Specialty | 4 Legs & A Tail

Surviving Winter

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 19:55:31 GMT

8 Tips from a professional dog walker to help make Winter in New England your and fido's new favorite time of year!

1. Maintain and check your equipment regularly.

- If your equipment is going to fail at any time, it will likely happen in the cold. Keep your leather goods from cracking or splitting with regular cleaning and conditioning. Store any metal pieces such as safety clips or leash snaps indoors to prevent them from sticking open or closed, and wipe them clean and dry after use. Battery powered/electric equipment such as e-collars or electric fence systems are most prone to failures in cold weather, so check that each piece is charged and working before use.

2. Stock up on puzzle toys and long-lasting chews.

- New England winters always include a smattering of brutal storms, often meaning a halt to all driving and even outdoor walking activities. For these days, make sure you always have bully sticks, bones, or puzzle toys on hand to give your dog something to do on days when you plan on staying in. Chewing relieves stress, and puzzle toys expend mental energy to help keep your pooch from bouncing off the walls while you work from home, take care of your children, or just relax.

3. Wax up those paws pre-walk.

- Hate the snowballing that occurs on your dog's paws after a romp in the frosty woods? Smear a thin coating of Musher's Secret paw wax to your pup's pads before heading outside, and the snow won't stick. That means no painful ice clumping under-paw, and no snowballs melting all over the house after your walk. This ointment also prevents pads from cracking and becoming sore on even the driest of days. If you don't have Mushers Secret available, Bag Balm does just as good a job and is easily found at your local farm supply store.

4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

- Be sure to offer plenty of water before, during, and after excursions to keep your dog hydrated in the arid winter air, and to minimize self-hydrating by snow intake. Eating snow in small amounts is no big deal, but in larger quantities, it can be unsafe. Snow may contain unknowns such as antifreeze, non-pet-safe ice melt, or other harmful contaminants. Nix excessive snow eating by always having fresh water on hand and offering it to your dog frequently.

5. Feed as required, not as is routine.

- The majority of dogs get less exercise during the winter season. Snow, sleet, ice, and frigid cold can make a normal 'walk in the park' less than desirable for both humans and canines. The less you are walking your dog, the fewer calories they will burn, and the less food they need to maintain a healthy weight. On the flip side, if you're maintaining the same exercise routine or have a hardy dog who kennels outdoors, they will use more calories working in the cold and deep snow and may need an increase in food intake. Be sure to regularly physically assess even your fluffiest of pooches for weight gain or loss, and adjust feedings as necessary.

6. Know the breed you have

- Each dog has a different threshold for cold tolerance, and this is greatly dependent on your dog's breeding. Have a Newfoundland? Great! They, and many other hardy, double-coated breeds, have a much higher tolerance to cold and can handle staying out in harsher conditions, and for longer periods of time. Your greyhound, Shih-tzu, Weimaraner, or Pug may not be as enticed by the outdoors, so bundle them up as needed, and keep a careful eye for signs of chill such as shivering, whining, excessive licking of paws, holding paws off the ground, or tucking tails. If you do see any of those signs while outside in the cold, it's time to go back inside and consider adding a layer, or even doggy boots for the next time.

7. Exercise and train inside on the truly cold days

- Frigid temperatures combined with wet conditions are a recipe for frostbite and chills. On the coldest of cold winter days, it's best to opt for short potty walks and indoor exercise. Now is a great time to sign up for a Zoom training class with your dog, teach that party trick you've been dying to get just right, or fine-tune your obedience skillset. If you and fido are sick of training at home, take a trip to your local dog-friendly hardware store or greenhouse for a fun and stimulating (but still cozy) change of scenery. For working breeds like the Belgian Malinois, Border Collie, or just an energetic pup, investing in a treadmill can be a true lifesaver during inclement weather. Be sure to consult your trainer before attempting to teach your dog to exercise on a treadmill, and always keep an eye on them while it is in use.

