January/February 2014 Issue of Pet Me! Magazine

January/February 2014

Your Guide To All Things Pets

Do Doo?

What to With the

PLUS: Volunteering Feline Asthma Winter Hazards for Pets & Much More!

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to good homes

Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

Awesome

Adoptables

To meet any of these adorable adoptables call (661) 255-9979 or email castaiccats@aol.com

All of the cats featured were at high risk and rescued from the shelter.

Please consider opening your home and heart to one of these very special cats.

Callie is very playful and sweet. She is about a year and a half old. She loves to play with toys and string and loves other cats. She would love to find a family of her own.

Please watch her video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTP3SiwgrbM

Callie

Pandora was brought to the shelter from a hoarding situation. She is only 4 years old and very timid and shy until she gets to know you. She needs a patient kind person to show her that she can trust again. This beautiful little ginger girl is a diamond in the rough!

Amelia is a fireball! She loves to play and interact. She gets along great with other cats and would be an ideal addition to any family.

She was saved from the shelter and would love to find her forever home. She is in excellent health, up to date on shots and spayed.

AMELIA

PANDORA

TUXs

Mimi

Tuxs is an amazing 6 yr. old Tuxedo, who was on death row and rescued from the shelter. He is friendly, healthy and extremely handsome! Tuxs gets along with other cats and is looking forward to his forever family with love and cuddles. Tuxs is declawed and is furniture safe.

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Mimi is a white shorthaired male surrendered because his family could no longer afford him. He’s very timid, but cannot get enough of being pet and coddled once he warms up to you. He has a very good temperament around other cats. He needs a quiet, patient owner who can make him feel both secure and loved, something he desperately needs. To learn more about Mimi watch his video: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202492454650586&set=vb.1171554 386&type=2&theater

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

Contents 4 Volunteering 8 What to Do with the Doo? 12 Feline Asthma Greetings and welcome to 2014! Pet Me! Magazine is looking

14 Winter Hazards for Pets

forward to another year of providing our readers with up to the minute information on all things regarding the health, safety and happiness of their pets.

16 Rays of Hope

Every New Year the number one New Year’s Resolution is to

18 Directory for All Things Pets

get into shape. It’s no secret that gyms and fitness clubs are packed to capacity on January 2nd. Why not double your fun this year and volunteer at your local animal shelter or rescue?

You can get all of the exercise you need and help save lives.

Dedicated volunteers are always in need at shelters and rescues and truly can make a difference in the lives of the animals they meet. While living in Southern California certainly has its perks,

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

some areas still deal with below freezing temperatures. Knowing how to prepare or “winterize” your pets is very important, Dr. Evelyn Vega walks us through winter do’s and don’ts in this issue.

So relax and enjoy our first issue of the New Year because before you know it, Spring will be right around the corner!

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

Bridget Alves Publisher & Editor

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Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

Volunteering

By Kim Schumann

S

o here we are again looking forward to a brand new year!

What have you got planned? Have you made any resolutions? Each New Year millions of people make the same resolutions, they want to lose weight, eat better, exercise more etc. They all start out with the sincerest of intentions only to have them fizzle out a few months later. It only stands to reason because who really wants to eat less anyway? Eating is fun! And exercise? No thanks, exercise is like work. So the trick is to find something that you love to do that keeps you active, is fun and not only makes you feel good but it also benefits others.

Have you considered volunteering at your local animal shelter or rescue? Volunteering at an animal shelter not only checks off all of the above mentioned boxes but it also includes meeting new people, making new friends and opening doors for a possible career. There is an unrelenting need for good, reliable, compassionate volunteers in private and government run animal shelters and rescues.

We have all watched the commercials that tug on our heart strings, the montage of cats and dogs, puppies and kittens accompanied by the melancholy music. Yes, these organizations do need money but if you really want to make a difference in your own back yard, take a trip to your local animal shelter. The animals paraded in front of you on the commercials have been

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rescued and are on their way to a better life. The fate of the hundreds of cats, dogs, puppies and kittens you see at your local animal shelter or rescue are still up in the air.

So where do you start? Regardless of where you live there are city or county run animal shelters as well as privately funded shelters or rescues. Do your research. Just about anything is accessible on the internet these days. Find out which facilities are closest to you and which ones have the greatest need for volunteers. Animal Shelters and rescues may differ slightly in their needs or how much they allow their volunteers to become involved. Some shelters or rescues have a minimum amount of hours they want you to complete in order to stay “active” as a volunteer. Once you decide how much of your time and energy you want to dedicate to an animal shelter or rescue, researching different facilities will help your narrow down your decision as to where you want to start.

