Pittsburgh petconnections jan feb vol 2 issue 5 2014 by Pittsburgh PetConnections Magazine

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PetConnections Magazine January-February 2014 • Vol. 2, Issue 5

Equine Melanoma

Page 38.

Dogs on Deployment

page 12.

Kitty Trends

20 13 January-February 2014 • Vol. 2, Issue 5

ate of E xc tific

ence ell

Page 31.

This Valentine’s Day. Share the Love We’ll show you how! What could be a better expression of your love or affections for someone than a card that tells them that you have honored them with a donation to Angel Ridge Animal Rescue? Their name and yours will be written on the front of a pretty heart that will be placed on our Angel’s Tree of Hope. We will also choose one of our rescued dogs, cats or horses to also be their special Valentine. The card that we send them, pictured below, will note your name and message, but will include an insert of one of our special animals, with their Valentine. Cards will be mailed February 12, 2014. Cut off for Valentine card requests is February 10, 2014. Minimum donation is $20 for a Valentine.

From decks, fencing to bathroom remodeling, J&D has done it all!

We can send the card directly to your loved ones. Your Name:_______________________________________ Your Address:_____________________________________ City:_____________________________________________ State:___________________Zip:______________________ Your Phone Number:______________________________ Your email:_______________________________________ Valentine’s Name:_________________________________ Valentine’s Address:_______________________________ City:__________________________State:____Zip:_______ Amount of donation:______________________________ Please mail this form to: Angel Ridge Animal Rescue 390 Old Hickory Ridge Road Washington, PA 15301 724-229-7053 390 Old Hickory Ridge Road | Washington, PA 15301 | www.angelridgeanimalrescue.org | 724-229-7053

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NOW YOU CAN TOO PUP! New Clients... and New Pets! Try us out and save $10 on our Deluxe Grooming Service (or Save $7 on our Basic Grooming Service) This Offer is Available for New Clients Only. Must present this coupon at the time of service. This offer is not good in conjunction with other offers and is subject to change without notice. Expires March 17, 2014

Located in Scott Towne Center 2101 Greentree Road

Like Family!

412-279-5331

In This Issue: The Human-Animal Bond................10, 12-13 Holistic Care...........................................26-28 Losing a Beloved Pet; Dogs on Deployment Helps Find Boarding for New Year’s Revolution; My New Year’s Wish for You

Troops’ Pets

Korner............................................30-33 Event Calendar.............................................11 Kitty Celebrate World Spay Day; The Kitty Chic Trend: Cat Rescue Upcoming Pet Events

Resource Guide; The Homeless Cat Management Team

Canine Companion.................................14-15 Equine Affairs..........................................38-41 The First Therapy Dog Equine Melanoma; Positioning the Horse

Featured Rescue.......................................16-17 In Remembrance..........................................44 Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group Healing Hearts for Pet Lovers

Animal Health & Wellness......................18-21 Owning an English Bulldog; February is Pet Dental Health Month

Animal Behavior.....................................24-25

Advertiser Locator Map................................22

Trained Dogs Can Do More!

©Pittsburgh PetConnections

January-February 2014

F ROM THE PUBLISHER Welcome to our January-February Volume 2 Issue 5! Welcome to our combined January-February Volume 2 Issue 5! PPC Magazine is barking, meowing and neighing in the New Year with our new look! We hope you like the redesign! We have featured the rescued animals of Angel Ridge Animal Rescue. Please see their ad on p. 1 for more information. February is National Spay and Neuter Month, Pet Dental Health Month and Adopt-A-RescuedRabbit Month. Check out our Cat Resource Page in the Kitty Korner section.

This Issue: There are many great articles packed in our double issue, including Pet Dental Health, Smoky – The First Therapy Dog, the Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group, The Kitty Trend, by our own Suzanne Mauro of PCTV’s Style Everyday with Suz and much more! We also added a directory page in print, due to the many requests! This is in addition to our online directories on the home page of www.pghpetconnections.com. Join us for February events! Some include the Pittsburgh Home Show, Cupids & Canines, Dr. Doug’s ”How to Avoid Pet Food Pitfalls” seminar and Healing Hearts seminar on our Remembrance page and more listed on p.11. Thank you for picking up PPC Magazine. Take care of yourself, as well as your animals and make it a great year! Warmly, Carla Mader CEO & Publisher Pittsburgh PetConnections, LLC.

Pittsburgh PetConnections Magazine Disclaimer: ”The views expressed in PPC Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policies of Pittsburgh PetConnections Magazine. All viewpoints are welcome...”

Pittsburgh PetConnections Monthly

Published By: Pittsburgh PetConnections, LLC.

Please submit any correspondence to: info@pghpetconnections.com Please check us out on the web & subscribe at: www.pghpetconnections.com. Follow PghPetMag on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/PghPetconnectionsMagazine

www.pghpetconnections.com Subscribe, Submit, Upload! Submit your business or rescue organization’s info for a FREE listing on our directory.

Pittsburgh PetConnections, LLC. was formed in 2012. Our mission is to publish a high quality, informative and Human-Animal Bond focused publication. We support local businesses and also assist local non-profit businesses for pets and people, to give back to our great Pittsburgh communities.

No website for your small home-based pet or wellness business? Add a Featured Listing on the PPC online Directory for a small yearly fee and upload photos and detailed info about your business!

Magazine Publication Staff Managing Editor.........................................................Carla Mader Chief Editor...........................................Bernadette E. Kazmarski Sales.................................................................................Carla Mader Distribution...............................................................Martin Mader Graphic Designer.......................................Flatboy Productions Photographer......................................Kara Jones Photography Contributing Writers: Our contributing writers have many years of combined experience and expertise in the fields of veterinary medicine and the Human-Animal Bond. ADVERTISING: info@pghpetconnections.com 724-503-8695 Contact: info@pghpetconnections.com All Rights Reserved Copyright 2014 January-February 2014

Become a Media Partner with PPC Magazine! A Media Partnership with PPC includes: • Ad in print or online (free design) • A Free Featured directory page on our website with your business info, photos and link to your website • Your logo in our monthly newsletter • PPC promotes your business at our events

www.pghpetconnections.com

DIRECTORY Animal Educational Exhibits North:

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium 412-665-3640 | www.pittsburghzoo.org The National Aviary 412-323-7235 | www.nationalaviary.org

Animal Behavior

See our on d www irector line fea tu y .pgh petc listings red onne a ction t s.com !

Greater Pittsburgh Area:

Judith Levy, M,Ed., CEHP, RMT - Holistic Approach to Behavior 412-521-5133 | www.judithlevywellness.com

Animal Communication Greater Pittsburgh Area:

Renee Takacs, M.A. 724-625-6693 | www.intuitguide.com

Animal Reiki East:

Janet Jackson 724-547-7101 | www.theenergyconnection.net/animalangellady

East End:

Judith Levy, M,Ed., CEHP, RMT – Certified Energy Health Practitioner 412-521-5133 | www.judithlevywellness.com

Animal-Related Art, Photography & Retail North:

Nicole Begley Photography www.nicolebegleyphotography.com Vibrant Images 724-774-1731 | www.vibrant-images.com WearWoof Shop – Fashion Meets Mission! 412-956-1788 | www.wearwoof.org

South:

Kara Jones Photography kjones.smugmug.com Paws ‘n Claws Eyewear www.PawsnClawsEyewear.com

Greater Pittsburgh Area:

Portraits of Animals www.potraitsofanimals.net Pet and Home Portraits 302-530-6908 | www.petandhomeportraits.blogspot.com

Animal Rescue & Shelter Organizations North:

Animal Friends 412-847-7000 | www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org Beaver County Humane Society 724-775-5801 | www.beavercountyhumanesociety.org Pennsylvania Great Dane Rescue 724-869-9185 | www.pennsylvania-dane-rescue.org Hope Haven Farm Sanctuary 412-366-1187 Western Pa Humane Society 412-321-4265 | www.wpahumane.org

South:

Angel Ridge Animal Rescue 724-229-7053 | www.angelridgeanimalrescue.org Animal Care & Welfare 412-344-2294 | www.animalcareandwelfare.org Washington Area Humane Society 724-22-7387 | www.washingtonpashelter.org

East:

Animal Rescue League 412-345-7300 | www.animalrescue.org ARL Wildlife Center 412-345-7300x500 | www.animalrescue.org/wildlife_center SW PA Pugs with Special Needs 724-763-2790 | www.swpapug.org

West:

CARMAA www.carmaa-petadoption.com

©Pittsburgh PetConnections

January-February 2014

DIRECTORY Dog Training

Greater Pittsburgh Area:

Molly’s Canine Academy www.dogtrainingpittsburgh.com Success Just Clicks www.successjustclicks.com

North Shore:

Western PA Humane Society 412-321-4265 | www.wpahumane.org

Dog Training Clubs South:

Golden Triangle Obedience Training Club 412-653-6880 | www.gtotc.com Keystone Canine Training 412-833-2211 | www.keystonecanine.com Xcel Canine Training Center 412-833-2504 | www.xcelcaninetraining.com

Dog Boarding, Daycare, Training & Grooming Facilities North:

South:

Camp Bow Wow Castle Shannon | www.campbowwowpgh.com Grandma’s Dog Daycare Southside | 412-586-7094 | www.grandmasdogdaycare.com

East:

Camp Bow Wow Highland Park | www.campbowwowpgh.com

West:

Camp Bow Wow Greentree | www.campbowwowpgh.com Paws Here Awhile Pet Resort 724-573-4665 | www.pawshereawhile.com

Equine Boarding, Lessons & Training Facilities North:

Rockin’ Horse Stables 724-601-4706 | www.rockinhorsestables.com

South:

Angel Ridge Farm (Lessons only – Elizabeth Goldberg ) 412-860-1136 Coventry Equestrian Center 724 206 9902 | blythdale.tripod.com/coventryequestriancenter

Equine Holistic Care

Greater Pittsburgh Area: Dr. Michael Savko, DC, CCSP, CVCP 724-261-7915 | www.chirovet.com

Equine Hoof Care

Greater Pittsburgh Area: All Natural Hoof Care Nancy Frishkorn, CHCP – Field Instructor 724-255-6465 | www.hooflady.org

Equine Tack Stores South:

The English Horn 724-941-8088 | www.theenglishhorn.com Lowry’s Western Store 724-228-1225 | www.lowryswesternshop.com The Working Paper Horse http://stores.ebay.com/THE-WORKING-PAPER-HORSE

January-February 2014

www.pghpetconnections.com

DIRECTORY Equine Veterinarians East:

Dr. Brian Burks, DVM Fox Run Equine Center | 724-727-3481 | www.foxrunequine.com

Holistic Practitioners Pet Chiropractor North:

Dr. Doug Knueven, DVM Beaver Animal Clinic | 724-774-8047 | www.beaveranimalclinic.com

East:

Dr. Dina Livolsi, Doctor of Chiropractic AVCA certified animal chiropractor 412-824-6276

Greater Pittsburgh:

Dr. Michael Savko, DC, CCSP, CVCP 724-261-7915 | www.drchirovet.com

Holistic Veterinarians

Dr. Doug Knueven, DVM Beaver Animal Clinic | 724-774-8047 | www.beaveranimalclinic.com

Pet Cremation Services South:

Chartiers Custom Pet Cremation 412-220-7800 | www.ccpc.ws

Pet Fencing

Greater Pittsburgh Area:

Contain-A-Pet of Pittsburgh 724-914-3214 DogWatch Hidden Fences of Greater Pittsburgh Jack Goetz 724-586-6555 | www.DogWatchPGH.com J & D Home Improvements, Inc. 800-837-9379 | www.jdwaterproofing.com Pet Stop Pet Fencing System of Western PA www.petstop.com

Pet Friendly Restaurants North:

Double Wide Grille Mars | 724-553-5212

South:

Double Wide Grille Southside | 412-390-1111

Pet Grooming North:

5th Avenue Fido 724-772-5511 | www.5thavenuefido.com All About Dogs 724-925-1577 | www.allaboutdogsgrooming.info K-9 Kingdom 724-935-3647 | www.k9kingdom.com