8. Keep up on tick, flea, and worm prevention

- The cold weather isn't as much of a deterrent for pests as common myth might have you think. Ticks, fleas, and other parasites are still out in abundance throughout the winter, which is why continuing preventative care all year long is important. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about what type of parasite control best suits your dog, your environment, and your lifestyle, to keep them protected this winter.

Aileen Whitty, Wag & Whinny, LLC; serving pets and people of the NH/ME Seacoast area

Help! My Dog’s Been Skunked!!

Fri, 05 Jun 2015 14:43:00 GMT

Dogs can be very curious. This sometimes can get them into a stink of trouble. If your dog encounters a skunk, it is likely to get sprayed, if it insists on checking out this newly found creature. When a skunk is startled it will make a peculiar purring sound, sometimes growling. Before emitting its sulphuric spray (mercaptan) in self-defense, it will warn its target by raising its tail, standing on its hind legs and stomping its front feet. The mercaptan it sprays not only carries a terrible odor but, if it hits the eyes, will blind the skunk’s target for up to two days. Your dog may come home with more than it had bargained for, when it encountered the four legged, striped little fellow. The skunk’s spray is not only extremely foul smelling, but it is very hard to get out of a dogs fur. Your dog may smell for quite some time, if you do not act quickly. A fresh spray smells so bad it burns your nose. The closest comparison I can think of, is the smell of burning rubber or plastic. If you or your pet gets sprayed it is important t o work quickly to get the skunk oil out and neutralized. If you do not act quickly the smell can last up to 2 years!

Tips: Before You Bathe Your “Skunked” Dog

1. Before handling your dog, you may want to put on some old clothes. Skunk spray is actually an oil and is very difficult to remove from clothing. Do not let your dog lay in his dog bed or the skunk oils will get on the bed.
2. If possible, leave the dog outside to prevent the odor ridden oils from getting into your house.
3. Determine where the spray hit the dog. Depending on your dog’s hair type, you may be able to trim away or comb out some of the affected hair.
4. You can use paper towels to soak up the oils from the coat before you begin washing. If you use a real towel you will most likely have to toss it as the oils may not come out 100%, and your towel will smell for a long time. Be careful not to spread the oils from one part of the dog to another. Only wipe where the oils are already, to avoid making the problem worse.
5. When you’re ready to wash the dog, only clean the sprayed area. Skunk spray is oily and can easily be spread all over the dog. You will most likely have to give the dog more than one bath, so save an all-over bath until the second or third washing.
How do I get the odor out?
It may be particularly hard to get the odor out of those dogs who have thick double coats. If quick action is not taken it is possible to smell the odor on your dog for up to two years, especially when the dog gets wet.
It is best to bathe your dog with a shampoo before the skunk’s sulphuric spray dries on the fur. After bathing you can try some of the following methods…

Store bought De-Skunking Products
There are several products you can buy at the store to de-skunk your dog, which I think work best, but one does not always have them on hand when their dog gets sprayed.
Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover
Earth Friendly Skunk Odor Remover

Tomato Juice or Mouthwash
A couple of old methods used are, saturating the dog’s coat in tomato juice or mouthwash, and then bathing the dog thoroughly with a canine shampoo. However the effectiveness of these methods is questionable and it is said that the tomato juice will leave your dog’s coat all red.

Another Somewhat Effective Method
Paul Krebaum, a chemist, invented a new, more effective formula for de-skunking a dog.
WARNING: This mixture can be explosive, as it will fizz and creates pressure if it is enclosed in a seal tight container. Never store unused portion, always discard. Be sure to only mix in an open container and do not try to store or cover it in any way. Do not get the mixture into the dog’s eyes, nose or mouth
Mix in an open bucket or bowl:
1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
¼ cup baking soda
1 teaspoon of strong liquid soap such as dishwashing detergent.
Mix the ingredients in an open bucket or bowl. The mixture will fizz. Wet your dog and thoroughly massage the solution into the coat. Be sure to keep the mixture out of the dog’s eyes, nose and mouth. If it is necessary to apply it to the dogs face, very carefully use a washcloth or a sponge. After applying the mixture to all parts of your dog that may have been sprayed, rinse the dog thoroughly.

