Pet Genius Summer 2012

SUMMER 2012

Traveling with your Dog The best Vacation Spots for you and your dog.

Becoming Bird Wise What to consider befor getting a pet bird...

Caring for Your Aging Cat Guaranteeing the Golden Years.

Runaway Pet? Actions to Prevent the Runaway or Increase the Odds of Your Pet Being Found.

+ PLUS: • •

more inside !

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16

Is Your Dog a Good Citizen?

Minding Your Dog’s Manners By: Connie Peters

We’ve all been annoyed, frustrated or even attacked by a dog.

Misbehaving animals can prevent friendships, destroy property and make cranky neighbors. e difference between having a dog everyone can enjoy and one that terrorizes your family and community is taking responsibility to train your dog and yourself in proper pet etiquette.

Safety Foremost

Train your dog not to bite, jump on people and chase anything that piques its interest, being particularly careful around children, the elderly and the disabled. Obey leash laws and even cross the street, if necessary, to avoid potentially dangerous situations, altercations with other animals or disturbing wildlife.

As well as a safety issue, not leaving your dog in a locked car with the windows up is also a matter of manners, because people worry. In hot weather, don’t leave your dog in the car at all. Always make sure your dog has enough water.

When Walking

Stepping in doggy poo is disgusting. Be sure to carry plastic bags. Put the plastic bag over your hand, pick up the deposit, turn the bag inward and drop it in to the next trash receptacle.

Also, keep dogs off of private property, particularly gardens.

Behavior

Your dog needs to be taught basic etiquette at home or out in the community: thou shalt not chew on things, dig holes in the yard, bark excessively, beg at meals, jump on guests, bite, or pick ghts with other dogs. Your dog needs to know basic commands like sit and being alert to its name and coming when called.

Finally, when it comes to going to parties and visiting other homes, don’t take pooch, unless in vited to do so.

“Dogs want to please their owners,” says southwest Colorado animal training expert Annie Phenix, “and they respond quickly to positive training, such as the clicker method.”

Phenix uses this remarkable proven method (which will be discussed in Part 2) to teach puppies, old dogs and even abused animals proper pet etiquette.

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HEALTH TIPS Concrete roads and sidewalks can be hot and rough on your pet’s paws. Try walking your dog in the grass or on dirt paths as much as possible and avoid the hottest time of the day.

Is Your Dog a Good Citizen?

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TRAINING TIPS If you catch your dog chewing an inappropriate object, give them a rm “no� and replace the object with a tasty chew toy.

Praise your dog when it starts chewing the toy.

Motivation, reinforcement and punishment are essential elements in training your dog.

Because all learning requires some behavioral change, a dog must be motivated to do so and the proper behavior must be regularly reinforced.

Being consistent in training your pet is important for every family member. Everyone should use the same commands and verbiage. You may need to post those phrases on the refrigerator so all family members become familiar with them.

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Before You Get Your Bird Becoming Bird-Wise By: Adam Colwell

Snuggles is a lavender Lovebird, and for Diana Atchley, a widow living in Tucson, AZ, her bird is an ever-present friend that’s positively divine.

“Having a bird is company; it’s having something alive in your house; it’s having companionship and a little creature that reminds me of God,” Atchley said, sitting at her kitchen table as Snuggles hops all over her. “She’s like an ADD two-year-old. She’s always busy doing something. She’ll come in and be with me when I put on makeup in the morning. She crawls all over me and likes to snuggle underneath clothing.

She cuddles down in my hand each night right before I put her to bed. She’s wonderful.”

A bird can indeed be a wonderful pet for you, but as with any pet ownership decision, you need to know what you’re getting into. Sara Gromley of the Humane Society of Southern Arizona encourages you to do plenty of research beforehand.

“There are an amazing variety of pet bird types, with each species offering different qualities and challenges to take into consideration,” she said. “Parakeets can live ve to fteen years and can be relatively easy to care for, while larger birds like Cockatoos and Macaws can live eighty or more years and demand plenty of time and attention.”

“As someone who has volunteered for a bird rescue and worked at Arizona’s only all-bird clinic, I am a huge advocate for adopting birds rather than purchasing them,” Gromley said. “Due to their very long lifespan and unique social and wellness needs, there are innumerable homeless birds who are victims of circumstance.”

Gromley says welcoming a bird into your home is not a decision that should be taken lightly, and recommends three essential steps: 1. Be sure you select a bird that ts your lifestyle and expectations. Be prepared to offer your bird daily time outside of its cage to provide exercise and enrichment. Atchley keeps Snuggles outside of her cage for hours each day.

2. Make certain you can provide for their unique dietary needs. All birds should eat a high-quality pellet diet, supplemented with nutritious vegetables, fruits and occasional nuts. Seeds are not a good source of nutrition.

3. Find a veterinarian who specializes in avian care. Just like all other pets, birds need annual checkups to make sure they are healthy and happy.