South:

Brush Run Styling 724-942-6352 | www.brushrunpetstyling.com Grooming With Care 412-977-5961 Paws Here Awhile Pet Resort 724-573-4665 | www.pawshereawhile.com Petsburgh Dog & Cat Grooming 412-885-4027 Pets At Home 412-655-7297 The Pet Salon 412-279-5331 | www.petsalonusa.com Woody’s Dog Wash & Pet Boutique 412-714-4644 | www.woodysdogbath.com Creative Canine Cuts 724-223-9020

©Pittsburgh PetConnections

January-February 2014

DIRECTORY Pet Grooming Schools

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy 412-279-5331 | www.goldenpawspittsburghpa.com

Pet Massage

Greater Pittsburgh Area: Your Critter Sitters – Raylene Hoover 724-448-7330 | www.yourcritterssitters.com

Pet Retail/Supply North:

Healthy Pet Products 412-366-0700 | www.healthypetproducts.net

South:

Healthy Pet Products 412-831-3700 | www.healthypetproducts.net Oddball Pets & Aquariums 412-884-2333 | www.oddballpets.com Woody’s Dog Wash & Pet Boutique 412-714-4644 | www.woodysdogbath.com

Pet Sitters North:

Little Piggies Pet Sitting www.littlepiggiespetsitting.com

South:

Chris’s Canine Club 724-746-3864 | www.chrisscanineclub.com Your Critter Sitters– Raylene Hoover 724-448-7330 | www.yourcritterssitters.com

Veterinary Hospice

Greater Pittsburgh Area:

Nancy A. Ruffing, DVM 412-801-1071 | www.gentlejourneyvet.com

Veterinary Hospitals North:

Beaver Animal Clinic 724-774-8047 | www.beaveranimalclinic.com BelaCoop Animal Hospital 724-939-7062 | belacoopanimalhospital.com VCA Northview Animal Hospital Specialty Referral Center 412-364-5353 | www.vcanorthview.com

South:

Companions First Veterinary Clinic 412-831-9500 | companionsfirst.com VCA Castle Shannon 412-885-2500 | www.vcahospitals.com/castle-shannon

East:

Pittsburgh East Animal Hospital Monroeville 724-325-2500 | Greensburg 724-205-6960 | peah.vetsuite.com The Big Easy 412-908-9301 | www.tbeah.com

West:

VCA MetVet West Animal Hospital 412-788-6400 | www.vcahospitals.com/met-vet-west

Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Services Greater Pittsburgh Area:

Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, Inc. 412-366-3400 | www.pvs-ec.com VCA Northview Animal Hospital Specialty Referral Center 412-364-5353 | www.vcanorthview.com

January-February 2014

www.pghpetconnections.com

Oddball Pets and Aquariums The Best Aquarium Store in Pittsburgh

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262 Joseph Street Pittsburgh PA 15227

Toni and Meg

My Experience at PVSEC I

am not only the “go to” person for my customers when an emergency happens but naturally for my friends and family as well. So when I got a call in the middle of the night from a friend whose dog was having a nose bleed I was not in an immediate panic until I saw how much blood he was losing. It was terrifying and off we went to PVSEC (Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center).

They took him immediately…and we waited. A doctor then emerged and led us to an exam room where she informed us that the bleeding was still heavy and recommended admitting him and starting to run tests to try and determine the reason for the bleeding. My friend agreed to the admittance, testing and we were given an estimate that needed signing before leaving. We were told we could call at any time, except during rounds, to check on his dog. After a CT Scan and rhinoscopy which showed nothing they did a biopsy of the nasal mucosa to test for a bacterial or fungal infection. For these results we had to wait a few days and in the meantime they got his bleeding to stop and he was able to come home. They put him on a Chinese Herb to help stop bleeding and recommended an antibiotic in case he had an infection. He had no nosebleed whatsoever for two weeks and all hell broke loose again and back to PVSEC we went. This time he was sent home on doxycycline and prednisone. For those of you who know me and what I stand for it was hard for me to support this course of treatment but there was nothing else to do.

Tomorrow is his last day of doxycycline and he is tapering off the prednisone. No bleeding in two weeks except for a few drops one day. The final diagnosis is idiopathic rhinitis, I’m sure you can imagine the frustration for the owner when he received this diagnosis because it’s I saw nothing essentially a fancy term for, but true concern “We don’t know.”

and caring from

I often have customers each veterinarian you just have to tune in coming into my stores with we came into and pay attention. Do your the same frustration after spending a lot of time and contact with. own research, reach out to different vets, naturopaths, money on trying to help their nutritionists or anyone – even the animals. It’s easy to lay blame on the local pet store owner…Question everything vets and emergency clinics such as PVSEC. and remember that regardless of what In this situation they honestly did every decision you come to at least be at peace test they could and covered every possible option. I even checked with every connection in knowing you did everything you could. I have to see if anyone had any ideas but this was a very rare case as are many. In these unfortunate situations we need to think twice before laying blame. I saw nothing but true concern and caring from each veterinarian we came into contact with, which were four. Their estimates were accurate and they were conservative about testing and costs. In no way, shape or form did I feel that my friend was pressured to have tests run nor did it appear like they were trying to run the “bill” up. Ultimately, our pets’ care is up to us. I encourage you to be your own pet’s health and wellness advocate. I know they cannot verbally communicate with us but their actions speak volumes,

Specializing in Raw Feeding!

www.healthypetproducts.net

SOUTH HILLS: Crossgates Plaza 1742 Washington Rd. Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 (Next to Model Cleaners)

412.831.3700

NORTH HILLS: 9600 Perry Highway McCandless, PA 15237

412.366.0700

Monday-Thurs: 9am - 8pm Friday-Saturday: 9am - 6pm Sunday: 10am - 4pm

Find us on

THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND K

insey had dropped dead in the backyard. As I sat and read the words in the email from my client, I couldn’t believe it. I saw the message entitled Kinsey, and thought perhaps she had experienced another seizure. I should have noticed the time – just after midnight – a clue that something was wrong.

Losing a Beloved Pet

By: Susan Wagner, DVM MS ACVIM (Neurology)

As I stared at the screen, my usually calm demeanor felt a shock wave go through it. Kinsey had a pacemaker. She wasn’t supposed to collapse and die. It seemed like an eternity before I could get up and call her guardian. After a morning of sadness, talking with her cardiology group, and shifting from a veterinary to a spiritual perspective, I knew that as in every beloved pet’s death, it was time. Many people don’t understand the emotion surrounding a pet’s death. Our friends mean well when they tell us to go out and get another dog or cat. But we know it’s not that simple. We have to grieve the part of us that’s gone. Many clients have told me that they grieved more over the loss of their pet then over a human relative’s death. They talk about the guilt they feel from these emotions. From a spiritual perspective, those humans were loved, but they weren’t part of them. They weren’t on this earth to walk life’s journey with them. Their animals were. All our pets teach us something as they travel through life with us. Sometimes the journey is difficult; sometimes it’s nothing but joy. In either case, their passing can create a grief that takes us to our knees. Many veterinary schools have grief counselors and pet loss support groups. These caring professionals and volunteers have an understanding of the

human-animal bond, and can guide us through the grief process. If your loss is overwhelming, or you would like to talk about your beloved pet, reach out to someone who has experience with humananimal relationships. And don’t hesitate to reach out to your pet. Sound strange? Science tells us that matter is neither created nor destroyed; it only changes form. All of life is energy, and your pet hasn’t gone anywhere. His physical presence has shifted to a different vibration. Your spiritual paths together are still intact, but you can’t experience this new part of the journey together unless you know it exists. You may want to try this simple exercise. Think of your beloved pet, and open your heart. Feel the joy of her life, or the grief caused by her loss. While experiencing this feeling, ask for greater understanding. It may take time, but if you continue this process, the wisdom of the situation will come through. A word of warning is in order. Pure grief is a positive energy state created by the loss of something precious to us. It is not: why did this happen to me or what did everyone, including myself, do wrong? It is not blame. Those thoughts are coming from a negative place. Having said that, you may want to ask for clarity surrounding them. They can illuminate other areas of your life that are being influenced by these beliefs. Negative thoughts don’t connect us to the help that’s available. On the contrary, they block it from finding us, and create more drama in our lives. So, bringing awareness to these negative emotions is one more way your pet can help you create a more joyful life — even in his absence. Today is dedicated to Kinsey, whose joyful tail wags and slobbery kisses taught us all about staying positive in the midst of life’s challenges. I thank you for being you, and for all you have taught us.

©Pittsburgh PetConnections

January-February 2014

February 2014 Pittsburgh Pet Event Calendar Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

8 Pittsburgh Indoor Outdoor Home Show see page 37

Pittsburgh Indoor Outdoor Home Show see page 37

-Pet Loss Grief Seminar(p 44) -How to Avoid Pet Food Pitfalls(inside

back cover)

January-February 2014

Animal Rescue League B*tches Ball see page 43

www.pghpetconnections.com

WPA Humane Society Cupids & Canines see page 34

THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND

Dogs on Deployment Helps Find Boarding for Troops’ Pets By: Bernadette E. Kazmarski

hen you’re about to be deployed in the military the last thing you should need to worry about is the safety and care of your pets when you are away. Considering your return to life with them and family and friends is one of the things that brings a serviceperson comfort while on deployment, but often military members have to surrender their pets to an unknown fate in a shelter because foster homes or boarding is hard to arrange or costly for the unknown and unpredictable terms of a deployment.

would help others who found themselves in a similar situation. Today they not only founded the organization but are also active fosters for Dogs on Deployment and local rescue groups.

Dogs On Deployment is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit which provides an online network for service members to search for volunteers who are willing to board their pets during their owner’s service commitments as well as other information and services. They welcome not only members of the military to use their service but also individuals who are willing to foster or board pets and businesses who support members of the military with discounts and services.

The core service is an online listing for military members to search for volunteers who are willing to board their pets while they’re deployed. Individuals register as volunteer DoD Boarder for pets, while military service personnel register their Pets in Need for boarding while deployed. Dogs on Deployment (DoD) doesn’t help to find or organize the boarding, only providing the listing service.

The organization was founded in 2011 by husband and wife, Shawn and Alisa Johnson, who serve in the US Navy and US Marine Corps respectively. As a dual-military family, they have found themselves in situations where they needed a program like Dogs on Deployment. Alisa had orders to move to Quantico, Virginia where she was to attend six months of military training while her husband Shawn was to be deployed at the same time and neither could care for their beloved dog, JD. They were lucky enough to have family to rely on, but recognized the need for a program which

How Dogs on Deployment works for boarding pets while on deployment

For DoD Boarders Though the site stipulates that volunteer boarders live within 50 miles of a military base, DoD customer service assures the distance requirement need not be met to qualify. Anyone can register to become a DoD Boarder, and the only requirement from DoD is that you follow pet ownership guidelines for size and number of pets whether you rent or have a Homeowner’s Association or county restrictions regarding pets. DoD will also work with organizations who have a program to foster pets in addition to individuals who volunteer. Aside from these guidelines, pet owners themselves may have additional requirements for a boarding home but these requirements are arranged according to the needs of the Pet Owner and Pet in Need.

