May/June 2013 Issue of Pet Me! Magazine

May/June 2013

Your Guide To All Things Pets

The Plight of the

Lethal Whites PLUS: The Language of Touch Get Your Groom On Anesthesia & Your Pet Pet Me! Spotlight & Much More!

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Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

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JASMINE Meet petite lovely little Jasmine. 9 years young and full of life. Jasmine was abandoned by her family and had one day left at the shelter. She had a little cold, but is now good as new. She gets along well with other kitties. She is shy and quiet at first, but is a lovebug at heart. She can’t wait to meet her new forever human that will give her the love and attention she truly deserves. Could you be Jasmine’s second chance? If you are interested in meeting Jasmine please call or text 818-414-4440.

FOOTY After 10 yrs. with his family Footy was no longer wanted and dumped at the shelter. He is an adorable, lovable, cuddly, and absolutely smooshible sweet boy! He has the cutest war scar, a crinkled ear! He loves people, doesn’t mind dogs, and can get along with other kitties as long as they are his minions! He is looking for someone he can lounge with, take long naps on the couch with and maybe even sleep on their pillow? Is this you? You can meet him at Petco (Newhall & Bouquet). For more info, call 661-255-9979.

LIZZIE Lizzie was betrayed by her human family and abandoned at the shelter.

Her charming personality and playful character caught the eye of a rescue and Lizzie was brought to safety. She is a blast! Lizzie would fit perfect into any family. She loves kids and could play for hours. This beautiful ebony girl is 3 yrs. old. You can meet her at Petco (Newhall & Bouquet). For more info, call 661-255-9979.

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Adoptables

lilly Lilly is a beautiful long haired Maine Coon. She is 8 yrs. old and in excellent health. She is a sweet girl who would love to be part of a family. Having passed her kitten years she could simply slot into a house without any drama. Lilly loves attention and deserves a second chance to have a family of her own. To meet Lilly contact 661-255-9979.

MAX Max is a handsome Tuxedo boy. Although growing up as an only child, Max hasn’t held that against other cats! In fact, he has learned that playing can be quite fun! He still isn’t sure about dogs, but I think he could be easily persuaded... Max will keep your feet warm on cold nights and your heart warm every day of the year! He is just a good old fashioned American cat! You can meet him at Petco (Newhall & Bouquet).

For more info, call 661-255-9979.

CALLIE Callie was found sick, injured and scared in an industrial center. She is slowly learning to trust again. It is clear she seeks affection from her human and will be fine once she is in a safe home where she feels secure. She will need a little time and someone who understands cat behavior and can help her blossom. She is a petite little girl who is 6 mos. old. She is a SWEETHEART. If you would like to meet Callie contact Sharon at 661-296-0566.

MAY/JUNE

Contents 4 The Language of Touch 6 The Plight of the Lethal Whites: Living and Loving Despite the Odds 12 Get Your Groom On 14 Anesthesia & Your Pet 18 ... And Venus Was Her Name 20 Pet Me! Spotlight: Animal Behavior College 22 Directory for All Things Pets

Advertising Information Direct: 661.255.9979 Fax: 866.259.9201 29743 Seco Cyn. Rd. #518, Santa Clarita, CA 91350

email: petadv@petmemag.com Web: www.petmemag.com

Please Contact Us For A Subscription – Annual Subscription By Mail: $12 PUBLISHER AND EDITOR Bridget Alves ART DIRECTOR Doug Conboy COVER PHOTO

By MoDingo Media/Nick Ames PUBLISHED BY Pet Me! Publications

This magazine serves many purposes, the most important is education. In this issue we take a look at the Lethal White and the challenges facing these beautiful creatures. Armed with education we can begin to stop the cycle of irresponsible breeding of these dogs.

So many people don’t understand the necessity of grooming.

So Cal Grooming talks with us in depth about the importance of dematting your dog and keeping nails trimmed to avoid health issues.

It is heartwarming to see more and more people everyday choosing adoption. Venus, a lovely Tuxedo cat, was adopted last year from the Best Friends Super Adoption. The story of Venus is near and dear to my heart since I had the privilege of introducing her to her new mom Amy. A kind reminder that summer is right around the corner.

Please remember to be cognizant of the temperature of the asphalt when walking your pet and bring your pets inside when temperatures are scorching. Remember they are wearing fur coats. Keep your pets and yourself hydrated. The simple act of setting out extra water bowls for wildlife is a generous act of kindness.

As always, we appreciate your emails and comments. Thank you for your support and for reading Pet Me! Magazine.

Bridget Alves Publisher & Editor

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Pet Me! Magazine™

3

Touch

The Language of

By Sylvia Hathaway, Acupressurist & Reiki Master josephinesplace@msn.com

W

hat is touch? Why are we so irresistibly drawn to it?

We rely on it to determine if something is real or not. There is no ‘virtual’ touch. Perhaps the more high-tech our lives become, the more we reach out for the richness of this primitive sense. From infancy onward we are compelled to explore our world through touch; to experience the almost endless variety of tactile sensations; to learn what is pleasant and what is not. Because for some reason, being told what something feels like is not enough. We must feel it for ourselves. All those ‘do not touch’ signs exist as testimony to this fact.

Probably the most physical of the five senses, we are drawn to the mere sight of it (as Michelangelo’s most well-known panel from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel would suggest).

For touch is far more than the ‘sensory nerves sending signals to the brain; that the dictionary gives us as an explanation.

