PJ_LK_II4_Apr11

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WISCONSIN’S RESOURCE FOR ALL ANIMALS Lakeshore Region

April 2011

Volume 2, Issue 4

FREE

Understanding Ferrets a collaboration of Sue Holmes, Anita Chavera and Casie Chandler



The domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) has become the 3rd most common in-

teractive house-hold pet in the United States.

Unfortunately, all too often people are not properly educated in the responsibilities and commitment. Ferrets can make wonderful pets; however they are high in maintenance and require a significant amount of time and money. Admired for their silly disposition ferrets are revered as highly entertaining furry clowns. However, ferrets are not recommended for children, especially young children as they are a predatory animal whose original domesticated purpose was hunting.

Included in this article is information that every responsible ferret owner should know.

While this is far from a complete guide; we have chosen three important topics to address: veterinary care, nutrition and behavior.

In This Issue FEATURE STORIES Undertanding Ferrets

Best of the Best

Eco News: Bees: A Look at Colony Collapse Disorder

Center for Avian Rehilitation

- front cover

- page 5

Alleric? You can Keep your Cat! - page 7

Eromastyx Care Sheet - page 8

- page 9

- page 13

May I Introduce... Fido?

- page 13

Pictures from Area Pet Events

Veterinary Help in a Crisis: Ferret ownership can have challenges, but something seemingly simple as finding help for a sick ferret can be complicated.

Don’t wait until you have a ferret that is apparently ill to find that helping hand in a ferret-knowledgeable vet. Find that vet and make sure that you are an established client so when something comes up, you have your resource readily available. If you are adopting from a ferret shelter, ask their advice on ferret vets in your area. Another great resource for names of ferret vets, go to the American Ferret Association website – www. ferret.org. The AFA is a great resource for ferret news and information on ferret health issues. If you are calling your local veterinarians and asking if they see ferrets, ask specifically if they see ill ferrets. There are a lot of clinics that say that they see ferrets, but some of the time it is well ferrets only and then just for their vaccines.

Here are just a few of the more common ferret symptoms that should put you on alert that there could potentially be something wrong with your ferret: • Lip smacking or teeth grinding can indicate nausea or pain • Vomiting can be indicative of a virus or it could be from a blockage in its stomach or intestines. Also there could be the possibility that your ferret ate or ingested something that it shouldn’t have.

- pages 10 and 11

Ferrets see page 4.

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PET JOURNAL

April 2011

Colonial Pet Shoppe 1310 South 35th Street Manitowoc, WI 54220 920.682.0713

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SAVE $5.00

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PET JOURNAL

Lakeshore Region

ABOUT

OUR

COVER MODEL

April 2011

Publishers Notes Dear Readers, Wecome to the April issue of Pet Journal. You may have noticed a change of size in the publication, this is due to our new printer, Hometown Printing of Germantown. Shellie’s column “Holistic and Natural Options for your Pet” dose not appear in this issue as she is working on a major column for the May issue. Starting this issue we have Lori Drew of the Center for Avian Rehabilitation that will be bringing you articles on Bird topics.

We are always looking for subbmissions of your pets pictures to be printed on our Pet Pictures Page (page 12) and they will also appear on our Gallery of Pet Pictures on the Pet Journal website at images.petjournalmidwest.com/ gallery.html. To submit your pictures, for the pet pictures page please email them to petphotos@petjournalmidwest.com.

Our April cover models are Baxter, Jack, Nuggets and Peter. Their human comapion is Kristin P. of Chicago, IL. Photo courtesy of Legacy Studios, Sheboygan, WI.

You may also submit your questions

by S. Holmes, A. Chavera, and C. Chandler

3 - About our Cover Model Publishers Notes 5 - Ask Scrappy Q & A

Hosted by Scrappy the Pit Bull

Eco News: Bees: A Look

at Colony Collapse Disorder

by R. Barton

6 - Calendar of Events 7 - Ask the Alpha Dog Hosted by T. Pool

8 - Uromastyx Care Sheet

from Eastern WI Herptological Society & Rescue

Ask the Vet

Hosted by Dr. Dell and Staff

9 - Best of the Best

by K. Beer

Pet Adoption Section 10 - Pictures from:

If you have a questions for a specific columnist please use the email at the end of their respective columns. If you have a questions for a specific department, please contact them via their email address listed below.

General Information.......... petjournal@petjournalmidwest.com Advertising Department.... advertising@petjournalmidwest.com Current Issue Question............ issues@petjournalmidwest.com Pet Journal Archives............. archives@petjournalmidwest.com Pet Photo Submissions........ petphoto@petjournalmidwest.com Our Website............................... www.petjournalmidwest.com

and photos via the Pet Journal mailbox, listed at the bottom of the page, we ask that you please add an ‘attn:’ line to direct your submission to the correct department. All photos sent via mail will be returned after they are scanned for print and the website.

Also, our columnists would love to recieve your questions. You will find contact information at the ends of their columns.

While it may be warming up outside durring the day it still is cold at night as most of us with dogs know. So, please in the morning, as reminder to those of you who park outside in the winter, tap your horn a few time before starting your car and driving off. Small animals sometimes use wheel wells and engine compartments as a haven from the cold.

Sincerely,

Lee J Schneider, Publisher

Table of Contents 1 - Understanding Ferrets

Pet Journal newspaper is published by LSRB Media, LLC, on a monthly basis and is available free of charge to readers at various locations in the region that it is printed. Questions or comments regarding content can be made to petjournal@petjournalmidwest.com or by calling our offices at: (920) 785-3048.

Pet Journal is always on the lookout for new advertiser’s if you are interested in advertising with us please contact the advertising department at advertising@petjournalmidwest.com. To contact Pet Journal by mail please send all correspondence to our mailbox at: Pet Journal attn: advertising 3120 S. Business Dr. Suite 270, Sheboygan, WI 53081-6524.

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Fancy Feline Fair Cat Show Alaskan Malmute of WI Club Weight Pull

11 - Pictures from:

Ozaukee Humane Societies new shelter Central Bark of Manitowoc’s 3rd Aniversery Open House

12 - Photos of your Pets 13 - Center for Avian Rehabilitation

by L. Drew

May I Introduce... Fido!

from Cats International

14 - A Book Review

by Linda Ledbeter

Find Pet Journal 15 - Grooming your Pet hosted by D. Diel

Coming in March 16 - Classified Ads 18 - Pet Journal Word Search

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April 2011

Ferrets from page 1.

• A change in behavior from a “wild child” to a very subdued and quiet little animal. If a ferret’s blood glucose drops too low, it can be a sign or a disease called insulinoma.

• Fur loss- can be a sign of adrenal disease. It is typical for a ferret to lose his fluffy coat in the spring, but balding around the tail or head can be a sign that the adrenal glands are enlarged and producing too many hormones.

There are wonderfully informative websites on the internet that can be a great resource on ferret health and care. Knowledge about ferrets can make such a difference in your understanding their health and the aliments that can attack your ferret. Be proactive and do your homework.

Ferret Vaccines: Rabies: Ferrets are typically vaccinated for the rabies virus on an annual basis. Even if your ferret never leaves your home, there is always the possibility that a bat, which could carry the virus, might enter your home and bite your ferret. Ferrets see something flopping on their floor and think that a new toy has been added.

Distemper: The canine distemper vaccine is usually administered in a series when a ferret is a kit. If you are purchasing a baby ferret from a pet shop, you are likely to be purchasing either a Marshall Farm or a Path Valley ferret. These breeders have had your baby spayed or neutered, descented and given their first distemper vaccine before they are shipped to your pet shop. Your baby will need to have this vaccine boostered, or another round given to insure that they are protected from the distemper virus. This is where a good ferret knowledgeable veterinarian will be vital to you. Discuss their vaccine protocols and make sure that you follow their directions. Please have the discussion with your vet in regard to the frequency of the vaccines for your ferret. There have been a lot of problems noted with ferrets getting both their rabies and distemper vaccines at the same time. There is always the potential for a reaction from the vaccines and you are doubling that chance by having both administered at the same time. It is honestly worth a return visit to your vet to have them done separately and avoid that hazard.

If you are adopting a ferret from a shelter, ask about their current standing with vaccines. Most shelters will give you paperwork indicating when vaccines were given and when they will be due again.

Diet: The type of food that you feed your ferret is extremely important. Diet impacts health, lifespan and appearance.

The ferret is a carnivore. Some people feed their ferrets cat food, but that does not provide the protein level that ferrets require. Others feed their ferret a raw diet or a meat diet. Again, this may not provide all of the nutrients that

PET JOURNAL a ferret requires. The best diet for general ferret care is a high quality ferret food, such as Totally Ferret, Path valley or Evo. Even a high quality, high protein kitten food is acceptable. Be sure to compare the percentages of protein vs. fat and carbohydrates. Some people note that feeding their ferrets a high quality food even impacts the odor the ferret and their stool. A ferret diet high in fish oils may impact the odor of the ferret. Again, when choosing a ferret food, pay special attention to the level of proteins in the food. The higher the protein, the better the food is for your ferret. Never feed your ferret dog food.

