April 2015
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Articles 5 Puppy Socialization - Part 1 8 Hug-A-Tree and Survive 11 Creature Feature 12 Do April Showers Make Your Dog Cower?
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15 Smiling Dogs 21
16 April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month
18 How to Properly Introduce Your New Cat to Your Existing Cat
21 The Common Itch & How to Scratch It 24 So You Got a Bunny - Now What? 28
26 Breed of the Month 28 The Next Adventures of Chip 31 Dog First Aid Kit 32 Pawzzle 34 Pet Services Directory
Dear Readers: The calendar says it is Spring! I think everyone in is glad to feel warmer weather, even knowing that we may have a few cold days left. We are ready to feel the warm sunshine and fresh air! When you go outside, remember to take your four-legged friends. Make sure your pet is well behaved and that you pick up after your pet. Make sure your pet is up-to-date on shots. These steps will make outside adventures more fun — and safer! This is an exciting issue and contains some great information. MetroPet is pleased to be one of the sponsors of the upcoming Humane Society of Missouri Bark in the Park event on May 16 in Forest Park. There are two other wonderful events this month including the St. Louis English Bulldog Rescue Trivia Night on April 11 and the APA Fast and Furriest event on April 26. We encourage you to support these events! Did you know that April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month? On page 16 is a great article about pet first aid — great information from a veterinarian. Then, on page 31, is an informative article about how to
create a Dog First Aid Kit. It is easy, and doesn’t have to be expensive. This issue also includes a great article The Common Itch, and How to Scratch It! This informative article is a must read for every pet owner! And don’t miss the Creature Feature on page 11. Do you have a cat? Thinking about adding one? Before you take that step, take a minute to read the article on page 18. This article has some critical information about cat introductions. And, don’t miss the Do April Showers Make Your Dog Cower article on page 12 – great information to help your pet to handle the stress of stormy weather. Three other great articles are, Puppy Socialization – How and Why! on page 5; Hug-a-Tree and Survive on page 8; and, So You Have a Bunny — Now What? on page 24. Finally, enjoy this month’s edition of Chip’s Adventure and learning about the Domesticated American Short Haired Cat!
Happy Spring!
Barbara Riedel, Publisher
P.S. Please remember to support our advertisers — please tell them , “I saw your ad in MetroPet magazine.”
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 Mike Deathe Diana Engeszer Geoff Hall Dave Hart, DVM Joy Gioia Pat Hennessy Pawlean Journe Shannon Latzke Heddie Leger Jon Nauss, DVM Mary Sellaro
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.
Puppy Socialization How and Why! Part 1 of 3
Why should we socialize our puppies, and more importantly how should we do it? Let’s jump right on in “the deep end” and talk about the difference between Personality and Behavior, because this is the most crucial point in this discussion. All animals (puppies included) have a critical social development period. If the puppy is introduced and socialized correctly, we can mold the puppy into just about anything we want. However, if we wait too long, or do it wrong we can end up with an adult dog with severe behavioral issues.
Areas and Timeframes
Below are the areas to address and the rough time frames, give or take a week or so. People — By the age of 12 weeks
by Mike Deathe
If it’s here, it’s healthy!
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Soft mouth/Other places or things — By the age of 18 weeks ules and Routines — By the age of 5-6 months R (ie. Avoiding Problem Behaviors)
People
Pe ts a lw a y s w el co m e!
We all want a dog that likes people, but we also need to keep our furry friends safe from the world. So it is imperative that until your pooch has had at least three rounds of boosters/shots, he/she should not be allowed in a place where other nonvaccinated dogs are or have been.
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Note: even sniffing those areas could infect your
Chesterfield • Des Peres • Ladue • Mid Rivers • Oakville
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Meet Men and Women Having These Characteristics — Giving Out Treats • Beards • Hats • Sunglasses • Jewelry • Helmets • Smokers – Cigarettes, Cigars, Pipes • Different ethnic groups and races • Elderly • People of all sizes (short, tall, large, small) – including kids
• Loud • Wearing Hoodies • Carrying Backpacks • Runners • Bicyclist • Wearing Costumes • Wearing Uniforms — Police, Fire, EMT, Mail Person, UPS, Military • Kids of all age ranges (from infants to teenagers) • Large and Medium groups of people • People standing, sitting and playing • People loud and quiet
puppy, if it has not been vaccinated. This rule however makes it easy for you and your pup to work on people socialization! But be safe, when outside the home, the best place for your puppy is in your arms! You have the opportunity to affect change on your puppy’s personality at this age. You can teach your pup that the world is safe, fun and explorable, if you pair all associations with people with something awesome! Let’s say a human has a tasty treat, like cheese or boiled chicken. If said human gives this treat to your puppy as a reward, after the puppy has followed a specific command, the puppy will remember this reward and be more likely to associate this group with a positive association and will want to earn rewards in the future. The challenge is that if you wait till 18-20 weeks to teach your pup about manners and rewards, this window will have closed and their personality will be set and more difficult to change. This might sound a tad bit simplistic, but it really is just that simple. If you do it right you can make all the critical encounters with people positive and have a dog that loves people (because they bring presents).
Personality Doesn’t Change Think of it this way, if you are married or have a 6
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roommate and that person is a slob, you already understand you can’t change their personality. You might be able to change specific behaviors, like getting him/her to do the dishes or pick up dirty socks, but this only deals with a specific problem behavior, not the personality. This is not to say that if your dog is already older than 20 weeks that there is no hope, but you will be stuck working to change behaviors rather than mold your pup’s personality right out of the box. Here is a checklist of things to complete by the age of 13 weeks. So, if you get your pooch at 10-12 weeks you had better hope that the breeder or shelter where the pup came from has been helping, or you have some serious work to do. That being said working fast can sometimes be as bad as not working at all. Remember that all associations with people must be positive to show the pup that the world is not scary or
mean. There is a lot to accomplish in the puppy socialization list. As you proceed, make sure all interactions are positive and not negative. Don’t allow someone to scare your pup, move too fast or for goodness sake be mean. It may not be easy, but if you do it right your chances to have the perfect pup increase exponentially. All interactions must be positive and associated with super yummy treats. If we allow our dogs to have a scary or bad experience during the under 12 weeks of age period, you risk having a dog that will not accept this group of people as an adult. See sidebar below for the types of people you should include in this socialization process. At this age dogs should also be carried or in wagon, shopping cart, but not loose on the floor of strange non-clean environments. Always include your vet in this socialization process and accept and listen to their input as well. After and while you are successfully introducing your pup to the people listed in sidebar on this page, you also need to work on interacting with these folks. The message
for your dog is that not only do these people give me gifts (treats), they are also kind, gentle and helpful, (still include treats at each activity). With all that being said and judging from the critical timeline of the socialization process, get out there, have fun and make every memory a positive one for your pooch. Yes it is really that important! And, if you need help finding a professional trainer to help is a great idea!
