2 SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016
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Rich Cooley/Daily
A hamster runs inside its wheel at Noahʼs Ark Pet Store in Front Royal.
Rodents need love, too By Jake Zuckerman
min C supplements in their diet to stay healthy.
Another easy way to avoid trips to the veterinarian for any rodent is to be vigWhen it comes to keeping rodent pets ilant with the petʼs environment. healthy, Dr. Marietta Wallf, of Apple Other common issues she treats Owners should make sure they reguValley Animal Hospital, said owners among all rodents are respiratory prob- larly change the bedding of their anineed to remember theyʼre different lems. While humans prefer spacious, mals and make sure they remove urine species with different needs that need breezy and well-circulated living quarand excrement clumps. If they donʼt to be met to keep them healthy. ters, the same is not true for rodents. the excrement can lead to bacteria They need to avoid circulating areas growth and the urine will lead to For instance, most of the guinea pigs ammonia getting into the petʼs oxygen Wallf treats have forms of arthritis. She such as near windows or active air conditioning units to avoid breathing supply - leading to even more respirasaid this is because some owners donʼt know that guinea pigs need vita- problems. tory problems.
Unlike cats and dogs, rodents donʼt require regular visits to the veterinarian, Wallf said. They only need to go if thereʼs an issue. If owners notice a change in an animalʼs eating, sleeping, exercise or play habits, that can be a sign of a problem and require a trip to the veterinarian. Along with respiratory problems, rodents also tend to have problems with their teeth. Wallf said there isnʼt
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SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016
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much an owner can do to avoid this, but it can be detected by animals shying away from their food. Rodents are prone to some of the same dental problems as humans, such as misalignments and abscesses.
Rich Cooley/Daily However, not all rodents can be so A 4-month-old fancy rat climbs out of its enclosure at Noahʼs Ark Pet and Aquarium Store friendly. Wallf said that while sugar gliders, rats and guinea pigs can make in Front Royal. for furry friends, some hamsters and gerbils can be more reclusive and might bite when provoked.
When owners can keep their pets healthy and happy, Wallf said some of them can be as friendly and share as strong a bond with their masters as cats and dogs. She said her office manager has a pet rat trained to stay on her shoulder while she walks around the office. Itʼs also trained to crawl up or down her arm.
Ultimately, Wallf said the key to taking good care of a pet is doing the research. She said there are great resources online to help owners with their petsʼ needs, and they should always take a new pet to the vet and get reliable information there.
“Rats are food motivated,” Wallf said.
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4 SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016
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Rich Cooley/Daily
A red front conure is perched inside Noahʼs Ark Pet and Aquarium Store in Front Royal. The bird has a life span of 30-40 years.
Proud bird owners keep vigilant in pet care By Rachel Mahoney
petʼs dietary needs, Mandel said he many new owners mistakenly think that their pet will only need to eat dried also stresses the dangers of communiSTEPHENS CITY - Dr. Max Mandel, While a pet might try and convince its cable illnesses. Rather than concerns seeds. veterinarian at Stephens City Animal owner that itʼs healthy and eating propabout diseases like avian flu spreading Hospital and member of the erly by dipping its beak in a food dish, “Because they have such a resiliency to owners, though, he said the larger Association of Avian Veterinarians, in their nature, they can eat a bad diet risk is the other way around. he said thereʼs one thing birds canʼt advises bird owners to be on the look- “lie” about - their poop. for years and years before they finally out for slight changes in habit or “Colds, sore throats that people have have a problem,” he said. “If suddenly thereʼs less poop than behavior that could mean their pet is can actually be contagious to the bird,” Mandel said avian nutrition is a relausual, the bird is not eating,” he said. sick. By the time an owner notices he said, adding that sick individuals “So thatʼs one thing to look for - which tively new area of focused study and those changes, the bird has probably should avoid handling their bird or its species-specific commercial diets are becomes more difficult if you have been ill for quite a while. food. “Even the normal bacteria that readily available. He said he usually multiple birds in one cage.” we carry in our mouths that are OK for “The big thing about birds is that they recommends owners vary their birdʼs us can make the bird sick.” hide their illnesses because in the wild, New bird owners, he said, should be diet, adding in the occasional acceptprepared to learn about the proper if a bird acts sick …something comes able table food scraps and using vita- He said that when he checks on birds care of their particular breed of pet, along and eats them,” he said. “Once with respiratory problems - a major min supplements. a bird is showing a sign that something taking the time to understand their health hazard - almost all of them diverse nutritional needs. Mandel said Besides teaching owners about their is not right, itʼs usually much worse caught the sickness from a human. than it seems to be.”
PETS
THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY “Their bones are connected to their breathing system ‌ that way thereĘźs air in their bones so they can fly,â€? he said. “Any infection that gets in the equivalent of lungs in a bird gets into their bones very quickly, so thatĘźs why itĘźs such a serious issue.â€?