It is never a good idea to feed your ferret sugar or refined carbohydrates.

It is best not to feed your ferret any human food at all. But, if you must, then some fully cooked chicken or turkey may be the best treat.

A diet that contains sugar or high carbohydrates can contribute to tooth decay and to a disease referred to as insulinoma, a disorder of the pancreas that leads to low blood sugar, seizures, coma and death. Avoid feeding your ferret cereals, vegetables, fruits, dairy, chocolate…. well, almost anything humans would eat!

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your ferret as possible when they are awake.

There are several normal behaviors associated with sleeping ferrets. Just like with any other mammal companion, ferrets may be observed dreaming. Evidence of a ferret dreaming may include twitching, whining or making little ‘dooking’ (happy vocalization) sounds. It is normal for your ferret to awake abruptly to engage in a vigorous itching, only to go right back to their hammock or sleep sack. Another normal behavior associated with sleeping and awakening is shivering. When asleep for much of the day their body temperature lowers. Shivering allows the ferret to warm up their bodies.

They will seek dark soft areas to burrow into. Beware that if allowed ferrets will get up and into furniture which could result in serious bodily harm if humans are unaware of their location.

Biting: Ferrets need to be trained not to bite. While the inherent urge to bite lessens with age, an improperly socialized and improperly trained adult ferret may act aggressive and draw blood. It is up to the caretaker to teach appropriate interaction with a human, A common myth is that ferrets love showing the same behavior with other to eat raisins. Well, it’s not really a ferrets is not acceptable with human myth because ferrets do love raisins…. friends. Most ferrets can be trained but don’t. Raisins contain a very high not to bite, however problem biters do level of sugar, and the ferrets’ digestive exist but they are the exception. system cannot always break down the Baby ferrets naturally nip. Like fiber contained in raisins. The idea of giving your ferret treats is really a hu- all mammals, kits explore with their man trait…. ferrets don’t equate treats mouths. In addition to exploring their with love. They equate playtime and environment, teething plays a signifigentle time spent with their human cant role in their constant mouthing of everything. If one is working with a friends with love. kit, it is beneficial to begin proper soAnother acceptable ferret treat, cializing and training when the animal and an ideal training tool, is Ferretone… is young. It is much less challenging but only in moderation. Ferretone can to train a young animal then one that provide oils for a glossy coat, and can is accustomed to maintaining undeeven at times aid in the prevention of sired behavior for sustained periods of hairball buildup in the ferret’s stomach. time. It is important to be consistent However, only a few drops a day is rec- with how you reprimand and reward ommended. Ferretone can aid in trim- while training. It may require a lot of ming ferret toenails by adding some patience and time to train the fuzzy droplets to your ferret’s tummy. While young. The following are a guideline your ferret is busy licking the ferretone, of dos and don’ts for training your ferret not to bite. you can more easily trim her nails.

• Do not hit or flick on the nose Ferret Behavior and Basic Training: in attempt to correct a hard nip or bite.

Understanding behavioral charac- This is the number one misconception teristics which influence your compan- about training a ferret. Aggression ion ferret; will help you to ensure the leads to frustration and more aggressafety, quality of life and assist with sion.

• Correct a ‘hard nip’ or bite impositive experience in interaction. Ferrets possess universal behavior charac- mediately with a scruff and a loud “No” teristics rooting from their natural his- or “No bite”. Following the “No” with a tory. While each has individual quirks loud hiss is often effective.

• Spray Bitter Apple or Bitter and personality, as a responsible ferret caretaker one must have a basic under- Lime on your hands before handling the kit. Usually after getting a mouthstanding of these universal behaviors. ful, they are deterred from chomping Sleeping: Ferrets sleep a lot; how- again. Bitter Apple and Bitter Lime are ever when ferrets are awake they are a safe foul tasting liquid used to deter very interactive. During a 24 hour pe- chewing. These products are available riod a healthy ferret, may sleep up to at most pet stores.

• Provide a variety of toys to in22 of those hours. They will sleep in a variety of positions, though frequently teract with and without you. Entertain they are observed in a seemingly con- a rambunctious silly fuzzy with a toy to torted spiral shape. Since much of their attack rather than your flesh. Warning: time is spent sleeping, it is important Just like with small children, toys with to spend as much time interacting with small parts that can come off and be

ingested must be avoided.

• Do not reward a bite with providing freedom; rather give jail time on a time out for a short period of time. A small cat size kennel would be an ideal choice.

• Don’t attempt to pull away while being bitten. It will only cause more damage.

• Squeezing feet starting gently and increasing force may be effective, though not always.

• Find some cold water and submerge until clamping stops and retreats to breath. Warning: Do not drown or flush down toilet.

Most ferrets purchased or adopted now are spayed and neutered, however an unaltered animal is typically more aggressive. If your companion is unaltered, spay her or neuter him.

Deaf and blind ferrets when scared may bite. Get a blind ferrets attention by alerting by their sense of hearing or scent. With a deaf individual, allow visual contact or again sense of smell before handling.

There are potential medical explanations that explain why ferrets may bite. To facilitate ruling out health issues as a cause for the biting take you’re pet to the ferret knowledgeable and experienced veterinarian. Any sudden change with behavior should be mindfully observed.

Potty Talk Ferrets are pooping machines. This carnivore’s short digestive track leads to frequent excrement eliminations.

When awake it seems that ferrets may visit the litter box as frequently as every 15 minutes. The following is the basics to litter box training.

• With a young and/or untrained ferret keep a little bit of stool in the box at all times.

• Keep numerous litter boxes (preferably with pelleted litter) in the ferret cage and play area and clean box regularly.

• When awakened and prior to playtime take your fuzzy to the little box and make sure the duty is done prior to fun time.

• If caught in the act of having an accident, with a firm “No” pick your ferret up and place in a litter box until elimination is a success.

• Praise your ferret for using the litter box.

• Food reward may be a very effective training tool. However if you choose to offer food reward for using the litter box, realize that you may be teaching to fake a ‘poopie.’ Be wise and don’t offer a treat unless they actually do ‘go.’

• Don’t ever hit or rub your pets’ face in the poop. This practice is ineffective and abusive.

Now that you have a better understanding of ferrets and their husbandry, it is our hope you will feel confident in making quality decisions to give your pet the best life possible through proper veterinary care, nutrition and training. Knowledge can empower you as an owner to make wise choices.

Lakeshore Region

PET JOURNAL

April 2011

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ECO NEWS

ASK SCRAPPY!

Bees: A Look at Colony Colapse Disorder

by Scrappy, the Lovable Pit Bull askscrappy@petjournalmidwest.com

by Rick Barton, Pet Journal Staff Writer rbarton@petjournalmidwest.com

Greetings to all my two and four legged buddies. I hope you all had a great March. I am completely over all this snow. My human Lee came home the other day and took me outside to play. I suppose he was hoping that I would run to the yard and go nuts with excitement. Well, at least the go outside to the yard portion was achieved. What did he expect? Piles of dirty snow and mud were the only things I encountered.

I’m sorry, but the idea of playing in cold mud and snow isn’t my cup of tea. I believe I’ve made it quite clear to all concerned, that I really don’t care for snow and the resulting frozen paws. Once again, I am a American Staffordshire Terrier, not a Siberian Husky. Okay, enough of my complaining about the cold. Besides, come summer, it’ll be too hot.

There’s really no pleasing me.

Well, actually there is. I had the terrific opportunity to have my portrait immortalized by the award winning photographer, Trish Brunner of Legacy Studios. I was a little concerned about how I look. You know, always wondering if I need to get a little work done at the doggie plastic surgeon or how I have to take some weight off my hind quarters.

All of that was cast aside once I met Trish. She was so nice and told me that I had nothing to worry about.

She told me that Photoshop can do wonders on a haggard hound. Boy, was she right! I look like a puppy again! You can see the results by checking out my new photo at the top of my column. I have to admit I was a little unruly at first, but humans expect that. If I trotted in, sat there with quite dignity, and let Trish get her shots, she would have been let down. Gotta make ‘em work for it! What’s an artist without a little suffering? It also makes humans appreciate you all the more when you are their good little angel.

Another month, another question. I recently received a question regarding a fellow doggie. The question is: Hi Scrappy, I have a 4 year old chocolate lab, Bella. She is a very good dog and my best friend. Problem is that when she smells something or is exploring, she doesn’t come when I call her. How do I correct this behavior?

Though I’m not really a training specialist, I just play one on tv (HA!), I’ll try to help you out. I’ll use industrial strength puppy eyes on Tamara, our training columnist, to see if she’ll cover this in a future column.