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.
Our next socialization article will include training to a soft mouth and introducing to a variety of places!
Things to Do with Puppy Before 12 Weeks of Age • Holding puppy • Touching paws • Touching face • Touching, looking and cleaning ears • Touching and looking at ears • Touching and tugging the tail, and area under the tail! • Hugging puppy • Touching collar • Touching and clipping nails • Checking and touching between the pads (feet) • Touching rear legs • Brushing and grooming • Passing the puppy to others for other human touch www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - April 2015
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Hug-A-Tree and Survive by Heddie Leger Summer is fast approaching and children will be out and about with scout groups, camp sessions, and vacationing with their families. The chances for lost children increase during summer months more than any other time of year. Children can also become lost walking their pets in the woods or chasing a pet that gets loose. The Hug-A-Tree program teaches children how to survive in the woods should they become lost. Keeping children and pets safe is a very important.
Hug a Tree History A Lost Life
On a Saturday in February 1981, three brothers were together on Palomar Mountain approximately 60 miles north east of San Diego, California. They were walking on a popular nature trail a half-mile from the camping site where their parents were preparing lunch. Two of the brothers believed that nine-yearold Jimmy was racing them back to 8
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - April 2015
camp, but he never arrived. The family spent one hour searching on their own, then contacted a Park Ranger who contacted the Sheriff ’s Department. As often happens during February in southern California, the weather was unpredictable. The day had been clear, warm and beautiful. As night fell, clouds and fog moved in and the temperature steadily dropped. By Monday, it was raining almost continuously and fog continued to shroud the mountaintop. The helicopters could fly only when the cloud ceiling retreated enough to permit a safe take off. The wind and rain had neutralized Jimmy’s scent; so tracking dogs were of no use. The only hope was to systematically search the entire area, and pray for a visible sign of the boy. Tuesday morning, the weather broke and the sun came out. There were about 400 searchers on the scene including about 200 Marines.
The search was the largest in the history of San Diego County. That afternoon the boy’s jacket and one shoe were recovered and his direction of travel was finally established. Wednesday morning Jimmy’s body was found, curled up next to a tree in a ravine, about two miles from the campground. He had died from hypothermia. A great anguish overcame many of the searchers for this lost boy and his family. It was a deep and personal feeling that you could see in many faces, on the mountain and for months afterward. There was grief, for a young boy who had lost his life, and also a feeling of great wrong that had occurred, with nobody to blame. Many people were affected by the tragic loss of Jimmy Beverage’s life when he became lost and had a desire to prevent it from occurring again. The tragedy gnawed at Ab Taylor, a Border Patrol agent and renowned tracker, and Tom Jacobs,
a free-lance writer and photographer. Both had been members of the search team looking for Jimmy. It was the first time in Taylor’s 31 years as a tracker that he had failed to find a missing child alive. The experience prompted him to collaborate with Jacobs, Jackie Heet, and Dorothy Taylor in the development of an educational program designed to teach children, ages 5-12, very basic principles for staying safe in the wilderness. The program derives its name from its primary message: If you are lost, stay put, and hug a tree, until help arrives. In 2005, Ab Taylor donated the rights to the Hug-aTree program and materials to the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR). The intent was that NASAR would modernize the program and continue to get the important Hug-a-Tree message out to children. In 2007, after two years of development and using only private donations of time and money, a new video was distributed for use in the program. In 2008, a new presenter/trainer video was released that shows anyone how to present the program, and numerous new supporting documents were developed and distributed for use with the program (e.g., activity/ coloring book, program handout, presenter manual, etc).
Follow These Rules Lost Pets
There are a few simple rules to keep your pet safe, if it wanders off your property or become lost. Hopefully, your pets are micro-chipped for easy identification should they become lost. First, make sure your pet is spayed or neutered. One of the leading causes of dogs wandering away from home is due to the female being in season. The females become restless and will wander, the males will chase after a female, even one at a great distance. The only way to keep this from happening is by having your pet spayed or neutered. Second, do not chase your pet. Chasing is often a game to the dog and it will cause him to run faster and farther away. Often a dog will wander around and then meander back home. Although cars are a great danger to a loose dog, most will not wander into traffic unless running away from something. Third, do not leave your pet outside unattended. Anything can happen: the gate can accidentally be left
A National Program
In the decades that followed, the original developers of the programalong with a number of committed others — including Lillian Taylor, Ab’s wife, trained hundreds of individuals to present the Hug A Tree program. Up to this point, the program had enjoyed a significant level of success in the United States. But, in 1999, the program’s concepts were translated into Swedish and the program began to be presented by volunteers in Sweden. In 2001, the right to develop a Canadian version was granted to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and an explosion in the number of children receiving the program in North America occurred.
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open, someone can let your dog loose, your dog can jump a fence, or break away from a tether. The best way to keep your dog safe is to keep a watchful eye on him at all times. Should your pet become lost call animal control, local veterinarians and surrounding neighbors immediately. Creating flyers to post around in stores is a good way to let the general public know what your dog looks like and how to get in touch with you should they see or find him.
Lost Children
Lost children and lost pets cause much worry for families and friends. Many children are alive today due to their training in the Hug-a-Tree Program. These simple steps can help save a life. • If you think you are lost, hug a tree. By staying in one place you are easier to find and will not be injured by running or walking around. • Agree on a secret code word in advance for your family to give to searchers who might be looking for you. If anyone else approaches, and does not know the code
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• I t is a good idea when hiking to always carry a trash bag (with hole cut out for head) and whistle. The bag can keep you warm and dry, and a whistle can be heard from a long distance, even more than yelling. •P arents should keep a footprint of their child by tracing their shoe on a piece of aluminum foil each year. Trackers can often differentiate tracks and quickly determine the direction of travel. •P arents should not hesitate to call for help immediately. A delay in calling can cause a dangerous situation especially if the weather is bad. •M ake yourself a big sign by using twigs, branches or rocks to write out a big “X” or “SOS” sign on the ground. Wear bright colors that are easily seen. • I f it is getting dark and you hear an animal, blow your whistle, or yell as loud as you can. Most likely the animal will run away to protect itself. Do not run as the animal could chase you. • Remember you have many people out looking for you. Don’t be afraid to let people know where you are. They will not be angry. They will be happy you are found safe and sound. • If search dogs come looking for you remember, most trained search dogs are friendly and like children. It is okay to pet them and be friendly. Search dogs work very hard using their nose to find you. They will be very happy to see you. They are your friends.