Because many larger birds are on the developmental level of a 2- or 3-yearold human child, he said itĘźs possible for them to suffer emotional trauma from major changes or stressors in their living environment - like the death of an owner.
Stacy Williams, manager of NoahĘźs Ark pet store in Front Royal, cares for young birds brought in from breeders and owns a number of different birds herself. She said that the healthiest birds are fed a balanced diet and live in a smoke-free home.
“You have to be attuned to what a birdĘźs natural behavior is,â€? he said.
“TheyĘźre very susceptible to their environment - smoking, burning candles, burning Teflon,â€? she said.
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016
Williams said it sometimes takes a patient owner to learn to love a birdĘźs distinct personality and quirks. She said her store has received plenty of calls about older birds that, once a beloved owner or bird buddy died or left, became moody or difficult. On the whole, Mandel said the birds heĘźs tended to have typically had proud and attentive owners.
With attentive and caring owners, Mandel said heĘźs encountered longlived birds who have been passed down as family pets through generations.
“Most of the time, the birds that have made it to a ripe old age, itĘźs because theyĘźve had pretty good care,â€? he said. “If theyĘźve made it that far, they are usually going to be OK.â€?
“Most pet owners, particularly when it comes to birds, are pretty attuned to their pet,� he said.
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Pet dental issues common, often preventable By Nathan Budryk Dental problems for dogs and cats are common, say veterinarians around the area. With vigilance, knowledge and the right tools, however, many issues can be prevented. One of the main culprits of dogs and cats needing professional oral help is periodontal disease, which can manifest itself in multiple ways. “We have a lot of dental calculus and mild gingivitis,” said Dr. Paula Lenhard of Banfield Pet Hospital in Winchester. “The most common thing we treat is the calculus and the plaque and tartar buildup, which leads to loose teeth because bacteria got into the ligament that holds the tooth in.”
check to see if thereʼs any bone loss or damage to the roots of the teeth.” Another option that doesnʼt necessarily require anesthesia entails hand scaling, or manually scraping tartar and calculus off the petʼs teeth, which Loonam said, can be “pretty uncomfortable.” If those methods are ineffective or the animal has advanced stages of oral pathology, a tooth extraction may be necessary, but veterinarians in the area said they try to avoid them when possible. If an owner is unsure if their petʼs dental health is up to par, or if an issue is suspected, there are some distinguishing behaviors. The No.1 sign is bad breath, but other indicators exist.
This issue of buildup may seem relatively benign, but veterinarians say that “Most of them, theyʼll try to eat,” said the resulting conditions can be anyLoonam. “They may drop food they thing but. may prefer canned to dry food. “Certainly the big concerns are going to be pain and infection but more importantly (is) what it leads to secondarily,” said Dr. Jean Loonam, of Kingdom Animal Hospital in Winchester. “One of the biggest ones we worry about is cardiac health. When you have chronic dental disease, you basically open an area where bacteria can go into the blood and travel to other organs and cause different issues.”
Sometimes theyʼll paw at their mouth or they may not be as active playing with their toys or chewing on bones.” Most dental issues with pets are preventable, said Schmitt, with one exception being injuries resulting from chewing things that their teeth canʼt handle.
Courtesy photo by Alison Elward/ Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
A dog gets his teeth cleaned.
For those animals that may have the from the time theyʼre puppies. If you early stages of periodontal disease or can get them to start early, itʼs just a general maintenance, like nail trimming any combination of the symptoms that result in that diagnosis, there are treator grooming.” ments that donʼt require a visit to the Commercial products are out there for veterinarian. There are several comany pet owner who wants to establish mercial products that work to combat a brushing regimen. the symptoms of less-than-stellar den“There are vet toothbrushes available,” tal hygiene in pets.