I sometimes have a problem with being told it’s time to come in, es-

pecially if something is just begging to be inspected. I don’t have all the facts regarding Bella, like; how long has this been going on, has she been properly trained, does she completely understand the “come” command, has she been punished after you called her to come, and so on. Many of these factors can impact her reaction to your calls. I have a couple of general suggestions that I know from personal experience may work for you. Always make coming when you call the best part of going outside. Using a cheerful tone call Bella to you. This may not work the first time since Bella is probably checking the yard for deadly serpents that could harm you. Wait a moment and try again. If she doesn’t respond this time, she’s ignoring you. Don’t get angry with her, try to get her attention by whistling to her or making a funny noise. When she turns to you, kneel down and call her name again. If she comes to you, give her a treat and lots of love and praise for her good behavior. Always have a pocket full of treats. This instills in her mind that coming to you means treats and praise. I know that when I go outside to “do my business”, I always get a yummy treat or two when I come into the house. Now, if she continues to disregard your bribes of delicious treats and repeated coaxing, you may have to move this up a notch. Call her again using a happy, gentle voice and if she doesn’t want to come, it’s time to go and bring her in. Remaining cheerful and speaking to her in a happy tone, approach her with her leash and without drama (us dogs don’t do drama well!), snap the leash on her collar and return to the house. Don’t punish her, just release the leash and let her march her sassy

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a syndrome characterized by the sudden disappearance of all adult honey bees in a colony. The syndrome was first recognized in the winter of 2006/2007 when nearly a third of the country’s 2.4 million bee colonies were lost to CCD. This accounted for the loss of tens of billions of bees. The syndrome continues to decimate colonies at a rate of about 30% a year according to information gathered from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This is a dramatic increase over the 15% previously reported losses due to a variety of pests and disease.

tail off. No yummy treats though; you can’t praise her for ignoring your call. Punishment for not coming will just reinforce in her mind that coming means punishment and she’ll continue to ignore you. I hope this can be of some help for you and Bella.

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and to my four legged friends, no chasing the Easter Bunny. He doesn’t like that and he’ll leave you no treats. He may even bite!! Those big front teeth can bite more than carrots.

See Ya’ Next Month

Scrappy Editors Note: Scrappys love to get

mail and questions from his readers; please email him at askscrappy@ petjournalmidwest.com.

Honeybees produce more than just honey. Their pollination of plants account for about one-third of food crops in the U.S. Honeybees pollinate over 100 flowering food crops that include most fruits, nuts, vegetables, and many animal-feed crops. The loss of these significant food crops could account for a projected $8 to $12 billion effect on the U.S. agricultural economy.

While there are other pollinators, the sheer size of U.S. agriculture makes this a difficult job. They simply cannot handle the daunting task as honeybees do. Their numbers and mobility have made them the primary pollinators for our agricultural needs. This is why CCD will have such a devastating effect if a cause and treatment is not found soon.

While many theories have been put forth regarding a possible origin of the syndrome, researchers are at a loss to find one specific cause. Many still believe it to be a combination of a number of agents, since no single agent was found in enough consistency to cause the disorder. There are over sixty possible agents; these include various pesticides, pollution, malnutrition, parasites, beekeeping practices, lack of genetic diversity, and many others.

It has even been proposed that radiation from cell phones and genetically modified crops could be possible culprits, though no solid evidence exists to support this. Though recently researchers have a virus and a fungus in samples taken from hives infected with the syndrome. The Nosema Ceranae Fungus and Insect Iridescent Virus were found only in hives affected

by CCD and not in healthy colonies.

There is another school of thought that believes an infectious immunosuppressive factor may be involved, weakening the colony thus allowing the introduction of other, normally less lethal, agents to take hold and cause a collapse. Further evidence of CCD being an infectious disease was observed in hives that formerly housed honeybees that died from CCD were able to be reused to house healthy bees after the hive was treated with DNA destroying radiation. While this is encouraging information, scientists believe more research is still needed. I will continue to update this column as more information becomes available.

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PET JOURNAL

April 2011

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APRIL 2011 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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All Events that appear on this page are also available for viewing on the Events page of the Pet Journal website, www. petjournalmidwest.com. Events will be posted to our website first and then added to the Print Edition as space allows. If you have a smart phone with a barcode reading program you can scan the code on the facing page to right to the events page.

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April Fool’s Day

SATURDAY

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9 2011 Pet Wellness Expo Burlington High School 400 McCanna Parkway, Burlington, WI 9am - 3pm

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Basic Manners Class Ozaukee Humane Society, Saukville, WI 6:15pm Puppy ABC’s Ozaukee Humane Society, Saukville, WI For more information see 7:30pm

Pins for Pups bowling fundraiser for Furry Bottoms Rescue Maple Lanes, Sheboygan, WI 1:15pm - 4:15pm

Wearable Art and Wearable Arf exibit opens Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts, Cedarburg, WI Now thru July 3rd

For more information see the event poster on page 17 or visit the Pet Wellness Expo website at: www.PetWellnessExpo.com

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the event poster on page 9 For more information see the dog training list on page 17

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Furry Bottoms Rescue Meet & Greet Pet Smart, Sheb. Falls 10:00am - noon

Tax Day

Come meet wonderful dogs/puppies looking for their forever families.

More info at www.furrybottomsrescue.com or call 920.449.5084

Palm Sunday

Sheboygan County 4-H Cat Show Sheboygan Falls Municipal Building, Sheboygan Falls, WI 9am - 4pm For more information see the event poster on page 17.

Wisconsin Bat Festival Lake Farm Cty Park, Madison, WI 10am - 4pm

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For more information see the event poster on the Events page of the Pet Journal website at: www. petjournalmidwest.com.

Earth Day

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Wearable Art and Wearable Arf - Open House Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts, Cedarburg, WI 1pm - 4pm

Puppy ABC’s Ozaukee Humane Society, Saukville, WI 9:00am For more information see the dog training list on page 17

For more information see the event poster on page 9.

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Easter

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Administrative

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Professionals Day

30 Therapy Informational Session Ozaukee Humane Society, Saukville, WI 11:15am For more information see the dog training list on page 17

Pet Journal provides this calendar as a service to the local community. If you have an event that you would like listed please email us at: petjournal@petjournalmidwest.com, with the following information: date(s) and time(s) of event, your contact information, a short description of what will be happening, if it is a fundraiser please list who the proceeds are going to, and please list the subject as “PJ Calendar Submission.” Please send this to us no later than the 23rd of the month for inclusion into the next months issue. Thank you.

May 7 -8

Coming Soon

Horse-O-Rama at the Manitowoc County Expo Grounds For more information go to the Horse-O-Rama website: www.horse-o-rama.org

June 14 A Day in the Country - Mother, Daughter, Sister Mini-Retreat CoachHorse Welness Center, Kiel, WI See Event Lising on page 17 for more information

Lakeshore Region

PET JOURNAL

April 2011

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Ask the Alpha Dog

by Alpha Dog - Tamara Pool, 4-Paws Private Training, Sheboygan, WI alpha-dog@petjournalmidwest.com Jamie from Sheboygan writes, Bryan from Kenya, East Africa writes, I wanted to ask if it is too difficult to take on a 3 month old cross, German Shepherd and Rhodesian Ridgeback, as oppose to 7-8 weeks for a first time dog owner that quite busy, especially considering house training. Any advice will be much appreciated.

Dear Bryan, Any time you get a dog it is a good idea to work on potty training and establishing the rules of the house (ie. housetraining). Whether he’s 3 days, 3 months or 3 years, he’s brand new to your house. For a new pup, they are learning everything for the first time. This can have some advantages. For example, there will be no preconceived notions of right or wrong. You can set up the rules of the house as you see fit. On the other hand, adopting an older dog, they may already know some commands and this will make the training process go a bit faster. However, at the previous house he may have been allowed on the furniture or allowed to go upstairs or any number of other things that you may not want to allow.

In any case, you need to take the time to create the relationship and the connection. This is going to be important at any age.

That being said, having a puppy is not easy work. Having a 7-8 week old pup is more difficult than an older dog. A 7-8 week old will need constant supervision and a set schedule in order to properly potty train.

Introducing a kennel, or crate, as a bed would be ideal to aid in the potty training. For an older dog, it depends on how much potty training has already been done. However, even a perfectly potty trained dog will take some time to adjust to the new surroundings, new location of the door, etc. And you’ll need adjustment time for learning the cues he’ll give you to take him out. Dogs have their own language and we need to learn this language. This can take months of patience and observation. It all depends on how consistent you are and whether or not you can keep from getting frustrated. The more frustrated you get, the longer this process will take. It is easier said than done.

I am quite aware of this considering I recently got my own puppy. Frustration comes with the territory. But, not for dogs. Keep in mind that dogs, with their own language and social rules, have no knowledge of many human emotions. When they sense an emotion they do not understand, they will consider it a lack of leadership.

Owning a dog can be frustrating.

Keep this in mind and know that hiring a trainer, whether it’s a private trainer like me, or putting him in a class with other dogs, will help the connection between the two of you and help him know that you are in charge. At any age, your new furry friend will need a solid Alpha Dog. Sincerely, Alpha Dog

Dear Alpha Dog, I think our new Shepherd mix is afraid of my husband. He paces back and forth when Jim is sitting and he cowers when he’s walking around. I don’t know what to do.