The majority of city or county shelters have an application process. Any interested party that comes into the shelter and expresses a desire to volunteer, will be asked to fill out and submit an application. In most cases applicants must be at least sixteen years of age to volunteer at a county or city animal shelter. Privately funded/ run shelters or rescues may have other restrictions regarding volunteers under the age of eighteen. Once a predeter-

Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

mined number of applications have been collected and cleared, an orientation is scheduled and the applicants are notified.

The orientation is an extremely important part of the volunteer process. It is during the orientation where the rules and regulations are discussed in detail for the benefit of the volunteers’ health and safety. Often the orientation is conducted by a Volunteer Coordinator or Head Volunteer. There are instructional videos shown on animal behavior and animal handling demonstrations by staff or other seasoned volunteers. Each aspect of what is expected of you as a volunteer is discussed in an open classroom setting and questions are encouraged. This is where you will find out where you will best fit in the mechanics of the animal shelter based on what you have or you are willing to give of your time. Volunteering at an animal shelter can be a draining experience. Knowing and not exceeding your limitations going into this experience is essential.

The need in government run animal shelters and rescues is unending. There are many, many ways a person can devote their time to a shelter, from the simplest task like collecting blankets and newspapers to bottle feeding pre weaned kittens every three hours. It depends on you and what you have decided is what you can contribute. It is very important to know going in to this type of volunteering that you can go in with guns blazing and then find yourself burned out two months later. Stick to what you know you can do and have discussed with the Volunteer Coordinator or Head Volunteer.

Collecting blankets, newspapers or toys: Always check with your Head Volunteer before collecting items to be used in the shelter. Some toys or rawhides are discouraged because they clog drains or make animals sick. There is always an issue of cross

contamination when it comes to cats, dogs and sharing toys.

Certain diseases spread like wild fire in an animal shelter and you certainly don’t want to contribute to the problem. Blankets for bedding are usually restricted to anything that isn’t knitted or crocheted (toe nails can get tangled) or anything without polyfill stuffing. In most cases newspapers are used to line cages, the advertisements in the middle of the paper are useless. The paper is oddly shaped and too shiny, it doesn’t absorb urine.

Cleaning kennels and cages: This is where you will get your exercise. Spraying, bending, reaching, wiping and then repeat.

Cleaning in an animal shelter is an uphill battle; there is always something that will need to be cleaned. Some of the cats and dogs aren’t potty or box trained and will continuously soil in the wrong part of their cage. There are many other tasks like laundry, sweeping and mopping that you can do to help out the staff if they are shorthanded. If any animal has to spend time in a shelter or rescue they at least deserve to spend time in a clean cage with fresh bedding. Cleaning cages will also give you the opportunity to get to know the animal’s behavior or alert the medical staff if you see anything out of the ordinary like loose stools.

Dog walking or socializing: More exercise! Walking dogs can be very therapeutic for you as well as the dogs. It gives our four legged buddies a chance to get out and stretch their legs.

They enjoy the attention more than you could ever imagine. To get a chance to get out of the cage and feel the grass under their feet, smell the fresh air and make a new friend. Who knows, while they’re out walking around someone could see them and fall in love. Some of the dogs that come into shelters have never had a leash on and need all of the practice they can get. Teaching them the basics (sit, stay, heel) while you have them on a leash could increase their chances of adoption.

Cat socializing: If cats are more your area of expertise, most shelters will have an area or an entire building dedicated to strictly cats and kittens. Cats (and cat people know this) are way more stressed out by the whole shelter experience and need all of the extra TLC they can get. If you consider yourself a cat person and you want to help, volunteer at your local shelter. Dedicated cat volunteers are hard to find.

Fostering: This is a constant need for both cats and dogs for a number of reasons. In government run animal shelters an occasion may arise where a cat or dog can no longer stay at the

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Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

continued from page 5 shelter. This is where a foster home comes in to play. A foster opens their home to the animal in need and provides them a safe haven until they can be adopted. Sometimes the reason is medical, a broken limb, skin disease treatments etc. The foster parent is in constant contact with the shelter getting supplies and giving updates.