©Pittsburgh PetConnections

January-February 2014

THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND For DoD Pet Owners

DoD provides educational resources and can grant financial assistance during times of emergency A DoD “Pet in Need” is legally owned by a military for members of the military, veterans and their member who is currently unavailable to give it care families who qualify. They also advocate within due to military commitments. These commitments the military to have pets considered members of include active duty and reservist personnel going the family when servicepersons are deployed, and on deployment, command training or required they advocate for keeping all breeds in behavior military travel, veterans who have been honorably tolerance without resorting to breed bans as well discharged meeting stated medical and service as standardized military pet policies in housing. requirements, and spouses who meet the above criteria and need assistance according to DoD For more information, to sign up as a pet owner requirements. or boarding volunteer or supporting business or to donate or otherwise support this organization, Pet owners are required to accurately and honestly visit their website at www.dogsondeployment.org, describe their pet, its personality and its needs, or Facebook page at DogsonDeployment to see a and only list the pet for temporary boarding, not few sample postings. for rehoming. In addition, DoD does not assist pet owners who need assistance for their pets for nonmilitary reasons such as personal vacations. For both the volunteer boarder and the pet owner DoD provides a host of resources and suggestions to help the boarding setup and management be successful for both parties and all pets involved, and offers an example DoD Boarding Contract, urging all parties to review and retain a signed copy. For DoD Business Members Dogs on Deployment will list businesses and organizations which support members of the military and their pets in order to foster the military-pet community. DoD Vendors must be a business related to military, family or pet care and offer a discount or incentive program to all military members so that when a business registers as a DoD Vendor they can have DoD Members referred to their business through their promotional incentives. Assistance and advocacy in many ways for all military members, veterans and their pets Throughout their website, blog, Facebook page and more DoD emphasizes responsible lifelong pet ownership, age-appropriate spay and neuter and proper veterinary care by pet owners. This can be tricky while living an active military life, but January-February 2014

........ I found out about Dogs on Deployment while at the Pittsburgh Pet Expo. I have provided long-term foster to a number of pets over the years, none to military personnel, but there’s nothing like knowing you are providing comfort and relief to someone by caring for their pet when they can’t. If you can board pets for DoD, I urge you to sign up! Photos courtesy DogsOnDeployment.org

www.pghpetconnections.com

CANINE COMPANION

“Having dogs is a gift,” said William Wynne when I interviewed him over the phone on that cold November morning.

illiam is a 92-year-old WWII veteran who credits himself only as the “caretaker” of a tiny Yorkie he named Smoky—the first therapy dog. In early March, 1944, in Nadzab, New Guinea, William purchased this starving, ragged creature that had been found on the side of the road the day before by what some would call sheer coincidence, and others a miracle of God. A man named Ed Downey who was “an avowed dog hater” spotted the four pound creature, trapped in an abandoned foxhole, when his Jeep suddenly stopped running at the precise spot the dog was located. Rather than leaving her to die, for some reason he picked up the shoe size animal and brought her back to camp and gave her to a Sergeant Dare. Mr. Downey didn’t want the dog in his tent, one he shared with William Wynne, but when William offered two pounds Australian for her ($6.44 US) or ten percent of his monthly pay, fate smiled upon him and Smoky found her home.

Home…what is home? For William it was growing up in foster homes during the depression. “Growing up in foster homes I disassociated with family and developed association with animals. My photography work expressed a view of what I saw on the streets and my insight was different. You can change what you see—view things differently. If you come from a farm there’s not the closeness you have in the cities.” For William and Smoky home was often a bunk in the tropics or a desert, and at times it was a rack aboard a sea vessel often under attack. It was at one such home in Biak, where the heat of the day often breached well over 100 degrees, that Smoky gave William a big surprise. After a hard day of training including learning to walk a wire blindfold as well as a metal oil drum, Smoky began to roll on her back and behave quite strangely. Being she was so very small, no one could’ve expected what came next…she delivered a small black ball of fur into this home away

The First Therapy Dog Who Rescued Whom? By: Nancy Frishkorn BA,CHCP from home, a puppy! “She was a diversion from the demoralizing reality of war. She made us laugh and forget…we were a team.” William had many dogs over the years, and after losing his dog Pal, “I vowed never again to be that close to anyone…but Smoky, the little tyke who shared so much with me, who, unquestioningly and courageously, responded to my every command, had become my truest friend.” “Some kids growing up do have an affinity, but not everybody has it and some people shouldn’t own dogs.” This affinity William speaks of is the ability to not only work with dogs, but understand them on their level. “There’s a certain gift that you have, 70% have it but some dogs get into bad hands because of the 25-30% who don’t. You have to understand a two-year-old mentality at a level where you can show the potential to work with it. People make the mistake of giving dogs too much attention, but if you ignore the dog for 45 minutes he’ll come to you! That dog taught me as much as I taught her…I had to be one jump ahead, had to be smart, to improve her training. Yorkies can be harder to train, they’re smart. With the cattle dog the sky is the limit, they love to work! Yorkie isn’t like that. “Inbreeding and line breeding is for work, not mentality, like hunting dogs. Smoky was a thinking dog. She would go to a lister bag (35 gallon bag of chlorinated water) and bark to show the guys what she wanted. She would sniff the ankles to find the scent of each person in the unit. You can see if they’re working on something and have to give them credit for their own abilities,” William remarked. “No treats were used for training with Smoky. She survived on tropical preservation food we had to offer like Bully beef from Australia. The vets here said most dogs would get pancreatic or kidney failure in three months, and parvo was not heard of back then. Smoky was tough inside and out,” he continued. Smoky became the unofficial war dog of WWII. “ She went into

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CANINE COMPANION a blind tunnel through 70 feet of darkness. The Japanese dropped 305 paratroopers to retake the airfield in Luzon, and were planning an invasion from behind. We needed to get a message through the pipelines because it would’ve taken three days to remove the 1500 lb. per section steel matting under the strip (taxi runway) in order to run the phone lines that were vital for communication. There was no way this could have been done and still keep the planes operational night and day without Smoky…one dog in 1,000 would’ve done it.” Her bravery may have spared the lives of 250 US soldiers with this one trick alone; one trick in over 200 she mastered under the training of Wynne. More than 500,000 dogs were used in World War II, but only Smoky was credited as the first therapy dog. Smoky and William flew on 12 combat missions and she was named Mascot of the Southwest Pacific Theatre of Operations. “Mascot means ‘Good Luck’ and the men would argue over who was gonna get Smoky. She gave me great diversion; I didn’t think about myself as much as keeping her safe and bringing her back home. I was sharing her—she didn’t belong to me, I was just her caretaker. “I took her to Australia twice doing Red Cross therapy work with the nurses 233rd station field house, Brisbane, then Manilla—four hospitals overseas thanks to Dr. Charles of the Mayo clinic. She is still doing therapy dog work; her story helps others get through their sorrows.” Smoky was named Australia’s first war dog where she was born, in Brisbane, 1943, and has been credited with improved relations with the United States. The United States Embassy Counsel General Neils Marquardt received Smoky’s medal personally on July 20, 2012 from Nigel Allsopp, Senior Constable of Australian Defense. Smoky the War Dog is a silver gilded coffee table book available in Australia and dozens of January-February 2014

books have been written about her, but only Yorkie Doodle Dandy was written in full by William A. Wynne. William has included some basic dog training in the addendum of this book and it is by far the soundest advice I’ve read to date. He also provides some “trick” training tips as well as some detailed history of the Yorkshire Terrier breed. His soon-to-be-released sequel to this book is titled Angel in a Foxhole. All proceeds from his book goes to the Wounded Warriors, at the request of William Wynne, to show continued support for those who serve. William Wynne has one last dream, one I personally hope becomes a reality: he would like to see a movie made about Smoky. “I feel if it was done as a quality movie, it would cover men, women, children—the whole spectrum! I don’t want it to end on a sad note, after all she dies 50 years ago…let it end when Smoky arrives safe at home, returning from the war as the first therapy dog.” There is no other movie out there like this, not yet anyway, and “if anyone has a relative in film please put in a word about Smoky” was this noble man’s final request. Smoky was a survivor, a fighter to the end—“You can take the dog out of the war,” said William, “but you can’t take the war out of the dog.” This amazing story of two souls, a foster boy and a lost show dog, who lived just a few blocks from each other but met 10,000 miles away from their homes is more than a miracle, it’s a classic tale that should be shared with all. On George Washington’s Birthday, 1957, Smoky was buried in Cleveland’s west side Metro park. There are seven memorials in the United States to Smoky, and one in Australia at the hospital site where Smoky is honored as the First Therapy Dog, but let us not forget the man who helped her change the world through his kindness and understanding: Mr. William A. Wynne. References: Personal Interview: William A. Wynne. November 30, 2013. Wynne, W. A. (1996). Yorkie Doodle Dandy: A memoir. Mansfield, Ohio: Wynnesome Press.

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FEATURED RESCUE

By: Jennifer L. Kelly

he picnic tables are stacked for winter storage on a beautiful October day at Kennywood Park. Evvie, an Australian Cattle Dog puppy, is hesitant to crawl and jump between the denselystacked benches. Her handler, Nick, encourages her to overcome her doubts and continue moving through the towering pile. Eventually, she gains confidence, weaving her way through all three dimensions until she encounters a hidden figure. Now she’s eager to run back to Nick, show him her find, and claim her reward: a game of fetch. Although it looks like an impromptu agility course, Evvie’s training prepares her for a different task altogether—she’s a search and rescue dog in the making. Evvie and Nick are members of the Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group (AMRG), a wilderness search and rescue group based in Pittsburgh. AMRG conducts searches for lost people in suburban, rural, and wilderness environments. Team members are trained to deliver emergency medical care and, if needed, to transport patients to a location where they can be picked up by an ambulance. In addition to the canine program, AMRG members specialize in a variety of skills, including search management, vertical rescue, cave rescue, and wilderness medicine. The AMRG canine team comes to search and rescue from a variety of backgrounds. Heather

Houlahan, the director of canine training, began search and rescue work over 20 years ago, as a graduate student in Boston. Heather, and her husband Ken Chiacchia, have trained generations of dogs. Some AMRG members joined the team with a specific interest in training search dogs; others have found themselves with a dog in need of a job, and turned to search and rescue. Jen Kelley was in this situation. An avid devotee of German Shepherd Dogs, she rescued a dog slated for euthanasia at a local pound. Nico had been dismissed as “out of control,” but Jen saw enormous untapped potential in the dog. With a new owner and consistent training, Nico made great strides. But he still needed a job, and search and rescue seemed like it might fit the bill. Jen soon found that training a search and rescue dog is as much an education for the handler as it is for the dog. A canine team in training develops an incredibly strong bond—human and dog work together as true partners. All the AMRG canine handlers undergo extensive training themselves, learning the skills of wilderness survival and navigation, first aid and CPR training, and a hefty dose of the theory behind search and rescue. It takes at least two years of intense training for a dog to qualify as a search dog, and during that time, the handler must also gain the wilderness skills needed to safely bring their dog and a team of people into the woods in search of a lost person. A particularly memorable experience for Jen and Nico was their “summer bivvy,” a night spent sleeping in the woods with minimal gear. The night

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January-February 2014

of the summer bivvy, temperatures dropped to an unseasonably low 27 degrees. Jen recalls that Nico decided at 3 A.M. to weather the cold by finding the warmest available sleeping spot: on top of Jen. Ultimately, the hard work of such a pair pays off— Jen and Nico are now AMRG’s newest operational canine team. This brings the total number of AMRG handlers and search dogs to three and four, respectively: handlers Jen, Heather, and Ken; and dogs Nico, Rosie, Cole, and Sophie. There are two more dog/handler pairs currently in training: Nick Pearson and Evvie, and Jan Kestner and Riley. Riley is a German Shepherd with “an inability to fight following his nose”—a drive that will hopefully translate to him sniffing out a missing person in the future! Tough-looking German Shepherds might fit the popular image of a search and rescue dog, but search and rescue talent is not confined to any particular breed. Local teams work with hounds, retrievers, herding dogs, and mixedbreed dogs. The basic requirements are that the dog has a strong drive to work with a handler, a sound body that can stand up to the rigors of long searches in the wilderness, and a size ranging from “not too small” to “not too large.” (Small dogs have difficulty navigating rough terrain, and giant dogs are at risk for joint injury.) Still, many people might be surprised to see a 35-pound English Shepherd running to the rescue.

FEATURED RESCUE

victims during AMRG’s post-Katrina deployment to the Gulf Coast. Rosie continues her mother’s legacy of hard work and high achievement. Recently, a teenage boy ran away from his Western Pennsylvania home. The local authorities were concerned, because nights were getting cooler and there was some risk that the boy might become hypothermic if he wasn’t found quickly. Heather and Rosie arrived on the scene, and Rosie tracked down the boy in less than two hours. At seven, Rosie still has a long career ahead of her, but she already has a designated heiress. Rosie’s daughter Charlotte is a four-month-old pup with adorably mismatched eyes—one blue and one brown. She is just beginning her journey as a search dog, practicing elementary training exercises. Although she has some big pawprints to fill, Heather and Ken are confident that Charlotte has a bright future, along with the rest of the AMRG canine team. AMRG is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, which welcomes members from all walks of life. Visit the AMRG website at http://amrg.info for information for prospective new members, and a link for donations. Additionally, please contact AMRG if you are interested in helping the team by hiding for the search dogs.