Dear Jamie, I see this more often than you would think. There are reasons for everything. You never know what is going to trigger a reaction. It would be my guess that you adopted this dog from a shelter and he had been in bad situation prior to going there. Dogs will respond to visual cues that have yielded results before. An example would be, that a man with a beard caused him pain, so he will fear all men with beards.

Or someone with glasses caused him pain, so he will fear anyone with glasses.

As terrible as this situation is to think about, it does happen. The next step to take is to counteract it. Have your husband ignore him as much as possible. When he shows interest in Jim, have him give him a treat. Use moist treats that are smelly. The smellier, the better. This is a lure. It will lure him into a situation where he is getting good things from something that used to be a bad experience. Never force him to go near you husband.

This will reverse what you are trying to accomplish. He has to gradually realize that good things come from this person.

If you can get him to come to Jim and lay down long enough to get petted, you are on your way to a successful relationship. Being the Alpha Dog does not mean that you have to be stern and gruff all the time. The true meaning of being Alpha is that you are the one that all others in the pack turn to for guidance and support. Being Alpha has to start with trust.

Sincerely, Alpha Dog Note to the readers, I welcome all your questions and comments. If you read a question for which you would like your own answer for your own situation, or if you have a dog question you’d like answered, please email me at alphadog@petjournalmidwest.com.

8

PET JOURNAL

April 2011

Ask the Vet

by Dr. Carolyn Dell & Staff, Sheboygan Falls Veterinary Service ask-the-vet@petjournalmidwest.com We have received this timely question from Marlene in Sheboygan.

sores on the skin. If that happens, you may also need antibiotics.

“I have a Cairn terrier that is 10 and 3/4 years old. She has had three yeast ear infections that were treated in the last year. Otherwise, she is quite healthy for her age - she has no other problems, dental or otherwise, but keeps getting these ear problems. Can you explain why this is happening to her now in her senior years? Is there a homeopathic treatment or an over-thecounter preventative treatment?”

The most important thing to do is figure out what might be triggering the yeast in the first place and eliminate that from her life. Again, this is usually allergy-related. Once your have the current yeast infection under control, your vet can assist you in figuring out a maintenance/preventative routine.

This could be as easy as a bath with medicated shampoo once a week or as often as needed.

We understand your concern for her health and comfort. Ear problems are common and can be caused by a number of things. You mentioned yeast in your question and is seems to be turning into a chronic, recurring problem. This is most likely an allergic reaction, which is often related to seasonal pollen issues and can start up in the very early spring. If this seems to be happening to her all year round, then she could be allergic to something in her environment. It could be that she is exposed to cigarette smoke or it could be some ingredient in her food or treats.

Our pets can become allergic to something at any point in their lives, just like people who develop an allergy to something that never bothered them before.

Once you have ruled out other causes such as bacterial through professional diagnostic services, and definitely have yeast, there are ways to clear this up. There are ear cleaning products that can eliminate the yeast and/or prepare the ear for drops or ointments that can help your dog. You may also need to bathe the entire dog with a medicated shampoo to eliminate any yeast that is now on the rest of the dog. This can easily spread to the feet from scratching at the ears, and then sometimes to the mouth and face from licking the feet. Some cases require bathing every 3 days. The ear cleaners, drops, ointments and shampoos are prescriptions that need to be obtained from your vet. There are some cases where the yeast has become so overwhelming that topical treatment alone is not sufficient and systemic medication is needed as well. Yeast infections can be very, very itchy so there is concern for scratching to the point of leaving inflammation or even

Many thanks to Marlene for her question - we hope this information helps. Allergies and allergy-related skin issues cannot really be “cured” but can be managed quite successfully with help from your vet.

Sheboygan Falls Veterinary Service started seeing patients over 35 years ago. We help people take good care of their animal family members. Our emphasis is on preventative care and education.

Editors Note: Dr. Dell and her staff welcomes your questions on general pet topics; please email them at askthe-vet@petjournalmidwest.com or by mail at: Pet Journal Attn: Ask the Vet 3120 S Business Dr. Ste. 270 Sheboygan, WI 53081-6524

www.petjournalmidwest.com

Eastern Wisconsin Herptological Society and Rescue Care Sheet for Uromastyx

Species: Uromastyx Binomial Name: Approximately 13

species

Introduction: These lizards have only become popular over the last decade or so. There are approximately 13 species in the genus Uromastyx. They are adapted to arid regions and are found from northwestern India throughout southwestern Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and the Sahara of Africa (Moody 1987). Often called spiny tailed lizards or dab lizards. Seven species (U. ae-

gypticus, U. ornatus, U. maliensis, U. ocellatus, U. acanthinurus, U. hardwicki, and U. benti) that are occasion-

ally available in the United States. The other six are hardly ever imported.

The largest member of the species is U. aegypticus, which can weigh in at several pounds and be 30” or more in length. Other varieties are generally less than 14” in length.

Distinguishing Characteristics: Color varies dramatically between varieties and gender. Behavior also differs between varieties and individual lizards. Adaption to captivity is variable.

Uromastyx ornatus is rumored to have a death rate of as high as 80% during the first couple of months of captivity. Uromastyx aegypticus seems to be hardier and with proper treatment adapts to captivity. The Uromastyx is quite territorial and will defend their territory from other Uromastyx, other lizard species and other animals. Two males will fight and can have adverse effects on the loser’s health. Feeding may diminish and growth rates can be shunted. A male and a female may live comfortably together, although most keepers only introduce the two during mating season.

Housing: Cages can consist of a glass aquarium or a wooden box.

Husbandry: Cage décor and misc. items: The setup should represent a desert. Sand, dirt and newspaper are often used as a substrate. Make sure that you include rocks and a hide. Uromastyx is a burrower, so make sure that your rocks will not collapse on top of your lizard should they burrow under them.

Temps: The Uromastyx are a deep desert lizard, so they are used to hot, arid desert conditions. Daytime you should offer a hot side at 110-120°F and the cool side at 90°F. Nighttime temperatures should be 80-90°F. Do not let the temperature drop below

65°F. These lizards live in the arid desert therefore they need NO humidity.

Do not put a water bowl in with your Uromastyx.

Lighting: Ultraviolet B (UVB) Lighting is imperative. UVB is important to these lizards and direct sunlight (not through glass) is recommended. If you can’t give them direct sunlight a florescent UVB bulb should be used 10-12 hours a day. These bulbs should be replaced routinely every six months.

Substrate: Substrate can vary greatly depending on personal preference.

Newspaper and butcher paper, as well other papers that can be purchased in large quantity, on rolls are very effective. It is generally very inexpensive and easy to clean, bottom line; it is very functional but not necessarily aesthetically appealing. Another option is a more natural substrate, such as dirt or sand. Natural substrates have a couple advantages, as well as some very serious disadvantages. All of these should be taken into consideration when deciding on a substrate.

Natural substrate looks very nice; it is often used in zoos, or amongst collectors who display their animals. In addition Uromastyx are natural burrowers, and sometimes the ability to do so will make them more comfortable.

However, one should keep in mind when using these that feeding can be very dangerous. Ingestion of substrate can often lead to an impaction, often resulting in expensive vet bills, or worse death. In addition natural substrate has been known to cause infected hemipenes as well as infected cloacal tissue. Infection of hemipenes often occurs because males will randomly evert their hemipenes and bedding will stick to them. Both sexes may evert their cloacal tissue slightly when defecating; when organs are drawn back in any stuck on bedding may cause an infection. I have had good success and no problems with using calcium sand that is commercially available at most pet stores that carry reptile supplies.

Feeding Types of food: The Uromastyx is an omnivore. They should be offered a mixture of feeder insects and a salad.

Wax worms, mealworms, crickets and super worms will suffice for the meat.

The salad should consist of a wide variety of vegetables and fruit: see

Uromastyx on page 19.

PET JOURNAL

Lakeshore Region

April 2011

9

Best of the Best

by Kathy Beer, Free Roaming Felines The Fancy Feline Fair isn’t really a cat show. It’s a celebration. It’s a time to celebrate felines who have walked on different paths. It’s a time to celebrate life, especially the life of those felines who come from the “other side of the tracks.”

Every year, there are always a couple of purebreds entered in the show.

These are the guys who are born with a golden spoon in their mouths. They usually were born in a cattery nursery, complete with lace curtains, cushy pillows, and warm, snuggly cat beds.

They play because it’s fun and because it’s a great way to pass their leisure time. They love people because people have always loved them. They have always been clean and adorable. Their trust in people began at a very young age and they’ve always had “shelter from the storm.” The purebreds have a right to be at the Fair like any other feline present. However, they come with a slightly different attitude and it is hoped that they win at least one ribbon and leave with a very positive attitude about cat shows and showing.