So how do you know if your home is the right environment for a bird? “Birds require consistency, routine and patience,” Gromley said. “Make sure that you have time every day to clean up after them, prepare fresh food and water, and interact with them outside of the cage. Also be sure that a pet bird will be able to cohabitate with other pets and children.”

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6

By: Amy Wyatt

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MISSING When Your Pet Runs Away...

Nothing can make you feel more helpless than when your pet runs away from home or gets lost. That feeling is elevated when you realize you didn’t take the proper actions to prevent the runaway or increase the odds of your pet being found.

removed. We record and store your pet’s unique 10character identification code with your name,” Bruno says. “If your pet is ever lost, the Humane Society, veterinarians and some rescue groups scan for a microchip when an animal is brought in.”

When you notice your pet is missing, Bruno advocates a proactive approach.

“Do everything you can to locate your pet. Post flyers, ask around, and check with your local shelters. Make sure to do this right away, as with a missing child, the earlier the better,” she says.

“Having piece of mind that you did everything you could does help when coping with such a stressful situation.

Make sure to check back often, and give the best description you can; a picture is even better.”

“Losing a pet can be devastating. Be persistent and don’t give up,” she adds.

Microchipping your animal is the single best precaution you can take to help your pet be quickly identified and returned to your home. “Having your pet microchipped dramatically increases your pet’s chances of being found,” says Lyndsay Bruno of the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA), who uses the 24PetWatch™ and register all microchips, including HomeAgain and Avid. “Make sure to keep your personal information and alternate contact information up to date with the 24 Pet Watch microchip database.”

Bruno says all animals brought to HSSA are scanned for microchip identification.

“The chip is about the size of a grain of rice and cannot be

preventing the great escape To say the least, escaping is a serious problem for both you and your pet, and can have tragic consequences. Lyndsay Bruno of the Humane Society of Southern Arizona says there are three main steps you can take to prevent your pet, particularly dogs, from running away.

Spaying or Neutering Your dog won’t be so tempted to stray if it is spayed or neutered.

“Studies show that neutering will decrease sexual roaming in about 90 percent of the cases,” Bruno says. “If, however, an intact male has established a pattern of escaping, he may continue to do so even after he’s neutered, so it’s important to have him neutered as soon as possible.”

If your intact female dog escapes your yard while she’s in heat, she’ll probably get pregnant. “Millions of unwanted pets are euthanized every year,” Bruno says. “Don’t contribute to the pet overpopulation problem by allowing your female dog to breed indiscriminately.”

Secure Your Yard Bruno recommends keeping your dog indoors unless you’re present to supervise its time outside. “Dogs are pack animals and need to socialize with you and the world around them. If there are times when you must

leave your dog outside, you should keep him in a securely fenced yard to prevent him from straying,” she says. Within the safe confines of your yard, your dog should have access to shelter, perhaps a covered dog “run” or a pen with a doghouse inside. This is a good alternative if you’re unable to fence your yard, or if your dog is apt to escape from your yard by jumping the fence.

Regular Exercise “By walking your dog regularly,” Bruno says, “you can provide the exercise and mental stimulation they needs. Teach your dog to fetch a ball or Frisbee and practice with him as often as possible. Teach your dog tricks and take an obedience class. Also, provide interesting toys to keep your dog busy and rotate them.”

Follow these steps and your pet will be safe, secure and happily waiting when you walk through the front door.

By: Adam Colwell 8

Pets as Bedmates:

Precautions To Keep You Healthy It’s a memory from childhood

I’ll always treasure – my brown Dachshund, Fritz, snuggling up against the bottom of my feet as I went to sleep. He was there, each night without fail, my faithful friend to protect me from the monsters under my bed.

Pet bedmates are common for children and adults. And although animals carry germs, you’re more likely to contact any potentially harmful germs from their food or water that has been contaminated than from your pet itself sleeping in bed with you.

There are cases when pet bedmates are not advantageous. “People who suffer from pet allergies or asthma

9

Lyndsay Bruno of the Human Society of Southern Arizona says good hygiene and veterinary care has made animal-transmitted diseases quite rare. But there are some basic precautions she says you should take to keep you and your pet safe.

• Make sure your pet is vaccinated for rabies.

• Have your pet’s stool checked yearly for parasites and feed it a monthly heartworm preventative. “Heartworm for dogs contains ingredients that keep your pet free of intestinal worms,” she says.

• Prevent tick infestation which can lead to Lyme disease by putting your pet on a topical treatment, especially for dogs that live in areas with high tick populations.

By: Adam Colwell

should not sleep with their dog or cat, or even allow them in the bedroom,” Bruno said. “My cat really bothered my allergies, so we had to create a cat free zone. It really did help; even though she was bent out of shape, it was best for my health.” She says you can also use a HEPA filter, and vacuuming regularly is a must.

But if you’re not allergic, Bruno says there’s really no big issue with having your pet in the bed as long as they don’t keep you up. “Getting sleep is paramount to overall good sleep,” she says. “If your pet’s snoring, pre kicking or bed hogging is preventing you from getting rest, you may have to consider getting them a bed of their own.”

