as training sessions, conferences and seminars featuring experts such as Victoria Stilwell from the television show, It’s Me or The Dog. 8
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
Purina Farms offers a FREE program called Pets In The Community, for Greater St. Louis area residents. The program is open to schools, hospitals and other community places and events. It features many different options, from Purina Farms trainers and their rescued dogs performing flying disc routines, to a petting area with farm animals from Purina Farms. Specifically, the school part of the program, reaches more than 15,000 students and faculty at 30 different Greater St. Louis schools with messages regarding responsible pet ownership, rescue and adoption. Annual Purina Farms related programming involving local animal welfare organizations results in more than 150 dog and cat adoptions each year and thousands of dollars raised for shelters and rescue groups. The future generation of pet lovers are extremely important to Purina Farms. We host dog sports performances camps for kids ages 10-14, four times a year and birthday parties year-round for kids ages 12 and under.
www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
9
Choosing the Right Dog for Your Lifestyle & for Life
by Mary Sellaro I had a friend contact me about a dog she had seen in a shelter and was thinking about adopting. The dog seemed like a good match: meaning the age, breed, size, and degree of shedding, all seemed to fit the specifications the family wanted in a canine family member. My friend had originally gone to the shelter looking for a puppy. However, after speaking to the adoption counselor, she quickly decided her schedule and home life could not accommodate a puppy’s needs. The counselor steered her towards an older dog, explaining she was past the puppy stage and would be a better fit for my friend’s lifestyle. After taking the dog for a walk and spending some time with her, the conclusion was made that this dog might work. This seemed like a great idea until the dog trainer’s (yours truly) opinion was solicited. Now it was my job to do a little more practical investigating, and possibly end up with a different take on the situation. I researched the
10
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
dog’s information on the shelter website and discovered she was not good with cats, dogs, or small children. My friend has a large family, siblings who bring their dogs to visit, and children who are semi-regular guests as well. The adoption counselor had informed her of the dog’s characteristics, but my friend thought she could manage the situation. My turn to come in and explain realistically what this would entail. The dog’s degree of aggression would involve separating her from any dogs or children which came into the house, and taking a walk, would be a challenge. Based on the dog’s past, the behavior would not be changed without the intervention of a professional trainer. I asked my friend honestly if this was a project she was ready to undertake, and her answer was no. She was willing and expected to spend time training a dog, but one without these particular tendencies. Does this make her irresponsible or indicate she
shouldn’t have a dog? No, on the contrary, it is an honest portrayal of her lifestyle and the attributes she needs to look for in a dog so there can be a lifetime commitment.
Bring a critical eye to your lifestyle
The canine friend you choose will hopefully be in your home for many years, so this isn’t a decision to take lightly or rush into. The time taken to research and plan beforehand may decrease the chance for regret or letdown later down the road. Logic can fly out the window, and emotion can easily take over when someone is faced with a cute face, a wagging tail, and a sad history. No matter how difficult it may be, you will need to look past the physical appeal of a dog or puppy, and concentrate on the personality and behavior to be certain the dog is compatible with your lifestyle.
www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
The following suggestions can help you make an informed decision: •W here will the pet come from? There are several options: shelter, rescue group or a responsible breeder. So how does one decide, and where do the answers come from for a successful match? There is an abundance of information available on the Internet, but do not use that as the primary source. If you are interested in a particular breed mix or breed, talk to trainers, veterinarians, shelter staff, rescue persons, pet owners, and breeders. •P urebred or mixed breed? The key is to understand that not all breeds are compatible with every lifestyle — there are positive and negative traits in every breed or mix. There are genetic concerns and health issues in every breed. It is up to you to be aware of these
11
matters. If you decide to get a puppy or dog from a breeder, check to make sure the dog has been tested for any physical problems and has been cleared or graded appropriately for breeding. • Research a variety of breeds and breed types to become familiar with the traits that are associated with these breeds. Every breed has specific characteristics, however, not every dog will have the tendency to display breed characteristics. Having a general knowledge in this area will be helpful in knowing the behavior of a mixed breed dog based on its heritage. • Adult dog or a puppy? It is very easy to fall in love with a puppy, which makes it difficult to remember the amount of time it will entail to meet the needs of what is honestly, a baby. A puppy in your home means housebreaking — this means many trips outside regardless of time and temperature. This also means training, socializing and puppy proofing the house and yard. This all takes time and 12
a consistent schedule. If you have a hectic lifestyle, a puppy may not be the best choice. An adult dog stands a good chance of already being housebroken and may have undergone some basic training. The adult dog’s personality is already formed and any behavioral “quirks” may be identified. Regardless of whether an adult or puppy is the better choice, all dogs will require patience and consistency as they transition into a new home. • A large or small dog? Energy level and exercise routine? The sizes of a house and yard (or no yard) are factors which need to be considered. The size of a dog is not an indication of the amount of energy a dog has or the amount of exercise the dog will need. For example, a Jack Russell Terrier is a small to medium sized dog with a massive amount of physical energy, which requires a certain amount of daily exercise to keep the dog and family sane. Dogs need plenty of physical and mental exercise — this need is not optional. It is important to consider the amount of time you
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
have in your schedule to exercise a dog. • Length of coat? Shedding? Grooming at home or professional grooming required? Do you have the facilities at home to bathe your dog? If the answer is no, a self-service dog wash or a professional groomer will be a necessary resource. Aside from needing to be kept clean, the dog will need to be brushed, have nails trimmed and teeth brushed. If grooming can be done at home, you will need some basic supplies, including: dog shampoo, brush, nails trimmers, toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs. If the dog has hair that requires grooming, or if bathing or nail trims cannot be performed at home, weekly or monthly visits to the groomer will need to be budgeted for both time and cost. •H ow much time do you have to spend with a dog? A dog is a very social animal and being alone is an unnatural state. Dogs need to be a part of the family and thrive by living inside, not outside all the time, or on a chain. The basic
needs are simple, food, water, shelter and medical care. There must be a commitment to provide companionship and to include the dog as much as possible in your everyday life. If a person lives alone, works a 40-hour week and likes to go out several evenings a week and on the weekend, where does the dog fit in? • What about having a dog with kids? In general, the age of a child and the attitude of the parents are determining factors in whether or not to have a dog around children. It is important to remember a dog is not a pony, a trampoline, a toy, or a babysitter. It is not up to the dog to teach a child responsibility — this is the parent’s duty. As a child gets older, they may become busy and lose interest in the dog. If this is the case, the dog will still need love, time, attention, exercise, and to be fed and let out on a daily basis. If the parents aren’t willing to step in as caregivers, the best choice is not to have a dog. When a dog is given up for a lack of time or interest, the parents are giving the child the impression that dogs are disposable. This is an example which is best not learned. The relationship between a dog and child or children should be one of mutual trust and respect. Dogs can provide and teach many positive things to children, as well, being a treasured friend with a helping hand from the adults in the family.