PETS AVAILABLE

DOB 4/25/08 Domestic, Short Hair – Tabby and white – Male. Hi I’m Jesse, I suffer from chronic congestion, and just recently the vet discovered a growth in my ear which they think may be causing the problem. I need to have expensive surgery to remove the polyp, please help pay for this by donating to TLP’s Amelia fund which helps pay for medical care for special needs animals like me. For more information please email info@twoleftpaws.org or call 920-331-0100.

FOR

ADOPTION

Mindy has been enrolled in the Free Roamer Program for about a year.

She was, most likely, someone’s housecat who found herself “on the street” when she became an adult cat. Or, maybe, a family moved, or maybe they just stopped caring. We picked her up from the local shelter. She was labeled “feral,” “wild,” and unsuitable for adoption. Mindi knows there is a “forever” home out there somewhere. It’s just a matter of finding it. Mindi is Shirley’s foster Roamer. Please call 920-973-1169 if you could share your life with Mindi.

Clyde has never had a real home to call his own.

Maybe someone cared about him once, but it couldn’t have been for long. Clyde is a dog at the Lakeshore Humane Society. He came in as a stray when he was just a few months old, found in a park in Manitowoc on August 23rd 2010. Over the past many months, Clyde has made leaps and bounds in a positive way. Clyde is still rough around the edges, but he is getting the hang of the “good dog gig”. He would benefit in the home of an experienced dog owner with no children or cats. Clyde is worth the investment, but we need someone special to take him in. Maybe you could be the person that gives him his forever home. www.lakeshorehumane.com.

AT

AREA RESCUES

AND

My name is Ali and I am a stunning white with black markings all over my body. The back of my legs look like I am wearing black leggings with white boots. Yes I am a show stopper and I am sure to please your family. Belly rubs are my favorite! You can put me to sleep and I have expressions that will melt your heart. I get along great with other dogs. I use to have a little friend I would watch her while she colored. But I was sent away. I am updated on my shots and I am proudly spayed. If you are interested in me, please contact Mecca’s Pit Bull Rescue (920) 627-6727 or visit www.meccapitbullrescue.com.

No one knows why our sweet quiet, loving Dezi doesn’t have a home yet as she has been waiting since June of last year. Dezi is a 10 year old young spayed female who needs to be the queen of her castle....no other cats that is! Dezi has no teeth due to a tough life but she holds no grudges. She simply loves. She would like nothing more than a warm lap, kind hands to pet her and a welcoming voice to listen to all day long. She is best in a home with older kids who would like a friendly cat or an older couple with a warm, loving lap for Dezi to relax in. Either way, Dezi is a great cat in need of a great home!

Please contact the Washington County Humane Society at 262-677-4388 or www.washingtoncountyhumane.org for more information.

Household Pets bring a variety of attitudes to a cat show. Some are very relaxed, others are curious, and a small group of felines act like they would rather be home, sitting on the sofa and watching a good TV program. However the cat behaves, it’s the cat’s call.

Felines are permitted this eccentric nature. That’s why we love them.

Captain Jack Sparrow is a former Free Roamer. He came to the Roamer program in the early summer of 2010 with his siblings. There were 4 other kittens in his litter. They were born in a mud pile in a rural backyard. He learned to play as a preliminary step to hunting for food. His mom was a country gal who had a fling with a country fellow and the result was Captain Jack and his sibling crew. After his litter was brought to the Roamer program, his mom was sterilized and was placed at an indoor location. Jack was soon adopted and went to a forever home. Captain Jack is very personable, likes just about anything and anybody. He likes cat shows and usually wins awards. see

Feline on page 18.

SHELTERS

DOB 8/14/10 Domestic, Medium Hair - Orange – Female. Hi, I’m Sassy I am considered special needs as I have a condition called Mega Esophagus, which restricted my ability to eat and gain weight.

Thanks to TLP, I have had surgery that is helping me eat more like a normal kitten. For more information, please email info@twoleftpaws.org or call 920-331-0100.

Meet Jan, a gorgeous 1-year-old English Spot female rabbit. Pretty as a picture, this girl has a baby soft coat, with beautiful brown spots, and expressive brown eyes. She loves to be stroked, and she will eagerly snuggle with you once she feels comfortable. This gentle girl also enjoys eating her favorite fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as playing with paper towel tubes. Like all the adoptable rabbits, Jan was spayed, and microchipped, and is all set to hop into your heart... and home! Visit her at 630 W Dekora St. in Saukville, or visit www.ozaukeehumane.org, which updates adoptable animals every 30 minutes.

10

April 2011

PET JOURNAL

www.petjournalmidwest.com

Lakeshore Region

Pictures from the Fancy Feline Fair, Saturday March 27, J.E. Hamilton Community House, Two River, WI

Above: Ava, Spinx, Lisa, S., Sheboygan Above Right: Jilli, Persian/ Hymalayan/Siamese mix, Chris K., Two Rivers Right: River Song, Havana Brown, Debbie W, Rhinelander Below: Vanna, Tortoise shell, Ruth F., Manitowoc

Clockwise from upper left: Main areas of the Ozaukee Shelter; Adoptions counter, Arivals area, the Briar Patch (rabbits), Cat Cottage, Pooch Palace entrance, Cat Chalet, and Animal Antics (gift shop).

Alaskan Malamute Club of Wisconsin Weight Pull at Pet Supply Port Saturday, March 12th

winner of the 61 - 80 lb weight class that day

Above: Double Stuff, Alaskian Malmute, Bill & Kris K., a comedian puller, likes to dance and hop while pulling Left: Cheddar, Alaskian Malmute, Rick & Bev P. Below left: Tank, Alaskian Malmute, Matt & Andrea S. Below right: Blaze, Alaskian Malmute, Mark & Kim C.

April 2011 11

Opening Day of the NEW Wisconsin Humane Societies, Ozaukee Campus Saturday, March 26th

Clockwise from above to Below Left: Jack Sparrio, Black Tabby, BritnyLe G., Manitowoc Edward, Red Lynx Point, Alyssa C., Valders Konstantine aka “Lucky”, Flame Point, BritnyLe G., Manitowoc Plinko (front) & Rico (back), Cream & White, Seth L., Reedsville Keylee, Torbie & White, Joni S., Sheboygan

Above left: Ikey, Alaskain Malmute, Jen E.

PET JOURNAL

Central Bark Manitowc’s 3rd Anniversary Open House and Mascot Race March, 13th

Upper right: Stu, American Pit Bull Terrier, Todd & Jolene T., she weighs only 59 lb and can pull 2135 lbs!

Above: Sophie, Pit Bull, Nicole D., she weighs only 32lb. and can pull 1950 lbs.

Right: Tater Tot, Dogue De Bordeau & American Bulldog mix, Jim & Cynda S, winner of his weight class in the 2010-11 season Below: Devon, Alaskian Malamute, Matt & Andrea S., has spent time going to dog shows in england.

Photo Credits for this Page: Fancy Feline Fair - L. Schneider - Pet Journal Alaskian Malamute Club of WI Weight Pull - Alaskian Malmute Club of WI Ozaukee Human Society Shelter Opening - L. Schneider - Pet Journal (except where noted) Central Bark 3rd Anniversary Open House - A. Spalding - Central Bark Manitowoc

3 pictures to left: Macot race featuring Barkley (CB Masoct), Mc Gruff, and Fire Pup - Mc Gruff won!

Upper Right: Tank (Doberman) challenges Max (Yellow Lab) in hot dog bobbing Tank won!

Lower Right: left to right: Officer J. Koening, Captain L. Zimmey, Fire Pup, A. Spalding - Manitowoc CB Owner, Mc Gruff, Chief T. Dick, Barkley, amd Sargent B. Jacobs Below: Barkley, Manitowoc Mayor J. Nickels, A Spalding (w/son Breck), W. GronLeft and Below: Officers mark - Manitowoc CB Groomer, E. Moleski - Manitowoc CB Lead Handler, and Officer Webber, Schaefer, and J. Webber - Manitowoc K-9 Unit Aik deminstrate Aik dutie in the K-9 unit.

Above: Ribbon Cutting (left to right:) J. & E. Feith, Club Bark Children, B.Maresh - Ozaukee Shelter Dir., T. Enea - WHS Board Pres., and A. Reed - WHS Executive Dir. (photo by WHS) Below left: Little Bit, Brown & White Bicolor (front) & Sunny, Domestic Shorthair (rear) Below right: George, Blue Tabby Bottom: Kay, Kippy & Kilgor, Australian Cattle Dog Mix,

12

PET JOURNAL

April 2011

PHOTO GALLERY

Louie wanting the picture to be over, LuAnn M., Sheboygan Falls, WI

OF

READERS PETS

Lucky in the yard, Mary W., Washington County

Officer Aik of the Manitowoc K-9 Unit while off duty, Officer Jeremy Webber., Manitowoc, WI

Deeva in the flower bed, Angela D., Manitowoc, WI

www.petjournalmidwest.com

Tucker looking cute, Shelly, Location not Given

Shandi loving the camera, Dave H., Cedarburg, WI

If you would like to see your pet(s) on this page, please email them to us at petphotos@petjournalmidwest.com with a short description including: your pets name, your name, city, and a little statement about what they are doing in the photo. If you do not have email and would like to mail a glossy photo, please mail it to our mailing address: Pet Journal, attn: Pet Photos, 3120 S. Business Dr. Suite 270, Sheboygan, WI 53081-6524 (all photos received by mail will be returned after they have been scanned for print.) All photos received will also be posted in our online photo gallery at http://images.petjournalmidwest.com/gallery.html, due to space limitation’s some submissions may not be printed in Pet Journal the same month they are received.