said Schmitt. “There are finger brushes, you can use a soft toothbrush from “Things that arise that youʼre less likely a pet shop. The toothpaste has to be to be able to prevent could be from animal toothpaste. You donʼt want to chewing,” he said. “We have some use human toothpaste because it isnʼt Pet owners have a few options when it dogs that chew on rocks. If what meant to be swallowed. Xylitol can be theyʼre chewing on is harder than a comes to the treatment of this afflicpresent in human toothpaste, which is tooth, then there could be problems.” tion. poisonous to dogs.” Depending on the severity of the peri- The consensus among veterinarians in However, some pets or situations donʼt odontal disease, which has four recog- the area is that the best way to prevent necessarily lend themselves to brushany medical intervention, like an anes- ing. nized stages, according to the thetized tooth cleaning, is vigilant American Veterinary Dental College, “Some pets, though, just arenʼt brushing. Establishing brushing when veterinarians may recommend a proamenable to brushing,” said Schmitt. the pet is young is recommended, as fessional cleaning of the petʼs teeth. they become accustomed to it and tol- “An older person may not be able to “Basically, to get all of it off there and do it… erate it better. to treat them, you need to clean the Everybody is different and every pet is “I try to encourage owners to start teeth,” said Dr. Timothy Schmitt, of different. Itʼs a matter of discussing brushing,” said Lenhard. “If they can Linden Heights Animal Hospital in Winchester. “Usually we X-ray to make do it a couple times a week, thatʼs bet- with your vet what to do because denter than none. There are some clients tal disease is something that we fresure there arenʼt any other problems there to evaluate those teeth and quently deal with.” that do it every day. They teach them
“The (commercial) chews work well,” said Schmitt. “There are some that have enzymes in them that break down the bacteria in there. There are additives that you can put in the water or in the food as well, but none of them are as good as the brushing.” Schmitt recommends a specific brand, which has a trusted history. “One of the ones that has been around for a long time is C.E.T.,” he said. “Thatʼs a veterinary brand thatʼs been approved by the American Veterinary Dental Society. Itʼs a rawhide chew. They have an enzyme on them so that helps break down some of the bacteria as well.” Contact staff writer Nathan Budryk at 540-465-5137 ext. 155, or nbudryk@nvdaily.com
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SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016
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Find the right litter for your feline friend By Jake Zuckerman
Cat owners should consider tracking and odor issues when considering what type of cat litter to purchase, said Dr. Deborah Carleton, of Colony Animal Hospital in Winchester. Tracking refers to how much of the litter sticks to catsʼ paws as they meander in and out of their box, and odor refers to the stench that comes with urine and excrement.
“Some cats will share, but the rule of thumb is one box per cat,” Carleton said.
However, the type of litter can also matter to the cat.
When cleaning out a litter box, Carleton said owners should scoop the excrement or urine clumps into a bag and throw the bag in the trash. Carleton personally reuses old grocery bags to contain the odor. However, some litters, such as pine or sawdustbased litters, can simply be thrown on the ground after the clumps are removed.
“For whatever reason, there are some cats that can be pretty picky about it,” Carleton said.
Additionally, every so often cat owners should empty the entire box to make room for a fresh fill of litter.
When changing litters, some cats need Though it might be tempting to avoid to be retrained to use their box, she said. the task of cleaning a catʼs litter, the effects of the negligence can be probAlong with picking the right litter, lematic for both the cat and the owner. Carleton said itʼs important that owners use the right amount of litter, and that Carleton said some cats stop using they care for the litter box properly. their litter box if they feel itʼs too dirty, causing accidents around the house. Depending on the layout of a catʼs Also, some cats will develop urinary home, the animal should have more tract infections as a result of a dirty litthan one litter box if the house or ter box. apartment has multiple stories. Likewise, those litter boxes should be scooped out every day if possible, but every other day at a minimum.
While its name may suggest otherwise, urinary tract infections are actually caused by stress, not bacteria, and When it comes to multiple cats living in are the result of inflammation and not one residence, some cats will share a infection, Carleton said. Changes in the house, like a dirty litter box, a new box, but itʼs not necessarily a best practice. person or animal in the house, an
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owner away on vacation, or a host of other stressors, can cause a urinary tract infections in a cat. “It doesnʼt take too much to stress a
cat,” Carleton said. Contact staff writer Jake Zuckerman at 540-465-5137 ext. 152, or jzuckerman@nvdaily.com
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8 SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016
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Before you take a pet home, have realistic expectations By Laura Grimmer Associated Press
NEW YORK - The middle-aged woman had brought a friend with her to the animal shelter for moral support. They sat together on a bench, softspoken and red-eyed. Clay, a strapping 9-month-old black lab mix, lay panting at their feet, lunging to his tiptoes with high-pitched barks when another dog walked into the lobby. “I just donʼt know what to do with him,” his owner told Mike Rueb, the longtime trainer and associate director of adoptions and resident care at Bideawee, a 112-year-old no-kill shelter in Manhattan. “Heʼs just too much for me to handle.” Each year, approximately 7.6 million animals end up in a shelter, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Nearly 3 million of them are euthanized. Most municipal shelters are so-called “kill” shelters, meaning that when they need to make room for new arrivals, they put down otherwise healthy animals. No-kill shelters like Bideawee offer an alternative for animals whose owners cannot care for them. They typically treat sick, injured or older animals to ready them for a new home. They also offer training. But itʼs not just behavioral issues that force pets from their “forever” homes. Housing or financial considerations are the other main reasons why animals are abandoned or surrendered to shelters, says Cory Smith, director of public policy for the Companion Animals Department at the Humane Society of the United States. The Humane Society works with local groups to provide services and resources to pet owners who feel forced to give up an animal due to a move, landlord conflict or unexpected veterinary costs. “Owners need to be encouraged to
Melissa Treuman via AP
Mike Rueb, longtime trainer and associate director of adoptions and resident care, left, and Clay, a 9-month-old black lab mix, are shown outside the Bideawee pet center in New York. Bideawee is a 112-year-old no-kill shelter in Manhattan. No-kill shelters like Bideawee offer an alternative for animals whose owners cannot care for them. They typically treat sick, injured or older animals to ready them for a new home. They also offer training.