Un-weaned puppies and kittens that come in to shelters without their mothers are often put into a foster home until they are old enough to be altered and adopted. Fostering is a 24-7 obligation and should not be entered into halfheartedly but it is also where a volunteer can make the greatest impact on an animal’s life. There is always a shortage of responsible foster homes for cats and dogs in need.

Networking: With the internet and social media exploding there isn’t much in the world that hasn’t been put on blast. Networking cats and dogs in need of homes is no exception. I don’t have the statistics on hand but I’m sure with the extent of the networking in the last five years the placement of cats and dogs in homes and in rescued has to have sky rocketed. This is

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Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

where the animals in foster homes and the cats in the shelter really benefit by being able to be seen. Cats are rarely transported to adoption events because of the stress factor, being put in the public eye on social media sites is a stress free solution.

If you decide that you want to volunteer at your local animal shelter or rescue, regardless of what it is you decide to do to contribute to the lives of these animals that need you, know that you will be rewarded tenfold when you see the cat or dog you have been working with walk out with a family and a new chance at a good life. Your time and energy will be spent working towards a greater good, a good that is often misinterpreted and misunderstood. Volunteering at an animal shelter or rescue isn’t for everyone; it can be emotional and frustrating at times but there is a need. It’s a need that you can reach out and touch and make a difference where you live, in your own backyard.

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Do Doo?

Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

What to With the

Kittens!

We’ve got them.

Adopt one kitten, adopt the second for free.

Twice the fun!

Best Friends Pet Adoption Center Conveniently located off the 5, 405, 118 freeways 15321 Brand Blvd., Mission Hills 91345 818.643.3989

bestfriends.org/kittens

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Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

A

merican pets can create approximately 10 million tons of waste each year. The Food and Drug Administration has even estimated that an average dog could excrete approximately 0.75 pounds of waste per day. That could equate to over a half-ton of pet waste per year, per household! It’s hard to know for certain how much poop there is, especially with our ever-exploding pet population, but where does it all go?

Scientists have discovered that our pets’ poop is a major cause of water pollution, and that such pollution poses a significant health hazard to humans. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stated that pet waste is a significant cause of water body contamination in areas where there are high concentrations of dogs. Most of our pets’ poop ends up in a landfill, where it’s kept forever inside plastic bags. If you live near my neighborhood, you unfortunately often find it left behind on our beautiful paseos, usually in the path of some unsuspecting bicyclist or jogger who runs into it by accident. It sits on the ground until the next rain washes it away, where it can make its way to our riverbeds and down to our beaches. Canine waste contains lots of nasty bacteria with unpronounceable names, “Fecal Streptococcus” and “Fecal Coli forms” are two of the easiest. In high amounts, these bacteria can make people sick.

“E. coli bacteria” often causes gastrointestinal infections, as well as infections to the ears, eyes, and throat. Other bacteria called “Campylobacter” can cause diarrhea in humans. Still another

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Meet some of the fantastic pets awaiting adoption at Best Friends Pet Adoption Center.

All pets are spayed or neutered, micro-chipped, vaccinated, and ready to go to their forever home immediately.

Distinguished Kirby is 14-years old and super easygoing. He likes other cats, small dogs and absolutely adores people! As a senior, Kirby has a few health issues, such as diabetes and slight arthritis, which can be managed. Otherwise, he’s in great health and would make a fantastic feline companion for just about anyone. Come meet this sweet gentleman today!

Tamika, a three year old Jack Russell mix, is very sweet and energetic. She LOVES to play fetch with balls. Tamika can take a while to warm up to people and other dogs, but gets along well once introduced properly.

Once Tamika is comfortable with you, she is a total cuddle-bug. Give this fun, feisty girl a chance and you’ll be rewarded with a best friend for life!

Looking for a lively pal? Lily, a two year old gray and white bull terrier mix, is your girl! She enjoys long walks, jogs and playing ball in the yard. Once her energy is spent, however, Lily is happy to be your lounge buddy, chilling by your side as you enjoy a nap or watching the big game on TV. Lily is very affectionate with people, but not great with other pets, so she’ll need to be your one and only.

Willemena is a former mama cat that still looks and acts like a youngster herself! This sweet, petite girl is eight years old. She gets along great with other cats; living with another kitty would really bring out her playful side.

Willemena adores people, too, and is very affectionate. Come meet Willemena today and see if she doesn’t nuzzle and purr her way right into your heart!

Best Friends Animal Society Adoption Center Located at 15321 Brand Boulevard, Mission Hills.

The center is open from noon to 8 p.m. daily.