PHOTO

OF OUR BUT

FRIENDS WHO ARE GONE, NOT FORGOTTEN

Octavivs Rex tring to sleep, Paul S., Sheboygan, WI

Lakeshore Region

PET JOURNAL

April 2011

13

Center for Avian Rehibilitation & Education, Inc.

by Lori Drew, CARE, Richfiield, WI The Center for Avian Rehabilitation & Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax exempt animal welfare organization. Our primary goal is to educate the public about exotic birds, to rehabilitate exotic birds that need physical or mental rehabilitation, and to find quality homes for the birds once they are deemed adoptable.

We are located in Richfield, WI (our mailing address is Hubertus). We have a 1,000 square foot aviary, a boarding room, a small retail area and some office space. We have been in Richfield since May 1, 2004.

Historically, I founded The Pet Network, Inc. in January, 1996. I had been the operations manager at a local humane society and, although our euthanasia percentage was very low, I knew we were euthanizing animals that could be saved in the right environment. So, I quit my job and decided to train to be a Certified Veterinary Technician. I became a CVT in 2002. Because of my animal welfare involvement, I was constantly getting calls at the vet clinic I worked at to help find a home for this

animal and that animal. I was spending my personal time trying to find homes for especially the special needs and senior animals. That was when I got the idea to create my own non-profit organization to help place the special animals. In January, 1996, we became The Pet Network Inc. Once people found out about us, we grew in leaps and bounds. Coincidentally, we started taking in more and more birds. Humane societies are not normally equipped to deal with birds, especially the large ones. I had always had a love of birds and am always willing to learn, so we started becoming the bird specialists. By the time we got our 501(c)(3) Letter of Determination in February of 1998, we were pretty much only working with birds. And it’s been that way ever since.

In September, 2000, we opened a small shelter in Milwaukee. That first year in Milwaukee we had 319 birds surrendered to us. It’s grown ever since.

In 2003, our Board decided that we wanted to change our name to reflect

what we had been doing now for several years, so in May of 2004 The Pet Network became the Center for Avian Rehabilitation & Education Inc. (CARE).

And in May of 2004, we moved up to the Richfield area.

We will take in any type of exotic bird, from finches to macaws. We do not take in any birds native to the United States. Those birds need to go to licensed wildlife rehabilitators.

All of our large birds are vetted, with bloodwork, to make sure they are healthy and are not carrying any zoonotic diseases. Unfortunately, we are unable to do preventive medicine with the smaller birds. However, any bird that appears to have any health issues at all sees our veterinarian. We do not take chances. Our goal is to make sure

each bird is healthy, on a good diet, social, responding to enrichment and able to forage in its cage. The birds are caged for their safety but are taken out and played with on a regular basis.

We work with the birds that are not handlable at their pace and hope that we can get them to the point where they willingly seek out human attention.

These types of exotic birds, even the smaller ones, can live from into their teens up to 80 years, depending upon the breed. I have personally seen a 76 year old Amazon and a 37 year old Cockatiel. Owning a bird is truly a lifetime commitment. Birds are not appropriate pets in many American homes, but if you are one of the homes that is truly bird friendly, you will make a friend for life.

May I Introduce... Fido from Cats International, www.catsintermational.org When introducing a dog to a cat, the question is really one of proper dog training. Dogs usually want to chase and play with cats, and cats are usually afraid and defensive. After all, the cat has a lot more to lose if the relationship gets nasty. Once the cat is confident that the dog does not pose a threat, then the opportunity opens for a wonderful friendship to blossom.

your dog the command to either “sit” or “down” and “stay”. Reinforce compliance with food rewards. Have a family member enter the room and quietly sit down with the cat on his lap. At first the cat and dog should be on opposite sides of the room. Repeat this step several times until both the cat and the dog are tolerating each other without signs of aggression or fear.

1. As with all animal introductions, scent is the all-important factor in getting acquainted. Before letting the pets have visual contact with each other, let them sniff each other’s bedding.

4. Next, move the animals closer together, with the dog still on the leash and the cat gently held in a lap. If the cat does not like to be held, you can use a wire crate or carrier instead. If the dog gets up from his “stay” position, he should be firmly repositioned, and praised and rewarded for obeying the “stay” command. If the cat becomes frightened, increase the distance between the animals and progress more slowly.

2. The dog should know some basic commands like “sit”, “down”, “come”, and “stay”. Reward obedience with food treats so that the motivation to comply will be strong enough to withstand the distraction of having a cat in the room.

3. After the basic training is master, it is time for a face-to-face introduction in a controlled manner. Wearing a training collar and a leash, give

5. Initially, the dog should always be wearing a training collar and a leash when the cat is present so that any attempt to bark at, or chase, the cat can

See Fido on page 14.

14

PET JOURNAL

April 2011

www.petjournalmidwest.com

FIND PET JOURNAL

A Book Review

by Linda Ledbetter, Animal Conections I love to read, yet time does not always allow me the privledge to read everything I find tempting. Within the last year I have been reading books about animals for my Healing Touch for Animals certification. The wealth of information I received I believe has helped me not only as a professional, but more so as a pet owner. I believe it is my job to help educate myself and others on the health and well being of our beloved animals. Thus, the first book reviews for Pet Journal and all its readers.

Through a Dog’s Ear; Using Sound to Improve the Health & Behavior of Your Canine Companion

By Joshua Leeds & Susan Wagner, DVM, MS Sound bombards us every day, all day long. We wake up to the alarm clock either with the obnoxious buzzing or tuned to our favorite radio station, for others music playing in your ears all night long. TV’s, radios, IPods, MP3 players at work, play and even walking the dog. Trucks, trains, planes honking horns, screaming kids, neighbors, barking dogs… just the thought makes me cover my ears with my hands and scream STOP! Noise causes stress. All this time we thought it was our jobs, coworkers, bosses, family and on occasions, our friends creating the stress in our lives. The human race loves their noise. We claim it calms us and thus we transfer this belief to be true for our animals. Animals love music and they can be very selective, they also need everyone and everything to quiet down.

One hundred and fifty animals with behavioral, anxiety, and a variety of health conditions took part in a yearlong study on the affects of music. These animals were in shelters, veterinary clinics, service dog groups, grooming facilities and in family settings. What they found the most effective in reducing stress was classical music. The authors go into great de-

tail with their findings of how music can calm, energize or disrupt our nervous system.

So why do some animals respond in pure terror to thunderstorms hours before the first signs reaches our attention? Why do others sleep right through it? Why do some dogs respond negatively to blaring car horns and others don’t? Animals have a sensitive hearing system as we all well know. They listen to the sounds of our footsteps, and those of our neighbors.

They are also picking up vibration, also known as energy. Music has energy waves which affect our nervous system. Stress the nervous system, and with the snap of the finger, our moods change. Long term stress, creates behavioral and health concerns in all species, including humans. The noise of the world alone, often times over loads the sensory system; Animals need quiet time just as we do.

Joshua Leeds and Dr Susan Wagner, has done a remarkable job bringing to our attention the importance of sound in our dog’s life. Their break through research will impact how shelters, rescues and families view how sounds affect our pets. If we are desiring peace and quiet in our lives, why not the animals? This book is a must read for everyone, especially those working in shelters. The information within the pages is worth the time to read. It can change how you view your dog’s life as well as your own.

Note from Linda: The unpleasant behaviors we and our pets are experiencing may be caused directly by noise. So ask yourself, “What can I learn from my dog that just may reduce my stress?”

AT THESE

LOCATIONS

Landmark Feed, Seed & Supply N58 W6181 Columbia Rd Ne Cedarburg, WI L oc w atio 262 375-2909 n!

Friends of Nature 433 E Washington St Slinger, WI 262 644-4088

Doggie Do’s by Lou 311 e Main St Chilton, WI

Joys of Grooming 1706 N Main St West Bend, WI 262 338-2506

Ne L oc w atio n!

Ne L oc w atio n!