work through tough times rather than discouraged into relinquishment or rehoming their pet,” Smith says. “Local organizations can often offer assistance in big and small ways - for example, taking in someoneʼs pet temporarily and then giving them back if that is what is needed to alleviate some of the pressure, or just connecting pet owners to other community resources they may not have known about.” For Rueb, the No. 1 thing people can do when they adopt a pet is to have
realistic expectations. That means understanding not only expenses and unexpected twists like a move or unknown allergy, but also being prepared for an animalʼs energy level, and the amount of time and resources the owner will need to commit to ensure their petʼs mental health and wellbeing.
talk about the specifics about training and medical expenses theyʼre going to incur. Itʼs about managing their expectations and talking to them about this particular dog, so that they can be prepared.”
Clay, the black lab mix, has been at Bideawee since October. Staff work with him every day, socializing him “Theyʼll say, ʻI didnʼt realize how much with other animals and keeping him energy this dog would have,ʼ or ʻI didnʼt active and engaged. Heʼs making understand what 70 pounds look like,ʼ” progress, and Rueb and the staff know that somewhere thereʼs someone with he says. “All of a sudden, theyʼre in the time and love to bring him home. over their head. Our job is not only to
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THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016
The Humane Society suggests that potential pet owners ask themselves these 10 questions before committing to taking an animal into their family:
1 2
Why do you want a pet? Itʼs a longterm commitment, not a decision to be made lightly. Do you have time for a pet? Animal companions need food, water, exercise, care and companionship every
day.
3
Can you afford a pet? Licenses, training classes, spaying and neutering, veterinary care, grooming, toys, food, kitty litter and other expenses add up quickly.
4
Are you prepared for the challenges that a pet can present? Flea infestations, scratched furniture, housetraining accidents and medical emergencies are unfortunate but common aspects of pet ownership.
5
8
6
9
Are you allowed to have a pet where you live? Many landlords donʼt allow pets, and many rental communities have restrictions. Certain types of dogs also may be excluded from homeowner insurance policies. Is it a good time for you to take in a pet? If youʼre a student, in the military, or travel frequently for work, for example, it would be better to wait until you settle down.
7
Are your living arrangements suitable for the animal you have in mind? Animal size is not the only consideration. For example, some small dogs are very active, require a lot of exercise to be calm, and often bark at any noise. Research breeds to help you choose an animal who fits your lifestyle and living arrangements.
Will you be a responsible pet owner? Having your pet spayed or neutered, obeying community leash and licensing laws, and keeping identification tags on your pets are all part of being a responsible owner.
Do you know who will care for your pet while youʼre away for long periods or on vacation? Youʼll need either reliable friends and neighbors or money to pay for a boarding kennel or pet-sitting service.
10
Are you prepared to keep and care for your pet for the long haul? When you adopt, you are making a long-term commitment to care for an animal.
9
10 SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016
PETS
THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY
Pigs can make great pets but are not for everyone By Linda Lombardi Associated Press
Pigs donʼt have the greatest reputation. The word is probably used more as an insult than as a reference to a real animal. If you meet a pig, though, you might feel differently. “People will come and volunteer with us and most of them have never been around pigs,” says Jen Reid, manager of Marshallʼs Piggy Paradise at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. “They go away smitten.”
worth of paper towels,” he says. “Imagine throwing 3 gallons of water on the floor - how many towels youʼd need.” They tried to train her to use a litter box indoors, but eventually even a kiddie pool wasnʼt big enough. When they switched to outdoors, she tried to train them: Sheʼd ask to go out constantly, pretend to pee, and then come running for her treat. Having a pig in the house changed everything - and not just in the house. Before Esther, “the house was immaculate, the yard was immaculate,” says Jenkins.
Their fans say pigs are funny, smart and full of personality.
But one of a pigʼs fundamental needs is to root around in the dirt. “She didnʼt So then why do they end up in a sanc- want to just eat the grass, she wanted tuary? to flip it over because she likes the roots,” he says. Time and again itʼs the same story: “People say, ʻWe bought a pig a year If none of that puts you off and youʼre and a half or two years ago, and the still passionate about having a pig, first breeder told us it would not get larger check zoning regulations. If they define than 40 pounds,ʼ” Reid says. Then the pigs as livestock and youʼre not zoned animal grows to 150 or 250 pounds for livestock, your pet is illegal - as or more. Esther was, in their first home.
be a challenge. Pigs are social animals, but their interactions are particular to their species.
here, pigs do best when they have the opportunity to live with other pigs,” says Reid.