For more information, visit www.bestfriends.org/la or call (818) 643-3989 Pet Me! Magazine™

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Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

continued from page 9 form of poop-loving bacteria, “Salmonella”, can cause infections that trigger fever, muscle aches, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea. Dog waste also contains other not-so-lovely diseasetransmitting organisms such as roundworms. These parasites can cause their human victims to lose their vision temporarily, as well as trigger coughs and fevers.

Yes, poop is serious stuff!! Okay, now that I got your attention, what are our responsible choices for handling pet waste?

There are several different options that include scooping, above and below ground composting (using enzymes or with the help of worms), burying, bagging and tossing in the trash, flushing and pet poop scoop services. If you simply can’t bear the idea of handling your dog’s poop even if there’s a bag between the poop and your hand, you may want to consider using a pooper-scooper.

These devices consist of various long-handled rakes, shovels and/ or spades that enable the owner to scoop up the waste without having to bend down and get close to it. Pooper scoopers are a good choice for owners whose dogs do their business in their own yards, as it may be cumbersome to take scoopers on your walks. It’s also a good idea to pick up your dog’s business on a regular daily basis to keep you and your pet happy and healthy.

If you don’t want to put your dog’s poop in the trash, or if you want a high-tech waste disposal system, you may want to acquire a “waste digester”. These small, in-ground systems work the same way septic systems do: They liquefy any dog poop deposited and drain the liquid into the surrounding soil. The digester system has two parts: the digester unit itself, including an accessible lid, and the digester mix. You will need to install your disposal unit in a convenient but out-of-the-way spot in your yard. When your dog poops, bring the poop to the digester, remove the lid and place the poop inside. Add some digester mix and some water, then replace the lid. The digester will then do its thing. Digesters are a good option for people who whose dogs do most of their pooping in their own yards. Use a pooper scooper to transport the poop to the digester. Look for pooper scoopers and septic systems at pet stores, in pet supply catalogs and on pet retail Web sites. The cost, including both the digester unit and the digester mix, ranges between $50 and $75. Pooper scoopers

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generally cost between $15 and $25. One popular brand of digester is the Doggie Dooley Pet Waste Disposal System, which works like a miniature septic tank. It utilizes natural bacteria and enzyme cultures to reduce dog waste to a ground absorbed liquid. Or if you have room in your backyard, you can bury an old garbage bin to use as a pet-waste digester system. There are many “how-to” videos online that show you how to create your own in-ground system with very easy steps and minimal supplies. Burying pet waste in the backyard without any prior treatment is an alternative to composting. To safely bury your pet’s waste you need to dig a hole about one foot deep, away from edible plants. Add about 4 inches of waste, crush it up and mix it with the soil at the bottom of the hole using a shovel. Bury the waste under about 8 inches of soil to keep other animals from being attracted to the smell. This method could turn your yard into an unsightly mess. You can also compost pet poop above ground. This is different from the in-ground digesting system or the average compost system, which doesn’t heat up enough to kill pathogens such as “e. coli.” Pet waste often contains dangerous pathogens that can cause serious diseases and the average garden compost pile or composter does not reach high enough temperatures to reliably kill them. Instead, you would use an above-ground composting system which utilizes worms to process your pet waste. Worms break down the waste pathogens, and leave behind great fertilizer for your flowers and non-edible plants. You never want to mix your garden compost system with your pet waste system and you want to keep your pet compost far away from your vegetable gardens. Pet waste should never be added to compost that is intended for fertilizing vegetables or other edible plants. You want to keep it away from your home as well as it might not always smell the best. You can find lots of DIY videos on creating both in-ground and above-ground digesters and composters, and you can also purchase ready-made versions as well.

Some people choose the quickest, easiest way to get rid of a dog’s poop, which is to put it in a plastic bag and either drop the bag in a trash can or flush the bag’s contents down a toilet.

You might think that this method would have a high gross-out factor. It does, especially if you use the wrong size bag! There’s nothing more disgusting than using a teeny-tiny bag to pick

Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

up a great big piece of dog poop and having some of that poop end up on your hand instead of in the bag. But that doesn’t have to happen. There are two keys to effective bagging: using the right size bag and developing the proper bagging technique.

For all but the tiniest dogs, a sandwich-sized bag or smaller just isn’t big enough to pick up poop. (Again, this is why I love my Chihuahuas!) Before you use your bag, check to make sure that it doesn’t have any holes. Picking up a bunch of dog doo only to have it hit the ground again is a surefire recipe for frustration. After you have the right bag, it’s easy to gather up cleanly.