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Shiloh, the Pupillon/Chihuahuu

Fri, 05 Jun 2015 10:20:00 GMT

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A Small World

Fri, 05 Jun 2015 09:54:00 GMT

By, Tim Hoehn

A few days prior to Paws for a Caws Adopt-a-Thon in Barre, we found out that my elderly mother-in-law is in stage 4 with cancer. After her husband of 50+ passed away a couple of years ago, she was very lonely and decided to get a dog (which we encouraged.) However, we were surprised when she told us that she got a Miniature Long-haired Dachshund puppy and asked us to take care of it if anything ever happened to her. No, we didn’t want another dog, but what could we say.

As I’m working the 4 Legs & a Tail booth that Saturday, I had many fans of the magazine stop by with greeting of praise. I asked one couple how they were enjoying the show and the said they came looking for a dog to adopt but didn’t find the right breed. It seems that they had Miniature long-hair Dachshunds and had to put their last one down last year.

I quickly explained the situation with my mother-in-law and asked if they might be interested in adopting hers when the time was right. They expressed some interest, but would need to know more about the dog and its background as they were longtime, responsible owners of the mini’s.

I said I would be in touch and asked her her name. “Sylvia Smedy”, she replied. As you know, Barre is a small town. When I asked if he was related to my mother-in-law, Pauline Smedy, she said she was an aunt and in fact, she had a puppy from her last dogs litter.

Needless to say, they are on the top of the list to adopt my mother-in-laws dog to the delight of everyone. Talk about a small world!

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Thunder, Fireworks and Other Scary Stuff

Fri, 05 Jun 2015 09:52:00 GMT

We are once again heading into fireworks and thunderstorm season and every day it seems I am asked what can be done about Muffy fears of loud noises: “My dog hides in a closet during storms.” “My dog tears up the house whenever there are fireworks.” “My dog sits in a corner, pees on the floor and just shakes whenever it’s thundering.” These are all very common experiences. Some dogs have always reacted like this but some only develop these phobias when they are older, sometimes after their hearing diminishes.

Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet for dogs like this. There is no “one size fits all” solution. Treatments include behavior modification, isolation, natural and synthetic tranquilizers and occasionally the use of antioxidants.

Behavior modification is usually the place to start and that should begin with talking to your veterinarian or an animal behaviorist. He/she may suggest desensitizing the dog to the loud noise. The goal is to make thunder and other loud noises fun. For example, play with your dog during the storm. Make a recording of loud noises then while doing something your dog enjoys (eating, playing fetch, etc.) play the recording softly at first, and then increase the volume as your dog becomes accustomed to the sounds. Don’t increase the volume too quickly; make sure your dog is not scared during the game. Remember loud noise=fun.

Some dogs don’t respond to behavior modification and instead need sedatives. Often dogs will respond differently to the various types of medication available. I usually like to begin by using an all-natural formula that I have. This formula consist of different types of vitamins and herbs that in some cases can take the edge off the animal enough for the modification techniques to become effective. If the natural formulation doesn’t work then we may need to use a prescription drugs. There are several common types used and again, not all dogs react the same way. Some dogs need only a small dose to be effective while another dog the same size may need a very large dose. I always start with a small dose and work my way up when necessary. The disadvantage of prescription drug treatment is you have to give the pill(s) prior to the upsetting event and in the case of thunder this might not be feasible.

Some people swear by putting a tight fitting T-shirt on the dog. They say this keeps the dog calm, similar to a baby being swaddled. There is even a commercial product called the “Thundershirt” that I have heard good reports about. Older dogs might respond to adding antioxidants to their diet. MSM and other antioxidants can be found in most pet supplies stores, but again, it might not work in all cases.

While it can be disconcerting to see your beloved canine upset with loudness, there are approaches to improve his or her reaction. Your veterinarian and/or animal behaviorist is there to help.