Thatʼs what happened to Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter, whose Esther the Wonder Pig is now famous online. Theyʼve written a book (“Esther the Wonder Pig: Changing the World One Heart at a Time,” with Caprice Crane, Grand Central Publishing, 2016) about the tiny piglet who grew up to weigh 650 pounds.
Then, be very careful about what youʼre getting. Candace Croney, associate professor of animal sciences at Purdue University, says it is possible to breed pigs in the 40- or 50-pound range that some breeders claim to offer, but you should ask about the parentsʼ size and the average adult size of their previous litters.
“They have little posturing, challenging matches - itʼs part of their innate behavior,” says Reid. “And what we see is that only other pigs can relate with them in the same way. When they start doing that with people it turns into aggression, and when they try it with dogs, either the dog can get hurt, or it prompts an attack from the dog.”
An apartment isnʼt a suitable home for a pig, she says, but you donʼt need a farm either. Pigs need the opportunity to go outside and root, but otherwise the match depends on the individual, as with any other pet.
Be prepared to maintain a healthy weight for a pet pig. Many of those that come to Best Friends Sanctuary are grossly overweight. Remember, says Croney, that pigs are both very smart and genetically programmed to spend most of their day looking for food.
Jenkins and Walter agree that caution is essential.
Pigs are curious and strong. That became clear long before Esther was her full size.
Steve Jenkins via AP
Esther The Wonder Pig stands for a family portrait with her owners Steve Jenkins, left, and Derek Walter along with other pets that live in her household in Georgetown, Ontario. Pigs don't have the greatest reputation. Most of us probably use the word more often as an insult than to talk about a real animal. If you meet one, though, you might feel differently. Their fans say pigs are funny, smart, and full of personality.
“Weʼve seen some sad and scary situations of pigs and dogs getting into fights,” says Walter. Esther is used to the dogs she was raised with, but sheʼs not allowed to play with them. Their jaw strength is just as impres“The ones that are really good pet pigs, When she wants to, the humans intersive. When she was only about 100 that are offering us cute behaviors, will vene and redirect her to play with them instead. pounds, Esther got into a cupboard full learn very quickly that thatʼs how you of canned goods. “She crushed those get extra food out of people,” she says. To meet pigsʼ social needs, Best cans like they were butter,” he says. And because pigs were domesticated Friends only adopts them out in pairs, and bred to be meat animals, they tend or to homes where there is already a Pigs can be housetrained, but Walter to put on weight quickly. calls their experience “memorable.” pig companion. “When Esther was about 250 or 300 pounds, she stuck her nose under the couch and lifted the whole thing in the air with us sitting on it,” Jenkins says.
“We were going through a rainforest
Having pigs with other pets can also
“We have pigs that enjoy being around people, and prefer to be in the house around the family as long as they can go outside as well,” she says. “We also have others that are perfectly content to have separate areas where they live outside, as long as they have warm housing and shelter.” For Jenkins and Walter, it was worth it to turn their lives upside down for Esther. They moved and started a pig sanctuary, and their online network has helped find new homes for pigs all over the world.
But their experience shows, as Reid says, “not just anyone is set up or prepared for what it means to take on a “From what weʼve seen and experienced pig.”
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THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016
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Veterinarians: Excess weight often responsible for dog, cat diabetes By Nathan Budryk Diabetes in dogs and cats occurs with regularity and may be more preventable than some think, according to area veterinarians. The condition is especially preventable in cats, said Dr. Gail Hartman, of Cedarville Veterinary Clinic in Front Royal. “With cats, itʼs highly associated with obesity like with humans,” Hartman said. “… Diet certainly can contribute when it comes to cats and getting obese.” Certain diets can put pets at risk for the condition, Hartman said.
dachshunds, poodles and mini schnauzers,” she said. “It might be genetics.” In order to diagnose a pet with diabetes, normal lab work is conducted, said Dr. Amy Wright, doctor of veterinary medicine at Warren County Veterinary Hospital in Front Royal. “With diabetes you can typically get that off of screening lab work,” she said. “Your initial lab work, which will typically consist of a CBC, which is a cell blood count, a chemistry and probably a urinalysis, you will find diabetes on that lab work.”