The UPS Store - Sheboygan 3120 S Business Dr Sheboygan, WI 920 453-5934

Pet Supply Port 620 E Green Bay Ave Saukville, WI 262 268-9966

Talk to the Paw 1011 Washington St Manitowoc, WI 920 684-9663

Pet Central 302 Prospect Ave. North Fond Du Lac, WI 920 929-6508

Fringe Benefits Thrift Store 725 S. Taylor Dr., Sheboygan & 223 N. Seymour St., Fond Du Lac

BP - Q Mart - Store #238 4650 S 12th St Sheboygan, WI 920 452-6646

Lincoln Tropical Fish & Pets 10 S Main St Hartford, WI 262 673-7470

Citgo - Q Mart - Store #218 3517 Washington Ave Sheboygan, WI 920 459-6061

Animal Outfiters 661 S. Military Ave. Fond Du Lac, WI

Banner Feed W993 State Hew. 23 Mt. Calvary, WI 920 922-5016

Walgreen’s Drugstores Chilton, Fond Du Lac, Manitowoc, Plymouth, Sheboygan, & Two Rivers, WI

Walgreen’s Drugstores Cedarburg, Grafton, Hartford, Jackson, Saukville, &West Bend, WI

Sheboygan Falls Vet Service 224 Monroe St. Sheboygan Falls, WI 920 467-3114 Sud-Z-Paws 2525 S. Business Dr. Sheboygan, WI 920 457-7297 Legacy Studios 1402 S. 12th St Sheboygan, WI 920 803-8880

For more locations please visit our website at: www.petjournalmidwest.com and click on the link “Where can I find Pet Journal..”

Fido from page 13. be halted instantly. Praise and food treats should be lavished on the dog when he is calm and obedient in the cat’s presence. (If he is only punished when the cat is around, he may redirect aggression toward the cat.)

Precautions: Keep the dog and cat separated when you are not home until you are certain that the cat will be safe. Be sure that the cat does not have to pass by the dog’s area to get to the litterboxes or he may look for a safer and more convenient toilet area.

As some dogs enjoy “raiding” the litterbox, it may be best to place a baby

gate across the entrance of the room to allow the cat, but not the dog, to pass through.

Editors Note: Cats International was founded Betsy Lipscomb, a cat behavioral expert. If you would like more information on Cats International or for cat behavioral assistance, please visit the Cats International website, www.catsinternational.org.

Reprinted with permission.

PET JOURNAL

Lakeshore Region

Grooming your Pet

by Dede Diehl, Silde Kennels and Grooming groomingyourpet@petjournalmidwest.com Hi! It’s me again! I hope you are doing fine and are as ready for this illusive spring as I am. Now to our question.

Dede, I have an Australian Sheep dog that loves to run and play on the wooded acreage behind my house. She has come home a couple times, after having one of her adventures, with tree sap in her fur. The first couple of times I simply cut that portion off. She wasn’t too happy with her new look, but she got over it. I was wondering if there is a way to remove the sap without cutting off the fur. This would save her from having the infamous patchy look she so dislikes.

On a similar topic, she also will come home at times and smell terrible. I have no idea what she’s getting into, but it truly stinks. I have walked around looking for the source, but have found nothing. Shampoo doesn’t seem to be able to completely remove this smell and it usually takes about a week for it completely remove this smell and it usually takes about a week for it to completely dissipate. Is there a neutralizing shampoo that would help?

Thanks, Brian T, Fond Du Lac First, I will deal with the smelly issue. Dogs seem to have a pension for rolling in any stinky pile of anything; manure, dead fish, rabbit pellets, old food….anything. There is no magic

bullet! However, I will try to help you find something that helps. You can use an odor neutralizer. There are many of them on the market. I like our own Superior Chemical’s Molecule 100. It is an air odor neutralizer and very mild and smells nice, much better than the stinky monster that has just rolled in a pile of manure. It works for skunk, so it will work on other odors as well.

Spray directly on the hair, all the hair, leave on for about 3 – 5 minutes, then rinse and shampoo with a good quality shampoo. There are ore other odor neutralizers on the market, any product that removes odor will work on your “stinky roller.”

Now I need to explain a little about how and why the hair remains stinky.

The hair shaft is porous and the stuff in the stinky materiall, be it either oil, ect, gets into the pores of the hair and does not come out. Then every time the dog gets wet, he “stinks” again. You cannot totally get rid of the “stink” until either the hair is shaved off or he sheds most of his hair in his seasonal shed. Be patient – the “stink” will not kill you or the dog and you cannot change the nature of our lively canine pals!!

Next, we have the problem of tree sap. First, I would try peanut butter, creamy that is. Yes, I said peanut butter. The oils in peanut butter will soften things like bubblegum and other tacky stuff.

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Coming in May Now that the Easter and Spring Break and has come and gone and then here comes May Day and Mothers Day. Spring has finally spung and the May issue of Pet Journal will be available! Coming in the May issue we will be bringing to you the following:

More articles of Pet/Animal and Ecology interest.

More from our columnists: Ask the Alpha Dog, Alpha Dog Ask the Vet, Dr. Dell and staff Ask Scrappy!, Scrappy Grooming your Pet, Dede Holistic & Natural Options for your Pets, Shellie Another Pet Journal Word Search Pictures of your Pet and more!

See Grooming on page 18.

January Word Search Answers

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PET JOURNAL CLASSIFIED’S Pet Journal classifieds are a free service for our readers. Classifieds are for free or paid services offered by individuals or families, such as a teenager looking for a dog walking job over the summer. Classifieds are also available for our Local Humane Societies/Shelters and Animal Rescues to post their needs lists. Please contact the respective Humane Society/Shelter/Rescue if you have questions or would like to donate an item or two. Events from our advertisers and readers will also be printed as space allows.

To place your classified ad please email Pet Journal at: petjournal@petjournalmidwest. com. Please include the following when submitting your classified: Name, Phone, email, best time to call (in case there is a problem with your classified ad), what text you would like in your ad. Please limit to 25 words and keep your wording clean. Remember this is a family paper. How many months you would like the listing to be available for, and list in the subject of your email “PJ Classified”. If you would prefer to mail it to us, you may do so, with the same items as requested above.

Mail it to: Pet Journal attn: PJ Classified’s 3120 S. Business Dr. STE 270 Sheboygan, WI 53081-6524 Please submit your classified no later than the 20th of the month to make the next edition.

Section 1: Individual/Family Classifieds Section 1.1: Puppies for Sale Female HavaMalt puppy, non-shed darling looking for her forever family. Home-raised, both parents on site, shots, $600. Call Gail for more info 262 424-3238. Pet Journal February cover is one of the pups of the litter!

Section 2: Humane Societies & Animal Rescues/Shelters Needs Lists Section 2.1: Humane Societies Eastshore Humane Association of Chilton, WI is looking for: • Non-scoopable Cat Litter • Purina Cat Chow -or• Purina Complete • Purina Dog Chow • Laundry Detergent To donate any items on this list or if you have any questions, please contact Eastshore Humane Association at: 920.849.2390, by email at: ehashelter@gmail.com or you may visit their website: www.eastshoreha.org.

EASTSHORE HUMANE ASSOCIATION COLLECTS WEIGHT CIRCLES FROM PURINA CAT AND DOG FOOD PRODUCTS Please help out by sending us the weight circles. The Purina products include: Purina dog and cat food products such as Pro Plan, Purina One, Purina Cat Chow & Kitten Chow, Kit ‘N Kaboodle, Happy Cat, Purina Veterinary Diets.

These weight circles enable Eastshore to earn points toward the purchase of Purina products for the shelter animals. As an added bonus, the weight circles from Purina dog food products can also be used to help Eastshore Humane pay the veterinarian bills!

Fond Du Lac Humane Society of Fond Du Lac, WI is looking for: • Dog Needs • Kong’s and kong rubber balls • Dog toys • Peanut butter • Cheese whiz • Plain yogurt • Dog Treats • Easy-walk Harnesses (all sizes) • Durable Leashes • Kuranda dog beds (check our website) • Any dog related items • new or used • Cat Needs • Kitty Litter (non-clumping) • Purina Cat and Kitten Chow • Chicken or Turkey baby food (human) • Toys and Cat trees • Kitten milk replacer • Any cat or kitten related items - new or used • Small Animal Needs • Pellet rabbit food • Timothy Hay • Bedding & Litter (no pine or cedar please) • Any small animal related items - new or used • Other Needs • Bleach • Q-tips • Band-aids • First Aid & Medical supplies • Rubbing Alcohol • Laundry Detergent • Garbage Bags (20 gal or larger) • Dawn dish soap • Mop heads (heavy duty) • Paper towels • Sandwich Bags (Ziploc or fold top) • Small paper plates & paper cups • Copy paper - white or color • Stamps To donate any items on this list or if you have any questions, please contact the Fond Du Lac Humane Society at: 920.922.8873 or visit their website: www.fonddulachumanesociety. org.

Ozaukee Humane Society of Saukville, WI is looking for: • Digital Camera with rechargeable battery, at least 7 megapixel preferred • Dish Soap • Small Dog Training Treats • Laundry Detergent (for High Efficiency Washers) • Postage stamps • Kongs • Fabric - large, colorful solid material • 8 oz. - 12 oz. disposable cups • 45-gallon garbage bags • Aspen Bedding • Bleach • Bottle Brushes • Cardstock paper • Cat-nail clippers (scissor type) • Cat toys • Copy paper, white & color, 8.5” x 11” • Dog toys (Nylabones, squeaky toys, ropes, hard rubber balls, ect.)