When Three’s a Crowd IIt may surprise you to learn that a pet sleep-

ing in the same bed as their owners is quite common.

A recent survey of pet owners by the American Pet Products Association showed that nearly half of dogs sleep in their owner’s beds: 62 percent of small dogs, 41 percent of medium-sized dogs, and 32 percent of even large dogs sleep with their owners. The survey also found that 62 percent of cats sleep with their owners, and another 13 percent of cats sleep with children.

But what happens when the owners are a couple – and one member of that duo grows tired of sharing their bed with their four-legged housemate?

While there have been stories of pet owners choosing their furry friend over their human one (hopefully these couples weren’t already married), in most cases it’s the animal who has to find a new place to sleep.

Lyndsay Bruno with the Humane Society of Southern Arizona recommends a good first

alternative might be to have a comfy bed for your pet next to your bed. “I know with my Springer Spaniel this works wonders. He doesn’t feel like he is missing out, unless we are all on the bed watching TV, and he sleeps peacefully with his own space.”

Bruno offers two more steps to further transitransi tion your pet from sleeping in your bed: • Be persistent. If you pet jumps on your bed, point to their bed and encourage it to take up residence.

• Be consistent. Don’t allow your pet on your bed one night and not another. This can be confusing and cause your animal to feel insecure.

“If they are having separation anxiety, a stuffed animal or toy may help them feel secure,” Bruno adds. “Make sure these toys are specifically for animals, and don’t have small parts that can cause an animal to choke. After a few nights, your animal should make the adjustment quite easily and appreciate their new bed.”

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By: Adam Colwell

One way to prepare your pet to travel is to buy their pet crate well in advance and get them used to it.

If they’re accustomed to being in that space, they will have less anxiety while traveling.

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Feline Asthma: Helping Your Cat Breathe Easy

Ask a Vet:

By: Liz Coplan

submit questions to vet@petgenius.com

14.

Best Pets for Allergy-Ridden Families: Living with Cats and Dogs By: Carol Hatcher

Y

ou love cats, but every time you get around them you have the sudden urge to claw your eyes out. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. But what’s a pet lover to do?

There’s a common misconception hairless cats or dogs will solve the problem, but most people with an allergic reaction aren’t reacting to the hair, but the dander. Dander is the microscopic pieces of dry skin that naturally ake off as animals’ skin renews. It attaches itself to drapery, clothes, furniture – you name it.

Cats are more problematic than dogs because their saliva also dries, akes off and enters the air. You could trade your feline for an iguana, but what are your options when you can’t bear to think of life without Fluffy or Rover?

1. Scrub-a-dub-dub, dog and kitty in the tub

The more often your pet is groomed, the better you’ll be. Washing your dog or cat will rinse away the dreaded dander that causes your allergies. You can even purchase dander-reducing shampoo. Bathe them at least once a week for best results.

2. Choose wisely

Pick a breed that produces a low amount of dander. While all cats and dogs shed their dry skin, some breeds have less dander than others. Small, shorthaired or hairless breeds are a wise choice. Even still, it’s a good idea to brush them as often as possible.

3. Clean house

Not only will a clean puppy or kitty help keep down the dander, but a clean home will as well.

Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA lter to suck up the allergens and trap them inside the bag. Regularly wash the walls near the pet bed, and allow the allergens to oat away by opening the windows while you clean.

There is a little extra work involved in order for those with allergies to keep a dog or cat inside.

But when you look at those sweet brown eyes or that twitching tail, aren’t they worth it?

Animals Just Right For You: You love pets, but your allergies don’t. What do you do?

Those allergic to pets are usually allergic to pet dander, microscopic pieces of dry skin that settle into the hair of animals. So it would be best to steer clear of animals with fur or hair, but Laramie, WY veterinarian Shad Clymer suggests you talk to your allergist about your speciic allergies, and “then talk to your veterinarian to see what pet he or she recommends.”

Here are some allergy-friendly pet options.

1. Fish

Start small with a golddsh or Betta sh. Both are low maintenance and are great for younger kids who want to learn responsibility. If you really want the calming beneet sh can bring, invest in a larger aquarium. Talk to the people at the sh store about how many sh per gallon of water and which breeds work well together.

2. Repples

Start small with a golddsh or Betta sh.

Both are low maintenance and are great for younger kids who want to learn responsibility. If you really want the calming beneet sh can bring, invest in a larger aquarium. Talk to the people at the sh store about how many sh per gallon of water and which breeds work well together.

3. Small Mammals

Gerbils and mice don’t shed as much dander as cats and dogs, but may still cause a problem. Some allergens can be found in their urine. If a fuzzy pet is a must, start small with a trial basis. Just be sure to wash hands after handling your little critter.

4. Hermm Crabs

Hermit crabs can bring lots of enjoyment to their owners. These little guys actually like to be in groups. So you may consider buying three or four. Crabs are fun for kids to watch, but be sure to read up children and crabs. There are some important rules to follow. For instance, they shouldn’t be handled when molting.

With a little research and trial, even those with allergies can add joy to their families with the addition of a pet.

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