Mary Sellaro has been training dogs since 1990. She has taught group and private lessons from puppy through advanced. Mary has also worked with dog owners on behavioral issues, including aggression. She developed and implemented a training class program for Retired Greyhounds as Pets. Mary has been the temperament test evaluator for the Children’s Mercy Hospital’s Pet Pal Program since 1997. Mary is now the Director of Training for Pooches Paradise Daycare and Resort in the Waldo area of Kansas City. Mary is a certified American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. She can be reached at 816-361-3388.
There are many dogs that need homes; take the time to make sure this is a good time in your life to add a pet. Choose wisely — choose for life! www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
13
Ask your group for its top 10 out of this list!
1. Transport a dog or cat. 2. Donate a dog/cat bed or towels or other *bedding* type items? 3. Donate MONEY. 4. Donate a Kong. A NylaBone. A Hercules. Other Toys. 5. Donate a crate. 6. Donate a x-pen or baby gate. 7. Donate a food dish or a stainless bucket for a crate. 8. Donate a leash or collar. 9. Donate a carpet steam cleaner. 10. Donate dog or cat treats or a bag of food. 11. Donate a halter, a promise collar or a gentle leader. 12. Walk a dog. 13. Groom a dog or cat. 14. Donate some grooming supplies (shampoos, combs, brushes, etc.). 15. Donate a lawnmower. 16. Make a few phone calls. 17. Mail out applications to people who’ve requested them. 18. Provide local vet clinics with contact information for educational materials on responsible pet ownership. 19. Drive a dog or cat to and from vet appointments. 20. Donate long distance calling cards. 21. Donate a scanner or digital camera. 22. Donate a photocopier. 23. Attend public education days and try to educate people on responsible pet ownership. 24. Donate a gift certificate to a pet store. 25. Donate a raffle item if your club is holding a fundraiser. 26. Donate flea and tic preventative (Frontline, etc.). 27. Donate Heartworm pills. 28. Donate an animal first aid kit. 29. Provide a shoulder to cry on when the rescue person is overwhelmed. 30. Pay the boarding fees to board a dog for a one or two weeks. 31. Be a Santi-paws foster and give the foster a break for a few hours. 32. Clip coupons for dog food or treats. 33. Bake some homemade doggie biscuits. 14
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
34. Make purchases through a trusted Internet website that contributes commissions to a rescue group. 35. Host rescue photos with an information link on your website or Facebook page 36. Donate time to take good photos of foster dogs and cats for adoption flyers, etc.. 37. Conduct an in-home visit or accompany a rescue person on the home visit. 38. Go with rescue person to the vet to help if there is more than one dog or cat. 39. Have a yard sale and donate the money to rescue. 40. Volunteer to help a rescue group in your area. 41. Take advantage of a promotion on the web or store offering a free ID tag BUT instead of getting it for your own dog, have the tag inscribed with your rescue’s name and phone # to contact. 42. Talk to all your friends about adopting and fostering rescued dogs and cats. 43. Donate vet services or help by paying for one spay/ neuter each year or pay for some vaccinations. 44. Interview vets and ask them to consider offering discounts to rescues. 45. Write a column for your local newspaper or club newsletter on dogs currently looking for homes or ways to help rescue groups. 46. Take photos of dogs available for adoption for use by the rescue groups. 47. Maintain website lists of available dogs and cats. 48. Help organize and run fundraising events. 49. Help maintain the paperwork files associated with each dog or cat entered into the database. 50. Pay for a tattoo for a rescued dog. 51. Pay for a microchip for a rescued dog. 52. Loan your carpet steam cleaner to someone who has fostered a dog that was sick or marked in the house. 53. Donate a bottle of bleach or other cleaning products. 54. Donate or loan a portable dog run to someone who doesn’t have a quarantine area for quarantining a dog that has an unknown vaccination history and has been in a shelter. 55. Support a foster parent so the foster can take a dog to obedience class, maybe provide a ride for a child to an event or provide a ready to eat meal.
100 Ways To Help Rescue Organizations 56. Use your video camera to film a rescue dog in action. 57. Pay the cost of taking a dog to obedience class. 58. Be the one to take the dog to its obedience class. 59. Go to the foster home once a week with your children and dogs to help socialize the dog. 60. Help the foster and rescue organizations clean up the yard (yes, we also have to scoop what those foster/ rescued dogs poop!). 61. Offer to test a foster dog with cats – supervised of course! 62. Pay for the dog or cat to be groomed, or take the dog or cat to a “Do It Yourself ” Grooming Place. 63. Bring a rescue/foster pet parent take out so the rescue/foster doesn’t have to cook dinner. 64. Pay a house-cleaning service to do the spring cleaning for someone who fosters/rescues dogs all the time. 65. Lend your artistic talents to your club’s newsletter, fundraising ideas, t-shirt designs, website. 66. Donate printer paper, envelopes and stamps. 67. Go with a rescue person to the vet, if a foster dog or cat needs to be euthanized. 68. Go to local shelters and meet with shelter staff about how to identify your breed and/or provide photos and breed information showing the different color combinations of that breed. 69. Go to local businesses and solicit donations for a club’s fundraising event. 70. Offer to help owners be better pet owners by holding a grooming seminar. 71. Help pet owners be better pet parents by answering training questions. 72. Loan or donate a crate if a dog needs to travel. 73. Put together an “Owner’s Manual” for those who adopt rescued dogs of your breed. 74. Provide post-adoption follow up and support. 75. Donate a coupon for a free car wash, gas or the inside cleaning of a vehicle. 76. Pay for an ad in your local/metropolitan paper to help place rescue dogs. 77. Volunteer to screen calls for that ad. 78. Get some friends together to build/repair pens for a foster home or rescue group. www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
79. Microchip your own pups if you are a breeder, and register the chips, so if your dogs ever come into rescue, you can be contacted to take responsibility for your pup. 80. Donate a small percentage of the sale of each pup to rescue, if you are a breeder. 81. Buy two of those really neat dog-items you “have to have” and donate one to Rescue. 82. Make financial arrangements in your will to cover the cost of caring for your dogs after you are gone — so a shelter or rescue won’t have to. 83. Make a bequest in your will to your local or national animal rescue group or shelter. 84. Donate your professional services as an accountant, lawyer, or website techie. 85. Donate other services if you run your own business. 86. Donate the use of a vehicle if you own a car dealership. 87. Loan your cell phone (and cover costs for any calls) to someone driving a rescued dog. 88. Donate your “used” dog dryer when you get a new one. 89. Let a rescue know when you’ll be flying and that you’d be willing to be a rescued dog’s escort. 90. Donate a doggy seatbelt. 91. Donate a grid for a van or other vehicle. 92. Organize a rescued dog picnic or other event to reunite the rescued dogs that have been adopted. 93. Donate other types of doggy toys that might be safe for rescued dogs. 94. Donate a roll-a-treat or Buster cube. 95. Donate clickers or a video on clicker training. 96. Donate materials for a quarantine area at a foster’s home. 97. Donate sheets of linoleum or other flooring materials to put under crates to protect the foster’s floor. 98. Donate an engraving tool to make ID tags for rescued dogs, or donate ID tags with the rescue’s name. 99. Remember that rescuing a dog involves the effort and time of many people and make yourself available on an emergency basis to do “whatever” is needed. 100. Do something not listed above to help rescue.