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The Prickly Porcupine

Fri, 05 Jun 2015 09:46:00 GMT

Jenn Grenier, Burlington Emergency Veterinary Specialists- Williston, VT

It was a beautiful, summer day and I was out walking with my dog Shadow, soaking in as much Vitamin D as possible. All of a sudden, she came out of the bushes foaming at the mouth and franticly pawing at her face. She had what looked like a white beard, which could only mean one thing. Shadow had tangled with a porcupine! With the arrival of early spring, porcupines will soon be walking among our four-legged family members. Now is the time to brush up on our porcupine facts.

There are about 2-dozen different species of porcupine in the world. The species we’re most familiar with here in Vermont, is the North American Porcupine. They are typically 10-35 lbs and can have up to 30,000 quills on them at any one time. The word porcupine comes from the Latin for “quill pig”. The quills are solid near both ends and hollow for most of the shaft. At each end of the quill is a barb that acts like a fishhook. When threatened, the porcupine will turn its hind end to its attacker, tuck its head toward its stomach (where it does not have any quills), and leave its tail and backside exposed to defend itself against predators. When the barb comes into contact with flesh it easily detaches from the porcupine and hooks onto its attacker. Once attached to the skin, every time that skin moves, the quill’s barb moves through the skin and muscle with ease.

If you find yourself in this situation, here is how to proceed.

The staff at BEVS is available by phone or in person any time, day or night. If you find yourself in a prickly situation involving quills, we would be happy to talk you through pulling the quills, or our staff can sedate your dog and pull them for you. Just give us a call, 863-2387.

Jenn Grenier is a member of our overnight veterinary nursing staff, and has been with BEVS since 2005. Jenn graduated from UVM with a degree in Animal Sciences, she began her career as a technician in 2000. In her spare time Jenn spends time riding her 2 horses and walking her pack of dogs. www.BEVSVT.com

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What’s Bugging Our Animals?!

Fri, 05 Jun 2015 09:40:00 GMT

M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM – Vermont Veterinary Medical Association

During the hot summer months, both large and small animals can suffer unwanted attention from biting flies and mosquitoes. These flies are not only the typical “house flies” we see, but species such as black flies, deer flies, and horse flies. In many cases, the mosquitoes and flies prefer to “strike” the sensitive and fairly thin skin of the animal’s ears. This has led to the common term “fly strike” as a means of describing the problem. Mosquitoes can carry disease to small and large animals. Hot days with little wind allow these insects to attack and cause more problems than days with a brisk breeze. Fly strike is uncomfortable for the animal and can be seen as seen as crusty and/or oozing lesions along the ear flaps: as the ears are continually wounded, more flies are attracted and bite.

Be particularly careful with older, long-haired pets who may not be very active when outside. In areas of the body prone to moisture and soiling, especially the rear end, it is common to find skin damage from the fly larvae (maggots). If you notice this problem, bring your pet to your veterinarian as soon as possible to avoid serious systemic illness.

In horses, biting flies can cause decreased performance and certain mosquitoes can transmit disease such as West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis Viruses (EEE/WEE). Besides this, they are annoying and painful to your horse, just as they are to you. There are many things you can do to protect your horse from these pesky insects. Help reduce the mosquito population by removing standing water (where mosquitoes breed), if possible add fish that eat mosquito larvae to water sources, and completely empty the stock tank periodically to rid it of any mosquito larvae. Keep horses stalled during peak mosquito feeding times of dusk and dawn and use mosquito repellants on them. Most products that repel mosquitoes will also repel biting flies. Many horse owners will attach insect proof face masks to their horses, to help prevent clusters of flies gathering around their eyes. Since wild birds are the source of WNV infection to mosquitoes, discourage them from roosting in the horse barn/stables. It is important to also talk with your veterinarian about vaccination for the viral diseases.