Touch feeds a basic need within each of us. We need to touch 4 Pet Me! Magazine™

and to be touched. It nourishes us as much as the food we eat and the air we breathe. Deprived of it, we suffer. Availed of it, we heal. This is certainly one of the reasons we are drawn to our wonderful companion animals. The pleasure of their softness; the comfort of their warmth can truly instill a sense of well-being in us. And, of course, they need our touch too!

They seek us out. They wait for us. Think of that old muzzle resting on your knee, patiently awaiting your touch... or, that desperate little paw stretched out between the cage bars, trying to reach you.

Touch can be an important part of any healing process.

Today there are numerous hands-on (or ‘off ’) choices at your disposal, which can easily supplement whatever type of treatment is being pursued (whether allopathic or holistic). Among these are: acupressure, Healing Touch(tm), Jin Shin Jyutsu(r), and TellingtonTouch(tm), to name a few. And, don’t overlook the value of your own gentle, caring touch(!) which can be the most effective of all. No one really knows all that transpires when we touch. It is so multi-faceted, so multi-level, so magical. But, one thing is for certain: two-way communication is occurring; just as surely as the unspoken language of the heart.

Just listen .....

Try this. Gently slip your hand under your pet’s paw; so that the ‘palm’ of their paw rests on the palm of your hand.

(Cats may resist this if they’re accustomed to only ever having

Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

their claws trimmed whenever you approach their feet. So it would be worthwhile to persist, over time ... try again tomorrow, etc.) Now, take a moment and allow yourself to really feel your connection to this special being who shares your life. Do you feel a arough callous on their pad (from all those walks you take together)? Or, perhaps you feel the softness of an indoor-kitty’s paw ... perhaps it’s slightly damp... Now, become aware of their paw touching you ... aware of your palm touching their toes ... allow ourself to become aware of the pulse-beat ... feel your hearts connect ... become aware of the very special love you share ... be very still ... and savor the eloquence of the language of touch.

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Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

The Plight of the

Lethal Whites Living and Loving Despite the Odds

By Kim Schumann

I

t was about ten years ago when I was working for Stanislaus County Animal Services that I became aware of the term “Lethal White.” I was processing dogs out of our receiving room when a member of the public dropped off a four month old Australian Shepherd puppy. The pup was mostly white with a few red merle markings on his backside. It was immediately apparent the puppy was blind; his eyes were blue and extremely underdeveloped. At the time we couldn’t determine if he was also deaf, he was just too wiggly and excited about being held, he was a kissing machine.

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Over the course of the day we would receive three more of these puppies from different parts of the county. It became very clear, very quickly; that someone had dumped the puppies in different parts of the county, never realizing that they might all end up at the same shelter. We kept the pups all together in the same kennel in our receiving room. All four had similar markings, mostly white with smatterings of red merle and all had varying degrees of underdeveloped eyes and visual problems. They were very sweet, happy puppies and despite their condition were extremely responsive to our affection; they didn’t cower and were not the least bit nervous.

Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

The other members of the staff and I were taking turns checking in on the litter mates, we kept them together in the same holding pen. Rough housing and playing, they were completely unaffected by the noise and confusion of our receiving room. It was then that my coworker, Meghan, came in to see what the fuss was about. As she approached the pen her jaw dropped and she exclaimed “Oh my God, these are Lethal White puppies!

I’ve read about these dogs.” Then she went on to explain: There is a lethal gene found in certain types of Paint horses that results in a white foal with blue eyes. The foals are born unable to digest their food and die of colic within a few hours (or days) after birth. Since it is impossible for them to survive, the term “Lethal White” was used to describe these types of foals.

Ranchers were some of the original breeders of Australian Shepherds. Due to the physical resemblance to the foals; the name was used to describe the mostly white pups of two merle parents.

However, the puppies do not die shortly after birth, like the Lethal White foals do. While they may have vision and hearing problems, they are otherwise healthy ones.

Besides being our genetics encyclopedia, Meghan was also responsible for contacting Rescues for the animals in the shelter who were in need. Not only did she know what was going on with these puppies, she knew who to contact to help us, help them. It was tempting to keep the pups and put them up for adoption. They were just so full of life and so very affectionate, watching them interact with one another was amazing. The reality of the situation was that the average adopter probably

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wouldn’t be able to handle the special needs these pups had. So, we acted in their best interest and had Meghan contact Amazing Aussies of Arizona.

Amazing Aussies is based in Arizona and they are one of many Lethal White Rescues across the country. Ten years ago they flew a small airplane into the Modesto Airport, which happened to be adjacent to the animal shelter, and picked up our four little Aussie pups. Over the course of my nine years working in Stanislaus County, we contacted Amazing Aussies a number of times about Lethal Whites that had found their way into our shelter and they were always gracious and more than willing to help us.

Since my days working for Stanislaus County, I have never passed up an opportunity to educate people about the inhumane results of merle to merle breeding. Every Lethal White I have encountered since my time in Stanislaus County has had exceptionally loving and affectionate personalities. Despite their limitations they seemed to be eager to learn and please and rarely had issues with dog aggression. Most have gone on to rescue groups as opposed to going up for adoption to the general public. The fact that these dogs can be adopted and lead a mostly normal life in no way excuses the irresponsible and reprehensible way they came into this world.

