PETacular Winter 2016

WINTER 2016 • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 4

gazette.com/pets

A G A ZE T T E MED I A SPECI A L SEC T I O N

Winter

pet care and safety

PLUS

How often should you walk your dog?

The importance of good nutrition for pets CATAGONIA CAT HOTEL:

A game changer in cat boarding

Winter

pet care and safety

You’ve prepared yourself for a cold and blistery day, have you done the same for your pet?

BY CANINE DESIGN SALON AND COUNTRY CLUB

your pet’s feet is to use dog booties when you walk.

Brrrr … winter is here!

It’s time to winterize your pet. Severely cold weather brings threats to pet health and safety. You’ve prepared yourself for a cold and blistery day, have you done the same for your pet?

Here are a few suggestions from Canine Design Salon that will help you keep your pets warm and safe: 

Dogs are not immune to the cold weather. They can get frostbite or become hypothermic if left out in frigid temperatures. Keep your pets inside as much as you can when the mercury drops. If you need to take them outside, stay with them. When you’re cold and ready to go inside, they probably are too. Pets that go outside can pick up rock salt, ice and chemical ice melts in their foot pads.

To keep your pet’s pads from getting chapped and raw, wipe their feet with a warm washcloth when they come inside. This will also keep them from licking the salt off their feet, which can be toxic. Another option to protect

2 PETacular Spring 2017









pets during the cold months. Their joints can be extremely stiff and tender. Make sure they have a thick, soft bed in a warm room for those chilly nights. Go ahead and put that sweater on Rover. Pets lose most of their body heat from the pads of their feet, their ears and their respiratory tract, so booties, scarves and hats will benefit them against the cold.

Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs. Provide them with protective clothing. Clothing is not just for fashion, they are functional too.

Groom more often during the cold months. Your dogs need a clean, wellgroomed coat to keep them properly insulated. Grooming is not just about the length of hair, it’s about health.

Grooming regularly improves your pet’s circulation to help maintain a healthy skin and coat. Try Canine Design Salon’s award-winning grooming.

Frozen lakes and ponds are reasons for concern as rambunctious dogs can easily fall through the ice. Keep your dog on a short leash when walking around the frozen water.

If you have an active dogs, give them fatty acid supplements and increase their food supply by 25 to 30 percent during the winter to keep skin and hair healthy. They’ll also be more able to withstand the cold. Don’t forget to keep them hydrated as well.

Be very gentle with elderly and arthritic



Leaks and spills from antifreeze can kill dogs and cats. Consider using antifreeze that is free of ethylene glycol.



For safety sake, switch to a plastic or ceramic pet bowl during freezing temperatures. Metal bowls pose a threat to your pet’s tongue as it can stick to the cold metal.



Never leave your dog in an unattended car no matter what the season. If the

car is left running during the winter, carbon monoxide poisoning becomes a real threat. If you light a fire or plug in a space heater, make sure tails and paws stay far enough away. Pets can either burn themselves or knock a heat source over causing a household fire. Canine Design Salon provides Doggy Daycare for your pet in a climate controlled environment. 

If it’s too dark, too cold, or too wet to take a dog for a walk, mental exercise can be just as satisfying.

Most breeds were developed to work and giving them a job to do is stimulating. Try teaching your dog to balance a biscuit on his nose then flip it in the air to catch; to shake hands on command; or have him find every one of his plush toys and put them in the washing machine to be cleaned. Such games are to dogs what the daily crossword puzzle is to us. They have to think, they have to learn, and when they get it right, their sense of accomplishment and joy is contagious.

VCA Briargate Veterinary Clinic

WINTER ISSUE:

December 7, 2016 Winter pet care and safety ....................................................... 2 How often should you walk your dog? ...................................... 4

5 CATAGONIA CAT HOTEL: A game changer in cat boarding .............. 6 Top Dog Business Directory ..................................................... 7 VET CENTRAL: The importance of good nutrition for pets .............

VCA Briargate Veterinary Clinic has served the Colorado Springs area for more than 30 years.

We view our veterinary hospital as a place of healing, warmth, and goodwill. We are accepting new clients, and we look forward to the opportunity to serve you and your pet.

Hours: Monday - Thursday: 7:30am to 6:00pm Friday: 7:30am to 5:30pm Saturday: 7:30am to 1:00pm

Published by The Gazette

30 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Suite 100, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903

Dr. Quinn Flenniken, DVM Dr. Anna Mooney, DVM

President & Publisher Dan Steever

Dr. Seth Rothstein, DVM Dr. Deanna Sundermann, DVM

Vice President, Advertising Wanda Artus-Cooper

Dr. Kim Holcomb, DVM

719-599-3339

Editor, PETacular Gina Cronin

7530 Rangewood Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920 www.VCAbriargate.com

Graphic Designer Gina Pietramale To advertise: 719-476-1693 Cartoon by local artist Leslie Thompson

Spring 2017 PETacular 3

PEACE

LOVE

FUR R E M E M B E R YOUR

FURRY

FRIENDS IN NEED

hsppr.org / donate

How often should you walk your dog?