In our companion animals, fly strike can cause infection and pain. Mosquitoes can transmit potentially fatal heartworm disease to both cats and dogs. Cats in particular can be extremely sensitive to mosquito bites around their ears and face, leading to scabs, swelling, and itching. To help prevent fly strike and mosquito bites, try not to leave your pets outside all day long during hot summer days. Eliminate standing water to help reduce the mosquito population. While there are many products available to repel flies and mosquitoes, it is extremely important that you talk to your veterinarian before applying a human over the counter insect repellant: many of them contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs and cats. In addition, don’t assume that if the product is okay to use on dogs that you can use it in cats. There are many over the counter and dog-only products that can kill your cat. A monthly heartworm preventative (either a topical or a pill) can help prevent heartworm disease in your dog and cat, and some topical products now repel mosquitoes.

Remember, all of our livestock and companion animals are prone to mosquito bites and fly strike. For prevention, keep animals in at peak feeding times of these pests, do what you can to help eliminate standing water, and talk to your veterinarian about preventatives and repellents for our animals’ protection. For more information on biting insects and disease in our animals, visit www.vtvets.org.

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The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional
organization of 330 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine.

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Healing Touch

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 17:02:00 GMT

From Tears to Trauma Release – by Karen McCloud, HTAP, HTP

My childhood dream was to become a Veterinarian, but in the early seventies I was told by my high school advisor, “it is a man’s business!” Being a shy girl at the time…I opted for an Equine Science degree, and followed my passion for horses that has enriched my entire life. Three years ago I began my journey, taking classes to learn about energy medicine for animals, through the organization, Healing Touch for Animals® and its founder Carol Komitor.

Horses are huge heart animals, they are spiritually connected to us and wish to heal our heart, mind and spirit! They guide and teach me something new every time I have an opportunity to give an HTA® session.

This September I was asked to give a HTA® treatment to a young gelding who had just had a traumatic head injury that left the entire right side of his face paralyzed. He was visiting at a new farm for a fun-filled trail ride. Before heading out, he mistakenly stuck his head into a wooden fence and he became lodged. As the gelding pulled and pulled to release himself, his neck dropped into the opening deeper and then the frantic yanking began. If you are a horse person, you have witnessed these freak accidents…your heart is in your throat and all you can do is stand back for safety and hope for the best.

He escaped with only a few rub burns, no blood as you might expect, but the visual damage to his face was like that of a stroke victim. The entire right side of his bottom lip hung down and was swollen and flapping with drool, his eyelid was almost closed and not able to blink, his right ear drooped down and he couldn’t lift it up at all. For the first week and a half he exhibited an eating disability, picking up grain with his left side only to have the mash fall out on his right side.

The owner had the Vet come out to treat him and, indeed, there was nerve damage. The gelding was given medicine to help with any pain and swelling. The Vet administered one IV injection of dexamethasone, three oral doses of dexamethasone and Neo Poly Bac ointment to keep the eye lubricated. This would take many months to repair, if at all. This energy modality, HTA®, supports all of the Veterinarian’s treatment protocols and as an energy practitioner, I set my intentions for relaxation, healing and unconditional love. This enhances the medicine dispensed by the Vet and helps the drug to work efficiently by reducing the pain and anxiety with these precise HTA® techniques.

I started the session by checking the gelding’s chakras, they were all closed down and not open, this was not a surprise. His entire energy field was in front of him, as if his energy had been yanked off his body when he was frantically pulling to free himself from the fence. He appeared to be a bit depressed but could still manage to eat and drink just fine, even though his lips seemed to get in the way as he grazed.

He loved the grounding and quickly began yawning and stretching as well as passing gas. Once this was finished I decided to perform a technique called “Trauma Release,” this allows the animals to embrace the unconditional love during the session and to hold it for themselves during this trying time. This technique puts energetic blinders on the horse so they can release the trauma from its body, mind and spirit and move forward forgetting it ever happened. I was so pleased when I completed this procedure and asked the gelding to “release the trauma,” he did it quickly and loudly by displaying a huge heavy sigh. It was a sigh similar to when someone has been sobbing for a long time, it came from his tail, the Root Chakra, and I could feel it as it came all the way up along his spine and out of his mouth in a great breath. “Whew!” He must have thought, “I am glad to get rid of that!” When I am at the barn and see this gelding he always takes the time to walk over and greet me with a “thank you and much gratitude” and that makes my day!