Although most of the Lethal Whites I have seen over the years have been Aussies or Aussie mixes, Australian Shepherds

continued on page 8

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This is Payson in his foster home with his best friend and buddy Sam the cat. continued from page 7 are not the only breed that carries the merle gene. Pomeranians, Dachshunds, Great Danes, Chihuahuas, Cocker Spaniels, American Staffordshire Terriers and most of your herding breeds carry the merle gene and if bred irresponsibly can produce Lethal White puppies.

The genetically correct term for these dogs is “homozygous merle,” which simply means the dog carries 2 copies of the merle gene. Merle is a dilution gene, that is, it lightens whatever the coat color would otherwise have been. The lightening is not

8 Pet Me! Magazine™

spread evenly over the coat, but leaves patches of undiluted color scattered over the dog’s body. Also, the lightening seems to work primarily on the black pigment in the coat, so any tan on the face stays even.

Okay. What is a merle and what isn’t? The most important thing to remember is that merle is a color pattern, not a color by itself. Merle dogs can come in a variety of colors. The most commonly seen variation is called blue merle. A blue merle is actually a black dog, with the black broken up into irregularly shaped patches by gray. Merle is the gray part of the coat’s coloring, not the black patches. The lighter part of the coat can vary considerably, from very light (powder blue) to very dark, almost black (steel blue).

Merles are also commonly red (brown), and any merle dog may or may not have tan points and white trim. It is also possible to have merle in other colors such as sable, yellow, fawn, and dilute blue or red, but they are harder to identify.

Merle acts on the black pigment in the iris of the eye just as it does on the coat, so merle dogs often have part or the entire eye blue.

So, how do Lethal White puppies occur?

There are always two copies of a gene in any dog. To make this easy, let’s call the Merle Gene “M.” Then you have the Nonmerle Gene, we’ll call that one “m.”

Any dog can have this set of two genes: “mm” or “Mm” and

continued on page 10

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continued from page 8 be born a normal, seeing, hearing dog.

If you breed an “mm” with an “Mm” you will get normal puppies.

If you breed an “mm” with an “mm” you will get normal puppies.

If you breed an “Mm” with “Mm” you run the risk of 25% of the litter being born with the “MM” set of genes, the “homo­ zygous merle” or “double merle” and will be mostly white and usually deaf or blind and often with other physical problems.

Some “MM” puppies are born completely without eyes; these are your Lethal White puppies.

While doing research for this article, I reached out once again to the people of Amazing Aussies Rescue to help guide me and to provide insight to the plight of these truly amazing dogs. I spoke with Julie Brewer, Julie heads up the Amazing Aussies Educational Department and is in charge of community outreach. Amazing Aussies Rescue provides educational seminars about irresponsible merle to merle breeding to Elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools. They will also provide education and a chance to meet some of their “Amazing Aussie” fosters during birthday parties held at the American Humane Society Main Campus for Compassion.

Julie also has six, blind and deaf dogs of her own. Four of the six are Lethal Whites and two of those, Julie happily admits, are her foster failures; “Just like any other rescue, we do home checks. We walk through the potential adopter’s home and suggest certain changes that they might make if they would like to adopt an Amazing Aussie. I have yet to have someone say they are unwilling to make the suggested changes. We have several repeat adopters; at first they’ll adopt a deaf dog because a blind dog may seem a little daunting. Then after experiencing life with one Lethal White, they want a second and they don’t care if it’s blind, deaf or both.

What we try to teach people is that although these dogs do have special needs, they are capable of doing almost everything a normal dog can do. You obviously have to be careful of sunlight; Lethal Whites do lack pigment and are susceptible to skin cancer. I usually suggest a waxy, chap stick with sunblock on their pink noses instead of just a sunblock. The Chap Stick lasts longer. Their skin is also pink, even though they are covered with fur, the sunlight will permeate and they can get sunburn. As with any other dog, you have to be aware of the temperature of any surface they’ll be walking on. Dogs with pink pads are more sensitive.

In areas where there are coyotes, rattlesnakes and other wildlife, just like any 10 Pet Me! Magazine™

other dog you don’t want to leave them unattended in a back yard.

These dogs are definitely at a disadvantage if they are attacked.

Amazing Aussies of Arizona as well as numerous other Lethal White rescues step in and save dogs that have been purposely made blind and/or deaf by a cruel and inhumane breeding practice, just so the breeders can make a few extra bucks. About 25% of every litter will come out “wrong” and are killed at birth or thrown away since they can’t be sold. It’s just a “cost of business” to the breeders, but it’s an everyday fight for us.”

Due to the popularity of the merle coloring on dogs irresponsible breeders know that what they are doing will put up to 25% of the litter at risk. Some of the Lethal White pups will make it, like the ones that were dumped all over Stanislaus County. Lethal Whites will be abandoned or dumped at shelters for their “bad behavior” which (through no fault of their own) is usually just a misunderstanding because of their visual or hearing impairments.

Amazing Aussie’s adoptable dogs are kept in safe, loving foster homes until their forever homes are found. They’re networked on social media sites and taken to adoption events. Some of their dogs have found homes here in Southern California around the SCV. Adopting any animal should be considered a commitment for the lifetime of that animal. Adopting an animal with special needs is going to require a little more time and a lot more patience. If you were drawn to this article by the handsome young man on the cover of this issue of Pet Me!; his name is Jovi and he is available for adoption.

Jovi is a blind Australian Shepherd boy that is now 1 year old.

Jovi is a very friendly and easy going boy who loves to play. He enjoys walks and his blindness does not stop him from doing the things he loves. He walks on a leash very well. Jovi can hear just fine so he is able to learn verbal commands and all that is needed is a physical prompt for you to show him what to do when you

Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

are saying the command. He has learned sit and down already.