Choosing to put your pet’s poop in the trash is MUCH better than leaving the mess behind, and often times is the only choice one may have at the moment… but poop in a plastic bag is not recycled easily back into our environment and it takes up landfill space. Often people recycle grocery bags for this purpose, which do not decompose. Even paper will not decompose, because landfills do not create enough sunlight or air in order for materials to break down. But if you’re looking for plastic-free bags for your pups, try biodegradable pet-waste bags made out of corn, from companies such as BioBag and Oops I Pooped.

One of the other ways to handle the task is to use a reusable pooper scooper and flush the poop down your toilet. Sewer sanitation systems are designed to handle waste (yours and your pet’s) safely and effectively. This was verified when I called The Sanitation District of Los Angeles County, whose representative chuckled when I began asking my “pooptastic” questions. I

found out the sewage is treated and recycled fairly quickly and safely back into the environment. (It goes through several processes including chemical and photo-light treatments.) I have the ease of two very tiny dogs, so a little toilet paper does the clean-up trick for me. Pet owners who cannot easily carry their pet’s poop to a toilet with a tissue could use a pooper scooper, or use a flushable poop bag. Flushable bags are convenient and can be processed in our sewage system. (I was told pharmaceuticals are the only things that should NEVER be flushed!) Flushable bags should be kept sealed in another plastic bag before use, as they melt quickly and can become a mess. They can also be a bit expensive and hard to find, so make sure your plumbing can handle the extra material being flushed.

And finally there are those who choose to hire a pet waste pickup service. This is very convenient, especially if you do not have the time (or the stomach) to do the daily duty yourself.

You can hire someone else to do the dirty work for you and your pet! I recommend doing your research. Some service providers can be more expensive than others. You should also ask how they dispose of the waste they collect. It may just end up in the trash or they might use one of the other methods described above. Ultimately, what I have found on my quest for the scoop on poop is that there are several responsible ways to clean up after your pet. These methods can all be debated as to which is ultimately best for our planet but the one thing that remains clear; poop happens and you have to deal with it!

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FELINE ASTHMA Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

I

By Amanda Gillen, DVM

s kitty always trying to cough up furballs? This is often the first, and only, symptom of asthma in cats. Asthma is an allergic disease, typically diagnosed in young to middle aged cats, and unfortunately, a lot of the time it is not diagnosed until the cat goes into an asthmatic crisis, and presents with difficulty breathing, often in severe distress.

Signs of asthma in cats can include wheezing,

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Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

coughing, gagging, and even vomiting. Sometimes a trigger for the episodes can be discovered, but often the cause remains unknown. Common triggers include cigarette smoke, cat litter, and aerosols.

Other causes of respiratory difficulty that can mimic asthma will need to be ruled out when the cat initially presents for evaluation to the veterinarian. These include heart disease, feline lungworm, heartworm disease, and thyroid disease (thyroid “storm”). While no bedside test can be performed to diagnose asthma, a thorough history, and other diagnostics tests, will be recommended to “rule-out” lookalike conditions.

Emergency treatment of the feline patient in respiratory distress is aimed at decreasing oxygen requirements by minimizing stress (a sedative may be administered to your cat by your veterinarian upon arrival at the clinic), increasing oxygen delivery (oxygen will be administered), decreasing inflammation of the airways (a steroid is generally given), and a drug to relax the airways (a bronchodilator) is also administered.

Chronic management of the asthmatic cat is aimed at eliminating exposure to known triggers, if possible, and managing the clinical signs through the use of medication.

Much like in humans, inhaled medications are the preferred method of delivering drugs to the airways. More of the drug is concentrated at the site where they are needed, and

less systemic side effects are generally encountered.

Asthma inhalers for cats can be delivered through specially designed inhalation chamber, and face mask, which are relatively inexpensive (Aero-Kat). Most cats learn to tolerate the inhaler within a short period of time, though some cats never do. These cats must be managed by other means of medication delivery- generally oral, or transdermal creams.

Feline asthma can lead to permanent changes, or remodeling, or the airways, which may lead to poor response to medication over time, so preventing and controlling the damage caused by acute episodes of airway inflammation is the best tool we have to prevent permanent damage.