Boarding & Daycare
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word, you should not go with them.
Like us
It is the sincere hope of those who have contributed to this project that all children will someday be exposed to the lifesaving principles of the Hug-a-Tree program. To read more about Hug A Tree go to www. nasar.org org Heddie is a Certified Humane Educator and member of APDT, APLB, APHE and NHES. She has a lifelong passion of helping children and the elderly learn manners reinforcement with their pets. You can reach her through the PawZone In-Home PetSitting at 816.820.5829.
Creature Feature
Golden or Syrian Hamster Mesocricetus auratus by Geoff Hall
Summary: Golden hamsters are commonly encountered exotic rodents found in many pet stores that can often make fine pets for the right owner. Size: Adults can reach a length of 5 ½ inches with females tending to be larger than males. Natural Habitat: Originally native to a small region of the Middle East on the border between Turkey and Syria in grassland habitat. Costs: Hamster breeders have developed several color and coat length variants over the past several decades and prices can vary from $5 to $20 each. Medical Care: Locate a local veterinarian experienced in small mammal medicine prior to acquisition of your pet and seek their expertise if you are concerned about the health of your pet hamster. Care: Golden hamsters are easily cared for but must be kept individually due to their solitary and antisocial behavior towards other hamsters. Keep in an appropriate enclosure such as a ten-gallon aquarium with a study wire lid or a wire cage made specifically for small rodent pets. Provide at least two inches of soft aspen shavings or recycled newspaper bedding and offer a quiet dark retreat for your hamster to sleep in during the day. Be sure to research any new pet species you are interested in using multiple sources such as books, the Internet and speaking with experienced pet keepers before acquiring your pet. Diet: Golden hamsters are omnivores and need both vegetable and meat components in their diet. Feed a high quality rodent food found at your local pet store www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - April 2015
and offer the occasional fresh vegetable treat and a kibble of cat food weekly. Where to Buy: This species is readily available through reputable pet stores in many communities and specialized hobbyist groups. Other: Patience and care must be taken when acclimating your new hamster to being held in your hands. Hamsters are nocturnal and may greet you with a nip if they are awoken too suddenly. Fun Fact: It is believed that all golden hamsters living in captivity worldwide are all descendants of one mother and her 12 pups captured near Aleppo, Syria in 1930.
Geoff Hall is President of Wayside Waifs, KC’s largest no kill pet adoption campus. Geoff brings to Wayside more than 20 years of experience in the animal welfare community. This includes serving as Chief Operating Officer of the Kansas City Zoo, General Curator of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and as Executive Vice President/General Curator of the Phoenix Zoo. He is the proud owner of dogs, cats, birds and other pets! You may contact Geoff via email at CreatureFeature@ WaysideWaifs.org. 11
Do April Showers Make Your Dog Cower? by Pat Hennessy
You just sat down, got comfortable, and turned on your favorite show with your sweet little bundle of fur by your side. Next thing you know Roxie gets up, starts pacing, then whining, then nudging you. “What’s wrong, girl?” you say. “Do you need out?” She paws at you and wants to climb in your lap. You pet her for a minute and go back to watching your show. Roxie continues to paw at you and pushes in behind you. A few moments later you hear a distant rumble. “Oh, that’s what’s bothering you.” You hadn’t seen a storm on the horizon, but Roxie can predict it better than Doppler radar, and you know that you have an hour or more of whimpering, scratching, panting and pacing. If this scenario is all too familiar — attempting to calm your dog, turning up the TV, or finding her burrowed in the closet — there is hope for both you and your canine companion to get through the spring without trauma. We don’t usually know why our dogs are afraid of storms. 12
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - April 2015
It could be from a lack of exposure and socialization during early development that creates insecurity. It could be due to having had a bad experience during a storm, for example a dog that had to survive on his own in the elements. It could be a learned reinforced response due to getting “extra” attention, and especially seen in dogs that are highly attached to their people. Regardless of the reason, there are tools and techniques to give your dog a new experience and alter the behavior.
Play a CD
A common recommendation is to try desensitizing your dog to storms, for example play a CD of storm sounds while you offer him something enjoyable during that time, such as a game of fetch or a kong stuffed with treats. This may work for some dogs, but often the fear of storms is not just a noise aversion but is triggered by multiple stimuli, such as the electrical charge in the atmosphere or the barometric pressure change.
Reducing Anxiety
Behavior modification is definitely needed, but fear inhibits the ability to focus. If you can lower the anxiety level, then learning can take place. The first choice for reducing anxiety would be non-pharmaceutical methods, such as TTouch™ or Alpha-Stim™, which influence the nervous system to provide a calming effect and can be cumulative. TTouch communicates to the nervous system through a gentle technique of specific touches, much lighter than massage, and relaxes you and your dog together. Another tool in the TTouch toolbox is the Body Wrap, a technique utilizing a stretchy fabric (like an Ace bandage), that you place around your dog. It works like swaddling a baby. If you don’t have a stretch fabric, you can substitute a t-shirt and adjust the fitting so that it is not too loose or too tight. Wraps or t-shirts should only be used with supervision. Another version of this
www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - April 2015
technique is the Anxiety-Wrap (www.anxietywrap.com), a combination of a shirt and a wrap (the best of both worlds). Alpha-Stim is an electro-therapy technique using low-grade variable frequencies which foster the flow of energy through the body, especially to areas that can be shut down due to fear or pain.
Moderate to Intense Storm Phobia
If your dog has a moderate to intense storm phobia, additional tools you can try in conjunction with behavior modification and non-pharmaceutical techniques, would be: •C alming supplements, such as ProQuiet® made with L-tryptophan or Calmazon a blend of Amazon Rainforest herbs •D og Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) diffusers (that come as a plug-in unit or a spray to use on bedding or add to a scarf around the neck)
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• Aromatherapy, such as lavender oil, can have a calming effect • Flower essences, such as Rescue Remedy which is available at most health food stores, are a blend of flowers infused with water — used to help restore balance (several animal blends are available at www.greenhopeessences. com) • Soft soothing music can help balance body rhythms (www. rhythmicmedicine.com) • Calming Cap, is a nylon masklike item that attaches to your dog’s collar and goes over his face. Be very observant on this one to make sure that your dog really relaxes, often times he will just
“shut down” but it will appear that he is calm. If that is the case, he is really not “learning” how to relax during a storm.