15
by Kaylyn Colatruglio
The Positive Effects of Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy and an underwater treadmill successfully treat musculoskeletal conditions. It provides a safe, controlled environment for exercise, stretching, muscle building and neuromuscular stimulation. A warm water tank is filled to desired height to provide buoyancy, decrease weight-bearing pain and provide gentle support for ambulation. The buoyancy and lift decreases the concussive forces of gravity on painful joints allowing them to function more naturally, with more flexibility and mobility. As muscles and tendons relax in the warm water, they allow the mobility of the animal to improve. Muscle mass increases with use, and with increased movement, joints become properly bathed in the healing and nutritive joint fluid. Arthritic joints can even begin to remodel and allow for less restricted movement. Animals using the underwater treadmill for a variety of conditions begin to ambulate better, increase strength, endurance and flexibility. Walking on the treadmill can be a workout! Twenty (20) to thirty (30) minutes of hydrotherapy, underwater treadmill walking is equivalent to 1.5 hours running but is less stressful on the body. The water helps decrease blood pressure and relax the animal. While the heart rate may increase gently, the lowered blood pressure decreases stress on the cardiovascular system and the animal. The activity makes them feel better and stronger; even pets that don’t like water very much. Captain is living proof! He is a very different dog mentally and physically than what he was at the end of October 2014. Captain is now one of two, soon to be three very deserving rescue dogs of just 4 Paws 4 Rescue alone that is vastly benefiting from his current rehabilitation plan and hydrotherapy. In three weeks and 1-1.5 hours each session with additional
Captain 16
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
methods and exercises that compliment hydrotherapy, Captain IS USING HIS BACK LEGS! From paralyzed to now wanting to stand, walk and run on his own — Captain is surprising many professional veterinarians! It’s an amazing transformation we personally invite you all to see. He’s not all the way there yet, but it is a huge success and it is very encouraging to see movement in just a very short time period. Captain’s 4 Paws 4 Rescue buddy, Wylie, is now joining him for hydrotherapy. Wylie is an American Bulldog mix (and a big guy at that!) that was rescued after sustaining hip injury, perhaps caused by being hit by a car. Despite Wylie’s injury, he still used his bad leg but long-term this would have been detrimental. So, Wylie underwent orthopedic surgery to correct his fractured hip, and has since decided he doesn’t want to use his leg or apply pressure while walking, running or anything. Wylie is now rehabilitating with Captain and we are hopeful of his mutual success. Autumn is another story and yet another 4 Paws 4 Rescue dog. Autumn is a 101 lb. flatcoat retriever mix that after recovering from heartworms, has now Wylie displayed effects of her previously injured knee. Autumn requires knee surgery to correct her problem, but first needs to find an easy-on-the-joints method to lose 20-30 lbs. to be a candidate for orthopedic surgery. So, tah dah dah... to the tank she will go! www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
4 Paws 4 Rescue would like to share the most recent mission that originates from a very special litter of puppies rescued in July 2014. Three lab puppies, Captain, Cara and Chelsea, were rescued and ill since day one. They had literally almost every deadly puppy disease simultaneously — parvo, distemper, canine herpes, E coli, klebsiella pneumonia, coccidia, and more. After lengthy months of hospitalization between Murphy Animal Hospital and Veterinary Specialty Services, we took the next step and partnered with MU to get cultures on each bacterium to find responsive antibiotics for each disease. Captain continued to suffer the most upper respiratory and neurological problems; he had little to no chance of making it. Cara suffered vision loss from repeated ruptured ulcers that had formed on her eyes; it was suggested that her eyes be removed. Chelsea was always the healthiest but later had some respiratory, head twitching and a few seizures. Many months later, we are happy to report all of the puppies survived and are doing wonderful. Well, at least we are happy with where they are today given all they’ve been through! Cara and Chelsea have been adopted and Captain, for now, is a resident at Murphy Animal Hospital. The 4 Paws 4 Rescue pup receives 3-5 rehabilitation and exercise sessions daily by the loving vet staff and some of our volunteer fosters that help in his recovery. Captain remains paralyzed, has severe muscle atrophy and neurological problems from the effects of distemper. Recently, we looked into hydrotherapy and would like to take this moment to educate animal lovers on the benefits, effectiveness and how it helps Captain (and now many others!).
17
These are just three rescue stories within just ONE nonprofit rescue. We can’t imagine how many more rescues and animal patients could benefit from this hydrotherapy tank. Please join us in our excitement and mission and donate so we can purchase a hydrotherapy tank. Together, 4 Paws 4 Rescue and Murphy Animal Hospital have a vision, a mission really, to provide significantly reduced rates or free access to financially debilitating situations for rescues. Yes, your personal pups may go too. Here are some reasons hydrotherapy can be life changing for our pets:
4 Paws 4 Rescue will NOT profit from this at all. The tank will continue to be maintained, staffed, operated and insured by Murphy Animal Hospital. Please help support this cause and give MANY animals, MANY rescues across the area an opportunity to take advantage of this life altering product. If you saw the quality of life improvement in just Captain alone, you would understand our passion. We ask for your monetary donation and invite you to visit our boy Captain. We hope to see you soon!
Arthritis, gait disruption, muscle stiffness, muscle atrophy, range of motion loss, spinal injury, paralysis, hip dysplasia, weight problems, overall physical deterioration, injury, pain can all be mitigated by hydrotherapy.