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Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

Winter Hazards for Pets

By Dr. Evelyn Vega, Happy Pets Veterinary

I

recently attended a live webinar on common holiday hazards for pets given by the pet poison helpline. Although the holidays are behind us, I felt these are important things everyone should know about throughout the year and not only during the holiday season. For example we all know that macadamia nuts are toxic to pets, but did you know that it only takes 5 nuts to be toxic to a 10lb. dog! Rule of thumb is about ? nut per pound of body weight is the average toxic dose.

We are aware of alcohol poisoning in humans who have had too much alcohol to drink, did you know animals can be affected as well and not necessarily by drinking alcoholic beverages?

Other sources of alcohol or ethanol poisoning include unbaked yeast bread dough, fermenting garbage or fruits, hand sanitizers, chafing fuels, and cleaners such as window cleaners. Make sure to keep these items away from your pets, if they are in the trash, make sure your pet can not get into the trash, there was a case of a dog dying from eating a whole bag of rotten apples!

We all know that true lilies are toxic to cats causing acute kidney failure. It only takes 1-2 petals or leaves for toxicity, but did you know that even the pollen is toxic as well as the water in

the vase with the lilies? Your cat does not even have to eat part of the plant, it could just lick the pollen off its coat or drink the water out of the vase and it could suffer from renal failure.

Japanese yew is also known as the “tree of death”, all parts of this plant are toxic except the red fleshy fruit. This is not widely grown in Los Angeles, but a lot of winter flower arrangements are incorporating this plant. I highly recommend learning what it looks like and stay away from it. Even dry plant parts are toxic causing the heart to slow down until it stops.

Salt, we love salt on our food, but we generally know when to stop. However too much salt can be toxic for our pets. I know dogs don’t typically ask for the salt to be passed down at dinner time, but there are products that are made with salt that we need to be aware of and make sure they are kept out of reach.

Homemade play dough is one of them, if ingested; it can cause salt intoxication not to mention obstruction if enough is eaten.

There was a case where a Great Dane died from eating a batch of homemade Christmas ornaments made with flour and salt. Also if you own a pocket pet such as a rabbit or guinea pig, make sure to keep their salt licks where the dog or cat cannot get to them.

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Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

One last thing to mention as a winter hazard is the cold weather. Some dog breeds are bred to live in cold environments such as huskies and malamutes, however some are not and even though we live in southern California, it can get chilly here at night. If your pet is not used to being outdoors, meaning if he has not been acclimated to outdoor temperatures, do not leave them out at night without proper shelter and bedding. If your pet is shivering while outside, it is probably too cold for him or her to be out there. Listen for frost warnings on the nightly news or radio, if they recommend to bring your pet indoors, please do so. A weather safety scale was put together by Tufts School of veterinary medicine which gives general guidelines for weather conditions and the size of your dog. For example, if it is 30 degrees or less it is dangerous to potentially life threatening to leave a toy breed, a puppy less than 6 months or an elderly pet outside without appropriate shelter or bedding available. For further information, you can look up Tufts Animal Condition and Care score (TACC) online to help determine if your pet is safe outside during our SCV winter nights.

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For more information on toxic substances or if your pet got into something and you need to know if they are in danger, you can reach the ASPCA animal poison control center emergency hotline providing 24 hour a day, 7 days a week telephone assistance for a $65 fee at 1-888-4-ANI-HELP (1-888-426-4435) .

www.dermatologyforanimals.com

DERMATOLOGY FOR ANIMALS

●Intradermal Allergy Testing ●Dermatohistopathology Service ●Otitis and Video-Otoscopy ●Carbon Dioxide Laser Therapy ●Dermatology at the Multi Specialty Facilities*

DERMATOLOGY FOR ANIMALS

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

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Hope Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

Rays of

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

I

t only takes one really dark, gloomy day to make you notice when the first sunbeam peeks out from behind the clouds. Suddenly colors all around you seem to light-up, vibrant in their true hues. You feel a little lighter, relieved, and maybe even cheerful. What a dramatic shift in emotions, in mood!

The lack of sunlight during the winter months is a major challenge emotionally; triggering depression to some degree, in almost everyone. But since we can’t just hibernate, we seek substitutes. Look at all the colorful holiday lights, the fireplaces, the warm, golden-colored beverages. For some these will help. For others, only make the lack seem more empty. So

CASTAIC

CANINE CAMP Castaic Canine Camp is literally a home away from home for dogs

Let’s face it, when it comes to your canine children, you want the best for them. A place where the love and attention they need and want is guaranteed.