Severe Storm Phobia
If your dog has a more severe case of storm phobia and you want to avoid pharmaceuticals, consult a veterinarian that offers alternative techniques such as acupuncture, acupressure, or homeopathy. If you and your veterinarian feel that you are down to the pharmaceutical options, be aware of the side effects. With some drugs it can appear that your dog is relaxed but she is still experiencing fear; she just can’t react due to the sedative effect. This can actually make her fear worse. If your vet determines medication is necessary, you can still use TTouch™, DAP, music, and aromatherapy as complimentary techniques. There are many ways to approach the storm phobia problem. You need to assess the level of anxiety and apply the appropriate tools. The next time that the thunder rolls in, you can be ready before the lightning strikes.
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.
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MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - April 2015
Meet Our
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by Jon Nauss, DVM
Pet First Aid Awareness Month
APRIL is
Have you ever heard of the expression, five minutes before the prom is not the time to learn how to dance? First aid for your pets is much the same. For most people, if something were to happen to their pets right now, they would not know who to contact for help, not know how to react and not know if what they were observing was a medical emergency. Unfortunately, there is not a 911 emergency service for our pets like there is for us. But we can take steps to be ready. The first thing you can do is be prepared. This can include a lot, and no matter how much preparation you do, you cannot be prepared for everything. But an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Below is a list of information all pet owner should have on hand. Consider saving all of this information in your phone for easy retrieval. 1. Your veterinarian’s phone number. 2. A few 24 hour/emergency veterinarian’s phone numbers and addresses close to your home. 3. Your pets’ medical record or at least a list of all medications your pet is taking. 4. Poison control phone number. Not all veterinary clinics are open all of the time, so having a few in mind is a good idea. This is especially important when you are traveling. I recommend researching
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MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - April 2015
emergency clinics along your route if you are driving or at your final destination if you are flying. This is even more important for pet owners of very young, very old or medically managed patients. Discuss traveling with your pet with your local veterinarian. So how do you decide when you and your pet are faced with a medical emergency? The American Veterinary Medical Association website lists the following instances as those that warrant immediate attention from a veterinarian: 1. Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn’t stop within five minutes. 2. Choking, difficulty breathing or nonstop coughing and gagging. 3. Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, coughing up blood, or blood in urine. 4. Inability to urinate or pass feces, or obvious pain associated with urinating or passing feces 5. Injuries to the eyes. 6. You suspect or know your pet has eaten something poisonous. 7. Seizures and/or staggering. 8. Fractured bones, severe lameness or inability to move legs. 9. Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety. 10. Heat stress or heat stroke. 11. Severe vomiting or diarrhea – more than two episodes in a 24 hour period, or either of these combined with
obvious illness or any of the other problems listed here. 12. Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more. 13. Unconsciousness. If you notice any of these, then it’s time to take action. Please consider visiting www.veterinarypartner. com and reviewing the helpful tips under the First Aid: Emergency Care link. There, you will be able to learn how to respond to common emergencies like bleeding, fractured limbs and seizures. Review this information now, or when you have free time. Do not delay emergency care for your pet by researching this information once an emergency occurs. If you are unsure about any of the information provided at the site or have questions, follow up with your veterinarian. He or she will be an invaluable resource to your preparedness. Here are some tips and things to remember. Don’t get bit! Even the sweetest pet may bite when they are in pain, anxious or in an altered state of consciousness. So keep your hands and face away from your pets’ mouth. Next, call the veterinary clinic you’re going to and briefly explain the Jon Nauss, DVM, is the newest member of the team at the Animal Medical Center of Wentzville. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Benedictine College in Atchison Kansas. He went on to earn his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University. Upon graduation, Dr. Nauss went on to serve as a veterinarian for the United States Army until returning to his wife’s hometown of St. Louis. He and his wife, Havalyn, care for their two daughters, three cats and two dogs. www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - April 2015
situation. This will allow the staff time to prepare. Lastly, grab your pets’ medical record and list of medications to share with your veterinarian. During all of this, remember that your pet is responding to you; and we need you to stay calm and keep your pet calm. Please take the information provided and visit the websites listed above to become comfortable with the first aid plan for your pets. After all, they can’t do it for themselves. Contact your local veterinarian if you have questions or concerns.
www.avma.org www.veterinarypartner.com www.redcross.org
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How to Properly Introduce Your NEW Cat to Your Existing Cat by Shannon Latzke Cats are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment. Some cats can meet a new cat and be friends right away, but cats are very territorial, and most cats need time and space to adjust to a new companion and establish a rapport and a new social hierarchy.
Feed the new and the existing cat wet food or special treats on either side of the closed door. This allows them to hear and smell, but not see, the other cat. Getting a special treat in the presence of the other cat builds a positive association with the other cat’s presence.
All cats are different, so there is no hard and fast rule regarding how long it takes to introduce a new cat into a home with an existing cat, but it may take up to 4 to 6 weeks for the cats to make the adjustment.
Take a pair of socks and rub the cats down with them, then lay one sock by each cat’s food bowl. This continues to build a positive association with the other cat. Rescent the socks every 3-5 days.
If at any point the introduction fails, you have to take a step back or start over altogether.
Rotate the cats into each other’s territory for a few minutes at a time (without letting them see each other). Put your existing cat into the new cat’s room after you have removed the new cat, then let your new cat explore the existing cat’s territory.
Step 1: 1 – 2 weeks
Keep the new cat in a separate room, such as a bathroom or bedroom. Do not let them see each other. This will allow your new cat to get used to the sounds and smells in their new environment without encroaching upon your existing cat’s territory. 18
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Step 2: 1-2 weeks
Continue to do all of the above, but now let the cats have brief glimpses of each other. Hold one cat, open the
door for a few seconds so they can see the other cat, then shut the door. Do this a few times a day, and make it just a little longer as you progress. You can also put the new cat in a carrier and set it out in the existing cat’s area for 30-60 minutes at a time. Some people put up a screen door between the two rooms during this time so the cats can see each other, but still remain safe.