He knows “come” and will come in the direction called. Jovi will make a wonderful family member.

Another Lethal White is gorgeous Ivy: Ivy is blind and deaf Australian Shepherd girl. Ivy seems to be capable of sensing some differences in light and can even hear certain high pitches. She is now almost 2 years old. Ivy loves to play with other dogs. She can run, chase and play with all the other dogs in her foster home and you would never know she is blind.

Ivy is a much smaller girl in size and would be considered petite.

Ivy is being taught with all touch commands since she cannot see or hear. She is a well behaved little girl that is full of energy!

If you are interested in educating yourself or are interested in adopting a Lethal White, please feel free to contact Amazing Aussies of Arizona. They have a website and they are also on Facebook. Thank you, Jim and Deana Kilgos, Amazing Aussie founders, for educating the public and saving Lethal Whites for fourteen years; to Julie Brewer for sharing your time, insight and information; and a very late thank you to Lorraine Ayres, who was saw to it that those four puppies were rescued from Stanislaus County ten years ago.

Arizona is within driving distance…..

Amazing Aussies Lethal White Rescue of Arizona PO Box 31245, Mesa, AZ 85275 volunteers@amazingaussies.com questions@amazingaussies.com www.amazingaussies.com, www.facebook/amazingaussies

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infections are painful and can cause the pet to scratch or whine.

•••••••••••••••• • Nails: Clipping a dog’s nails is something every dog owner needs to do regularly, unless you have a dog who exercises enough on hard surfaces that he/she wears them down naturally.

If the nails are not kept short, the danger to the dog is more than merely cosmetic. The nails can curve under the dog’s foot and create discomfort and injury to the foot pad. The dog will not be able to walk naturally, which can stress the

Get Your Groom On joints. Large breed dogs may take up to 18 months to complete bone growth, and if their nails are allowed to grow too long, it can disrupt joint development and cause permanent bone abnormalities.

Additionally, in larger or heavier dogs, long nails can mar hardwood or vinyl flooring. Periodically, check your dog’s nails, especially if he/she is limping. Sometimes the nail will split lengthwise--this is more likely if the nails are left to grow too long and not only is this painful, but it can also lead to an infection in the nail bed. Infections deep in the nail can result in bone infections, which can be difficult and expensive to treat.

Also check the nails for flaking of the outer surface, or any sort of abnormal appearance. This could indicate a fungal infection called onychomycosis, which will need to be treated by your veterinarian. Pet dogs rarely get enough exercise to keep the nails short, which is why dog owners need to trim their dog’s nails every 3 to 4 weeks. It is easiest to get a dog used to having her nails trimmed if you start as a puppy, making it a quick and

Article courtesy of So Cal Grooming Services, ww.socalgrooming.com

A

s groomers, we come across many different types of health issues that sometimes go undetected until the pet is groomed. Prior to grooming any pet, a thorough examination and check of the following should be performed: Ears, nails, teeth, paw pads, skin, coat and anal glands. In this issue we will look in depth at ears, nails, paw pads and coat.

•••••••••••••••• • Ears: Regular ear cleanings are crucial for keeping your pet healthy. Ears can accumulate dirt and wax buildup, creating ideal conditions for the growth of bacteria, which may lead to a nasty ear infection. An unhealthy ear is usually wet or damped and has a foul odor. They are usually dark pink in color, and at times may have discharge. Some breeds need the ear hair removed to avoid ear infections. Ear mites are also found in ears and may appear as dark brown coffee-like grounds. Ear

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painless experience. Nails are trimmed using high quality, sharp clippers snipping off the pointy or curved end of the toenail. If the nails are trimmed regularly, the quick will stay short and the nails will stay healthy.

•••••••••••••••• • Paw Pads: Certain Dog Breeds grow excessive amount of hair on their pads. If the hair is not trimmed regularly, it could lead to infection and pain when walking since debris often attaches to hair. Remember that pads are sensitive and can burn. If the ground is too hot for you to walk on than it is too hot for your pet.

•••••••••••••••• • Coat: One of the best features of a dog is its coat. It glistens when clean, but looks less than appealing when dirty. A soiled, matted coat reduces a dog’s overall appearance and signals an unhealthy dog. When a dog’s coat becomes matted, it reduces the coat’s performance. All dogs depend on their fur to regulate body temperature, so mats in long hair can present a problem.

Mats prevent the coat from being able to shed or produce heat, which places the dog at risk for heatstroke and hypothermia.

Matted dog hair decreases the overall performance of the coat and exposes the skin to the sun and wind as well. Mats collect soil and dirt, becoming a breeding ground for bacteria that results in skin disease and illness. Mats larger than the size of the thumb should be snipped out rather than combed out. Mats of this size also collect fecal matter that cause bacterial infections

around the anal area or impactions if it prevents the dog from eliminating waste. Mats present throughout the coat increase the chance of skin irritations and infections as well. A clean, mat-free coat allows the dog to move freely; however, mats and tangles reduce a dog’s mobility. Mats are formed when the dog’s coat becomes tied in knots. When the dog moves, it tugs on the skin making movement uncomfortable. Because mats are formed from both live and dead hair, they cannot be combed out or trimmed out due to the pain it may cause to your pet, or the high risk of cutting your pet if scissors are used. Washing your pet prior to brushing the matted coat, only makes the mats tighter, which leaves no choice but to completely shave down the entire coat. Considerations of how much care a dog’s coat will require can help you determine which dog to adopt or which dog not to adopt when looking for a new pet. All dogs are prone to mats, but breeds with medium-length and long hair are certain to form them at some point. Mats affect a dog’s health and appearance in a number of different ways, but good coat care can prevent them. When mats appear, they should be removed or brushed free right away.