Dr. Shannon Flegle works with MANY local rescues and has for a long time, well before we’ve thought about hydrotherapy.
If you are interested in donating, please visit https://www.youcaring.com/ nonprofits/captain-the-hydrotherapytank/2753934 Paws 4 Rescue
4 Paws 4 Rescue can be reached at website: www.4paws4rescue.com email: adopt@4paws4rescue.com facebook: https://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/4Paws-4-Rescue/119122808117548
Sherri Conners opened 4 Paws 4 Rescue in October of 2009 and has since added Directors Kaylyn Colatruglio and Shantell Biddlecome. Saving animals have always been their passions starting at young ages of bringing in stray animals. 4 Paws 4 Rescue is dedicated to saving animals that are in need, whether they be from high kill shelters, strays, abandoned animals or owner surrenders focusing on the best medical and foster care while encouraging adopters of ongoing health and wellness for their pets. We are a volunteer foster home based non-profit rescue run solely on donations provided by adoption fees and donations from generous people that want to help the homeless animals. You may contact 4 Paws 4 Rescue via email adopt@4paws4rescue.com, FaceBook https:// www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/4-Paws-4-Rescue/119122808117548 or our website www.4paws4rescue. com. Left to right: Kaylyn Colatruglio, Sherri Conners and Shantell Biddlecome. 18
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
Senior Pet Wellness: How you can make your pet’s senior years golden by Erin Quigley, DVM
Is your dog slowing down and turning gray in the face? more frequent doctor’s Is your cat sleeping more and having trouble jumping visits and routine on the furniture? It’s difficult to witness our beloved cancer screening companion’s aging. We may feel helpless, or we simply tests, because we are surrender to the thought that this is the normal process aware that the possibility of of getting older. But are there things we can do as pet certain diseases has increased. We must start looking at parents to slow down the progression of aging and make our pets the same way. They can get many of the diseases our pets more comfortable in we can, such as diabetes, heart Cat years Human years their senior years? How can we disease, thyroid conditions, help our pet’s live longer, happier glaucoma, various cancers, 7 45 lives? bone/joint ailments, tooth 10 58 decay, urinary incontinence 15 75 Age in itself is not a disease, and senility. 20 98 but it is true that our older pets have an increased likelihood of Ideally, we would prefer to Dog years Human years (*dog developing certain diseases. You avoid these conditions for our size in pounds) may be wondering, ”At what pets so they won’t ever have 7 Small – Medium: 44-47 age is my dog or cat considered to suffer from them. But early Large – Very large: 50-56 a senior?” In general, cats and detection is another way to most dogs are considered senior help avoid unnecessary pain 10 Small – Medium: 56-60 at the age of seven. This may or discomfort in our beloved Large – Very large: 66-78 seem young, but remember dogs companions. Let’s discuss how and cats age much more rapidly we can do both. than their human counterpart. 15 Small – Medium: 76-83 What to do at home You are probably already aware Large – Very large: 93-115 I recommend dogs and cats that a year in our pet companions at the age of six or seven begin is not equivalent to human years. 20 Small – Medium: 96-105 a senior diet. Senior diets are Below is a good reference from Large: 120 very common and they are the American Veterinary Medical formulated specifically for Association that compares dog *Small: 0-20 lbs.; Medium: 21-50 lbs.; Large: the needs of our aging pets; and cat years to human years to 51-90 lbs.; Very large: >90 lbs. less fat for decreased activity, give us a better understanding. special kibble to aid in dental disease, anti-oxidants to fight the aging process, and less Most people when they reach a certain age, perhaps in phosphorus to protect kidney function. Commonly, you their forties, start taking extra precautions to live longer will see glucosamine added to the diet, though often healthier lives, such as diet changes, exercise regiments, www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
19
in sub-therapeutic amounts that can still help in early aging of joints. Follow the recommended feeding guide to avoid overfeeding and prevent obesity. Don’t forget to eliminate table food and high calorie treats and canned food. (If you must treat your pet substitute for specially formulated low fat treats.) Another option is veggies such as green beans and carrot for dogs or small amounts of lean tuna for cats instead of the rich popular can diets. Include regular exercise such as low to moderate impact walking for dogs or encourage play in your cat that helps to keep a healthy weight as well as being beneficial to their joints.
8. Change in behavior such as hiding or demand for more than usual attention 9. Bad breath, drooling, difficulty chewing food 10. Confusion, difficulty seeing or hearing, unusual behaviors If you witness any of these symptoms or behaviors contact your veterinarian and schedule an appointment so they can investigate whether or not your pet has an illness and, what measures can be taken to treat or prevent progression of symptoms that may harm your cat or dog.
I know ‘diet and exercise’ can sound cliché, but far too often I have had to euthanize pets sooner than would have been necessary because of obesity that caused too much discomfort on a pets joints for them to be able to get up and lead their daily life. This is devastating as a pet owner because your pet is otherwise healthy and mentally younger than their body is allowing them to be.
How Your Veterinarian Can Help
In addition to providing a comfortable home, a good diet and regular exercise, you can also regularly check your pet for these signs of disease. 1. A sudden change in how much he or she consumes of water or food 2. Weight gain or weight loss or change of body conformation 3. Increased frequency of urination or leaking of urine, diarrhea, or constipation 4. Nodules, or lumps under the skin, changes in skin pigment, or excessive hair loss 5. Changes in gum color (should be bright pink), breathing, excessive panting or coughing 6. Fatigue, difficulty standing up, climbing stairs or jumping up on furniture 7. Vocalizing or hesitation to be touched anywhere on the body
Physical exam: The physical exam is far too often under appreciated when it comes to assessing health. Many abnormalities can be found just by the veterinarian taking a closer look and laying their hands on your pet. Physical exams can reveal problems such as.:
20
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
In recent years we have seen that pets are living longer due to improvements in veterinary diagnostic tests and the availability of early detection of disease particularly in animals that receive regular health check-ups. Screening tests that you can take advantage of to keep your pet healthier for longer include:
Eyes — signs of glaucoma, dry eye, cataracts, blindness, and neurologic signs such as evidence of seizures or brain tumors. outh — Malodorous breath can be a sign of M diabetes, kidney disease. Dental disease can be seen. Anemia, liver disease and bleeding abnormalities can be shown by looking at the gums. Lymph nodes — can be palpated (felt) and if enlargement is present it can indicate an aggressive type of cancer called lymphoma. Heart — Valvular disease of the heart can be detected by using a stethoscope.