BY GINA CRONIN, GINA.CRONIN@GAZETTE.COM

Dogs of all sizes and age ranges need ample exercise daily to maintain optimal wellness. According to archaeological research and genome sequencing, it is likely that dogs originate from wolves, who walk eight hours or approximately 30 miles a day. While it’s virtually impossible to walk your dog eight hours a day, it is still pertinent that you keep your dog active. Dogs have evolved and been domesticated to require a differing amount of daily activity depending on the breed, size, energy level, health and diet.

On top of the physical health factor, dog walking is essential for socialization and overall mental wellness. Socialized pups typically have a more friendly, confident and reliable temperament. While certain breeds do not need as much exercise as others, simply letting your dog out into the backyard to relieve him or herself a couple times a day, as a rule, is not enough. Inactive dogs are significantly more prone to obesity, diabetes, respiratory disease, heart disease, hip dysplasia, arthritis and depression.

LOW ENERGY DOGS

Low energy dogs are not synonymous with small dogs. Some small dogs have high energy and some large dogs have low energy. If you do not plan on taking your dog on multiple heart-pumping 4 PETacular Spring 2017

walks daily, then you should do some research on which low-energy dog is right for you. A list of breeds that don’t require as much exercise include, but are certainly not limited to: • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel • Basset Hound • English Bulldog • Bullmastiff • Pekingese • Italian Greyhound • Japanese Chin • Shih Tzu These dogs, along with other lowenergy breeds, should still get at least 20 minutes of heart pumping exercise three times a week. They can also physically and mentally benefit from being played with in the yard, running around with other dogs at the dog park and/or taking leisurely walks daily.

HIGH ENERGY DOGS

If you are looking for a dog to accompany you on your daily jogging, biking or swimming sessions, a highenergy dog can be your ultimate companion. It is extremely important that these dogs have an outlet to release their energy, so only bring an energetic pup into your family if you plan on affording it the exercise necessary. Typically dogs

in the herding, sporting and terrier categories are high energy. Some specific breeds include, but are certainly not limited to: • Bernese Mountain Dog • Pembroke Welsh Corgi • Dalmatian • Jack Russell Terrier • Labrador Retriever • Siberian Husky • Border Collie • Doberman Pinscher These dogs, along with other highenergy breeds, should get at least 60-90 minutes of high-intensity, heart-pumping, exercise daily. They should be given the opportunity to expend additional energy with trips to the dog park and play sessions in the yard.

Whether you have a dog or are thinking about welcoming one into your family, it is essential to know their physical activity requirements. If your daily schedule limits your ability to provide the necessary exercise, it is important to hire a local dog walker to fill in the gaps if you want your dog to be as healthy as possible. Or, if you set your alarm just 30 minutes earlier and cut out another 30 minutes of TV or computer time in the evening, you can enhance both yours and your canine’s quality of life.

VET CENTRAL North Powers Animal Hospital 5470 Powers Center Pt., Suite 100 Colorado Springs, CO 80920 (719) 282-1222

www.npahvet.com

The importance of good nutrition for pets COURTESY OF WAG N’ WASH NATURAL FOOD & BAKERY

Good nutrition for companion animals helps increase the longevity of the pet; and over time can reduce trips to the veterinarian and resolve common problems with the skin, coat and digestive system.

“Natural” is a vague term and refers to something that comes from natural sources. It has nothing to do with food quality. Keep in mind beach sand, petroleum and plant stalks can all be considered natural. Healthy ingredients will be nutritious and high quality to benefit the dog or cat. It is important for food to have ingredients that are both natural and healthy. To learn what is really in pet food become a label reader.

Here are some helpful tips: Meats are the best source of protein.

Know where the meat comes from. Look for specific identifiable sources like beef, chicken, lamb or turkey. The meat should be of the same quality that you would purchase for yourself in the grocery store. Avoid anything that is labeled “meat,” meat meal or poultry. Also avoid by-products. By-products are scraps and rendered meats that could contain diseased animals, expired supermarket meat and road kill.

Complex carbohydrates like whole grains and sweet potatoes are quality sources of carbohydrates. Avoid highly processed sources like wheat flour, rice flour, corn flour, brewer’s rice, wheat mill, rice bran or corn bran because naturally occurring vitamins have been leeched. Dogs will benefit by having some carbohydrates in their diets. Cats have no dietary need for carbohydrates and can thrive on a diet of mostly protein and fat.

Look for identifiable sources of fat like chicken fat, duck fat, flaxseed oil, sunflower oil and canola oil. Avoid fat sources labeled as animal or poultry fat. These sources are obtained in the rendering process and are of low nutritional quality.