Step 3: 1-2 weeks
Now it’s time to see how they do together. Make sure you have a large open space with escape routes in case either cat gets nervous or needs to flee. Put each cat at either end of the room, and have a squirt bottle of water at the ready in case you need to break up a squabble. Let them have supervised time to interact and explore and see how they do. Once you are satisfied that they have had several successful visits and seem to be getting along, you can try leaving them unsupervised.
it can take 8 weeks for the drug to have an effect, but cats may not need to be on it permanently) • Keeping the cats in separate parts of the house or rotating them
If you have followed all of the steps, have taken it slow, and took a step back (or started over from the beginning, if necessary), your cats should be able to cohabitate peacefully, and may even become good friends. Not all cats, however, will get along. Just like people, some cats just won’t mesh. In this instance, you can try the following: • Feliway diffusers (30 day plugin) • Feliway calming spray (sprayed 1-2 times per day) • Calming collars (30 days) • Rescue Remedy (added to drinking water) • Prozac (for anxiety/aggression; www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - April 2015
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Also make sure you are following the normal rules of thumb for cats: • One litter box per cat plus one extra (in different parts of the house) • Separate food and water areas for each cat • Make sure food and litter stations won’t cause one cat to become trapped by the other cat If all methods fail and you find yourself unable to keep the new cat, please return it to the rescue group you adopted it from (or find a rescue to take it in if you acquired the cat elsewhere). Please don’t turn it into a kill shelter or animal control facility. Owner surrenders do not have a hold time and may be put down immediately. Very few cats make it out of kill shelters alive. Please don’t dump the cat outside, either. The outdoor environment is harsh and dangerous; the cat will not thrive, and may not survive. Cats who are allowed outdoors have a significantly shorter life expectancy on average than strictly indoor cats.
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For a listing of local pet resources and organizations, please visit www.metroanimal.org.
Shannon Latzke is the proud mother of four special needs cats and foster mom to many more. Her passions include feline nutrition, feline retrovirus testing, and feline urinary health. She has worked with several rescue groups and nokill shelters and is the Director of Marketing and Media Communications for Stray Haven Rescue in St. Louis. For more information, please visit www.strayhavenrescue.org or email Shannon at communications@strayhavenrescue.org. © 2014 Stray Haven Rescue, Inc.
The Common Itch, & How To
Scratch It! by Dave Hart, D.V.M. In my nearly two decades of veterinary practice I have seen a lot of changes. What has remained the same is the need to treat an itchy pet. Itching, or puritis, tends to be one of the most common reasons clients bring their pets to see me. Nothing seems to grab an owner’s attention quite like the compulsive scratching of a dog or cat. It’s not just a matter of sanity (and sleep) that is at stake. A dog or cat left scratching will only become his or her own worst enemy. This is because a cycle of inflammation starts with that very first scratch. Every scratch creates more inflammation in the pet’s skin, which in turn creates more scratching. This creates a, seemingly, never ending circle – until major concerns develop including bacterial infections, hot spots, ear infections, even debilitating illness. There are numerous reasons for a pet to become itchy. Allergies, bad nutrition, parasites, metabolic diseases, and even environmental contact with chemicals can all contribute to a pet’s itchy situation. It’s interesting to note that parasites are not the most common reason for skin problems in animals anymore. When skin parasites are a concern however, they cause serious problems quickly and no amount of medicine for treating the puritis will help until that parasite has been eliminated. Prevention is always the best approach. The bad news is that fleas, ticks, mites, and lice are all out there — just waiting to hitch a ride inside your home to meet the animals and people inside. Unfortunately, I www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - April 2015
tend to see that most animals that go outside will eventually meet one of these unsavory characters and develop a parasite infestation. What can make the situation even worse is that these parasites, like fleas and ticks, can carry other diseases that they can transmit to your pet. Even more concerning, a medley of those diseases can be what is termed “zoonotic.” This means the disease can be transmitted to human beings as well. The good news is that we now have a lot of effective and safe choices for protection against skin parasites in dogs and cats. Again, prevention is definitely the most effective way to avoid problems. Oral and topical options are available at your veterinarian’s office. The days of bombing the house with toxic chemicals are over. The latest options in flea and tick control don’t require treating the environment at all. While parasites are easy to get rid of, allergies are not. Allergies tend to develop when your dog or cat is one to two years old and can become a chronic concern. Unfortunately, allergies in pets are as common as those in humans. We also live in the Midwest, a region that is a famous haven for allergens of all kinds. In our area, quite frankly, the question becomes, ‘how bad are your allergies,’ not so much ‘do you have allergies.’ In a lot of allergy cases we see a seasonal pattern — typically in late 21
spring and early fall. It’s not uncommon to see allergies in the dead of winter however. My suspicion with winter allergies is that our pets are locked in the house with the furnace recirculating the allergens in dry air. With this in mind, our pets tend to have the same sensitivities to the same allergens — pollen, grasses, mold, etc. Conceptually, the exposure to an allergen creates inflammation in the skin and ear canals of dogs and cats. This inflammation sets the stage for bacterial and fungal infections that usually make our pets’ itching that much worse. Many treatments are available to counter the medical problems. We incorporate oral treatments like fish oil, antihistamines, and steroids along with topical treatments such as medicated shampoos and leave-on conditioners, to fight the allergic responses in pets. As a doctor, I tend to try and have enough treatment in play to keep the patient out of trouble, but not go overboard with the treatment. Newer drugs have been designed to modify the animal’s immune system in order to ratchet down the allergic response. In advanced cases, actual allergy testing can be conducted to determine what the patient is allergic to. This is done either by skin or blood testing, as in humans. Interestingly, once you determine what a pet is allergic to, you can desensitize them to these allergies to the point they no longer have issues. This is done by injecting what they are allergic to, in small amounts under a pet’s skin, in a series of injections. It is always interesting to get a patient’s list of allergies back when a test is done. They usually don’t have merely one or two allergies. On average, we see twenty or thirty allergies in each patient. The allergens can range from oak to fescue, to house flies and dust mites. For one unlucky dog, I isolated an allergy to human skin, believe it or not! We don’t have laboratory testing for food allergies. And, yes we do see food allergies. Food allergies can produce 22
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symptoms that you would traditionally expect like vomiting or diarrhea, but a lot of time they do not. More frequently, we see chronic itchy skin, or even chronic ear problems. Unfortunately, the only way to screen for food allergies is to do food trials, or having the patient eat a different food. The topic of which pet food is best is a complicated one: lots of opinions and no absolutes. We know that good nutrition is very important and that a large portion of an animal’s immune system resides in its GI tract. A dog or cat with a healthy, glossy coat is likely eating a diet that agrees with it. The diet that agrees with one pet may not agree with another. As a doctor, if I am suspicious of a food allergy, I talk about changing that pet’s food. My food trial typically starts with a diet with one protein source and one filler. Many commercial diets have an increased number of ingredients, which only increase the chance of a food allergy. It has been established that proteins cause the majority of food allergies in pets, and not so much the fillers. When we talk about feeding “novel” proteins, it means we try and find a protein that the pet has never had before. If it has never eaten the protein before, it cannot have developed an allergy to it already. Examples include duck, venison, rabbit, and to a lesser degree, fish. The fillers used in hypoallergenic diets tend to be potato or peas. It has been my experience that glutens are not a driving force behind problems in pet diets. But, having so many people concerned about gluten intake has made the general public wary of any gluten-based diets, even for their animals. Unrelated to food, another type of allergy is called a contact allergy. These are allergic reactions to something that has contacted its skin. The majority of these cases seem to be from topical products sold as over-the-counter shampoos with fragrances that irritate the pet’s skin. These situations are easily fixed, in most cases, by simply washing
the product off of the pet. One to two baths with gentle soap can usually remove any caustic residue from a pet’s skin. The most serious skin conditions manifest because of other, underlying medical problems. Poor looking, itchy skin or even hair loss can be secondary to internal diseases such as liver disease or diabetes. Unfortunately, hormone (also known as endocrine) diseases, such as thyroid and Cushing’s disease can be relatively common in middle aged and older dogs and cats. Both issues can cause debilitating illness beyond the skin problems, if left unaddressed. So when we see changes in skin, especially in senior pets, it may become a warning sign for doctors that other diagnostics tests like blood work may be needed to diagnose and treat these underlying problems causing the bad skin. In many cases, I have found other symptoms with further questioning of the pet’s owner. Observations of drinking more, resting more, and even panting more can all be good leads when going after a diagnosis. While the clues
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by themselves don’t register a lot of concern around the house, when tied together it helps make a case. In the big picture, many pets that itch and scratch do not have serious health problems. But, many pets that itch and scratch need an accurate diagnosis from a veterinarian in order to get better. A visit to your veterinarian can help put your dog or cat on the right track to sustained good health and a happy (scratch-free) life.