Hartman said that treatment, like the diagnosis, of pet diabetes is very similar “In general, youʼll find that dry food - the to that of humans. kibbled foods - are higher in carbohydrate calories, so feeding a canned “You put them on insulin and there are food diet will tend to give them less car- many different types and itʼs very combohydrates and can sometimes be the mon for us to use a human type of ticket for getting successful weight loss, insulin,” she said. “Some owners learn especially when it comes to cats,” she how to do it themselves, just like people said. do it on themselves -- they learn how to do it on their pet. Some people do it on Hartman said that when it comes to the paw - itʼs more commonly done on dogs, obesity is less likely to be the culthe ear. Most people would use a readprit. er like those used with humans.” “Itʼs not so much associated with obesiBoth doctors Hartman and Wright said ty in dogs,” she said. “Dogs can acquire that human insulin is regularly used to diabetes through injury or inflammation treat pets, and is effective. Wright said of the pancreas. They can also get diaone such brand, Lantus, is the best betes through an auto-immune disease, insulin on the market for cats. It enables which destroys the islet cells that probetter control, said Wright. The tradeoff, duce insulin in the pancreas.” however, is the price, at $200 a vial. Hartman explained that there are some Both doctors Wright and Hartman said dog breeds that seem more likely to that more affordable insulin brands, have diabetes. such as Novolin ($30) and Vetsulin ($60) will do the job, but recommended “In dogs, we see it more commonly in
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Lantus, if feasible, because of its effectiveness for cats. The symptoms of pet diabetes are almost indiscernible from those of the human version of the condition. “They would be drinking a lot of water, urinating a lot more and losing weight despite a good appetite,” she said. However, these symptoms could also be indicative of something else entirely, said Wright. “There are other diseases that can cause similar symptoms,” she said. “Other diseases that we might think about, and itʼs going to depend on whether youʼre looking at a cat or a dog. With dogs, if theyʼre drinking a lot and peeing a lot, we might think about Cushingʼs disease, which is another endocrinopathy. We might think about
kidney disease as well - they may have a chronic kidney infection. There are lots of things that can cause what we call PU/PD, which is drinking and peeing a lot.” With cats, especially, proactivity and early intervention are crucial. “With cats that are fat, we warn the owners that they are potentially a diabetic in the making and counsel them on slowly getting the weight off their cat,” Hartman said. “(We recommend) feeding a little bit less, maybe putting them on a weight control diet thatʼs lower in calories and higher in fiber or we can put them on basically the Atkins diet, which is higher in protein and fat and lower in carbohydrates.” Contact staff writer Nathan Budryk at 540-465-5137 ext. 155, or nbudryk@nvdaily.com
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Change in diet can help prevent pet allergies She said a trial run of the new food should be conducted by gradually Julie Renson, a veterinary technician at switching the animalʼs food source over the New Market Veterinary Clinic, said the course of seven to 10 days. If a food animals can have four types of allergies: is switched too quickly, there can be inhaled, contact, food and flea allergies. adverse effects, such as diarrhea. She said an inhaled allergy is something Another six-to-eight-day trial period the animal can breathe in. A contact should be done to test the food and see allergy is an allergy from something the if it is the cause of the petʼs allergy. animal lies on or walks through. Food Dogs tend to have more food and conallergies can occur from anything an tact allergies, Renson said, while cats animal eats. A flea allergy is an allergy tend to be more prone to inhaled and from a fleabite that results in a rash. flea allergies. “Usually the first one that we start with is the food,” Renson said. “We tell people “For the most part we donʼt see a lot of cats with food allergies,” she said. to try to switch to a different food.” By Kaley Toy
The three main ingredients an animal is allergic to in its food are grain, beef and chicken, she said. Pet parents who think their pets have a food allergy should look for foods with lamb, fish, bison or venison, and those that are grain-free. Foods with a novel food source the cat or dog hasnʼt been introduced to yet would work best.
When it comes to dry versus wet food, Renson said, “For the most part we recommend mainly dry food.”
buying grain-free dry food, but then they buy the cheapest wet food they can find that is loaded with grains and wonder why the dry food isnʼt preventing allergies in their pet. “It all has to be the same,” she said. “Everything you feed the dog has to be grain-free, has to be a different protein source.” New Market Veterinary also offers allergy testing when the source of an animalʼs allergy canʼt be determined. The veterinarian will send a blood sample to an outside lab. She recounted a time she sent a blood sample to the lab for a dog whose symptoms had stumped veterinarians.
“Itʼs different with everyone,” Renson said. She added that allergies tend to affect dogs and cats older than 2, once their immune systems have matured. Allergies in puppies and kittens are rare. “If you see (an allergy) in a puppy, thatʼs kind of like an uh-oh because that pretty much means that they are going to be dealing with that for the dogʼs entire life,” she said. A genetic component can also be present, she added. If someone is getting a puppy from a breeder, she recommends checking the parentsʼ skin and coat for allergy symptoms and asking the breeder.
Shelter dogs and cats usually donʼt have a medical or family history, she The results showed the dog was allergic said, “(So) you kind of just take your If you decide to add wet food into a petʼs to “everything outside,” including trees, chances.” diet, she said, “Stick with the same shrubs and grass. The dog was also brand of grain-free, novel protein source allergic to lamb and fish, “which are usu- Contact staff writer Kaley Toy at as the dry food.” ally two of the foods they are not allergic 540-465-5137 ext. 176, or ktoy@nvdaily.com She added that she sees a lot of people to.”
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Epicurean delights in the pet food aisle By Kim Cook Associated Press
Imagine a warm, fragrant entree of oven-baked chicken with whole-grain brown rice, steamed yellow squash and pan-wilted spinach.