Rosie, one of Heather and Ken’s dogs, shatters most people’s preconceived notions of what a search dog looks like. Rosie has a smooth sable and white coat, and a tough gaze that radiates competence. Rosie’s mother, Pip, was also an extraordinary search dog. In addition to her local work with AMRG, Pip assisted with the recovery of hurricane January-February 2014

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ANIMAL HEALTH&WELLNESS Owning an English Bulldog By: Anthony D. Pardo, MS, DVM, DACVS

t is hard not to fall in love with a bull dog puppy. There is so much facial expression and they are highly amusing to watch. But with this playfulness and the cuteness come some potentially serious medical concerns that owners need to be aware of in order to be able to enjoy them for a long time to come. Bulldogs are one of the extreme examples of dogs that are referred to as “brachycephalic”. This literally means “short headed” or lacking much of a muzzle. They share this distinction with such dogs as the Pug, Boston Terrier, French Bulldog, Pekinese, and others. The breeding practices that resulted in the shortened muzzle also resulted in compressing the internal nasal structures into a shorter space under the skull. Therefore, the bulldog nasal passages have all of the internal structures that a German Shepherd Dog has, but condensed and pushed back towards the throat and airway. This results in more resistance to airflow and more difficulty breathing. We commonly recognize this is as the snoring sound they make when asleep and the raspy panting they do when excited. The anatomic problems with their airway are classically referred to by veterinarians as “Brachycephalic Syndrome”. This syndrome consists of three primary problems: 1. Stenotic Nares (narrow nostrils) 2. Elongated Soft Palate 3. Hypoplastic Trachea (the windpipe is too small in diameter.) Each of these three conditions results in increased resistance to airflow which translates to less air movement. Imagine trying to breathe through a straw! When young, most bulldogs seem to manage to breathe in spite of these anatomic deformities. They are, however, more prone to vomiting or regurgitating, and then possibly inhaling food or saliva into their lungs (aspiration pneumonia). Every year we see many bulldogs through the emergency service that developed aspiration pneumonia.

As they mature and get into the 3 to 6 year old range, this constant breathing with increased effort can eventually lead to secondary problems with the airway that further compromise their breathing. Imagine trying to drink a thick milkshake through a straw! The harder you suck on it, the more the straw tends to collapse due to the vacuum created. This same vacuum phenomenon is experienced by bulldogs during breathing and results in more elongation of the soft palate, thickening of the soft palate, thickening of the tissues in the back of the nasal passage and throat, and collapse of the cartilages of the larynx (voice box). The result of this is more resistance to airflow, making it very difficult for them to pant and get rid of heat or get more oxygen when exercising. With these additional respiratory problems, some bulldogs experience the same kinds of sleep apnea that people suffer from. They have to become creative in order to be able to breathe while asleep. Some of my clients describe that their bulldog will hang his head over the edge of the couch when sleeping, presumably so that the mouth will hang open, allowing them to breathe. Fortunately, bulldogs don’t need to suffer from these congenital malformations of the airway, or the secondary changes that can afflict them in later life. There are some well accepted surgical corrections that can change their lives for the better and allow them to breathe well and live much longer. If you own a young bulldog, it is important that you discuss the airway problems with your veterinarian when you take her/him in for puppy shots and examinations. This is the time to have the discussion as to whether he or she has bad enough narrowing of the nostrils and elongation of the soft palate to consider surgery. If needed, they can be referred to a surgical specialist where this can be corrected safely, often in conjunction with spay or neutering, if that is to be performed. Correction of the nostrils is by a simple procedure whereby a wedge of the nostrils is removed and the tissue stitched to open up the nostril (see the illustration above). This is cosmetically acceptable and dramatically decreases the resistance to airflow through the nose. The soft palate is then shortened by one of several techniques so that it does not hang into the larynx and obstruct the airway. We commonly use

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January-February 2014

ANIMAL HEALTH& WELLNESS

a sophisticated sealing/cutting instrument called a Force Triad Ligasure device that results in bloodless surgery with minimal swelling. Cutting lasers are also used by some surgeons for the same purpose. The object is to restore the free access of air to the larynx by shortening the soft palate to a more appropriate length. In any of these procedures, the most challenging and important feature is the anesthetic and post-anesthetic management of the dog.

At our hospital, we have fine-tuned the way we handle bulldogs so that it is now much safer to perform these procedures, with much lower potential for complications. Bulldogs have food withheld for about 15 to 18 hours to allow their stomachs to fully empty prior to anesthesia. They are given a combination of three medications designed to prevent nausea, decrease the vomiting reflex, decrease stomach acid, and cause the esophagus and stomach to empty.

After anesthesia is given, a breathing tube is placed into their trachea with a sealed cuff. They are carefully monitored with sophisticated equipment that checks their heart rhythm, oxygenation of the blood, and blood pressure. When the surgery is completed, they wake up with oxygen delivered into their nostrils under high flow so that their airway stays open. They also receive pain medication to make them more comfortable and sedated. Most of our patients can go home the next day. Most importantly, if these corrective surgeries are done early enough (at less than year of age), these bulldogs can avoid the later secondary changes that are much more difficult to manage. In summary, owning a bulldog can be a very rewarding experience, but it comes with the recognition that we have bred them to be dependent on us to correct the airway problems that are present in some extreme cases. Please have these discussions with your veterinarian early so that you can enjoy your pet for a long time. Anthony D. Pardo, MS, DVM, DACVS 807 Camp Horne Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412.366.3400 www.pvs-ec.com

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“Pets Giving Pets the Gift of Life”

Please volunteer your dog to be a “Blood Donor Hero” Dog Donor Eligibility • Between 1 and 7 years of age • Weight: 50 lbs. or more • Healthy with a gentle temperment • Current with vaccinations • Never had a blood transfusion

• Tested negative for blood-borne diseases (free testing by blood bank) • Must be on heartworm, flea and tick preventative • Not pregnant or currently nursing

Read more about The Rogan Rexford Blood Bank at: www.animalcarefund.org For questions, or to make an appointment call: 412-348-2588 or e-mail: AnimalBloodBank@pvs-ec.com January-February 2014

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ANIMAL HEALTH&WELLNESS February is Pet Dental Health Month By: Vonda Ellinger, RVT

id you know that February is Pet Dental Health Month? Well it is right around the corner, and many veterinary clinics extend this focus through January and February each year. As much as I appreciate this short term focus on the number one health concern afflicting our pets, it is really a yearlong need. Let’s take a quick look at the why’s and what to do’s for this important animal health sector. All of us can see the beautiful smile our pets give us, and while those front teeth may look nice, the root of the problem is much deeper, and more apparent if you lift the lip and look at their premolars. It has been recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association that 80% of pets under the age of four have periodontal disease, and 100% of pets over the age of four have it! Why is that? There are four different grades of periodontal disease. These range from a mild combination of gingivitis and tartar build up, to an excessive amount of calculus (a hard, thick crust), on the tooth enamel, and potentially ulcers or abscesses affecting the gums and roots. Small breed dogs and Brachycephalic (flatter faced) pets, such as pugs, are at a greater risk. These pets have a crowded mouth if you will. All of their teeth are trying to fit into a small space. This crowding gives bacteria a really nice place to hide and grow. Signs and symptoms to watch for can vary from the extremely obvious to very subtle. Pay attention to your dog’s breath. Doggy breath is not

necessarily a good thing, and if it smells like “dragon” breath, there may be a real problem in there. Are your pet’s teeth a pearly white with a light pink gum tissue? That would be a healthy mouth. If not, what do you see? Do you see a brown or black buildup on the enamel? Do you see red, inflamed tissue surrounding the gums? Is there an oozing spot? What about a loose or seemingly missing tooth? If you see or smell anything that concerns you, call your local veterinarian and ask if they can see your pet for a dental exam and estimate for home care options or dental cleaning.

Brushing is Best! Okay, okay, now we’re talking home care, does that mean I have to brush my dog’s teeth?! While brushing is the best option, it’s not always the most practical. Some pets love to have their teeth brushed, it feels good, and they will sit patiently while you do this. Many others are distracted easily, and you may find it to be a challenging task, SQUIRREL!

Water Additives If you’re not able to brush your dog’s teeth, take a look at some of the other options for home care. There are water additives that you can mix into your pet’s bowl. Products like Aquadent and Breathalyser are available in these formats. Make sure you are changing the water frequently though, and be sure that your pet is happily drinking as much water as he/she was before. We don’t want to be worried about dehydration because we added something new. One other word of caution, some water additives contain an ingredient called xylitol. This artificial sweetener encourages them to drink, but can be risky for some pets. Check with your veterinarian before you use anything with xylitol in it.

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January-February 2014

Food Additives

ANIMAL HEALTH& WELLNESS

Another home care option is a food additive. These are one of my favorites for the pets who have daily feedings in measured amounts. Plaque Off comes in a small container with a scoop, Perio Support is available in two sizes, a smaller container with shaker top, and larger, more cost effective container with a scoop. All of these are top dressed on the food. In other words, store these in your food container, scoop out your pet’s meal, shake on the powder, done! A food additive is typically very palatable, and a lot of dogs will wait for you to add it after using it for a few meals. I also like that companies such as VetriSCIENCE (Perio Support), offer a 100% guarantee on their product. If your pet won’t eat it, or you don’t think it’s working, you can take it back to your veterinarian. A word of caution, this guarantee does not apply if you don’t purchase from your veterinarian.

Chews and Treats There are a lot of chews and treats on the market that claim to support dental health, I’m sure that some do, but be careful in this area. When it comes to rawhide type chews, you need to monitor your pet carefully, ask any technician, we have removed quite a few rawhide pieces from the throats of our patients. Also, your pet needs to chew on this for an extended amount of time if they are to receive the full benefit. Dental sticks are another option for our furry family members. Again, monitor your pet when they are chewing on any of these, you want to make sure they don’t chew off a big piece and either choke or have it lodge in the intestines. Greenies and NutriDent are available in pet stores, however, there is another great option coming this year through our veterinary clinics. Perio Plus Stix are a combination of a chew stick, and the wonderful ingredients in Perio Support powder to help neutralize those particles that cause bad breath. The ingredients found in these sticks will also help to support the gum tissue, and as we already know, most pets have gingivitis of some January-February 2014

classification. A feline version is called Perio-Plus Bites.

Synthetic chews I caution against. Some of these, like the Kong toys, are great for chewing and massaging the gums, but there are others on the market that may actually cause your pet to break a tooth. As with all of these options, check with your veterinarian; ask them what they recommend for your pet.

Dental Procedures The last part of my discussion asks, “Does my pet need a dental cleaning and what is involved?” Again, check with your veterinary clinic and ask them a few questions. Each clinic does their procedures a little differently so you want to know exactly what is included. If you call around to get prices, you may find out later that a procedure at one cost at clinic A only included a cleaning, while the cost at clinic B included the cleaning, radiographs, pain management, and a home care item to go home. Dental cleanings are essential to the health of your pet. If left unattended, periodontal disease will affect the health of your pet’s heart, kidneys, liver, etc... Think about it this way, if we go twice a year for dental cleanings, how often should our pets be seen? They are aging 7 times faster than we are, that would be 14 dental visits a year!! Instead, take them in twice a year for their wellness exams, have the teeth checked then. If you do just one wellness exam, go again 6 months down the road and have a technician take a look at your pet’s mouth. They can let you know how things look in there, create an estimate for a cleaning if needed, and consult with the veterinarian if they notice a problem. I hope you will now pay attention to your pet’s beautiful smile. After all, it’s not just the health of his mouth at risk here, it’s whole body support!