Dr. David Hart graduated from the University Of Missouri College Of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. He also holds a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Millikin University. After owning his own practice, he became the Medical Director of VCA Bal-Coeur Animal Hospital in 2008. Dr. Hart’s primary interests are in internal medicine as well as soft tissue and orthopedic surgery. Dr. Hart is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, and the Greater St. Louis Veterinary Medical Association. He can be reached at VCA Bal-Coeur Animal Hospital, 550 North New Ballas Road, Creve Coeur, MO 63141, 314-432-1150 http://www.vcahospitals.com/bal-coeur
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So You Got a Bunny Now What? by Joy Gioia Spring and Easter brings out all of those cute baby bunnies for sale that many people just can’t resist, either for themselves or for the children as a gift. What most sellers of these babies don’t tell you is that the cute little baby is going to turn into a mass of hormones by age 3 to 3 ½ months old, and that a typical spay/ neuter with a veterinarian who is fully trained on rabbits (not simply sees them) can run between $250$350. They also won’t tell you that rabbits are NOT low maintenance and NOT low cost. Children tend to lose interest quickly because they don’t like cleaning dirty cages and rabbits require patience and gentle handling. However, don’t despair. Rabbits can be wonderful, indoor animal companions. So if those beautiful huge eyes, long ears and twitchy noses have you hooked, there’s lots you can do, not only to learn more about them, but many things you can do to make both you and bunny happy while keeping sanity in the home. First, learn more about rabbit care and behavior so you’re more prepared for all that is to come and the types of supplies you’ll need 24
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to help keep the bunny happy and healthy. Rabbits can live for 10-12 years. They are not a short term commitment so the more you know about their care, the better things will be. The House Rabbit Society of Missouri offers a Bunny 101 information session. Sessions are available for individuals and can be arranged by calling 314-995-1457 or e-mailing a request to mo_hrs@ hotlmail.com. If you’re not close to the St. Louis area, they can provide a lot of information over the phone, but the Bunny 101 session is guaranteed to provide information even long time bunny owners have not heard, making it well worth attending. Second, be sure your bunny gets a heath check up with a truly rabbit savvy veterinarian as well as a fecal check for internal and external parasites. In the St. Louis area see a list of veterinarians at www. hrsmostl.org or www.rabbit.org. Third, set up an appointment when the bunny is old enough for a spay or neuter. Rabbits are not ready for altering as young as kittens and puppies. Males are normally ready
by 3.5 months. Un-neutered males are likely to spray, be extremely messy to mark territory, as well as behaving like an un-fixed male dog (very inappropriate around children), and can later come down with reproductive cancers. The females are ready between 4-6 months. It’s estimated that 90% of unfixed females have uterine cancer by just 2 yrs. In addition, they’re basically in cycle every day of the month so they truly need to be spayed.
Some very basic details include the following:
•H ay is 80% of their diet. Quality timothy hay is one of the best. 80% means they need to eat approximately their body size (not weight) in hay daily. •F resh water in a large (dog size) crockery bowl. They will chew on plastic bowls and water bottles. •P lain pelleted food (no seeds/ nuts/corn/starchy pieces or treats) about 14% protein, 1½ -2% fat and 20-30% fiber. Pelleted food can become stale so avoid large bags from feed stores if you only have one or two bunnies.
• Large dog crates (2 doors are best) of a 42” or 48” length and a 30” minimum height. Puppy exercise pens make great housing, and are easy to clean. Many people also use grid panels meant to make a book shelf (also called neat idea cubes); these can be made into a variety of designs. Most rabbit cages are way too small. If you wouldn’t house a cat or Chihuahua in it, it’s too small for a bunny. They become bored, depressed, and sometimes aggressive when kept in a tiny, cramped cage. Another point: if you wouldn’t house your dog or cat in an outside hutch, why would you do it to a bunny? They don’t like being isolated and are often found by predators when kept outdoors (not to mention suffering from weather extremes). • Large cat litter boxes (not low sided, small or triangular) make the best litter boxes, so that when bunny jumps in, everything stays inside the litter box. • Bunny safe litter (see rabbit.org ) Altered rabbits do not need bedding, and litter boxes are much easier to clean than an entire cage • Limited treats – bunny tummies are very sensitive so too much starch or sugar can kill them. • Plenty of chew toys – rabbit teeth grow their entire lifetime — all of their teeth – incisors and molars. • Hard plastic play toys – they love play toys and get bored while kept in a cage • 3-4 hours of exercise daily outside of the cage or enclosure • Bunny proof all electrical cords in any rooms where bunny is allowed to play and keep remote controls and www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - April 2015
any item with rubber buttons out of reach. • House where the family is located so adults can note when bunny is not well and also can come to love the bunny as much as the children. • Veterinary wellness exam every six months to be sure teeth are good and bunny remains healthy. For more information contact the House Rabbit Society of Missouri at 314-995-1457 or mo_hrs@hotmail.com The House Rabbit Society of Missouri is a 501(c )3, all volunteer organization incorporated in 1998 with the dual purpose of rescue and education. MO HRS is very active in community outreach and is a chapter of the international House Rabbit Society.