Freeze-dried pet foods, like the kind shown in the bowl, are gaining popularity in the premium pet food market, reports show. Pet owners like the convenience of shelf stability and less bulk than a big bag of dried food. The ingredient list focuses on healthier, easily digestible ingredients and a notable lack of fillers.
Or slow-roasted leg of lamb with pearl barley, broccoli and crispy whole-wheat croutons with cheddar cheese.
Those arenʼt offerings at a tony French bistro. Theyʼre on the menu at Chef K9ʼs Doggy Bistro and Cafe in Pompano Beach, Florida, which customizes meals for your dog and sends them to you. The subscription-based company is just one of dozens that offer canine and feline foods that go well beyond run-of-the-mill supermarket chow. According to Packaged Facts, a researcher in Rockville, Maryland, the premium pet-food sector accounted for nearly half of the $26 billion U.S. petfood market in 2013. Apparently, we want our pets to have not only a spot on the sofa but a figurative spot at the dinner table too.
Katherine Cook via AP
the Wild has dry or canned recipes that include wild boar, smoked salmon and roasted bison mixed with berries, garbanzo beans or sweet potato. California Natural has a kangaroo, red lentil and pea formula.
Delicious-sounding dog and cat food recipes are just Some pet owners have opted to reduce or eliminate good marketing, says Chicago veterinarian Donna grains, soy, corn or wheat because of allergy conSolomon. cerns. Solomon says only a small percentage of pets have such allergies. “The descriptions and the suggestions of wholesomeness, homemade and gourmet are aimed at our taste buds, not our petsʼ,” she says.
But certain breeds are prone to diseases that may require special diets, she says. Pet owners should contact a canine nutritionist or veterinarian for advice.
Freeze-dried pet foods that you reconstitute with warm water or broth are also popular, says Sid Hawkins, a spokesman for Pet Pantry Warehouse in Can dogs discern different tastes the way we do? New Rochelle, New York. Owners like that the bags are less cumbersome than regular kibble bags, and Not really, according to Dr. Stanley Coren, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of British are shelf-stable. Columbia and author of many books about dogs, Primal Pet Foods offers a protein- and vitamin-rich including, most recently, “Gods, Ghosts and Black freeze-dried blend of beef heart, liver and ground-up Dogs” (Hubble & Hattie, 2016). bones as well as dark green vegetables. There are Thereʼs taste-bud allotment, for one thing: Humans feline feasts, too, like Primalʼs organic kale, carrots have around 9,000; dogs only about 1,700. and blueberries with chicken and salmon. Honest Kitchenʼs got a turkey and parsnip or chicken and quinoa blend, as well as a fish and coconut mix designed for “touchy tummies.” Fresh pet food is another area of dramatic growth; supermarkets are adding refrigerated sections where protein and vegetable combos from companies like FreshPet are offered in tubs or slice-andserve form. There are some exotic meats on offer, too. Taste of
Dogsʼ ancestors consumed salt in their meat, so they never developed our highly tuned salt receptors, or our tendency to crave salt, Coren says. But theyʼve got a keener sense of taste for water; both cats and dogs have a water-sensitive taste bud at the tip of their tongue. And then thereʼs that amazing sense of smell. The Sensory Research Institute at Florida State University found that dogs can smell about 10,000
times better than humans. Dogs have 300 million scent receptors, cats a still impressive 80 million. Alexandra Horowitz, a canine cognitive researcher at Barnard College and author of “Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Know” (Scribner, 2010), writes that we know when someoneʼs put a spoonful of sugar in our coffee, but a dog would detect that spoonful in a million gallons of water (roughly two Olympic-size swimming pools). So if Fido or Fluffy doesnʼt really need poached squab, whatʼs the best way to meet their nutritional needs? “The main thing you want to be concentrating on is a complete meal, with a good balance of micronutrients and protein, thatʼs easy to digest and meets the petʼs needs,” says Solomon. Read ingredients on labels, and look the food up online. Solomon likes a resource called Balance IT, started by a UCLA veterinary nutritionist. Consumerlab.com reviews pet supplements, too. Watch out for onions and garlic, which have high sulfur content. Grapes, chocolate and high carb/high glycemic foods should also be avoided. Solomon says itʼs probably OK to offer different foods now and then - rotating your protein source, for example. But she cautions, “Some dogs and cats canʼt tolerate switching.” Introduce variety slowly and conservatively. Watch for gastrointestinal upsets or lack of appetite, and consult your vet if these occur during the transition.