Abdomen — An enlarged liver or spleen can be detected. Small kidneys may indicate dysfunction. A mass or tumor in the abdomen may be discovered that otherwise would go unnoticed. Skin — hairloss my indicate thyroid disease, masses can be detected so they can be investigated for cancer and if caught early, prevention of spread is possible. Musculo — skeletel-thin frame in a cat may indicate hyperthyroidism, muscle wasting is commonly seen in dogs and cats with arthritis, which can be alleviated with supplements and medications. Arthritis: I wanted to take the time to emphasize that arthritis is an extremely common condition in older cats and dogs. Almost every one of our pets after a certain age suffers from it.
suggestions for medications that will work best for your pet. A physical exam is an easy and inexpensive screening test that can be performed yearly, or ideally twice a year particularly in senior pets. Remember the age chart, 1 year in a dog or cat is at least 4 human years. A lot can change in a year and the earlier the abnormality is detected the higher likelihood that further damage can be prevented. Bloodwork: A simple blood panel test can detect many diseases. A Complete Blood count (CBC) can show indications of infection, cancer, anemia, and bleeding abnormalities. A Serum Chemistry can assess many things such as liver and kidney function and can screen for diabetes, electrolyte abnormalities, and protein loss.
Commonly, I hear my clients say that they don’t think their pet is showing any signs of pain or they accept the symptoms as normal for an older pet. I believe the reason is that a pet routinely will not cry out in pain, which does not mean they are not hurting. The struggle to get up from a laying position, limping after play and reluctance to climb stairs or jump on furniture are signs of pain. It is a chronic persistent ache that decreases quality of life. Today there are very effective joint supplements and pain relievers specifically formulated for the effectiveness and safety of our pet companions. If we can alleviate any suffering in our pets shouldn’t we? Your veterinarian can tell you if they see signs of arthritis during their physical exam and give you www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
21
Thyroid screen: Thyroid disease is very common in dogs and cats. Dogs tend to have a low thyroid function and cats can acquire a high thyroid function. If detected it can be treated and a better quality of life can be maintained. Bloodwork is easy to perform, readily available, relatively affordable, and provides quick results. Even without symptoms, it is good to get a baseline to know your pet’s normal values for future reference.
to measure the pressure in your pet’s eyes. Ideally routine measuring can detect early rises in pressures so that medication can be used to prevent glaucoma. More commonly it is used to measure pressures when disease is already there. Which may or may not be remedied; persistent high pressures found in glaucoma leads to permanent blindness. (Inexpensive test is not commonly available.)
rinalysis: A simple urine test can provide information U on many diseases. It is commonly used to detect urinary tract infections, but it can also show early indicators for kidney dysfunction, diabetes, or pH abnormalities leading to bladder stones. (This test is easy to perform and inexpensive.)
lood pressure measurements: high blood pressure is B not just a human problem. In fact it can be common in cats, who are experts at hiding disease. High blood pressure can lead to kidney problems, heart disease, and blindness. (Inexpensive test is not commonly available.)
Glaucoma testing: It is becoming more common that your local veterinary hospital has the ability
adiographs (X-rays) or Ultrasound: are imaging tools R which are familiar in human medicine. Commonly they are utilized to screen for disease after symptoms have been seen in pets. They can detect organ enlargement, they can uncover various types of cancer, and much more. These tests can cost between $100$300 and can provide a lot of information. Radiographs are easily available and ultrasound is more common in specialty practices but can be performed on your pet at your regular veterinarian by a specialist with some advanced notice. Hopefully you can see the value in these screening tests in detecting diseases that so easily hide in our pets. Perhaps it is new information to you that this many diagnostic tools and more are now available for our pet companions to help them live longer, healthier, happier lives so you can enjoy them for a longer lifespan than ever before.
22
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
Ask your veterinarian or veterinary hospital if they have a senior wellness program. These programs are doing wonders to make early detection tests more available and affordable for our families and our pets. They can even customize a preventative care plan for your pet based on lifestyle, environment, breed and species. The ultimate goal for both pet parents and veterinary professionals is to keep your pet healthy and comfortable for a long life. That is our passion and we want to be there for you and your family pet.
Erin Quigley, DVM, Member of AVMA, MVMA, grew up in Florissant, MO, and received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Missouri State University. After college I worked as a receptionist at Rock Road Animal Hospital, a zookeeper at the St. Louis Zoo and a veterinary assistant at Howdershell Animal Hospital until attending Veterinary School at University of Missouri-Columbia. I graduated with my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and have lived in O’Fallon, Missouri since I graduated. I have worked as a veterinarian in Troy, Wentzville, and Florissant, MO, until purchasing Animal Medical Center of Wentzville in 2010. I married in 2011 and live with my husband Ryan and boxer dog Finnegan in Lake St. Louis/O’Fallon. When my husband and I have free time from the clinic we enjoy spending time with our dog, family and friends. Our hobbies include attending Cardinal baseball and Mizzou football games. We also enjoy the outdoors biking, boating and horseback riding.
www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
23
Every hydraulic system has a set pressure it can withstand. Go over that allowed pressure (or exceed “critical mass)” and…well BOOM!
Fido’s Behavior Has Its Own Tank
DOGS ARE LIKE A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM Every Dog Has Set Pressures It Can Withstand! by Mike Deathe
You can look at Fido’s behavior the same way, each behavior has its own tank: barking, digging, jumping, play biting, and yes even pulling on a leash. If we are smart owners, and keep the pressure under “critical mass,” the behaviors remain normal, problems never surface and life is good. But, if we allow the pressure to build…you probably already know and may be experiencing that answer or you would not be reading this article. Does your dog pull you like a demon? You have allowed that tank to overflow and, consequently you probably hate walking Fido! The problem is that once the walking tank overfills that pressure has to go somewhere. Now, you not only have a leash issue, but Fido has started barking at everything. Now the barking tank will overflow and Fido might start digging in your back yard, and so the story goes. You decide you have had enough and you call the dog trainer. That is when, I, the dog trainer, receive a phone call from a prospective client telling me their dog is completely out of control. The translation is the dog has been taxed to the point of complete hydraulic failure – all tanks are overflowing. At this point, take a deep breath. Realize that this now out of control conduct actually started with just one behavior. And, the only way to fix it, is to fix the behaviors the same way they occurred, ONE AT A TIME!