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Advertiser Locator 1 Healthy Pet Products (see ad pg 9) 2 Woody’s Do-It-Yourself Dogwash (see pg 23) 3 WearWoof (see ad pg 35) 4 Animal Rescue League (see ad pg 43) 5 Oddball Pets & Aquariums (see ad pg 8) 6 Chartiers Custom Pet Cremation (see ad pg 44) 7 Beaver Animal Clinic (see ad inside back cover) 8 The Pet Salon (see ad pg 2) 9 Western PA Humane Society (see ads pg 34,36) 10 Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center (see ad back cover) 11 Dr. Dina LiVolsi (see ad pg 29) 12 Rockin’ Horse Stables (see ad pg 42) 13 Grooming With Care (see pg 23) 14 The English Horn Ltd (see ad pg 42) 15 Pittsburgh Indoor Outdoor Home Show (see ad pg 37)

Advertisers All Natural Hoof Care (see ad pg 41) Judith Levy (see ad pg 29) Angel Ridge Animal Rescue (see ads on inside J & D Home Improvements (see ad pg 1) front cover & pg 1, 42) KS Jones Photography (see ad pg 42) Animal Care & Welfare (see ad pg1429) 24 Begley Photography (see pg 23) Nicole Answers Pet Food (see ad pg 11) Paws Here Awhile (see ad pg 29) Camp Bow Wow (see ad pg 25) Pet and Home Portraits 26 (see ad pg 23) Chris’s Canine Club (see pg 23) Portraits of Animals (see ad pg 39) 1 Coventry Equestrian Center (see ad pg 41) The Rogan Rexford Blood Bank (see ad pg 19) Gentle Journey (see ad pg 44) Success just Clicks (see pg 23) HAAWC (see ad pg 23) The Working Paper Horse (see ad pg 41) Holistic Care for Animals (see ad pg 27) Your Critter Sitters (see ad pg 23)

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January-February 2014

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ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

Trained Dogs ! e r Can Do o

By: Tena Parker, Success Just Clicks Dog Training

aving a well-trained dog opens up a world of possibilities for fun experiences and sets dog owners up for success with their pet. The definition of a “well-trained dog” will vary from dog to dog and from situation to situation—not all well-trained dogs can do the same things (or would want to do the Weatherby can do more! He’s training to be able to accompany his mom in same things) but there are plenty of the office! things well-trained dogs can do that others can’t. Well-trained dogs can walk nicely on leash in public, be invited into dog friendly stores (that aren’t pet stores), be invited into the work place, explore the environment off-leash (where legally permitted), help others through therapy dog visits, be trusted when visitors come over, behave appropriately in public situations, wait patiently, pose for photos nicely, and even help around the house (cleaning up their toys or even fetching you a drink!).

experienced positive trainer or hiring a private trainer can make all of the difference in the world to the efficiency of your training. You wouldn’t give up on fixing your car without taking it to a mechanic or two, right? There is no need to just live with the behaviors your dog has without training with a trainer or two and certainly no reason to relinquish a dog to a shelter without hiring a professional.

Got a Training Problem? Here’s where to find help… Housetraining Problems— If Fido is lovely except for the housetraining challenges, your best bet is to hire a private trainer who can come to your home, help you get a routine created and get a training plan in place. Pulling On The Leash— If your dog has a long history of pulling like a tank on leash, you may be best served by hiring a positive trainer to help coach you on that one specific problem area and teach Fido to walk nicely in your neighborhood. If your pup is a moderate puller or has some other manner issues, a group class may be appropriate for your situation. Jumping on guests or going crazy at the doorbell— Hiring an experienced trainer to come to your home and help you create a training plan that will work for your specific situation can be helpful for multi-dog homes but a good basic level group class will also help you learn techniques to quell the jumping.

The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) has deemed January “National Train Your Dog Month”, so there is no better time than now to improve your dog’s training! Whether you have a new dog in your home that needs to learn the basics or you have an adult dog who has been annoyingly pulling on the leash for years, getting into training will ultimately make your life with your dog more enjoyable.

Growling at, barking at, snapping at, or biting dogs/ people— With potentially dangerous behaviors, hiring a private trainer to address the concerning behaviors is the most prudent approach. When working with behavioral problems, it’s extremely important to hire a skilled and experienced trainer to work with. Not all trainers have catered their education or experience to working with behavioral cases, so making sure you get the right trainer is important to your success. You may be able to find a growly-dog class in your area as another option for some dogs/handlers, but these classes are not right for all dogs.

Now, you may be thinking, “It’s been like this for years, Fido’s behaviors can’t change,” or, “We’ve tried everything and nothing ever works!” Well, I’m here to tell you that things can change and change for the better! Getting into a training class with a skilled and

Generally just wild and hyper— Group classes that focus on manners may be a solution for many of these dogs. Group classes help teach a dog focus in distracting environments and trainers can help handlers learn some new exercise ideas. There

©Pittsburgh PetConnections

January-February 2014

are even some group classes that focus on relaxation that may be of help. Some dogs, however, may need private training to work on a relaxation protocol with individual coaching. Doesn’t listen well— Basic group classes are designed for just this problem. You have a dog who doesn’t generally listen or respond to you (maybe they are great inside your home, but outside, they don’t even know you exist). Group manners classes will teach you all the basics and teach you how to get your dog to respond to these cues in the real world. Since not all dogs are right for group classes, private trainers can also be great resources for this problem as well. Perhaps your dog is already a mannerly pup and you are just not sure that training is worthwhile. Well, getting involved in a fun training class can deepen your bond with your dog and teach you so much about him/ her—plus classes are simply fun experiences your pup can have with you! There are countless canine sport classes and fun casual classes available to you—even if you have no desire to become a dog-nerd dog-sport competitor, training in a sport can be fun.

Trained dogs can do more! What do you want your dogs to do?

Here are just some of the classes or types of classes that can be found in the Pittsburgh area… Agility—high speed sport with jumps, tunnels and obstacles Rally-Obedience—fun sport based on obedience skills but with more variations Treibball—a fun new sport mixing herding and soccer for dogs K9 Nosework/Nosegames—a sport that teaches dogs to be scent detectives to find specific odors Canine Enrichment Games—try fun brain-games and toys for Fido Flyball—high intensity relay race with dogs retrieving tennis balls over jumps Tricks class—teach your dog fun party tricks C.L.A.S.S./C.G.C.—earn titles or degrees showing off your dog’s basic manners

6 years running!

Want to learn more about National Train Your Dog Month and the contests and events involved? Check out www.trainyourdogmonth.com. Not sure where to start or how to do more with your dog? Here are two online resources where you can search for local trainers to contact: www.petprofessionalguild.com and www.apdt.com. January-February 2014

www.pghpetconnections.com

HOLISTIC CARE T

he start of a new year is a good time to stop and reflect on what we have done in the past and how we can improve. It’s a great time to kick off a new good habit. I hate to call any such effort a “resolution” because those almost always fail. There are many possible reasons for resolution failure. Maybe in our exuberance for change, we simply bite off more than we can chew. Perhaps we don’t fully convince ourselves that the change will lead to a better life. And then there is the tendency to give up the whole thing if we blow it one time. I am going to propose five simple changes any pet caregiver can make that can revolutionize their pet’s health from the inside out. I do not mean to suggest that anyone should make all five changes all at once (although that would be great). Just making one of these changes will make a big difference in your pet’s health. Remember, every choice you make for your pet is either moving him toward greater health, or shifting him away from that goal. Having said that, don’t bite off more than you can chew. 1. Portion Control – Speaking of biting off more than you can chew, one of the most beneficial things you can do for your pet is feed him the appropriate amount of food. Most pets are overweight and this predisposes them to disease and premature death. Yes, that pudgy pooch or fat cat may look adorable but according to research they will start with symptoms of arthritis and other chronic diseases 3 years earlier than their slim counterparts. The heavy animals will also die almost 2 years earlier. Ask your veterinarian for an honest assessment of your pet’s weight and for guidance on how much to feed. 2. Stop Dry Pet Food – Yes, you read right, no dry pet food. Dry pet food is full of starch (they can’t make dry pet food without lots of starch to form the kibble) which packs on the pounds. Cats and dogs invented the Atkins diet since their ancestors did it for millions of years which shaped the metabolism of our current pets.

Also, dry food is more concentrated in calories than canned or raw diets. This fact becomes obvious when you realize that dry food contains about 10% moisture while canned food is usually around 70% moisture. Since water does not have any calories, canned foods fill up the belly without maxing out calories. By the way, chewing on dry pet food does not clean a pet’s teeth any more than crunching on pretzels cleans a person’s teeth.

New Year’s Revolution: 5 Feeding Tips for a Remarkably Healthier Pet in 2014 By: Dr. Doug Knueven, DVM, CVA, CVC, CVHC

3. Add Some Veggies – Adding some vegetables to a pet’s diet can increase the belly-filling bulk in a low calorie way. Veggies also contain health-benefitting nutrients and can lower the risk of cancer. Green leafy vegetables, like spinach, are especially healthy but carrots, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans are good too. Avoid grains and starchy veggies like potatoes. Steam the veggies for maximum nutrient absorption (raw veggies tend to go right through the GI tracts of carnivores). Start by mixing in just a small amount of finely chopped veggies. Experiment and find your pet’s favorite. 4. Skip the Snacks – Believe it or not, your dog will not die if he does not get a treat every time he goes outside (although he might carry on as if he will). Pet snack food is as unhealthy as our snack food. If you don’t believe me, look at the ingredient list on the package. Most of it is garbage wrapped in artificial flavor enhancers. I know, I know, your pet just won’t stop pestering you unless you slip him a treat every time you pass the special cupboard. Well guess what, when you give in to the terrorists demands, you’ve just reinforced the unwanted behavior. The pet has become the master. Keep in mind that food does not equal love.

©Pittsburgh PetConnections

January-February 2014

5. Diet Rotation – The tendency of most pet caregivers is to find a food that “works” for their pet and stick with it for life. This is a very unhealthy practice. For one thing, any individual pet food may have slight nutrient imbalances that escape the regulatory process but may cause problems when fed long term. Also, studies show that the best way to cause a food allergy is to feed the same thing day after day. The idea that changing a pet’s food causes diarrhea is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Eating the same thing long term and then suddenly changing to something else will almost always cause GI upset. However, pets can get used to eating a variety of foods just like we do. Yes, at first changes will need to be made gradually by tapering on the novel diet, but often over time, the changes can be made more quickly. You are likely to run into diets that just do not agree with your pet – avoid those in the future. Try

HOLISTIC CARE

foods with different main ingredients and from various manufacturers. Find a half dozen or so foods that work for your pet and rotate through them, changing foods every week or so. Variety is the spice of life for our pets too.

There you have it – five easy, health-improving changes you can make in your pet’s eating habits. Choose one to start with and as the ad says, “Just Do It.” You just may start a revolution in your pet’s health.

Vist my website for more AMAZING testimonials!

DC, CCSP, CVCP

Dr. Savko works with the following veterinary clinics: Meadowlands Veterinary Hospital, Washington, PA Washington Animal Hospital, Washington, Pa Suburban Animal Clinic, Butler, PA, Delmont Veterinary Hospital, Delmont, PA, Fox Run Equine Center, Apollo, PA

ears Over 1r3ieYnce Expe

January-February 2014

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HOLISTIC CARE

My New Year’s Wish For You...