Healing Touch for Animals® is for anyone with the desire to enhance the well-being of animals through energy medicine. Be a part of the growing number of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, animal trainers, groomers and pet owners, rescue shelter volunteers and animal lovers who are integrating this work into their everyday lives and connection with animals. Stop by the HTA booth at “Everything Equine and Canine” to say hello, learn about this year’s classes, and help us to grow our community of Animal Healers, our pets will thank us! www.healingtouchforanimals.com

*Captions
September 29th, before HTA session, depressed expression.

September 30th, second HTA treatment, note there is less swelling in the right eye and right ear lifted a bit more.

October 5th, third HTA treatment, his eye is bright and he can blink, less swelling in his muzzle and his ear is standing up and moving at about 80% normal. His feisty attitude is back!

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Keeping Your Pets Healthy This Spring

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:58:00 GMT

For many dogs this is just a treat they can’t resist! Many times these tasty little treats are badly decomposed and contain many different forms of pathogenic bacteria. Also, all of the ponds and lakes thaw and dogs start drinking out of them again. Finally, there are several diseases that affect puppies and are more easily transmitted between dogs in the spring when they are outside and mingling with other dogs more

Most of the time the first thing that you will notice is vomiting, diarrhea or both. This usually occurs within 6-24 hours of ingestion of the contaminated material. Sometimes the dog just vomits the material up and that is the end of it. Unfortunately, what usually happens is the dog vomits at first and then begins to have runny, watery and sometimes bloody diarrhea. At this point it is a good idea to get your four- legged friend to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

When a dog is vomiting he isn’t able to keep anything like water or food down long enough for it to be absorbed. When he is simultaneously having diarrhea, he can become severely dehydrated very quickly. Puppies can even be more quickly and severely affected as they have little reserves of fat to call on when they can’t eat. Dehydration can lead to kidney failure and death very quickly if left untreated.

Diarrhea in dogs can be caused by many different types of bacteria, several different types of parasites and several types of viruses, some of which can be fatal. Besides eating putrefied remains and feces, dogs drinking from puddles, ponds and streams can get organisms that can cause diarrhea.

Giardia can be prevented by commercial filters used for camping or drinking only bottled or tap water. With some dogs though, it is impossible to prevent ingestion as they are swimming dogs and will be ingesting the water no matter what. In these cases I recommend just monitoring your dog. As I said, most dogs will not have any problems.

In puppies there is a virus called Parvovirus that can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting and even death very quickly. Fortunately, Parvo is a very preventable disease and is one of the core vaccines that all puppies should get every 3-4 weeks beginning at about 6-8 weeks of age and continuing until they are 16-20 weeks old. Regardless of the pups vaccine status, if your puppy begins having any of these symptoms, get him to your veterinarian immediately. As I said, puppies have very little reserves and can get very sick, very fast.

Treatment for any of these diseases will depend on what your veterinarian finds when they examine your dog and as well as examining a fecal sample. Many times all that is needed is antibiotics or an anti-parasitic for mild to moderate cases. In more severe cases where there is dehydration and severe vomiting and diarrhea, the dog may need to be hospitalized and given intravenous fluids, injections of antibiotics and anti-nausea medications.

Prevention of these infections can be as simple as a vaccine for Parvovirus but can be more problematic in some dogs that insist on eating anything they find on the ground or drinking out of every puddle or pond they come across. I have several patients that, unfortunately, need to wear a basket muzzle every time they go outdoors because they will eat anything they find and become sick almost every time. One owner tells me that whenever her dog is in the woods he comes back with the basket muzzle packed with dirt and leaves!

Cats can also have most of these same problems but fortunately cats seem to have them less often. I think it is because its true what they say about cats being finicky eaters.