•••••••••••••••• The most important thing is to ask your groomer questions and give him/her feedback so that your pet benefits from a great grooming experience with every grooming appointment.

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Anesthesia & Your Pet Courtesy of Dr. Amanda Gillen, Advanced Care Animal Hospital

T

he idea of having a pet undergo general anesthesia is often a nerve-wracking proposition for an owner/ guardian. A lot of people have a deeply seated fear that their pet may have problems undergoing general anesthesia, or that their pet may die, if he/she is anesthetized. This often leads to delaying, or avoiding, procedures that are necessary to maintain optimal health (such as spaying, or neutering), or procedures that can fix problems that are already present (such as periodontal disease). In veterinary medicine, much less so than in human medicine, and for compliance reasons, we often have to rely on general anesthetic procedures to obtain the necessary diagnostic tests, or treatments, for our pet’s conditions.

The concern when a beloved pet goes under anesthesia is completely understandable, after all, we are temporarily “hijacking” control over their minds and bodies, and significantly impairing their body’s own ability to compensate for changes in their environment. Anesthesia is not only inherently risky, but can have disastrous consequences, if not performed under the appropriate circumstances, and with due care and diligence.

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That said, if properly performed, a healthy patient undergoing an elective anesthetic procedure reportedly has a less than 1% chance of dying under general anesthesia.

What do we mean by a properly performed anesthetic procedure? We mean that a patient’s anesthetic protocol is specifically designed with that patient, and that procedure, in mind. At Advanced Care Animal Hospital we use multimodal anesthesia- that is the usage of a wide range of anesthetic and analgesic drugs, often in combination, at lower combined dosages of each drug, so that we may benefit from the desired effects of each drug, while minimizing the undesired effects of higher dosages of each of the drugs, if used individually.

A properly performed anesthesia starts with a good general examination of your pet. This allows us to evaluate their heart for rhythm and rate abnormalities, heart murmurs, and it also allows us to evaluate their pulmonary system.

At Advanced Care Animal Hospital we also believe that a pre-anesthetic blood and urine panel is paramount to performing the safest anesthetic procedure possible, regardless of your let’s age.

In younger pets, this allows us to detect common

Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

congenital abnormalities (such as polycystic kidney disease, or portosystemic shunts) the pet may have been born with, before they shows any symptoms of disease.

Older animals often show evidence of minor liver or kidney dysfunction in blood and urine testing, which often is not accompanied by changes in their appetite or behavior at home. However, as most anesthetic drugs are metabolized, or excreted, to a lesser or greater degree by one or both of these organs, it is essential that we be aware of the dysfunction, and the degree of such dysfunction, prior to anesthesia, so that we may tailor an anesthetic protocol that is as individual as the patient.

Kidney or liver dysfunction, however, does not mean that an animal is not a candidate for general anesthesia. As a matter of fact, it is often necessary to perform general anesthesia in patients with dysfunction of these organs to avoid further damage to them, as in the case of periodontal disease and its effects on liver, kidneys, and heart. A pre-anesthetic panel allows us to choose which drugs would be most appropriate for each patient, and each procedure, to minimize the chances of complications, and to achieve a successful outcome.

Management, and avoidance if possible, of pain (a.k.a. analgesia), is of absolute paramount importance not only to

continued on page 16

We treat each pet as if they were our own!

Trained in the Veterinary Care of Dogs, Cats, Birds, Reptiles, Rabbits, Pocket Pets and Exotics.

We offer Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine & Shockwave Therapy!

Vaccine Clinic Days Wednesdays and Fridays

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Canines

DHPP $15.00 Bordatella $15.00 Rabies $11.00 Lyme $15.00 Rattlesnake $25.00 Canine Influenza $22.00

Felines

FVRCP $13.00 FeLV $15.00 Rabies $11.00

Rattlesnake Vaccination

$25 Seco Canyon Animal Clinic Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10am to 6pm Sat. 9am to 1pm (closed Sundays) se habla espanol • Accepting Care Credit

27935 Seco Cyn. Rd. Saugus, CA 91350

661-296-8848

www.secocanyonanimalclinic.biz Pet Me! Magazine™

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Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

continued from page 15 a properly performed anesthesia, but to the healing process.

Fortunately, most veterinarians are now aware of not only a pet’s ability to feel pain to a degree at the very least comparable to a human being, but have also discarded such outdated notions as pain being a desirable tool to reduce post-surgical activity, or as a “tool” to demonstrate either worsening, or improvement, in our patients’ conditions.

At our facility, the guiding principle of analgesia is that pain is easier to prevent, than to treat. If a procedure or disease is known to be, or suspected to be, painful, then it is assumed to be so. That patient is then provided appropriate preemptive pain control, which makes their anesthesia smoother, and safer, by decreasing the amount of gas anesthetic required to maintain a good plane of anesthesia for the procedure they are undergoing. Just as important, pain control is required after, and even during, the procedure. It is simply a fallacy that some patients are too fragile, or too old, to receive adequate pain control- pain control is essential to good a anesthetic outcome. This is particularly true in the case of the elderly, or compromised, pet.