Choose foods preserved with mixed tocopherals (vitamin E), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or other natural preservatives.

Avoid food preserved with chemicals.

Remember if the food is nutritionally sound there is no need for fillers such as corn, hulls or powdered cellulose.

Companion animals need smaller servings of high quality food. The price per day of feeding a high quality, nutrient dense food is often similar to cheap low quality brands. Less food in means less food out and smaller poops.

Many foods found in mass market stores, department stores and super markets have cheap sources of proteins and carbohydrates. Brands of high quality kibble to consider are Orijen, Acana, Earthborn Holistic, Canidae, ProPac, AvoDerm, Natural Balance, Fromm, Merrick, Blue Buffalo, Nature’s Variety, Nutrisource, Pure Vita, Natural Planet, Nature’s Logic or Weruva.

Raw and freeze dried foods have increased in popularity in recent years.

Advocates believe that it is the healthiest way to feed a companion because nutrients, enzymes or healthy bacteria are not lost in the cooking process.

Raw food diets have many benefits including whole food and limited ingredients that are easy to digest and absorb. Raw meat diets are kept frozen until they are ready to be consumed. They should be thawed in the refrigerator or on the countertop.

Dehydrated food can be mixed with water to re-hydrate and serve. They can also be fed dry which makes this a great option for camping and travel. Freeze dried food can be given as a treat and also crushed and sprinkled over kibble to provide extra nutrition.

Brands of high quality raw and freeze dried products are Stella & Chewy’s, The Honest Kitchen, Grandma Lucy’s, Primal, Nature’s Variety Instinct or Sojo’s.

Russell Welfare, DVM Gwen Carlson, DVM

St. Francis Animal Hospital Located in Briargate 8834 N. Union Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80920 (719) 282-3443

www.FrancisVet.net Kim Kaufer, DVM Kerri Mozinski, DVM

Tender Care Veterinary Center 8036 Meridian Park Drive Falcon, CO 80831 (behind 7-11) (719) 559-TCVC (8282)

www.tcvetcenter.com tcvetcenter@gmail.com Amy J. Clark, DVM Rob Willyard, DVM Mark G. Finke, DVM

To feature your clinic in

VET CENTRAL

contact: michelle.clark@gazette.com 719.476.1693 Spring 2017 PETacular 5

Look Twice Pet Grooming

CATAGONIA CAT HOTEL: A game changer in cat boarding

Full Service All Breed Grooming Salon

Hotel owner Shannan Longley holds hotel guest Neville as he roams the lobby at Catagonia Cat Hotel in Colorado Springs. The guests take turns playing outside their rooms. Photo by Christian Murdock, The Gazette COURTESY OF CATAGONIA CAT HOTEL

I create positive experiences with good style by applying gentle handeling skills; every dog and cat feels happy to leave confident and gorgeous. After 17 years of award-winning experience, I have specialized calming techniques to an art, giving me a special talent at creating head turning looks for both body and soul.

Alician O’Dell Certified Groomer

129 N. Wahsatch Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80903 719-551-8399 www.looktwiceco.com 6 PETacular Spring 2017

If you feel limited when it comes to boarding your cat in comfort when you go on holiday vacations or business trips, it’s because you are; or at least you were — until now. A true game changer in the cat boarding industry has arrived in Colorado Springs: Catagonia Cat Hotel.

Catagonia Cat Hotel Founder Shannan Longley was all too familiar with the struggle of finding quality boarding accommodations for cats. Through her eight years on active duty in the Air Force, she moved five times in the first five years between three states and two countries, was deployed to Afghanistan, and took countless business trips that each served as a reminder that the pet service industry has long overlooked

services for cats.

“It was time to fix the problem,” says Longley. “My goal in opening Catagonia was to truly redefine the industry standard for cat boarding. That sinking guilt you feel when you leave your cat in a cramped wire cage in the back room of your vet clinic means something — for me, it meant it was time to create a solution.”

QUALITY ACCOMMODATIONS Starting at only $20 per night, Catagonia Cat Hotel’s spacious rooms are designed for cats and cats only.

Towering catwalks, ceiling mounted nap boxes and bridges keep curious feline minds happy, while a staff that’s dedicated to caring for your cat in the way they’d be cared for at home

keeps your mind at peace. You’ll find individualized care is made possible with Catagonia’s feline personality questionnaire, because the staff knows that despite popular belief, no two cats are alike.

The private rooms in Catagonia’s beautiful 4,000 square foot facility vary in size from 4x4 feet, 4x8 feet and the 8x8 feet Purrrrsidential Suite.

Each family has the option to elect for free play time outside the room with a staff member at no additional charge.