The Key is Exercise
The key to a happy, healthy and well behaved dog is simple — exercise. This is the action we rarely consider for our out of control, over pressured, and now leaking hydraulic systems – i.e. our dog! The only way to fix the leak is to first lower the pressure in the system (exercise) and re-train (increase the pressure capacity) of the system. So, what is energy in regards to a dog, and just how do we exercise or vent the system? While it might seem a simple question, all dogs are different. The energy types and requirements are as different as the dogs in question. For example, a Golden Retriever — they are bred for retrieving, thus their energy type is generally running and fetching things. In comparison, a schnauzer, bred as a varmint hunter, has energy geared to tracking small moving critters, and they really like to bark! Beagles are similar in that they love to bark, but they use their nose vs.
24
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
tracking the moving objects. What about a Husky or a Malamute? They were bred to pull sleds (and everything else attached to them), or an Australian Shepherd, whose goal in life is to herd things. Now, consider the classic (and my favorite) the Mutt. This dog could have parts of some if not all of these dog energy types! Needless to say, you had better be willing to do some “homework” on your dog and find out what really “trips their trigger.” To many dog owners, running around in the backyard or a 15 minute walk (a walk really used as an excuse to pee), or a day or two a week in “doggy day care” are foolishly considered to be enough of a mental and physical work out for their furry, four legged best friend.
week, maybe you could add three days of doggy day care a week, which will also help with socialization! The point — there is no one “magic bullet,” but we do know that what you are doing now is not enough. Unless of course you are a dog junky or trainer, and are reading this article, nodding your head in agreement because you have a dog whose pressure regulator is in tip-top condition.
What Next?
So what do you do now? I cannot believe I am saying this, but calling a dog trainer is not the first step! You need to take a serious look in the mirror and ask yourself, am I giving my dog all the exercise and mental stimulation needed to make him happy and balanced?
This is the point as a dog trainer and volunteer in animal shelters, I stress — people must think before they get a dog as a pet. If you know your lifestyle is one where hour long walks, trips to the dog park, ability to afford or schedule classes in agility, rally or scent work (let alone basic obedience) are not achievable…DON’T do it! Dogs Actually Require Work! And, there is no law saying every family is required or even ought to own a dog.
Types of Exercise
Exercise needs to be both mental as well as physical! Dogs cannot live off bread (exercise) alone, they need some variety. Simply walking your dog daily won’t cut it. You might need to add agility, and/or rally obedience work, to exercise the mind as well. It might even require finding a herding class to allow your dog’s more primal needs to come to the surface! If, as an owner, you are going be unable to exercise your dog on any given www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
25
If the answer is no, your first step to fixing the problem is staring back at you in the mirror — it’s you! Before calling a trainer to prescribe a “magic” dog training pill — get out and start living life with your dog and help them! Spend time with them and just be with them! If you are lucky, you just might solve your “problem behaviors” without having to call a dog trainer! Once you have determined Fido’s energy type and needs what is next? Step Two might be to call that trainer for help with the retraining and to find better outlets for the behavior to allow for a higher pressure limit in your dog’s hydraulic system! But calling a trainer before you actually take the time to exercise your dog is futile and expensive, since all a dog trainer is going to do is charge you money to tell you to walk your dog more, take them to a dog park, enroll in a fun competition style class, or challenge their mind with interactive toys or games.
Why, you ask, is this exercise piece so important? Because, without cutting the edge (decreasing their pressure) from the dog first, formal training or
obedience will be essentially impossible! The take away: there is no magic pill or silver bullet when working with dogs, or kids for that matter. There is only time and effort. You and your dog will bond better, love more and be better friends the sooner we get everyone on board with this idea. I leave you with two thoughts to chew on: 1. A Tired Dog Is A Good Dog! 2. Nothing good ever comes from less, only from effort! As always…Keep it Simple Stupid, and please don’t forget to have some fun while you are at it! Wasn’t that why you got your dog in the first place?
Mike Deathe is an avid pet lover who found his passion as a dog trainer. Since 2008 he has trained thousands of pet parents on how to live with their companion animals. He writes the Keep It Simple Stupid dog blog (K.I.S.S). Deathe authored The Book of Pee and Poop, and Forever Home — Dog 101 and How to be a Better Shelter Volunteer. Follow Deathe’s blog at @http://muttzmembers. blogspot.com/ or the website @ www. kissdogtraining.com. 26
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015 et Magazine | St. Louis - February 2014
MetroP-
Meet the Breed January Pet of the Month
Scottish Terrier The Scottish Terrier origin is one of the most obscure and debated of all dogs due to a lack of original documentation. To date, the first recorded information about a dog of similar description to the Scottish Terrier dates back to 1436, when Don Leslie described them in his book The History of Scotland 1436-1561. It is known that in the 17th century, King James VI who later became James I of England, sent six terriers — thought to be forerunners of the Scottish terrier — to a French monarch as a gift. This action made a powerful impact on the breed as the king was an important historical monarch. Due to his love and adoration of the breed their popularity was increased tremendously across the globe. The Scottish Terrier can be quite territorial giving them the impression of being a ferocious little dog. They are alert, and feisty, some believe even more so than other terrier breeds. They are considered independent and self-assured. In addition they are high energy, and very playful, with a jaunty sense of humor. They are highly intelligent, so much so, they can outsmart you. They are nicknamed the ‘Diehard’ as they have a very rugged nature and determination that is endless. They are very, very brave dogs that will do anything once you understand how their motivation works as they have been defined as being quite stubborn. Although they are very loving, they can be aloof. However, they are tenaciously loyal to their family and are known to attach to one or two people only. They were bred for hunting vermin: rats, mice, squirrels and fighting badgers. They can be aggressive around some other dogs. As long as they are socialized and around other dogs from a young age, they should be able to get along selectively with other dogs. Scottish Terriers can be prone to autoimmune system imbalances, bleeding disorders, joint problems, allergies, and cancer. There is a condition named after the breed called Scotty cramp potential owners need to be aware of when thinking about acquiring a Scotty. www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
Like any puppy the Scotty begins as a friendly and playful companion. Socialization is extremely important in this stage as they can mature into a bold, saucy, yet steady and dignified adult. The Scottish Terrier can develop a greater independence than most terriers, so training at a young age will ensure a good reliable bond and secure relationship between you and your Scotty, as they can be extremely self-reliant and fearless, almost to the point of being called crusty at times. Since they do have a high energy level, the Scottish Terrier will need daily walks. They do not possess the desire nor ability for endurance sports like running and jogging, but they will chase squirrels and chipmunks with enthusiastic abandonment. This is not a dog that can be manhandled roughly into obedience as they will rebel, retaliate or go on strike. Training can be a challenge, and owners cannot be permissive, as the Scotty will take control of the household. They need firm, consistent leadership and obedience training with luring, and praise- and foodbased, as they are both proud and sensitive dogs that can be easily insulted. Things to think about before acquiring a Scottish Terrier: • Can you handle a dog that has a big attitude with a strong temperament? • Is self-willed and independent? • Can be aggressive towards other animals due to chase instinct? • Needs regular brushing, clipping and grooming? • Is suspicious of strangers and has guarding tendencies toward people they do not know if not socialized properly?