Finally, a properly performed anesthetic procedure, requires the use of intravenous fluid therapy before, during, and after, the procedure. In addition to providing instant access to

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deliver life-saving drugs during an anesthetic emergency, and intravenous catheter allows us to adjust the amount of fluid delivered to a patient during a procedure. This can be essential in achieving, or maintaining, a safe blood pressure.

Maintaining adequate blood pressure is, inarguably, one of the key components of a successful anesthesia. Delivery of oxygen and fuel (sugar) to key organs like the brain, the heart, and the kidneys, is dependent largely on adequate blood pressure.

Inadequate blood pressure during anesthesia can result in anesthetic death, or anesthetic damage, often not seen until a pet develops kidney damage, or even brain damage, in the weeks, months, or even years following a general anesthesia, depending on the degree of damage.

Constant monitoring of vital signs, such as end-tidal carbon dioxide, oxygen saturation, EKG, and temperature (a key determinant of anesthesia requirements, and of vital importance in small pets, which quickly and easily lose body heat), during your pet’s anesthetic procedure are also key to delivering appropriate anesthesia, and to ensure successful outcomes. Safety measures such as circulating warm water pads, which help maintain body temperature safely without causing burns, like some electrical warming devices can, warm air blankets before, during, and after anesthesia, and intravenous fluid warmers, are routinely used in all anesthetic

Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

procedures in our practice.

And finally, and perhaps most importantly, a well trained, experienced, vigilant anesthetic nurse, specifically dedicated to each patient during the procedure, is key to ensuring a safe anesthetic episode for your pet.

Discussion with your vet about your anesthetic concerns, your pet’s anesthetic risks, and their anesthetic protocols, should hopefully result in a better understanding, and confidence, about your pet’s anesthetic procedure.

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Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

Goddess on the mountain top Burning like a silver flame The summit of beauty and love And Venus was her name…

I

n the spring of 2011 Amy Clites had to say goodbye to her beloved cat, Mars. Mars was Amy’s first cat and remained her faithful friend for fourteen years. He lovingly and willingly escorted her through all of the twists and turns life had to offer in those fourteen years, grad school, a divorce, relationships and relocating cross country. Mars was there and never faltered, he simply rolled with the punches. Mars had become very ill and Amy stopped at nothing to see that in his final days he was comfortable and not suffering. Amy stayed by his side to the very end.

A year had passed and in the spring of 2012 Amy started feeling like she was ready to have a cat in her life again. When she had started dating her boyfriend, Adam, she already had Mars so they were a package deal. Amy and Adam were now sharing a home and Adam was not as enthusiastic about getting another cat. Adam finally agreed and Amy started her quest almost immediately. She knew she wanted to rescue a cat, she didn’t want a kitten, and took her time looking. She went to adoption events and checked online. She educated herself on different breeds. It was important to find the right cat that would fit into her life and to know that she wasn’t jumping into anything that she would ultimately not be able to handle. Amy was doing everything the correct way, yet she wasn’t having any luck. She had seen dozens of cats but none of them “spoke” to her, until that weekend in April at the La Brea Tar Pits. At the best friends’ adoption event Amy’s search was over. She had found her cat. The look of this kitty stopped her dead in her tracks. She resembled Mars but

18 Pet Me! Magazine™

was not identical; she “spoke” to Amy. Enter Venus. Venus (formerly known as “Bubbles”) had been surrendered to a Los Angeles County Shelter. She had come in with her brother who was adopted almost immediately, and although Bubbles was stunningly gorgeous, she had been at the shelter for quite some time and was depressed and withdrawn from sitting in her small cage.

She didn’t want to be held and had little interaction with visitors who stopped in front of her cage.

Consequently, she didn’t “show” well and as a result no one was showing any interest in adopting her. Her time at the shelter was growing short. When cats become depressed their immune systems falter and they become susceptible to illness. Upper respiratory infections can spread like wildfire in a shelter setting so often times the infected are in danger of being euthanized.

Bubbles had been on the staff ’s radar. She was a beautiful cat but she would not cooperate for a blood draw to rule out feline leukemia and be placed in the solarium (a free roaming room at the shelter where the public can interact with the cats without cages), so she had to stay caged. The feline leukemia test is required to make sure the virus is not transmitted. Members of the shelter staff shared their concern with the shelter volunteers and the networking for a rescue began.

The quest to find a rescue for Bubbles was beginning to prove impossible. Rescue’s are overcrowded and full of adult cats….no one had room for Bubbles. The last ditch effort was the upcoming Best Friends Adoption event. If Bubbles was not adopted, volunteers had hoped a rescue at the event would help and not send her back to the shelter. Going back to the shelter was a death sentence… her review date and long passed and we needed a rescue to step up if she wasn’t adopted.

But that Saturday was turned out to be a lucky day for Bubbles (Venus)… Venus was able to make it out of the animal shelter and into a forever home with Amy because Amy looked beyond that fact that Bubbles was aloof and disinterested in visiting

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Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

with anyone. She had been so scared on her trip for the shelter to the event that she had wet and pooped herself requiring an unwelcomed quasi bath when her soils were discovered in her cage. She was somewhat receptive to the warm touch of a human hand when you reached in her cage, but she couldn’t be taken and held. That didn’t stop Amy. She felt a connection. Going with her intuition and gut feeling, Amy decided she would adopt this beautiful cat who practically didn’t seem to know Amy existed.