By: Dina LiVolsi, D.C., Doctor of Chiropractic, Certified by American Veterinary Chiropractic Association

ne of the most frustrating things for me as a health care practitioner to see is a condition that was completely preventable. It seems as if the new year always brings to mind the bad habits that we have either continued to engage in from last year’s resolutions or new ones that we have accumulated along the past year. Many owners seek chiropractic care for their animals for a very obvious condition – back pain. What continues to surprise me is the reaction of the owner when they are told that their pet friend is overweight and this quite probably is contributing to their pet’s back issues. Often the owner is surprised to hear this news. In human beings, five extra pounds of abdominal weight puts forty pounds of pressure on the low back area. Think about this – that little “beer belly” or extra “baby weight” adds an enormous amount of pressure to the lumbar spine which often results in low back pain, hip problems, trouble with the legs, knee and ankle problems. Before I retired from my “human” practice, patient’s reactions were always interesting to me. Picture a six foot man with about a forty pound belly hanging over his low-belted pants who is sitting in the office with low back pain and shooting pain into his leg. Invariably when the issue of the abdominal weight was mentioned, patients were almost always stunned to hear that the belly weight had anything to do with the back, hip or knee pain! While I could not find any animal statistics on the specific amount of pressure generated from excess weight on the belly and subsequent pressure on the spine generated, I will say that it appears that the pressure must be equal to or greater than the similar amount in humans. Perhaps even more so. A four-legged creature’s spine acts like a suspension bridge instead of a moveable column as in two-legged humans. Picture if you will a significant amount of

weight being dangled from the middle of the 40th Street Bridge. If the amount is heavy enough, or enough time passes, the internal structural integrity of that bridge is compromised. Maybe it will be become damaged so badly that Pittsburghers will again see their favorite sign, “UNDER CONSTRUCTION”. In living creatures, we call that surgery. One of the most preventable, and easily the saddest, issue that I have ever seen in almost 23 years of practice is back pain due to obesity. A full two-thirds of office workers in the United States are considered “overweight” and our country is the fattest in the world. And “fattest” does not translate into “healthiest”. In my experience, it has been rare that a significantly obese dog was not being followed by an obese owner. Upon questioning, most of these owners have back, leg, hip and knee issues as well. Of course, these owners love their animals as much as anyone else, but the way in which that love is shown, even to themselves, is not healthy. So, in the New Year, please make your pet’s weight issue an priority. Most of us need to lose some weight after the holidays; make sure your pet is checked as well. As in humans, proper weight loss is a safe and sometimes slow process. Please check with your veterinarian for advice on your pet’s specific health issues and potential weight loss goals. I often suggest holding back some of your dog’s regularly measured (important!) food to give as “treats” later. It is the same amount of food, just portioned out throughout the day. My dogs have always loved carrots, apple slices, cucumbers – just about any raw vegetable. Again, check with your regular veterinarian to make sure these foods are safe for your dog. Remember, just like you – in general there is no magic formula for weight control. It really is pretty simple – calories in must be less than calories expended. So, take your dog for more walks if able and get both of your activity levels up. Remember, dogs can’t drive and cats don’t carry wallets, so the food they get is from you. Instead of treats, give them your love and attention. That is what they really want!

©Pittsburgh PetConnections

January-February 2014

We financially help low-income families with low-cost spays, neuters and medical emergencies. Help us help others by sending donations to:

AC&W, Inc., P.O. Box 8257, Pittsburgh, PA 15218. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit and have been in existence since 1970. Look for our adoption animals at: www.animalcareandwelfare.org Come to our Kitten /Cat and Dog Adoption Events At Our New Clinic Location!! **Dates and Times To Be Announced** 2806 Banksville Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15216

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Allegheny County’s first and only AVCA certified animal chiropractor!

January-February 2014

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KITTY KORNER

Celebrate World Spay Day

By: Charlotte Adams, Volunteer, Fix ‘ur Cat

is a month for revelries. One event which FThisebruary will be celebrated on February 25 is World Spay Day. year will mark the 20th anniversary of this grand event, held the last Tuesday in February each year. It is sponsored by The Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States. Their annual campaign highlights the spaying and neutering of companion animals, feral cats, and all other animals that run the risk of being killed in shelters.

Spaying and neutering animals not only lessens the number of animals running wild, but also helps to curb animal diseases. Spaying and neutering domestic dogs and cats helps to control unwanted puppies and kittens, while at the same time contributes to the good health and well-being of those domestic animals. Fix ‘ur Cat, based in Washington County, also has good reason to celebrate. Since its inception in 2012, Fix ‘ur Cat has partnered with Animals Friends to trap, spay and neuter cats in many areas in Washington County, as well as in some townships and boroughs in Allegheny County. Fix ‘ur Cat is pleased to work in cooperation with Animal Friends’ low-cost spay/ neuter program. This program is dedicated to eliminating pet overpopulation through the use of their mobile resource clinics and in-house clinics. Fix ‘ur Cat is proud to announce, and celebrate, that in the two short years of their existence they have spayed and neutered one thousand cats! Trapping animals comes with a cost. Money is needed not only to buy traps, but also to buy many other essentials necessary for the health and safety of the animals while they are in the care of Fix ‘ur Cat. Food must be purchased, along with animal cages, carriers, elimination pads, and safety nets, just for starters. Fix ‘ur Cat charges a nominal fee of $35 per cat for spaying or neutering, receiving this fee upfront from most of the individuals who participate in the program. There are limited times when it will subsidize individuals who do not have the means to pay for their animal’s spay or neuter. It is the organization’s way of saying thank you to those individuals whose hearts and minds are dedicated to curbing cat overpopulation. Fix ‘ur Cat holds fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for its spay/neuter program. It also accepts donations from many people and organizations. The next fundraiser to be held will be the annual spaghetti dinner. The date for the dinner is February 28, 2014. The venue for the second year in a row is the Western Area Career Technology Center located at 688 Western Avenue in Canonsburg. Its Culinary Arts Department

will again be cooking and serving the spaghetti dinners, salads, and dinner rolls, along with a variety of cookies for dessert. The event will take place between the hours of 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. All are invited to attend for a small charge of $10 per ticket. Dog and cat overpopulation is a serious problem in the United States and abroad. While puppies and kittens are both cute and adorable, one thing is certain. They will grow up to be dogs and cats, and dogs and cats inherently breed. The Humane Society, Fix ‘ur Cat, Animal Friends, and other organizations that sponsor spay/neuter programs are working toward the goal of ending animal overpopulation and the animal diseases that it can cause. The world should be a safe and happy place in which to live, for both people and animals. Visit www.fixurcat.org to download an order form for the upcoming Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser or to obtain a spay/neuter application. You can also obtain the order form, application, or make a donation to Fix ‘ur Cat by calling Michelle Bruce at 724-503-8523. Feel free to “like us” on Facebook (Fix ‘ur Cat). Apply today to spay or neuter your cat, or the feral cats in your neighborhood that need your help. Let us all strive to make animals healthy and happy additions to the beautiful world that we all share.

Find a TNR Organization on the Internet Humane Society of the United States Feral Cat Organizations listing: www.humanesociety.org/issues/feral_cats/tips/feral_cat_organizations

Alley Cat Allies Make Connections: www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=379

ASPCA TNR and Colony Management: www.aspcapro.org/feral-cats/

What is TNR??

- TNR stands for Trap - Neuter - Release and is a program that limits feral cat populations and greatly improves both their health and quality of life.

January-February 2014

rend The Kitty Chic T By:

Mauro, AICI Suzanne (Suz)

ately, have you noticed that the animal of choice for this fashion season is the cat? Cats are making their appearance on our sweaters, shoes, accessories and so much more. The trend may have started a few years ago, but it has really gone full blast this season. Fashion has clearly chosen its champion. With fashion favorites like Miu Miu and Marc Jacobs showing cat prints in recent collections, the kitty chic trend has been embraced by celebrities and early adopters alike. The “catwalk” took on a whole new meaning when designer Tracy Reese sent an actual cat down the runway for her Fall/Winter 2013 show. Cats are taking over fashion media as well, Glamour Magazine held a party during fashion week this past year at their Glamour Cat Fashion Concept Store, while all the guests wore cat ears.

KITTY KORNER

another piece. Elevenparis cat t-shirt, $45.00, paired with a skinny jean and tweed blazer. www.elevenparis.com also available at Nordstrom.

For a slightly weightier style to wear alone, try this simple catface sweatshirt from Forever21, $19.80. Whatever your age or shape, there’s a wonderful world of tops meant for you. It’s always fun to find one that suits your personality and lifestyle. If you go for a more dramatic or eye-catching top, keep your pants or skirt neutral and simple. Forever21 catface sweatshirt $19.80, available at all Forever21 stores. So enhance your wardrobe this season with a “cat inspired” transformation. It will automatically transform any outfit and keep you purr-fectly fashionable.

Bill Wackermann, publishing director of Glamour Magazine says, “Cats are so fashion, they’re sleek and they’re chic.” So if you’re ready to embrace the “kitty chic trend” here are some of my personal favorites: Clothing and accessories featuring cats can be adorable when done right. The cat image can lend a subtle element of quirk or cutesyness to an otherwise chic, well-designed piece. A lot of times all you need is one piece to add that “kitty chic” to any outfit. If you’re intimidated to try it out, slowly dive in with smaller items that can incorporate the trend into your wardrobe in a smaller dose. One of my favorite items is this cat t-shirt by Elevenparis, $45.00 available at Nordstrom. We all live in tees, so go for a fun graphic cat t-shirt. The best part is that it will add flexibility to your wardrobe. Pay attention to the weight of the fabric. If it’s thin, wear under something like a blazer or double up with January-February 2014

www.pghpetconnections.com

KITTY KORNER Cat Rescue Resource Guide Low-cost Spay and Neuter Organizations and Programs This is an ever-changing list of resources for cat owners in Pittsburgh and beyond though many of the listings, like the shelters, apply to dogs and other pets as well. It includes low-cost spay and neuter programs as well as TNR for community cats, pet-friendly rentals in Pittsburgh and across the US and links to shelters for adoption and other services. In the future we will also list clinic dates with the organizations below when they are available. TNR And Low-Cost Spay/Neuter For The Pittsburgh Area Homeless Cat Management Team: www.homelesscat.org City of Pittsburgh Free Spay and Neuter for City Residents City of Pittsburgh free spay/neuter: www.pittsburghpa.gov/animalcontrol/spay_neuter.htm City of Pittsburgh residents can apply for free spay or neuter vouchers for up to five pets, including stray/feral cats. Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Programs at Shelters in Allegheny County Shelter Programs Animal Friends: www.thingkingoutsidethecage.org Animal Rescue League: www.animalrescue.org Western Pennsylvania Humane Society: www.wpahumane.org Low-cost Spay/Neuter Organizations in Allegheny and surrounding counties Frankieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Friends Cat Rescue, Allegheny & Westmoreland Counties: www.sites.google.com/site/frankiesfriendsnatronaheights Fluffyjean Fund for Felines, Allegheny and Washington Counties: www.fluffyjeanfund.weebly.com Fix Ur Cat, Washington County: www.fixurcat.org Catnip Acres, Greene County: www.catnip-acres.org Snip-it.org, Westmoreland/Indiana Counties, Alle-Kiski Valley (Leechburg): www.snip-it.org Kopy Kat Sanctuary, Westmoreland County (Delmont): www.kopykatsanctuary.org Low-cost Spay/Neuter and Veterinary Clinic Spay Neuter Clinic, Penn Hills, 412-244-1202: www.spayaz.com/pittsburgh-pa Find Local Low-cost Spay, Neuter and Veterinary Care on the Internet Low-cost Neuter and Spay (search by zip): http://neuterspay.org Love That Cat (online search): http://neuterspay.org Spay USA: http://neuterspay.org Pet-friendly Rentals In the Pittsburgh area, visit this list on the FosterCat website: www.fostercat.org/friendly.html Nationwide (United States only): www.rent.com/pet-friendly-apartments Shelters and Shelter Services Adoption, surrender, low-cost clinics, pet food pantries, referrals, etc. Western Pennsylvania Humane Society (WPHS): www.wpahumane.org Animal Rescue League (ARL): www.animalrescue.org Animal Friends (AFI): www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org Animal Advocates: animaladvocates.net Washington Area Humane Society: www.washingtonpashelter.org Butler County Humane Society: www.butlercountyhs.org Beaver County Humane Society: members.petfinder.com/~PA345/index.html Angel Ridge Animal Rescue: www.angelridgeanimalrescue.org Non-shelter Feline Adoption FosterCat: www.fostercat.org