Facts about the Scottish Terrier:
•F ranklin Delano Roosevelt’s Scottie “Fala” is included with FDR in a statue in Washington, DC. • The Scottie is also well known for being a playing piece in the board game Monopoly.
27
Landscaping For Pets
It seems simple enough. Let your pet out the backdoor of your house into your beautiful, and often expensively landscaped backyard. At first your pet might stumble around, rolling in the grass and sniffing at everything with an air of discovery. It’s so cute, until …
A Mud Pit!
Many a homeowner has seen their lush lawn turned into a mud pit by an excitable dog, racing back and forth along a fence line or digging holes faster and deeper than a groundhog. Grown cats and loveable kitties may revert to their natural hunting instincts, dragging the carcasses of songbirds and baby bunnies onto the porch. In these and many other instances, a little pre-planning will help you minimize your pet’s damage to your backyard oasis.
One option to prevent this from happening is to put in a “dry creek bed” of up to 2’ or more in width along the fence line. Using river rock set in a shallow trench on top of a weed preventing fabric, dogs can still “run the fence” without tearing up the grass. The dry creek bed also offers an attractive base for the fence, and further prevents hard to reach weeds from growing up under the fence. If you have an outdoor cat, and you love birds and rabbits, plan a yard that does not offer cats perches from which they can pounce on ground-feeding birds or reach bird feeders. In addition, plan a special area for your vegetable garden. This might be in an attractively fenced off area prevent pets, and other animals, from sampling the fare.
Pre-Planning Options
Most dogs love to run, especially if there is a dog in the yard next door. In a matter of days, dogs can strip grass to the roots by constantly running back and forth over it, resulting in a muddy mess the next time it rains or the sprinkler system comes on. 28
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
Tips on Chemicals
We all want our lawns to look green and pretty. But the use of lawn fertilizers, insecticides and weed killers can pose hazards for your pets. While many of these
chemicals are designed for safe use in the home and gardens when used properly, read the application instructions closely to understand the drying time needed before you’re your children and pets can safely use the yard.
wire run several inches underground around the perimeter. A collar is placed around your pets neck that can give a warning beep or shock if they try to cross the fence’s perimeter.
In addition, some ant and slug baits may be enticing to dogs and cats, so be careful with their placement and protect your pets. Professional lawn maintenance companies should be questioned about the chemicals applied, and once again, the drying time before you and your family can safely use the yard.
The goal is to keep the dog safe at home and the pet quickly learns its boundaries.
There are also many new options to keep mosquitoes and other pests from invading your lawn and garden. With a little bit of research, you can find a solution which fits your needs and you can enjoy your backyard all year round.
Other ways to prevent dogs from escaping the yard is to remove any climbing options, including doghouses, stacks of wood, storage items, etc., near the fence that the dog may climb on and use to escape. With a little planning, your backyard can be a garden paradise for both you, your family and your pet.
Fencing Options
Fences are great ways to keep pets home and safe, and there are many options available. Before you go shopping, check out your home owners’ associations guidelines. You might also want to talk with your neighbors to see if they want to share the cost. If you choose a physical fence, consider the size and height, fencing materials, the placement of the fence, and the maintenance cost. You will also need to decide if you to install the fence yourself or hire a professional. Some dogs like to jump fences while others can actually climb them. This can be curtailed by using “invisible fencing.” These systems include a low voltage www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
29
The Next Adventures of Chip
by Heddie Leger
DEDICATION by Heddie Leger
Dedication — Hard work, and
an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.
Recap from Chapter 12: Robert assured us we would not be there long. He tried his cell phone, but it did not work in the small channel where the elevator went up and down. To make matters even worse, due to the slope of the arch, we were almost sideways inside the elevator. The little seats were supposed to selfadjust as they went up and down to make up for the slope of the Arch, but since they were stuck, it did not work out that way. We did not know how many other little elevators were stuck along the way. Robert reminded us again to stay calm so he could think‌.what to do‌. what to do??????
30
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
With a jolt and a bang, the elevator began to move and the lights came on. It seemed to take a long time, but we finally got to the door at the entrance, and boy, did we hurry outside! Penelope started to feel better as soon we started walking away from the Arch. All the excitement really made my memory begin to work overtime! I started to remember the bad storm, and some clues about where we were when it happened. In my heart, I knew I needed to find out if my mother and family had survived the storm. I remembered a horrible
storm, a black box, lots of water and being scared, but not much more. Even though I have a wonderful life and wonderful friends and family, it haunts me day and night, not knowing what happened to my family. Not that I lost sleep or anything like that, but still it was on my mind a lot. I realize there is nothing I can do about the past, but am dedicated to finding out the answers to my questions in the future. I need to form a plan and see if I can convince at least Penelope and Allen to be an advocate for me and convince their parents that a trip could be in our future to find my long lost family. Having an idea is one thing, but being dedicated to seeing it through to reality is
quite a different thing. I realize it will take a good bit of work, an investment of time, and could even involve some money that I of course do not have, so I will definitely need the support of my friends and family. So here is my initial plan. Let me know what you think. First, I will come up with an idea to raise some money to help cover some of the cost. I will have to convince Penelope and Allen to help me do that. Then, looking at the time of year, we will need to come up with a plan for travel where we won’t run into horrible weather that could cause problems. Finally, we will need to look at the map and form a plan of a route to travel. We will need to stay dedicated to the plan in order to succeed, but these three steps will make all the difference. It always helps to have a plan.
Activity From the clues in the story, can you guess which state Chip is trying to find? Websites that can help: • www.aplb.org • http://pet-loss.net/
I really did not know where to start, but one thing I do remember is that one day before the storm, I noticed a flag flying on a pole. The flag had a white background with a crimson St. Andrew’s cross, crossing diagonally from corner to corner. I heard “ We all have dreams. But in order to make someone say onetime that the official gemstone was a dreams come into reality, it takes an Star Blue Quartz, but I don’t know what that is. My old owner used to go hunting for turkey and said that the awful lot of determination, dedication, Eastern Wild Turkey was a sought after prize to hunt, self-discipline, and effort.” but I did not like guns so never went with her. I never ~ Jesse Owens quotes (American understood what this meant, but learned before the storm that the Official State Mascot & Butterfly is the Athlete, 4 time Gold Medalist in Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. It makes me feel good that Track and Field at the 1936 Olympic some of these memories are coming back. Maybe they Games, 1913-1980) will help me find where I came from. I don’t remember it ever being cold, but then I was a very young pup.