Joy Gioia has been the chapter manager of the House Rabbit Society of Missouri in St. Louis for over 18 years. The House Rabbit Society of Missouri is a 501c3, 100% volunteer organization dedicated to rescue, education, and adoption. For additional information see www.rabbit.org
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Meet the Breed
April Pet of the Month
The Domesticated/American Short Hair Cat There are so many various cat breeds, it is all very confusing. The American/Domesticated cat is known as the cat of many colors. There are over eighty different colors and color patterns. They can range from white to brown tabby to glistening blue-eyed white, calico and many other colored pattern combinations. The American has made its mark in the cat fancy. The most popular and widely recognized color and pattern is the silver classic tabby with dense black markings on a sparkling silver background. The Domesticated Short Hair is commonly referred to as the American Shorthair which is a natural breed of cat. A domestic short-haired cat is a cat of mixed ancestry. When settlers sailed from Europe to North America, they carried cats on board their ships to protect the food from mice. Many of these cats landed in the New World, interbred, and developed special characteristics to help them cope with their new life and climate. Early in the 20th century, a selective breeding program was established to develop the best qualities of these cats. Through years of selective breeding programs this breed has developed into one of America’s favorite cat breeds. In the early 1960’s after the breed was renamed to the American Shorthair this cat breed started to make a name for itself at cat shows. In the 1900’s in cat exhibitions, shorthair cats were known as Domestic Shorthairs. When a silver classic tabby won the title of Cat of the Year, the name was changed to American Shorthair. So there you have a short version of the evolution of this breed. What makes this breed so remarkably popular is it’s personality. They are especially very tolerant of children. They are loyal, easy-going and take things in their stride. They are also intelligent, playful and curious. They are not known to be overly demanding, but they do love to sit in your lap at their own choice. This cat breed is the perfect companion for every kind of person as they tend to adapt to their people and their surroundings. They are suited to living in either a big house or in a smaller apartment. They are generally a medium sized
MetroPet | St.isLouis cat with aMagazine body that firm- February and
muscular. As the name suggests, the 26
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hair is short and comes in a variety of colors and patterns – almost any color that you can imagine. This short coat and color of the cat affects the texture of the coat, which can be hard or soft in texture but is silky and lustrous. The coat does not require a lot of grooming. Most if not all cats will shed. This breed is no exception. Shedding can be kept to a minimum by daily brushing and at least a good brushing weekly to reduce shedding. A very good grooming tool used by those who show and breed cats is a chamois – just like the one you use to wash your car. When purchasing one for an animal, be certain it is not treated with soap or any other chemicals. Wiping the coat with the chamois pulls out lose hair, cleans the coat, and adds sheen to the coat. They are generally strong and sturdy with virtually no known health issues. This is a very adaptable breed. They travel well, and often thrive on visiting various, new and interesting places. It is best to start travel experiences at an early age. It is also beneficial to introduce a kitten to travel in the company of an older, more experienced cat. Start with short trips around the block, visits to the vet just for a treat and as many short trips as possible, well in advance of its first long trip to a show or the veterinarian. Keep the trips separate, calm and fun. It is especially important not to have trips to the vet be the cat’s only travel experience. Please remember your cat will make a better companion if he/she is spayed or neutered at the appropriate age. Cats can and will escape to find a potential partner when in season regardless of how nice a home they have or how strong the bond. Males should always be neutered as a deterant to wandering, spraying to mark territory and a host of other issues than develop. The males are larger than the females. With proper and spaying/
care, food, veterinary visits neutering your cat you should be able to enjoy their place in your family for many years to come. Most well cared for indoor cats will live 15 to 20 years. 2014 For
more information visit: www.ashclub.org/
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The Next Adventures of Chip
INTEGRITY by Heddie Leger
Recap from Chapter 15: The young girl, found another one of those wand things and ran it over his body again. This time the wand beeped. Not only did it beep once, but it beeped twice. The girl smiled with joy, and called for the older lady to come and look at the wand. They talked for a while and put Chip back in his kennel. Chip just did not know what to think. They seemed happy enough, but he did not know why. What he did not know is the lady had made a promise to herself to find him a home. He had a microchip, he heard her say, and she made a promise to the young girl to do her best to find out where I came from and how to get me back home. But what was the second beep…two microchips…..what could that possibly mean? Chip felt like it was a good thing he had a microchip. The way both of the people were smiling, for the first time he felt like good things were going to happen for him. Now Chip knew he was no dummy, but he was very confused. Two microchips, what could that mean. He vaguely remembered the night during the storm where he lay curled up, wet and shivering in the dark box. Someone had to have put him in the box, but he always thought they put him in the box to get rid of him not caring what happened to him. Could it be that his first family had acted in love and really did care putting him in the box to take him to a safe place, only to find that in the chaos and confusion of the storm the box got misplaced and floated or blew away in the storm and just maybe that first family had him micro-chipped so they could find him again if he got lost. Maybe they had frantically tried to find him. Chip wanted to believe in all his heart that his first family was still looking for him, but then if they found him, what about Penelope and Allen and the family that had been so good to him?