ÂŠPittsburgh PetConnections

January-February 2014

KITTY KORNER

The Homeless Cat Management Team

By: Bernadette Kazmarski

“Are you using clumping litter?” the clinic volunteer said into her cell phone as she completed paperwork to sign in the next cat. “Oh no, it won’t be months, it will be weeks,” she explained about the positive effects of neutering a cat to a caller who would be dropping off a cat at the clinic that day. TNR, or “trap-neuter-return” isn’t an assembly line where cats are spayed and neutered and tossed back outside, but an integrated system of assisting both cats and people with managing population, health and welfare for stray, feral and rescued cats who live outdoors and even indoors. The program not only provides a low-cost or in some cases free spay and neuter services but also provides ongoing support in trapping and transporting cats to and from the clinic, a basic exam and rabies vaccination for each cat, adoptability assessment of its temperament and assurance that it has a caretaker if it is to be returned outdoors. Cats end up living outdoors for many reasons. It’s long been a practice to “dump” unwanted cats and kittens in unpopulated areas or simply put them outside so they can “fend for themselves”. Cats can reproduce at an alarming rate even without the assistance of humans, so one litter of four kittens in the spring can become a dozen or more cats by autumn, and by the following autumn can be two or three dozen cats and kittens, with other strays or even owned cats joining the colony. Not only are the cats overpopulating, but successive generations are generally no longer nice pets but are technically “feral”, born outside of contact with humans and reverted to an unsocialized state, difficult, but not impossible, to turn around. Simply removing cats from an area overburdens the shelters they are taken to with cats who may not be adoptable and imperils the lives of all animals already in the shelter’s care, so typically, if they don’t pass a “temperament test” of being examined by skilled intake workers they are designated “unadoptable” and euthanized without a chance at the adoption floor. Alternately, killing colonies of cats in place with poisons, or trapping and killing them, both of which are practiced in many areas where stray/feral cats are considered vermin, is more frequently seen as an act of cruelty and protested. Studies have shown neither practice permanently reduces the populations of outdoor cats. A TNR program, however, involves people who volunteer to identify each cat living in groups or colonies outdoors, trap it for spay or neuter and veterinary care, and then feed and care for it in the neighborhood ore remove it as the situation requires. With a colony of cats without reproductive hormones and fed regularly most of the irritating issues of cats January-February 2014

living outdoors are eliminated. There’s little left to caterwaul about, male cat spraying is vastly reduced, they hunt and kill far less because they are fed, and they can’t reproduce so new cats are only lost or escapes, dumped cats, or owned cats who roam outdoors, and the colony no longer grows with each season of new kittens. In fact, lost cats can be returned to their owners, friendly cats are often pulled for rehoming, and any kittens are generally kept indoors to be socialized and put up for adoption after spaying and neutering. If a cat becomes ill or is found to be injured, the colony caretaker will get that cat the veterinary care it needs. Colony caretakers also tend to track the owned cat populations in their neighborhood and if a cat is found to need assistance or an owner needs to know about veterinary care the caretaker can provide that information. If a person is found to be keeping unaltered cats who are producing kittens, the caretaker will offer that person information on low-cost spay/ neuter options and possibly even assist them in taking advantage of a low-cost clinic. And the established TNR program is what gives these volunteer caretakers the assistance they need to be able to track and care for all these cats. In Pittsburgh a variety of TNR services are available at shelters, through independent organizations and even with mobile spay/ neuter units, but the Homeless Cat Management Team (HCMT) has been established the longest to serve Pittsburgh and the nine counties surrounding Allegheny County, and the name will tell you the entire mission—managing homeless cats as a team. In 14 years, HCMT has served over 14,000 cats.

Upcoming TNR and Low-cost Spay/neuter Clinics in the Pittsburgh Area HOMELESS CAT MANAGEMENT TEAM CLINICS

www.homelesscat.org

Free Clinics For Feral Cats: February 23 – With gratitude to HCMT for all they do – Fred & Dawn Riedel March 23 – sponsored by Diane Bandy May 4 – in memory of Milton Lendl Fast Track Clinics for Strays, Ferals, Rescues and Pets ($30 PER FERAL): • January 26 • March 9 • April 13 • May 15 • J une 15 Father’s Day – free neuters – get those daddy cats too!

www.pghpetconnections.com

Fashion Meets Mission!

Pittsburgh’s newest resale boutique merges better women’s fashion with a mission to end pet homelessness in Western Pennsylvania. Every purchase of favorite brand and label career, casual and cocktail attire at the WearWoof Shop, conveniently located in the North Hills off 279N, benefits local animal shelters and rescues. SPRING ACCESSORY DRIVE GOING ON NOW! Chunky bracelets, blingy handbags, silky Pashminas… you’ve got ‘em and we want ‘em! Donate your pre-loved costume jewelry, fashion scarves, purses and gently worn heels and sandals and other accessories to WearWoof now through March 31st and help us turn your unwanted items into cash for local shelters and rescues. Every accessory donor in February will be entered for a FREE chance to win a new Coach handbag! See our web site for details, donation guidelines and contest rules. Visit our web site for directions, store hours, information about our mission, Partners and acceptable brands and styles of clothing.

www.wearwoof.org

How do we do it?

When you donate clothing to the WearWoof Shop, we sell it and give the proceeds to our Shelter & Rescue Partners! WearWoof offers grants, emergency funds, contests and prizes and in-kind support to help our Partner shelters, care for and place homeless animals in loving homes.

SHOP!

We offer better and designer women’s fashion and accessory labels at thrift shop prices.

DONATE!

Turn your overstuffed closet into funding and support for your favorite shelter or rescue.

BOGO

Buy one item and get the second of same or lesser value FREE.

Valid through March 30, 2014 No cash value. Cannot be combined with other discount, coupon or offer. One coupon per customer, per day.

RUN FOR A REASON! NEED A REASON TO RUN?

We have over 11,000! That’s how many homeless animals the Western PA Humane Society takes in every year. We count on runners like YOU so that we can continue to help these deserving pets. By running for WPHS in the 2014 Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, you can help us to help Pittsburgh’s homeless pets!

IT IS SIMPLE TO DO - JUST 3 EASY STEPS!

Work on meeting your fundraising goal (we’ll help you come up with ideas!)

Reap the benefits of free registration, WPHS swag bag, WPHS jersey, inspiration, running groups and other resources – all while helping wonderful shelter animals.

Runners can participate in the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, 5K or Children’s Marathon Fun Run. Generously sponsored by:

Indoor

Outdoor

Home Show www.pitthomeshow.com

February 7-9, 2014

Monroeville Convention Center, Monroeville, PA Featuring:

• Anthony Carrino - HGTV Kitchen Cousins • Animal Avenue - caters to all the furry, fuzzy, chirping, squawking and swimming pets! • Wildlife Defenders - a wildlife education outreach run by Bridges for Brain Injury, Inc.

February 7-9, 2014 Friday Feb 7...........................12pm-9pm Saturday Feb 8........................10am-9pm Sunday Feb 9..........................10am-5pm

Pricing: Adults (11-65)...................$9.00 per person Seniors (65 & Up)............$7.00 per person* 10 and Under....................FREE * MUST have proper ID

PSSSST.....have you heard the news????

Ultimate Prize Vault!! Guess the correct combination and win a HOUSE from 422 homes valued at $300,000!!! Visit the Pittsburgh Indoor Outdoor Home Show... the only Home Show where you can win one!

EQUINE AFFAIRS Equine Melanoma By: Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, Board Certified Equine Expert

id you ever wonder about differing skin colors in animals and people? Skin color can change, depending upon the number of special cells called melanocytes. These cells produce melanin, a black pigment, and may be found in the skin, hair, and the iris of the eye. It can be protective from the effects of solar radiation. These cells are found deeper in the skin, associated with hair follicles, and are not found in the epidermal (outer) layers of skin. Thus, tattooing of skin is not considered protective against any form of cancer associated with UV radiation/ light, including melanoma. Melanomas (melanocytomas, melanocytic nevi, melanosarcoma, melanomatosis) are tumors arising from melanocytes. The nomenclature is confusing and may not truly indicate benign versus malignant. With newer information, it is best to refer to Melanocytoma as benign tumors and Melanoma as malignant cell types. In horses, the grey horse seems to be most affected, though other colors may also be affected. Up to 80% of grey horses may have multiple melanomas. They are thought to arise from perturbed melanin metabolism, leading to new cell formation or overproduction of melanin. Over time, the cells undergo malignant transformation. In humans, melanoma is thought to be caused by solar (UV) radiation, but the vast majority of equine tumors are protected from the sun, being under the tail or, sometimes, even under the skin. Chronic exposure to insecticides may also be a risk factor in humans, and could be for horses as well. Clinically, melanomas occur in horses over 5 years of age, with no sex predilection. They may be found in many breeds, but are over-represented in Percherons, Arabians, and Lipizzaners. The tumors are often found under the tail or peri-anally, but may be found in or around the eye, on the external genitalia, at the ear base, on the lips and even in the guttural pouch. I have removed them from the parotid salivary gland and have seen one very large

melanoma under the scapula (shoulder blade). Occasionally, there may be a black, tarry discharge, but most commonly the tumors are solid. They are most often coalescing nodules, but can be a single nodule. There are three growth patterns for melanomas: 1. They can grow very slowly for years without metastasis. 2. They can grow slowly for years and suddenly become metastatic. 3. They can be metastatic from the beginning. Any tumor that is large enough to press upon sensitive structures can cause other clinical signs such as lameness and neurologic signs. Diagnosis of equine melanoma is based upon history, physical findings, and histopathology. There are some new techniques available to determine the metastatic potential of this tumor. Equine melanoma differs from other species in beginning in or around the hair follicles and sweat glands rather than the dermo-epidermal junction. Often, this tumor does not require definitive diagnosis via histopathology, and clinical suspicion is enough. Treatment can be of several forms used alone or concurrently. Wide surgical excision is curative. Some areas make surgery very difficult or impossible without damaging other structures, such as the anus. Laser surgery, using an Nd:YAG surgical laser, can be used standalone or in combination with sharp removal. The laser will

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January-February 2014

EQUINE AFFAIRS ablate remaining tumor cells following sharp dissection. The laser beam can also be defocused to treat iris melanoma. Cimetidine, an antihistaminic drug, has been used with varying success. At best, the tumor may reduce by 50%, but most often it is thought to prevent further growth. Cisplatin, a chemotherapeutic drug most often used for sarcoids, may be effective on small tumors. Betaradiation may also be useful for very small tumors. There are some newer options available for treatment. The first is a canine melanoma vaccine called Oncept. The vaccine was developed for canine oral melanoma, which is very aggressive and fatal. This is not yet approved in horses, but has shown some promise. The vaccine targets tyrosinase, an enzyme expressed by the tumor; by targeting this enzyme, the tumor growth is slowed or reversed. The vaccine is administered biweekly for four treatments, then again at three and six month intervals. This vaccine has been shown to be safe and to shrink equine melanomas. Sections of the tumor have also been taken to be made into an autologous (from self ) vaccine. The efficacy has been questionable.

Equine melanoma is similar to, but also different from, other species such as dogs, cats, and humans. It is most often considered to be a benign disease, but it can spread both externally and to internal structures. The definitive cause is unknown. There are multiple treatments available, depending upon the aggressiveness of the tumor and its location. Dr. Brian Burks, Dipl. ABVP is the owner/veterinarian at Fox Run Equine Center, a 24-hour medical-surgical center near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is board certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Equine Practice). This certifies him as an expert in all categories of equine practice. He enjoys the diagnostic and treatment challenges of internal medicine. www.foxrunrequine.com, brianburksdvm@comcast.net

Portraits of animals pets and wildlife

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The second is gene therapy where genes that code for Interleukins (proteins that cause inflammation) are injected into the tumor. The inflammatory response kills the tumor cells. A final treatment involves the use of Frankincense mixed with DMSO used either topically, for small tumors, or injected directly into larger tumors. Injection of Frankincense may continue weekly until the tumor has shrunk to an acceptable size. This has shown great promise in both human and equine melanoma, and is a less invasive option compared to other treatments such as surgery, which is sometimes associated with complications from other nearby anatomic structures. January-February 2014

Also feline-inspired artwork, photography, apparel, table linens, greeting cards and gift items.