Venus’s transition into life with Amy has been flawless. Their first morning together Venus awoke, stretched and made herself right at home. It was as if she had lived there all along. Amy knows that Venus was meant to be with her, and says with a wink that is why she wasn’t adopted at the shelter. She was Amy’s cat and a day doesn’t go by that Amy does not thank Venus for waiting for her.

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Amy Shumaker, DVM, DACVD Valencia Veterinary Center 23928 Summerhill Lane Valencia, CA 91354 Phone: (661) 855-4870

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Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

Pet Me! Spotlight

Animal Behavior College

A

nimal Behavior College (ABC) is the largest animal career vocational school of its kind in North America and the company headquarters are located right here in Santa Clarita.

ABC incorporates a unique distancelearning, hands-on training model and offers courses for certified dog training, pet grooming and veterinary assistants, which takes dedicated students between 12 to 18 months to complete. Programs with viable employment opportunities are a focus at ABC and it is important to note that even during this economic turndown, employment of animal care and service workers in the U.S. is predicted to grow 23% through 2020.

ABC is now offering a new local program option starting June 24th. Students can choose to take the certified dog training class in a personal classroom setting, full-time, and complete the program in approximately 5 months. The program teaches aspiring dog trainers what they need to know to start their own businesses or work for an established company. Topics include; behavior modification principles, basic obedience cues and effective problem solving, as well as 60 hours of hands-

on-training done with the coaching of class instructor Beth Harrison, an ABC Certified Dog Trainer and AKC Certified Evaluator. Students will also work with dogs in local shelters to help them become better candidates for adoption.

Steven Appelbaum, president and founder of ABC says, “I have been in the pet business for 30 years and I have known literally hundreds of people whose dream was to work with animals and make a difference in their lives as well as the lives of people who love them. This was one of the reasons why the school was founded and it is my privilege to assist people in attaining these goals. I am particularly excited about our new classroom curriculum and of course our other programs that we offer students all across North America.”

ABC is committed to helping their military students with tuition assistance and funding is available for qualified military families. The Certified Dog Trainer Classroom Program is approved for the training of veterans and eligible persons under the provisions of title 38, United States Code.

ABC offers student-friendly financing options. Enrollment is limited for the June 2013 class.

For more information, please call 800-795-3294 or visit: www.animalbehaviorcollege.com/info.

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Class Space is Limited! Call (800) 795-3294 or visit www.AnimalBehaviorCollege.com/classroom 20 Pet Me! Magazine™

Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

Open House y Pet Fair Da Sunday, 13 May 19, 20 1-4 pm

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Animal Aftercare

Cal Pet Crematory (310) 278-0633 (818) 983-2313 (323) 875-0633 www.calpet.com Guardian Animal Aftercare (818) 768-6465 www.guardianaftercare.com Great Groomers So Cal Grooming 28011 Seco Cyn. Rd. Santa Clarita, 91390 (661) 513-0778 www.socalgrooming.com Pawpular Pet Suppliers Bird Bungalow 21021 Soledad Canyon Rd Canyon Country, CA 91351 (661) 284-6200 www.birdbungalow.com Canyon Pet Center 19154 Soledad Cynd. Rd. Canyon Country, CA (661) 250-7356 Fox Feed 17028 Sierra Highway Canyon Country, 91387 (661) 252-9790 www.foxfeed.com Pet Stop 26870 Sierra Highway Santa Clarita, CA (661) 251-3867 www.petstopsantaclarita.com Pet Supply Santa Clarita 26831 Bouquet Canyon Road Santa Clarita, 91350-2372 (661) 296-2654 www.petsupplysantaclarita.com Dermatology for Pets Amy Shumaker, DVM, DACVD Valencia Veterinary Center 23928 Summerhill Lane Valencia, CA 91354 (661) 855-4870 www.dermatologyforanimals.com Animal Control Centers Castaic Animal Shelter 31044 N. Charlie Canyon Rd. Castaic (661) 257-3191 www.animalcare.lacounty.gov

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Lancaster Animal Shelter 5210 W. Ave. I Lancaster, CA 93536 (661) 940-4191 www.animalcare.lacounty.gov Rescue Organizations

Brittany Foundation Agua Dulce (661) 713-5240 www.brittanyfoundationonline.org Citizens for Sheltered Animals, Inc. 26893 Bouquet Canyon Rd. C-318 (661) 513-9288 www.citizensforshelteredanimals.com Forgotten Angels Cat Rescue (661) 273-9822 www.forgottenangelsrescue.org Ratz Nest Rescue (661) 303-7872 www.ratznest.weebly.com Saffyre Sanctuary (Horse Rescue) Sylmar, CA www.saffyresanctuary.org Save A Kitty, Inc. (818) 825-3096 www.SaveaKittyCA.org PetSave Foundation Bunny Rescue (661) 478-7360 www.petsave.org St. Bonnie’s Sanctuary/ Lange Foundation 27567 Oak Spring Canyon Rd. Canyon Country, CA 91387 (661) 251.5590 http://langefoundation.com www.PetConnect.us Trusted Vets In and Around SCV Advanced Care Animal Hospital 19406 Soledad Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91351 (661) 263-4334 www.advancedcareanimalhospital.com All Creatures Emergency Center 22722 Lyons Ave # 5 Newhall, 91321-2876 (661) 291-1121 www.wecarevets.com

Animal Medical Center 25848 McBean Parkway Valencia, 91355 (661) 255-5555 www.AMCValencia.com