Castaic Canine Camp sits on 17 pristine acres of land adjacent Castaic Lake. Castaic Canine Camp offers boarding, daycare, training facilities, and services for all ages, breeds and sizes of canines.

Castaic Canine Camp accepts furry guests for a day visit or extended stay, and offers inter-action with other dogs or separate accommodations according to your pet’s special come see us needs...and your needs for them.

Castaic Canine Camp Offers: Boarding Daycare Training

at the Bow-Wows & Meows Pet Fair!

When you adopt a dog from the Bow Wows & Meows Pet Fair you receive a

free

training session!

(661) 257-0957 • (661) 257-1870 57 1870 36975 Ridge Route Rd. • Castaic, Ca 91384 www.castaiccaninecamp.com • email: ossaonyx@aol.com

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why does sunlight have such a powerful effect on us? Sunlight stimulates the release of serotonin (the ‘feel-good’ hormone) to instill a sense of well-being. It also increases blood levels of endorphins. (Natural stress-relief... no wonder it feels so good.)

Real sunlight also nourishes. It drives the life process in innumerable ways. We hunger for it; and so do our companion pets. All living things need direct (ideally outdoor) sunlight. Indoor-only cats in particular are often seriously deprived of this vital nutrient; the results of which are becoming increasingly evident. Perhaps the most glaring of these is the insufficiency of vitamin D; which they are not able to convert from other sources and must obtain from direct exposure to

Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

sunlight. And what does vitamin D benefit physically? Bones, muscles, and the immune system. And what is manifesting?

Arthritis, wasting, asthma (and many other auto-immune disorders). Also implicated now are diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and many cancers.

There are many reasons why our companion pets do not seem as robust as they were a few decades ago. For our precious indoor-only cats (especially) we must consider the tragic effects that lack of direct sunlight have had on their health and well-being. They sense the need of course, and will seek sunlight wherever it can be found.... in windows, on the floor, etc. Unfortunately, glass blocks all benefits. That’s right.

The window (or door) must be open (and the screen secure, please). This will come as a surprise to many, but it’s true. Cats apparently don’t realize this either so it’s up to us, to you, to seek out safe ways to allow them to soak-up life-enhancing direct sunlight.

There is no substitute; and our cats really need this. Just look at all their stress-related health and behavioral issues. Resorting to just drugging them out of their minds is silliness when the multiple benefits of a little sunlight can remedy so much! You really only need 15-20 minutes per day to make a difference.

Plan it as a healthful time together and get ready to watch the vibrancy of life return; like gentle rays of sunshine spilling out from behind the clouds ... rays of hope ... rays of life.

DOGONE-IT!

PET SITTING – Your House or Mine Sl l Sleepovers welcome No Crates ~ Just Cuddles

Marlee (661) 251-3873 Dogone-it@hotmail.com

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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 Kitty’s Spa In-home Grooming (661) 505-0397 www.kittysSpa.com Purrfect Paw Prints Mobile Pet Grooming (661) 313-2803 So Cal Grooming 28011 Seco Cyn. Rd. Santa Clarita, 91390 (661) 513-0778 www.socalgrooming.com Pawpular Pet Suppliers 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 18 Pet Me! Magazine™

Pets

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

Trusted Vets In and Around SCV

Advanced Care Animal Hospital 19406 Soledad Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91351 (661) 263-4334 www.advancedcareanimalhospital.com

Best Friends Pet Adoption Center 15321 Brand Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91354 (818) 643-3989 Bestfriends.org

All Creatures Emergency Center 22722 Lyons Ave # 5 Newhall, 91321-2876 (661) 291-1121 www.wecarevets.com

Brittany Foundation Agua Dulce (661) 713-5240 www.brittanyfoundationonline.org

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

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 New Leash On Life Animal Rescue adopt@nlol.org (661) 255-0097 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

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 Peaceful Pets In-Home Euthanasia Services (661) 621-3750 peacefulpetsinhome@gmail.com www.peacefulpetsservices.com 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

!

Animal Aftercare

Best Boarding Facilities Canine Country Club 20341 Blue Cloud Road Santa Clarita, 91390-1259 (661) 296-0566 www.cccofscv.com

Clip & Save!