and they want me too.” “I could hear the shelter lady making phone calls and telling people they had five days to come and claim me, but it sounded like she left a message as it was not really a conversation.” Then, “I heard her call another number, and this time she got someone. It was Stephanie!!!! My heart skipped two beats.” I kept seeing that flag flying overhead, boy it was windy. There was a regular red, white and blue flag and the other white flag with the St. Andrews cross. I always wondered if this is where I came from, but it does not look like it as I heard the shelter worker say the first call she made was a long-distance all and it was going to cost her department. I also heard her say, it was worth it. She had taken a fond liking to me. I was thankful for that. She waited a day and never heard back. She kept her hopes up and the second call seemed to worth it, and it was not long distance. I heard her talking with Stephanie about picking me up. It was Tuesday she Oh my, “I am so confused, Chip said to himself.” What said, and they has until if they call my first Saturday to come and owners and they want INTEGRITY: a firm adherence to a code of especially get me. Since it did me and they find moral or artistic values; or the state of being complete not appear that I came Allen and Penelope or undivided in commitment. from this area, I still 28
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Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity. ~ W. Clement Stone wondered where I came from and the state and city I black and brown dog smiling and wiggling his butt so once lived. Perhaps I would never know. Stephanie, fast, he could hardly stand, and of course, me totally out Allen, Penelope and Robert lived in a state that had a of control with joy to see them. The workers said it was flag that was mostly red the most touching with three white stars reunion they had dancing in the middle. ACTIVITY ever experienced. I hoped it would not We all piled in the Can you remember a time when you stuck to your own ideals take them long to come car and were going and were not swayed by others? Integrity makes up the fiber of and get me. The other to go home, when good decisions when we know we are on the right path for our people never called. Stephanie had a own lives. Can you remember a time when you were swayed thought. “Chip,” The shelter worker had by the influence of someone else and regretted it? How could she said, “what decided not to take me you have remained true to yourself, and still remained a friend would have caused to the adoption event. to the person who swayed you? you to wander so She felt it was not fair far from home?” to the family that had “I will bet you were looking for your family, weren’t responded to the microchip call and that they showed responsibility and integrity in their ownership and caring of me. So she honored them and true to her word, kept me until the long awaited day, Saturday! It seemed like an eternity. I could smell them coming and hear the engine of the car even before it got to the shelter. The shelter workers kept trying to calm me down, but they were not successful. I was way too excited to see my friends and family again. They drove up and I almost came unglued. I kept barking and barking….I was so excited. They had paperwork they had to fill out and they also had to prove I was their dog, but when they brought in Hero and then the shelter worker brought me in, there was no doubt in the workers mind that I belonged to the family. What she saw was four crying people, a huge www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - April 2015
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you?” I looked at her and wagged my tail and smiled at her. She turned the car around and went back to talk with the shelter workers. After they talked a while, she went a different direction, I could tell as the smells in
the air changed. She was driving farther south towards the ocean. As we drove, I could smell more familiar smells, I could hear more familiar sounds of birds and a roaring water sound……we were getting near the ocean. Memories started to flood back into my mind. I could hear Stephanie, Robert, Allen and HUMANE EDUCATION POINT Penelope talking about a hurricane like a memory they did not want to remember, but they agreed it was important for Allen and Penelope and me “Living with integrity means: Not settling for less than too, to figure out what had happened to us. So we what you know you deserve in your relationships. kept traveling South and then I smelled something Asking for what you want and need from others. I could not believe. I could not believe my nose. It was the last smell I had remembered when my Speaking your truth, even though it might create MawMaw disappeared and I was placed in the box. conflict or tension. Behaving in ways that are in I could not place it yet, but my memory was slowly harmony with your personal values. Making choices coming back.
based on what you believe, and not what others believe.” ~ Barbara De Angelis
“Nothing is sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
STORY DISCUSSION TIPS • What emotions were going through Chip’s mind as he listened to the two phone calls the shelter worker made? • Why did the five days seem like an eternity? • How did the shelter worker act with integrity? • How did Chip know his family was on their way? • Have you figured out which state Chip is in now? Where do you think they are heading?
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.
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Dog First Aid Kit
by Diana Engeszer
Dosage: squirt liberally into the back of throat
MEDICATIONS LIST – Please check with your Veterinarian before administering any drugs
Cough medicine (Triaminic) – Use to control cough and as expectorant
Baby or Low Dose Aspirin (DO NOT give Tylenol or Advil!) – Use to relieve minor aches and pains due to injury or arthritis Dosage: One adult tablet for each 50lbs of dog weight (once every 8 hours)
Dosage: 1 tsp. per 20lbs of dog weight every 4-6 hours (short-term use only)
Vaseline – for the nose. Apply and leave on overnight- then wipe with soft cloth.
Antihistamine (Benadryl) – Use for allergic reactions and bee/wasp stings
Desitin – Use for minor skin irritations, keeping skin folds dry, and minor sunburn Coagulant (styptic powder) – Use to stop bleeding caused by cutting into the quick when trimming nails Antibiotic ointment Hydrogen peroxide – Use to induce vomiting or as a general antiseptic cleanser Dosage: 1 tsp. per 10lbs of dog weight, repeat once in 15 minutes if necessary (to induce vomiting) – Use a turkey baster to administer. Antidiarrheal (Kaopectate) – Use to treat diarrhea Dosage: 1sp for each 20lbs of dog every 4 hours Antiemetic (Pepto Bismol) – Use to control vomiting and diarrhea Dosage: 1 tsp. per 20lbs of dog weight every 4 hours Ipecac syrup – Use to induce vomiting Dosage: 1 tsp. per 5lbs of dog weight (try hydrogen peroxide first) Real Lemon or Juice from a Plastic Lemon – Use to clear phlegm from the a dog’s throat and ease breathing www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - April 2015
Antiseptic solution Ophthalmic ointment (non-steroid)
Dosage: 1 mg per 1lb of dog weight up to 50 mg FIRST AID EQUIPMENT LIST • Roll of 1” first aid tape • Cotton balls • Nail trimmers / dremel • 2”-3” gauze rolls • Blanket • Rectal thermometer • Ace bandage • Syringes (without needles) • Tefla pads • Blunt nose scissors • Tweezers
St. Louis English Bulldog Rescue rescues and rehomes hundreds of English Bulldogs each year. The organization is run and operated by volunteers, and relies on donations to continue to help these most vulnerable Bulldogs. Please visit www.STLbulldogrescue.org and make a donation – large or small – today.
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Chip’s Corner 32
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PAWZZLE
by Pawlean Journe
Answers to this Pawzzle can be found in the Breed of the Month story on page 26.
ACROSS 2. Most cats will ______________. 4. Another endearing trait of this breed is that they are ______________. 8. Now many different colors and patterns does this breed possess? 9. They _____________ readily to different people and surroundings. 11. This cat likes to _____________. 13. Cats on board ships were used to protect food from these mammals. 16. The American Cat is also known
as the ________________ cat. 19. Males are usually ___________ than females. 20. As the name implies, their coat is _____________. 21. An item that is good for grooming a cat. 22. This surgical process will help keep male cats from roaming and spraying to mark territory. 23. This breed is of mixed _______________.
24. The most popular color is silver classic tabby with dense black _____________, 26. To get them started begin with short ____________.
March Pawzzle Answers
DOWN 1. They are generally strong and sturdy with no known ________ issues. 3. It is one of America’s __________ cat breeds. 5. They are considered a __________ sized cat. 6. Another color pattern variation. 7. The coat does not required a lot of ___________. 10. What makes this breed so remarkable is it’s _______________. 12. Well cared for _________ cats can live 15 to 20 years. 14. They are especially tolerant of ____________. 15. They are affectional without being overly ________, 17. They range from blueeyed white to brown ______________. 18. In the early1960s this breed was renamed the American _____________. 25. It is important to _________ female cats to keep them from reproducing. www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - April 2015
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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 - April 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.