Canyon Country Veterinary Hospital 18840 Soledad Canyon Road Canyon Country, 91351-3772 (661) 424-9900 www.wecarevets.com Cinema Veterinary Centre 23460 Cinema Drive, Unit L Valencia, 91355 (661) 253-9300 www.cinemavet.com Happy Pets Veterinary 27550 Newhall Ranch Road Valencia, 91355 (661) 295-9972 www.happypetsveterinary.com Peaceful Pets In-Home Euthanasia Services (661) 621-3750 peacefulpetsinhome@gmail.com www.peacefulpetsservices.com Seco Canyon Animal Clinic 27935 Seco Canyon Road Santa Clarita, 91350 (661) 296-8848 www.secocanyonanimalclinic.biz Valencia Veterinary Center 24036 Summerhill Ln. Santa Clarita, 91354 (661) 263-9000 www.bestvalenciavet.com VIP Veterinary Services 26111 Bouquet Cyn. Rd. Suite D-5, Saugus, CA 91350 (661) 222-PETS www.VIPVeterinaryServices.com Best Boarding Facilities Canine Country Club 20341 Blue Cloud Road Santa Clarita, 91390-1259 (661) 296-0566 www.cccofscv.com Castaic Canine Camp 36975 Ridge Route Road Castaic, 91384 (661) 257-0957 www.castaiccaninecamp.com

!

Pets

for all things

Santa Clarita’s Premier Dog Lodge Trish Cohen (661) 618-6628 honestgalpal@att.net www.hasshaus.com Pampering Pet Sitters

Clip & Save!

Directory

Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

Dogone-it Marlee (661) 251-3873 Dogone-it@hotmail.com Kyle’s Custom Critter Care caninecommands@hotmail.com (661) 305-4981 www.kylescustomcrittercare.com Laurie’s Pet Sitting (661) 257-1237 www.thepetmom.net Dog Trainers Animal Behavior College (800) 795-3294 www.AnimalBehaviorCollege.com/ classroom Dog Gone Happy Tami Cox (661) 310-4133 K9 Manners Matter Colleen Lange B.S., ABCDT (661) 993-2366 Training@k9mannersmatter.com www.k9mannersmatter.com Alternative Medicines & Healing Sylvia Nahale Hathaway Acupressurist & Reiki Master (661) 378-8612 josephinesplace@msn.com

Calendar of Events

Save A Kitty Fundraiser Wednesday, May 8, 5-9pm Veggiegrill 16542 Ventura Blvd. Encino 818-788-2621 Happy Pets Open House Sunday, May 19th, 1:00 – 4:00pm World Fest in Woodley Park, Lake Balboa Sunday, May 19th www.thewestvalleybirdsociety.com Reiki For Our Companion Animals Every 3rd. Saturday Krisers, 24272 Valencia Blvd., Valencia Forgotten Angels Cat Rescue Adoption Open House Friday’s 4:00 – 7:00pm The Cat Doctor & Friends 26055 Bouquet Canyon, Santa Clarita

Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

Awesome

Adoptables

IRIS This is Iris, she is a petite sized girl that is blind but can hear. Iris loves to wear doggy clothes, hair bows, collar bows, you name it! She also prefers to always be sitting or laying on her fluffy bed. Iris thinks she is a princess. She plays with other dogs once she gets to know them. Iris is almost 2 years old now and has been in our rescue for just over a year.

KELCIE Kelcie is just over 1 year old now. She has been in rescue since she was a puppy. I feel she keeps getting overlooked because she doesn’t make it out to many events. This little girl sees perfectly fine but she is deaf.

Kelcie is a healthy happy and playful girl. She gets along with every dog she has met so far. She enjoys walks, she jogs and she loves to swim.

Kelcie loves attention from other dogs, children and adults, she is an all around great dog!

PAYSON This is Payson. He is an Aussie Basset Hound mix. So he has Aussie fur and a shorter leg height like a Basset. Payson had surgery on his front legs to try to straighten them out a bit because of either a deformity or malnutrition early on in his life. He is deaf but sees well. Payson can run, jump and play with the best of them. And he loves to play.

His best buddy is a kitty cat and he is so sweet to her. Payson loves children too. This boy has been in rescue for almost 3 years now. He is about 4 years old.

To adopt one of these pets please contact Lorraine Ayres at adoptions@amazingaussies.com www.amazingaussies.com

JAZZ Here is Jazz, she is deaf and only slightly vision impaired. A really fun girl full of energy and loves to play. She is very petite, hard to tell in this photo but she is much smaller than a pure Aussie. She is mixed with something, most likely cattle dog and is only 30 lbs.

DRACO This is Draco, he is approximately 4 years old. He is vision impaired and deaf.

Draco loves to swim and run around and has a lot of energy. He does get along with other dogs who can keep up with him and he has to get to know them first. Draco cannot be with cats at all. He has a typical pray drive and needs to be with dog his own size. Draco was abandoned and left in a home with his sister Echo. Echo has been adopted and it is Draco’s turn for his forever home!

JIMI Jimi was adopted in August of last year. Everything was going great – he was very active, learning how to swim, play in the snow and most of all, how to go to public events. He even earned his CGC certification.

Jimi’s world changed when his family split up. That is when his mom contacted Amazing Aussies and explained that life had taken a turn that was unexpected and that she felt that the very best thing for Jimi would be for him to come back to the rescue. Upon his arrival he met his previous foster mom, greeting her with lots of kisses.

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Valencia Veterinary Center

Pet Me! Magazine™ MAY/JUNE 2013

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