Directory

Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

Castaic Canine Camp 36975 Ridge Route Road Castaic, 91384 (661) 257-0957 www.castaiccaninecamp.com Santa Clarita’s Premier Dog Lodge Trish Cohen (661) 618-6628 honestgalpal@att.net www.hasshaus.com Pampering Pet Sitters 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 Dog Gone Happy Tami Cox (661) 310-4133 Alternative Medicines & Healing Sylvia Nahale Hathaway Acupressurist & Reiki Master (661) 378-8612 josephinesplace@msn.com

Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

Awesome

Adoptables

To adopt one of these pets please contact Castaic Animal Shelter at 661.257.3191 or visit their website at http://animalcare.lacounty.gov All dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and come with a free vet visit!

Brandy is energetic, affectionate, smart and a super-loyal 2 year old white and brown spayed female Pit Bull Terrier. She was brought into the Castaic Shelter on November 18 as a stray. Yes Brandy has been at the shelter for one month!! Weighing about 50 pounds she is super brandy playful and has passed her shelter given temperament test. Brandy would benefit from additional training.. She will be fantastic for an active family with children and a great running or hiking partner. Brandy will get along with other dogs if introduced properly. Brandy is a perfect indoor pet for an active individual or family living in a private home.. Who could resist those oversized ears?

Smokey is a shy and gentle 8 month old black Flat Coated Retriever Puppy. Smokey has had a tough start to his very short life. He was dumped at the shelter when he was only about 3 months old with his siblings.

Smokey was adopted and then abandoned again on smokey November 24. His former owner said he was kept outside and refused to let him in the house.. All Smokey wanted was some human companionship. His former owner also refused to get any training for him. Smokey will be easy to train because he is so starved for attention he will do anything to please you. Weighing about 45 pounds he walks OK on the leash and is playful.

Smokey would love to go for hikes and to cuddle with you. He can’t get enough of his people friends and would benefit from having a mellow dog companion.

Smokey will be a great playmate for children. Smokey is hoping to find someone who will promise never to abandon him again.

Buzgy is a Personality Plus 2 yr old white neutered male Chihuahua. Can you believe a dog this cute can’t find a home? We don’t really know why but Buzgy has found himself at the Castaic Shelter. He was found as a stray on October 6 and brought into the Castaic Shelter. buzgy Buzgy was adopted on December 11 and dumped back at the shelter the very next day. Through no fault of his own, the person’s other dog did not like Buzgy. Weighing about 18 pounds he is an active little boy who would love a family to call his very own. He will be a delightful companion for children. He is good with other dogs. Buzgy is one of the shelter favorite dogs and would make a marvelous indoor pet for an individual or family living in any situation. Buzgy would be a Great companion for a senior.

Cupcake is an affectionate 5 yr old cream spayed female Chihuahua who was dumped at the Castaic Shelter along with her companions JoJo and Brownie because her former owner said the apartment they lived in now will not longer take pets. Weighing about 12 cupcake pounds Cupcake is a love to everyone she meets.

She would rather be held that walk. Cupcake is good with other smaller dogs and would be great with calm children. Of course we would love to have all three adopted together but that is not necessary. Cupcake will make a lovely indoor pet for an individual or family with older children and will be a wonderful companion for a senior citizen.

JoJo is a cheerful 5 yr old tan and white neutered male Chihuahua who was dumped at the Castaic Shelter on December 8 along with his companions Cupcake and Brownie because his former owner said the apartment they lived in now will no longer take jojo pets. Weighing about 15 pounds JoJo walks OK on the leash and is probably housebroken. He wants to play with other small dogs.

We think he will be a good match for older children. He is quite the charmer, with a constantly wagging tail. Of course we would love to have all three adopted together but that is not necessary. JoJo will make a super indoor pet for an individual or family with older children and will be a wonderful companion for a senior citizen.

Brownie is a happy, mellow 6 yr old brown sprayed female Chihuahua who was dumped at the Castaic Shelter on December 8 along with her companions Cupcake and JoJo because her former owner said the apartment they lived in now will no longer take brownie pets. Weighing about 20 pounds, Brownie needs a weight reduction program. You can see who was eating everyone else’s food!!

Brownie walks OK on the leash but would benefit from some additional training, he is probably housebroken. He loves his other companions Cupcake and JoJo and is a little scared of other dog. Brownie loves people, she is alert enthusiastic and eager to please. Of course we would love to have all three adopted together but that is not necessary. Brownie will make a particularly ideal companion for an active senior citizen and and splendid indoor pet for any family. How could you resist that face!!

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Pet Me! Magazine™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

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