Story Discussion Tips • Do you know anyone that is an orphan, whether it be a two or four footed friend? • How can you be a friend to that person? • Have you ever lost anyone you loved whether two or four footed, furry or feathered? • How did you feel? • People suffer losses every day. It is how they deal with it and the support they receive that makes all the difference. What kind of support did you receive? www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
Heddie is a Certified Humane Educator and member of APDT, APLB, APHE and NHES sharing a lifelong passion of helping children and the elderly learn manners reinforcement with their pets through the PawZone In-Home PetSitting. You can reach her at 816.820.5829.
31
Chip’s Corner 32
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
PAWZZLE
by Pawlean Journe
Answers to this Pawzzle can be found in the Breed of the Month story on page 27.
ACROSS 3.
Their temperament is self-assured and __________.
6. They have a very rugged nature and ________________ that is endless. 11. There is a condition named after this breed called Scott _______. 12. They have a ______________ sense of humor. 13. They can also be prone to ______________. 18. This breed is alert and _________________. 21. Due to their being territorial they can be considered quite ______________ in nature.
23. This breed is considered to have had an _________ beginning with lack of documentation. 24. Early ______________ is a necessity. 25. True or false? This breed is thought to have dated back to 1436. 26. The Scottish Terrier are very brave which can be misunderstood as being ________________. 27. The history of this breed is debated due to lack of ________________. 28. Due to their high energy they will need __________ walks.
22. Author, Don Leslie, described this breed in his book “the History of ___________”
DOWN 1. The Scottish Terrier can be quite _____________. 2. Which king is said to have made an impact on this breed’s popularity. 4.
What is the nickname for the Scottish Terrier?
5.
What was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Scotty’s name?
7.
What popular game board is the Scotty included in?
17. They are bred to hunt _____________. 19. Due to their bold nature, they can take control of the __________________. 20. Although they are very loving, they have been defined as being _________ due to being independent.
December Pawzzle Answers
8. These little dogs are _________ loyal and generally bond to only one or two people. 9. This breed should never be handled in a ___________ manner. 10. They are also bred to fight _______________. 14. They are both proud and ________________ dogs that can be easily insulted. 15. Due to their strong personality and independence early ___________ is extremely important. 16. What type of system imbalance can this breed be prone to?
www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - January 2015
33
Pet Hospice Services
Pet Services Directory Adoption/Rescue St. Louis English Bulldog Rescue 314-381-2010
Pet Food Holistic Select
www.holisticselect.com
www.stlbulldogrescue.org St. Louis Bulldog Rescue, Inc. is a Federal Tax Exempt 501c3 organization that is an all volunteer group of bulldog lovers whose mission is to re-home bulldogs who are surrendered by their owners or find themselves otherwise without homes, landing in animal shelters or wandering the streets as strays.
For over 10 years, Holistic Select® has been creating natural, healthy pet food recipes for dogs and cats. We believe strongly that total body health begins with digestive health for everyone in the family, including pets. Your pet will look and feel healthy from the inside out – from head to tail. Exclusively Sold at Independent Pet Stores. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed Or Your Money Back.
Apartment
Earthborn Holistic
GEM Property Management, LLC 3890 S. Lindbergh Blvd, Suite 250 Sunset Hills, Missouri
www.gempm.com GEM Property Management, LLC, manages seven apartment complexes in the greater St. Louis area. Each one is pet friendly, and six have dog parks next to the complexes. Please visit the website for complete details.
Pet Food, Supplies, Grooming Treats Unleashed
www.treats-unleashed. com Treats Unleashed is a holistic pet specialty store with an in-store bakery. Treats has five St. Louis locations. Each one offers a full line of holistic pet foods and treats. The stores also offer a full-line of pet products — toys, beds, collars, leashes, etc. Some locations offer a self-serve bath area and/ or grooming services.
www.earthborn
holisticpetfood.com Earthborn Holistic® offers a wholesome approach to nutrition with high-quality ingredients that nourish the whole pet, dogs and cats. Every holistic pet food formula is designed to offer balanced nutrients that support your pet’s overall health and physical well-being. Natural Food for Pets.100% Satisfaction Guaranteed Or Your Money Back.
Loving Hearts Pet Memorial Services
1631 W. 5th St. Eureka, MO 636-587-8880 www.lovingheartspet.com Loving Hearts was started by two families to provide the highest level of pet cremation services possible. The owners bring over 100 years of assisting grieving pet owners. We are committed to treating each pet as if it were one of our own. In your time of need, we will be there for you.
Pet Waste Mgmt & Products
Yucko’s
Pet Friendly Car Dealership
Lou Fusz Subaru of Creve Couer
10329 Old Olive Street Rd St. Louis, MO 314-994-1500 www.subaru.fusz.com
At Lou Fusz Subaru - St Louis, it’s not just about buying a car. It’s about finding the right car for YOU. That means, we take the time to get to know you — your aesthetic preferences, your hobbies, your driving habits and your pets! Come visit our pet friendly dealership and dog park!
Showcase Your Company in the MetroPet Magazine Directory Listing! Your company can be in 12 print issues and online for a full year for about $2/day! Call Nancy 314-650-7959 or 913-548-1433 34
Pet Cremation Services
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - January 2015
www.yuckos.com
Weekly - Every Other Week - Once A Month One Times Or Just Because..!
314-291-POOP (7667) Service
Free Estimates - No Contracts - Fully Insured Dogipot Products - Pet Stations - Litter Bags Fake Fire Hydrants And More...!
314-770-1500 Sales
Are The First Responders In Your Area Equipped With Pet Oxygen Recovery Masks?
www.PetOxygenMask.com
Veterinarians
Animal Medical Center of Wentzville 1120 W. Pearce Blvd Wentzville, MO • 636-332-4411
www.animalmedicalcenterofwentzville.com We provide friendly, honest, compassionate care for your family pet! Service include vaccine packages and parasite prevention, routine surgery, dental care; advanced surgery; full service grooming and much more. Call us or come see us to meet our incredible team.