For those in a time crunch on pick-up or drop-off day, Catagonia offers Cat Shuttle service.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SERVICE IS AT THE CORE OF CATAGONIA’S VISION Is your cat having litter box issues or displaying aggression toward you or a housemate? These kinds of issues can truly divide a household, so Catagonia Cat Hotel brought on a resident expert feline behaviorist, who is available to make house calls to offer advice and solutions for some of these common problems. What if you want to give clicker training a try with your cat, but don’t know where to start? What if you have or want a new kitten, but aren’t sure what to do? Catagonia will also offer classes to the public on these fun feline topics and others.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

CATAGONIA CAT HOTEL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

THEY GIVE BACK, AND THEY HAVE A CAUSE

Hotel guest Tom chases a reflection on the wall of his room at Catagonia Cat Hotel.

Photo by Christian Murdock, The Gazette

Catagonia Cat Hotel founder explains, “I foresee the partnerships with the non-profit feline-only rescues in town will be one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. I’ve pledged to donate two percent of our profits to them and hope to use Catagonia as a vehicle to raise awareness of trap neuter release (TNR) programs and the adoption of black cats.”

Now, cat boarding is in a better place.

With even more in store for the future such as webcams, grooming, natural foods and retail, Catagonia Cat Hotel will soon be your one stop shop for all things cat. They do it for the cats, and for your peace of mind.

Reservations and more at CatagoniaCatHotel.com. To reach a Catagonia Team Member for more information or to schedule a tour, email info@catagoniacathotel.com or call 719602-6081.

Little Paws

TopDog

Dog Sitting and Day Care

Specializing in small dogs 18 years experience LOVING home environment

BUSINESS DIRECTORY Thank you for supporting these pet-loving businesses in our community. Look for these special offers and store fronts and mention you saw them in PETacular.

VETERINARY HOSPITAL

PET SITTERS & ANIMAL CARE

Services: Low Cost Spay and Neuter Micro-chipping Heartworm Tests Nail Trims Flea/Tick Control Shots: Canine: Distemper, Bordetella & Rabies Feline: Distemper, Leukerria & Rabies

The Zoo Keepers, LLC

3660 Citadel Drive North

719.475.1800 hamlettsn.wix.com/clinic

Providing Low Cost Spay and Neuter Services for Colorado Springs since 1977

We’re Open when You’re Available • Prices starting at $20 daily • Pick up & Drop-off Available • Military and Multidog Discounts • 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Daily

Falcon Dog Daycare & Boarding

719-659-3146 • info @falcondog.com

VCA North Academy Animal Hospital

• Dog Walking Service Available (ask about our packages) • Pet sitting (daily visits or overnight) • Potty/play breaks & dog walks • Medication & Insulin visits • Pregnancy watch visits • Animal Taxi to the vet, groomer, or day care center • Field trips to the park • Care for all house & barn pets • Reptiles, Avian & small animal care Specializing in the care of older animals

and those with special needs!

719-502-Z000 (9000) We love all animals and are happy to care for any member of your zoo.

We LOVE Them Like You Do!!

Please call Kippi Ricciardelli at 813-481-2500 27 N. Hancock Ave Colorado Springs

CHAMPDog Park

“Where your pet’s health is our priority, and excellent service is our goal!”

Serving Colorado Springs and the surrounding area for over 30 years...

We’d love to meet you and your pet...stop by and see us soon!

• Ritzy Boarding

• Grooming & Spa • Indoor Grass Daycare • Swanky Retail Boutique • Pet Sitting

$5 OFF ANY SERVICE Expires 12/31/16

5470 Powers Center Point #160 (719) 282-3300 • champdogpark.com

Hours: Monday - Friday: 7:30am to 6:00pm Saturday: 7:30am to 1:00pm

719-599-4443 5875 N. Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918 www.VCAnorthacademy.com

SELF SERVICE

10% MILITARY DISCOUNT HOLIDAY GIFT CARDS

719.393.6037 1825 Main St., Ste. A www.filthybitches.dog

PET AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER

812-236-5462

rainfeather.smugmug.com Spring 2017 PETacular 7

Board Certified in Allergy and Clinical Immunology SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1975

William W. Storms, MD

Treating Children and Adults

Animal Allergies • Nasal Allergies • Asthma Chronic Cough • Sinus Problems • Hives Eczema • Bronchitis • Food Allergies Sports and Exercise Induced Asthma 1625 Medical Center Point, Suite 190

Tel:

719-955-6000 www.stormsallergy.com

10% off anything in the store with this Ad

Complete and compassionate care for the life of your pets!

Monday - Friday 8-6 Saturday 8-12 Closed Sundays

Russell Welfare, DVM

719.282.1222

5470 Powers Center Point • Suite 100 • Colorado Springs CO 80920

www.npahvet.com 8 PETacular Spring 2017

Denver Location: 10021 East Iliff Ave, Aurora, CO 80247