• Hand Sanitizer • Highlighters • Kitchen scrub brushes with handles • LaserJet mailing labels (Avery 5160) • Lingerie bags (for washing small toys) • Mailing envelopes, 9 x 12 or 10 x 13 • Manila folders (letter size only) • Paper towels • Peanut butter • Pens • Post-it-notes • Printer ink cartridges ◊ Canon (5PGBK, 8C, 8M, 8Y) ◊ HP (23, 45, 92, 94, 95) • Rabbit pellets (no fruit or seed mix) • Rechargeable AA batteries, with charger • Scissors • Soft Dog Toys • Staples • Steno notepads • Stretch & “Scratch” cardboard scratching

• • • • •

pads Swiffer Dusters Timothy hay Toilet paper Vinyl (non-latex) gloves Wild birdseed

To donate any items on this list or if you have any questions, please contact the Ozaukee Humane Society at: 262.377.7580, by email at: info@ozaukeehumane.org or you may visit their website: www.ozaukeehumane.org.

The Sheboygan County Humane Society of Sheboygan, WI is looking for: • Monetary donations • Gift cards for gas • Gift cards for pet supplies • Gift cards from retail stores • Cat toys • Canned cat food • Kitty litter (non-clumping) • Litter pans • Litter scoops • Laundry soap • Non-clorox bleach • Dish detergent • Paper towel • Scotch scrubbing pads • Rawhide chews for dogs • Dog toys and tennis balls • Science diet pet foods • Copy paper • Office supplies • Foster Homes • Volunteers To donate any items on this list or if you have any questions, please contact the Sheboygan County Humane Society at: 920.458.2012 or visit their website at: www.mySCHS.com.

Washington County Humane Society of Slinger, WI is looking for: Items marked with a * are priority needs.

• Animal Needs ◊ Dog Needs ● “Natures Variety Instinct” or Grain free Dog Food* (for dogs with special dietary needs) ● Purina Puppy chow ● Liver Sausage (to hide medication for dogs) ◊ Cat Needs ● Non-scoopable cat litter* (we always need litter) ● “Before Grain” dry food* (for cats with special dietary needs) ● Septic Swaps* (can get at Walgreens) ● Baby Food* ● Feliway Spray ◊ Small Animal Needs ● Hamster/Gerbil food* ● Aspen bedding* (can get at Fleet Farm - called Horse Cubes) ● Timothy Hay* ● Carefresh pet bedding* (any color) ● Vita drops* ● Ferret Vite* ● Guinea Pig food ● Toys/Treats ● Plastic Slinkys ● Rat pellets ● Ferret food • Shelter Needs ◊ Nurtical* ◊ Paper plates ◊ Toilet Paper ◊ Oster shaver blades - #40 ◊ Fabuloso floor cleaner ◊ Plastic clipboards - 9” x 12” ◊ 75 to 100 ft. Industrial strength hoses ◊ New or working Dehumidifiers ◊ New or working Chest Freezers ◊ Postage stamps ◊ Thick “Welding” leather gloves (should go to the elbow) ◊ Eraser board markers ◊ Heating Pads with temp adjustment ◊ Gift Cards (Walmart, Office Max, Fleet Farm, Menards, Gas Cards)

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Toner for printers: ● HP DeskJet 990cse #78 - color ● HP DeskJet 990cse #45 - black ● HP #28 - Tricolor ● HP #27 - Black ● HP LaserJet 2200d #96A - black To donate any items on this list or if you have any questions, please contact the Washington County Humane Society at: 262.677.0388, by email at: wchs@washingtoncountyhumane. org or visit there website at: www.washingtoncountyhumane.org.

Section 2.2: Animal Rescues & Shelters Furry Bottoms Rescue of Plymouth, WI is looking for: • Small Refrigerator • 4 - 4-shelve storage units on wheels To donate any items on this list or if you have any questions, please contact the Furry Bottoms Rescue at: 920.449.5084, by email at: info@furrybottomsrescue.com or visit their website: www.furrybottomsrescue.com.

Mecca’s Pit Bull Rescue of Sheboygan, WI is looking for: • Paper towels • Lysol Spray • Dog toys • Puppy food - moist and dry • Bowls • Leashes • Collars • Volunteers • Wisconsin Foster Homes To donate any items on this list or if you have any questions, please contact Mecca’s Pit Bull Rescue at: 920.627.6727, by email at: mecca@meccapitbullrescue.com or visit there website at: www.meccapitbullrescue.com.

Two Left Paws of Sheboygan, WI is looking for: • Dog/Cat food (Evo, Fromm, Wellnes, Feliade, Canide) • Canned wet food (any kind) • Clumping litter (any kind, non-sented) • Litter scoops • Puppy pads • Dog/Cat treats • Dog/Cat toys • Dog/Cat beds • Towels • Paper towels • Disposable gloves • Kennels • Cages • Live traps for Small Animals • Fleet Farm gift cards To donate any items on this list or if yoou have any questions, please contact Two Left Paws Animal Sanctuary at: 920.331.0100 or via their website at: www.twoleftpaws.org.

Section 3: Event Posters

Lakeshore Region

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PET JOURNAL CLASSIFIED’S

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Grooming from page 15.

Feline from page 15.

If this does not work, I would get a bit tougher and use something like Googone. I would try not to get it on the dog’s skin and after using it; I would give the dog a bath and try to make sure there is none left on the skin or hair. I think this will work. I asked around and this is all I could come up with. I hope it works for you!

Like the real Captain Jack Sparrow, Jack is out-going, active, and ready for almost any kind of action. Jack went to the Fair on Sunday. He didn’t really want to go home at the end of the show, but was promised that he could enter another show very soon.

Until next month, Dede

Editors Note: Dede welcomes your questions on animal grooming; please email her at groomingyourpet@petjournalmidwest.com or by mail at: Pet Journal Attn: Grooming your Pet 3120 S Business Dr. Ste. 270 Sheboygan, WI 53081-6524

At the end of a cat show, there is always a Best of the Best Award. This is the feline that the judges deem to be exceptional in every respect. At the Fair, there is also an “invisible” Best of the Best Award. This award is not handed out, but it is understood. It’s an award that says, “We made it. We count too. We are the product of natural selection. We stand in place and represent felines, past and present.

Free Roamers, be they either feral, from the barn, or neighborhood strays are survivors. They are the product of a natural selective breeding that has occurred for generations. This breeding has not allowed the weak to continue on. This breeding has produced a line of felines that have developed a natural immunity to a variety of diseases and are in remarkably good health. This breeding has only allowed the smartest to survive.

The Feline Fair seeks to educate, to demonstrate, and to display the “Best of the Best.”

Editors Note: Pictures from the Fancy Feline Fair appear on page 10.

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ADOPTION AVIAN BEES BOOK REVIEW CARE CENTRAL BARK COLONY COLLAPSE EARTH DAY EASTER FANCY FELINE FAIR FERRETS FRIEND GROOMING HORSE O RAMA KENYA KITTENS OZAUKEE HUMANE SOCIETY PET FENCING PUPPIES RABBIT RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK TRAINING UROMASTYX WEARABLE ART WIGHTPULL

Words to find, they can go across, up or down, or diagonally. Answers will appear in next months issue or on the Pet Journal website about the 20th of the month, on the Lakeshore Region page.

Lakeshore Region

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Frequency: They should be offered a fresh salad daily and meat 2-3 times a week.

Allow the habitat to air out after using a solution before returning them to it. Spot cleaning should be done as often as needed, whenever the animal defecates or urinates. In additional a heavily diluted bleach or Listerine solution should be used to scrub the inside of the cage weekly. If using a natural substrate it should be completely changed every 2-4 weeks as needed, frequency should really be based on frequency of defecation and urination. It is imperative to prevent mold growth. Inhalation of mold spores can result in serious respiratory illness.

Maintenance: It is important to provide all reptiles with a clean environment to live in. Always remove your animal from their habitat before cleaning with a disinfecting solution.

References: “Basic care for Uromastyx Lizards” by Audrey Vanderlinden Edited by Susan Horton, DVM http://www.exoticpetvet.com/

Uromastyx from page 14. greens (kale, collard, mustard greens, dandelion greens and flowers, turnip greens), sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, strawberries, corn, split peas, green beans and a bird seed mix. You can use frozen/thawed mixed vegetables to provide a variety of good veggies. Most of their water comes from their food.

“The Lizard Lounge” http://www.the-lizard-lounge.com ”Herp Care Collection” Melissa Kaplan http://www.anapsid.org/ “Basic care for Uromastyx” http://www.angelfire/super/urozone/ info/care.html Editors Note: For more information on the Eastern Wisconsin Herpetological Society and Rescue please visit their website at: www.easternwiherps.com.

Pictured below and right are various Uromastyx’s found on the internet.

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