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SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016
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Who gets the pet? Couples work out joint custody By Melissa Kossler Dutton
child,â€? she said. “You canĘźt keep a child Hamilton handles cases involving issues with breeders, and between pet from a parent.â€? owners and housing associations and When Tricia Lerdon and her husband Long encourages pet owners to conservice providers. She estimates that separated, they had to figure out how sider whether their pet also has a relaabout 25 percent of her business to share their beloved dachshund, tionship with another animal in the involves pet custody. Jetson. household. She has helped couples so angry with “One of us giving up the dog?â€? she “Animals are adaptable,â€? she said. “For one another that they turn to a third said. “That wasnĘźt even a conversathe most part, they are happy to be party, such as a groomer, pet sitter or tion.â€? with one owner. I would caution people friend, to actually handle the logistics about breaking up multiple pets that So while living apart, they co-owned of handing the pet over. have bonded. Keeping those pets Jetson for several years until he died “If you truly want to keep the animal in together as much as possible will earlier this year. He traveled between your life, you find a person whoĘźs going mean they are less likely to develop their homes on the same schedule that to be that go-between,â€? she said. behavioral problems.â€? their daughter did, so she would Associated Press
always have her petĘźs company.
Cat owners may want to think twice about pet sharing, Long said. Cats Pet custody disputes are on the rise, according to the American Academy of tend to become comfortable in a certain location and might not do well Matrimonial Lawyers in Chicago, in a traveling between two residences, she 2014 survey. The survey cited attorneys handling cases concerning cats, said. dogs, birds and reptiles. “If possible, select one party as the Christie Long, chief veterinarian for PetCoach, an online resource for pet owners, said that as pets have become more ingrained in familiesĘź lives, pet owners who split up have come up with creative ways to ensure continued relationships with their animals.
Robin Bennett, chairman of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, in Lexington, Kentucky, gives these five tips for exes sharing a pet: 1. Keep the animal on the same sleep schedule at both houses.
2. Maintain similar feeding times. ĘťprimaryĘź owner and let the other owner have visitation rights in that home,â€? 3. Enforce the same rules. she suggested. “If this wonĘźt work at all, consider a longer period of time for joint custody - maybe six months at a time.â€?
Tricia Lerdon via AP
Tricia Lerdon with her dachshund, Jetson.
4. Make sure the animal gets plenty of exercise. 5. Use the same commands and cues.
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Couples who have difficulty agreeing on a plan can turn to mediators who She encourages owners to discuss the specialize in pet cases. arrangement at the start of a breakup When Mosa Hsu and her ex could not to avoid problems later. Think about reach agreement about their rescue how to provide and pay for veterinary dog, Pupineya, they turned to mediacare, and what measures to take if the tion. The process let them move past animal gets sick, Long said. Also their anger at each another and work address discipline and pet behavior. together, said Hsu, who lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. “If one party is more rigid about rules like no dogs on the couch and the “We donĘźt argue about fairness, other doesnĘźt care that much, you defiinequity or recompense for prior nitely want to discuss that,â€? she said. wrongs anymore,â€? she said. “We value the terms of agreement - visitations six In hindsight, Lerdon wishes she and her ex-husband had talked more about months each for both of us per yearbecause we created its terms.â€? the plan for Jetson. She wonders if shuttling between two homes might Mediation can help both parties have have hurt his health as he aged. “I do honest conversations about the anithink it took a toll on him,â€? she said. mal, said Debra Hamilton of Hamilton Law and Mediation in Armonk, New Yet she also believes Jetson would York. It also results in an enforceable have been unhappy if he were cut off from either her or her ex. “ItĘźs like a plan that both parties have agreed to.
Maximus and Gray Jones 210/.-,1.+-,0.*).*(,.)-'&%$.-#"."1/1,!1.-.+,*+1,.0,& (01.-0.0 1.0&'1.*).0 1&,."1-0 . 1 *))1,.0 1./-'1./1,!& 1.$*( !1.0,(/01".)*,.)*(,. 1#1,-0&*#/.)*,.$*(,. 1%*!1".+10 The least expensive pet cremation in the area. . .2%1-/-#0. -%%1$. *-" . &# 1/01, . . . . . (% 1,,$. 0,110 . 01+ 1#/. &0$ . . . . *#1/)(#1,-% *'1/ *'
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Gail Hartman, DVM I recently moved to Front Royal with my husband, four cats and three dogs. The motivation to move from our home in Massachusetts was to be closer to my family. The decision to move was “meant to be” when I found a fantastic house and dream job at Cedarville Veterinary Clinic in the same week. I enjoy hiking with my dogs, biking and kayaking. Front Royal is the perfect place to do all three. During my career as a veterinarian, I have worked mainly with dogs, cats and small mammals; however I welcome the opportunity to help all animals no matter their size or if they have scales or feathers. I enjoy teaching and was a teacher for many years in a veterinary technician program. Although I will miss my friends in Massachusetts, I will not miss the 10 feet of snow that fell over the winter of 2014-2015. I look forward to making new friends in Front Royal both human and animal.
Cedarville Veterinary Clinic 8506 Winchester Road, Front Royal, VA 22630 • 540-635-3299 • www.cedarvillevet.com Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. - Noon