Bernadette e. KazmarsKi, artist Etsy/PortraitsOfAnimals â&#x20AC;˘ www.TheCreativeCat.net www.bernadette-k.com

www.pghpetconnections.com

EQUINE AFFAIRS

Positioning the Horse By: Kristin Hermann

raining horses is done primarily on the circle. For English training, it is the twenty meter circle, or for typical Western training, it is done inside the round pen. When the horse is on the circle, it only makes sense that it should be looking where it is going. On a circle, however, a horse does not really care if it is looking where it is going or stays bending in the direction of travel. Therefore, if the rider wants the horse to be gymnastically trained and travel as well in both directions, the rider has to do what is called “position” the horse. Positioning the horse requires the rider to “position” the horse’s whole body onto the arc of the circle. To position the horse means that the rider is training the horse’s body to be bent in the direction of the circle they are traveling. The rider uses her aids to encourage the horse to bend or be positioned in the direction it is moving. The reins position the horse’s head and neck as the rider’s legs position the horse’s body. As a result, the horse’s whole body is positioned onto the This horse is “positioned” right arc of the circle. around the rider’s inside leg at the canter. And, its body is aligned in lateral and horizontal balance.

Many trainers call positioning, “bending.” However, in my school, bending is an exaggerated “positioning.” The horse’s longitudinal body (from back to front) needs to be positioned onto the arc of the circle it is traveling. Simply when the horse travels to the right on a circle, it should be looking where it is going or be positioned to the right. Too much bending causes the horse to be more curved in the neck and belly than positioning on a circle would require. (See illustration of too much bending.) To position the horse, the rider bends the horse slightly in the neck with an inside direct rein and then supports the horse with the outside supporting rein. The horse’s body is positioned with the inside leg at the girth and

the outside leg behind the girth. To position the whole horse on a circle, all of the rider’s aids are used in unison (as they are for all riding)! The rider’s aids create an arch of the horse’s body from tail to poll and position the horse’s body to follow the curved line of the circle. It sounds simple, but the hardest part for many riders is the ability to coordinate the three natural aids (legs, seat and hands) in a way which seamlessly influences the horse in rhythm with the horse’s gaits. While learning to coordinate the aids to position the horse, what also challenges the rider is that the horse is more willing to bend in one direction than the Over bending the horse without the another. Adding to support from the outside rein causes the difficulty of the horse to fall on the inside training the horse shoulder and/or “pop” the outside shoulder. When the rider bends or to be positioned positions the horse, she is also equally going both supposed to control the horse’s ways is that the shoulders! rider too needs to be able to coordinate the aids in both directions. Most horses prefer to bend to the right, and most riders are better able to use the aids going right since most riders are right handed. What comes so easily to the average rider to position the horse to the right, unfortunately, hours are spent training the rider to learn how to bend or position the horse as well to the left! Training the horse to be willingly positioned to the right and left challenges many riders. The horse, even though it prefers to be bent right, will easily bend both ways as long as the rider asks clearly and is ambidextrous! Utilizing simple training techniques, such as the awareness of positioning the horse equally in both directions will do wonders to keep the horse sound and train the horse to travel equally at all three gaits in both directions. How many times have you heard a rider complain about the horse doing one thing better in one direction and not the other? Way too many! The

January-February 2014

secret to training a horse is the rider having the ability to communicate the signals or aids to the horse clearly. Training only becomes difficult when the horse does not understand because the rider’s aids are muddled. Simple gymnastic training of the horse requires that the rider sit in the correct position and learn to use the aids in a clear communication, so the horse understands. The rider should expect to have the attention of the horse’s mind, relaxation of its body and a steady rhythm of the gaits on the circle. Once relaxation and rhythm are developed, the rider then positions the horse equally in both directions to develop a more supple and pliable horse. When positioning is established and the rider can influence both sides of the horse in either direction, then straight lines are ridden to gain more advanced balance. These basic training principles will become more clearly refined and developed as one continues with the academic pursuit of gymnastically training the horse.

EQUINE AFFAIRS

Another nice example of a horse “positioned” into the direction it is traveling and its body traveling in balance. The shoulders are in alignment with the haunches.

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January-February 2014

www.pghpetconnections.com

Rockin’ Horse Stables Angel Ridge Farms Welcomes Trainer Elizabeth Goldberg. Located just minutes from the heart of Cranberry Twp. Rockin’ Horse Stables is a hunter/jumper facility offering full care boarding, professional riding lessons, summer camps and quality horse sales.

Whether you want to compete or improve your horsemanship skills, beginner or advanced, we have the program for you! Now offering lessons in: • hunt seat • hunters • dressage

2014 Summer camp dates have been announced and registration is open!

Camps fill fast so register now to guarantee your spot in our fun filled, horse themed day camps. Visit our web site for more information.

h izabet to l E t c Conta 860.1136 . at 412 e today! ul sched

724-601-4706

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The

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Unique Leather Collars & Leashes, Coats, Gifts & Accessories

www.theenglishhorn.com englishhorn@verizon.net

724-941-8088 211 East McMurray Rd, McMurray, PA 15317

Sun, Mon - Closed • Tues through Sat - 10am-5pm

January-February 2014

B*tches Ball 3rd Annual

D LP U S CELEBRATE WORL

AY D Y SPA

BEST LOCAL FUNDRAISER!

Cruze Bar 1600 Smallman Street

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 6 -10 pm (doors open at 5:30 pm) Tickets $30 ($40 at the door**) includes: • 1st Spay Breeze FREE! courtesy of White Diamond Vodka • Drink Specials • Hors d’oeuvres provided by Chef Tom Barnard • Raffles and Giveaways Order tickets online at animalrescue.org/b-ball-tickets Proceeds benefit:

412-345-7300 www.animalrescue.org *While supplies last. ** Limited number of tickets available.

FREE Light Up Glass* with Spay Breeze Opening act by the Olga Watkins Drag Band

Competition Crowning Miss B*tchburgh 2014

IN REMEMBRANCE

Healing Hearts for Pet Lovers After the rush of the holidays the grief of a recent loss can return, and that’s no different for pet lovers who’ve lost an animal companion. “I schedule this healing and nurturing event around Valentine’s Day each year to help mend the hearts of people who may have suffered a recent loss, or for whom an previous loss is somehow fresh,” said Deb Chebatoris owner of Chartiers Custom Pet Cremation in Bridgeville. For the nine years she has been in business, Deb has scheduled the one-afternoon session to provide grieving families with help and resources to work through the trauma of losing a beloved companion. Those who attend are in the company of other families who know the gut-wrenching feeling of losing a pet. Families grieving the loss of their pet are welcome whether or not they have worked with Chartiers Custom Pet Cremation.

Do you have a special pet that you would like to honor? Send submissions to info@pghpetconnections.com.

The session is free and includes a speaker. Grieving pet owners are welcome to listen to and to share stories of their animal companions. Any person who is having trouble coming to terms with the loss of a pet, regardless of when the loss occurred, is welcome to attend. The session is on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at LaBella Bean Café in Bridgeville, 609 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017, just two blocks away from Chartiers Custom Pet Cremation. LaBella Bean will be closed to the public during this session. So that CCPC may properly prepare and also contact you in the event of bad weather, please RSVP if you are planning to attend by calling 412-220-7800. Chartiers Custom Pet Cremation is owned and operated by Deb Chebatoris for the comfort and consolation of Pittsburgh pet’s families, and is located at: 442 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017. For more information on CCPC or on the event, please visit www.ccpc.ws

January-February 2014

Dr. Doug

The Holistic Vet Dr. Doug Knueven practices an

Beaver Animal Clinic

We at Beaver Animal Clinic believe in the power of caring. Caring for our patients as our own pets. Caring for our clients as our friends. Caring for each other as our family. Hours: Mon.–Thurs. 9-8; Fri. 9-5 Sat. 9-3; Sun. Closed 357 State Avenue Beaver, PA 15009 724-774-8047 www.facebook.com/BeaverAnimalClinic beaveranimalclinic.com *** COMING SOON! *** Dr. Doug’s Blog on Holistic Pet Care. Watch for up coming announcement.

integrative approach to pet care. He is well versed in conventional veterinary medicine and has been licensed since 1987. He is also certified in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and chiropractic. He is a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association and has advanced training in natural nutrition, massage therapy, homeopathy and a host of other alternative therapies. At Beaver Animal Clinic, Dr. Doug offers a full range of options for the treatment of disease and the maintenance of health. Western medicine tends to focus on fighting disease while holistic medicine strives to strengthen the body. These two goals are not necessarily mutually exclusive. An integrative practitioner works with the best of what these two philosophies have to offer, picking and choosing from the full menu of options to put together a treatment plan that is ideal for the individual pet and her caregiver.

How to Avoid Pet Food Pitfalls

Are you confused by all the pet food commercials? Every food claims to be wholesome and healthy. But how do you cut through the hype and see the truth? If you are interested in learning how to evaluate pet foods so you can get what’s best for your companion, then this workshop is for you. This program will focus on what makes for a healthy diet for dogs and cats. You will learn what is really in certain pet foods and how to decipher the ingredient list and nutrition panel. You will see the tricks pet food labels often play on unsuspecting pet caregivers. Participants are encouraged to bring the nutrition panel from their pet’s food and we will work together to see what we are feeding our pets.

, Sunday ry 16, Februa 2014 m 1pm-4p

Course fee: $ 15.00 (100 % of your payment goes to the Beaver County Humane Society) Place: Beaver Animal Clinic 357 State Ave. Beaver, PA 15009 Call today to register 724-774-8047. (Space is limited to 15 attendees)

Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center

The Most Comprehensive Multispecialty Referral & Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Western Pennsylvania

EMERGENCY PET CARE

Open 24 Hours a Day, 365 Days a Year. Veterinarians On-Site At All Times. Dogs, Cats, Birds, Reptiles, Small Mammals

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Dianna Ovbey, DVM, MS, Practice Ltd. To Anesthesiology

CARDIOLOGY

Eva Sikorska, DVM, DACVIM Erin Anderson, VMD, MSc, DACVIM

DENTISTRY

Krista Mendoza, DVM, DAVDC

DERMATOLOGY

Sandra Sargent, DVM, DACVD

EMERGENCY & CRITICAL CARE

Kenton D, Rexford, VMD Christine Guenther, DVM, DACVECC Christine Rutter, DVM, DACVECC Sarah J. Deitschel, DVM, DACVECC Amy Dickinson, DVM, DACVECC Kara Osterbur, DVM, DACVECC Rebecca A Miller, DVM Joey Kallem, DVM Jennifer Wooderson, DVM Elissa Allen, VMD Robin M. Dutra, DVM Lindsey Rademacher, DVM Kristen Krisulevicz, DVM Richard Skalos, DVM Tricia Tovar, DVM, Resident in EM & Critical Care

MRI & CT IMAGING

PetsDx Veterinary Imaging www.petsdx.com Gerald Frye, VMD

INTERNAL MEDICINE

Sherwood Johnson, DVM, DACVIM Tracey Peterson, DVM, DACVIM Todd Carter, DVM, DACVIM Emily Klosterman, DVM, MS, DACVIM

NEUROLOGY

Edward MacKillop, DVM, DACVIM Kendra Mikoloski, DVM, DACVIM

ONCOLOGY

Rebecca Newman, DVM, MS, DACVIM Todd M. Erfourth, DVM, DACVIM Bridget Urie, DVM, MS, DACVIM

OPHTHALMOLOGY

Lawrence Bagley, DVM, DACVO Rachel Keller, DVM, DACVO Michael Finn, DVM, MS, DACVO

RADIATION ONCOLOGY

Christine Anderson, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DACVR

RADIOLOGY

Christopher Warrington, DVM, DACVR

SURGERY

Anthony D. Pardo, MS, DVM, DACVS John T. Payne, DVM, MS, DACVS Julie L. Compton, DVM, MS, DACVS Jonathon Anderson, DVM, DACVS Michael Doornink, DVM, DACVS Jennifer Covey, DVM, DACVS Hope Chisnell, DVM, Resident in Surgery Kathryn Campbell, DVM, Resident in Surgery

807 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412.366.3400 www.pvs-ec.com