While not every dog is going to get sick every time it eats something off the ground, many will and when it’s diarrhea and vomiting it is no fun for the dog and no fun for the cleaning crew! If your dog is showing these symptoms it is VERY important to get them to your veterinarian as soon as possible and you can speed the diagnosis and become one of your vet’s favorite clients if you bring a fresh fecal sample along with you.

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Miranda Lambert’s Foundation Awards NH Animal Rescue

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:55:00 GMT

Bedford, NH (February 6, 2015) – 50 States/50 Shelters. That’s what the MuttNation Foundation’s initiative boasts, supporting one shelter in every state.

“What a wonderful surprise to open the mail and find a grant check from Miranda Lambert’s foundation!” recalled Paula Mattis, the Animal Rescue League of NH’s President & CEO.

Grammy-winning country singer/songwriter Miranda Lambert and her mother Bev Lambert co-founded the MuttNation Foundation nine years ago. In 2013 the foundation launched the “Mutts Across America: 50 States/50 Shelters” campaign to fund grants to animal rescues across the country.

“We are truly honored to receive this gift,” remarked Mattis. The Animal Rescue League of NH (ARLNH) was the one rescue in New Hampshire chosen to receive the grant, which arrived as a surprise in the mail on February 3. “This is not a grant shelters apply for,” states Mattis. “The Foundation seeks out and awards shelters that match their mission.”

The award letter stated: “Over 100 hours was expended by the MuttNation Foundation Board of Directors to sift through all the shelters in each of our 50 states.” The letter detailed criterion for evaluating each organization, including high adoption rates, committed volunteers and staff, providing programs to the community, advocating for spay/neutering, and a being fiscally responsible organization. According to MuttNations announcement on Facebook: “We are so proud of these deserving shelters and that Mutts Across America grants totaled over $200,000 to support their work!”

ARLNH is an independent, nonprofit organization who annually helps more than 2,000 cats, dogs, and small animals find loving homes. In order to help people who love their pets but are struggling to care for them, the League offers community outreach programs such as a pet food pantry, low-cost spay/neuter assistance, financial assistance for extraordinary veterinary treatment, and Safe Haven sheltering for pets of domestic violence victims and others entering temporary housing.

The League’s mission—to improve animal welfare in NH communities by helping pets and the people who care for them—is empowered by an active board of directors, a team of professional staff, and a dedicated community of more than 400 volunteers.

The League’s 14,000 square foot, recently-renovated facility is located on Route 101 in Bedford, NH. The organization’s services are open to all residents of New Hampshire, with focus on the local communities of Amherst, Auburn, Bedford, Brookline, Candia, Dunbarton, Francestown, Goffstown, Hollis, Hooksett, Litchfield, Londonderry, Lyndeborough, Manchester, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, New Boston, Peterborough, Wilton, and Windham

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Money Saving Tips for Pet Owners

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:53:00 GMT

By Alicia Goodwin

Everyone tries to do the best thing to save money. We all agree it is a good thing. However, there are some ways that are better than others at helping you save money, especially with your pets.

– Vaccines/Exams and Spaying/Neutering: Getting an exam and or a vaccine is much better than skipping to save money. If your pet gets sick, then it cost much more money to get them well again. Your pet should have annual exams (depending on the pet, age, health style, wellness, etc.) and get regular vaccines as needed. It will help your medical bill in the future and keep your pet healthy. Spaying and/or neutering is also recommended, rather than waiting and having additional costs later.

– Prescription Medications: Never give human medication to pets even if you are trying to save money. It could prove fatal to them. Don’t purchase from outside of the country, medications may not be FDA approved. They may also be counterfeit and then you could be sending money for something you don’t need. Always listen to your veterinarian or pharmacist about where to buy or pick up your pet’s prescriptions.

– Pet Insurance: It is hard to save money while also keeping your pet healthy. To cut costs, however, you may want to get your pet treatment as soon as possible to avoid costly surgeries or other procedures. Getting lumps or small tumors removed can be much less expensive than if you ignore it.

– Food/Weight: Obese animals could break a bone just from jumping off the couch. Preventing obesity can prevent costly procedures. An article I read stated, “Obesity also increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and joint disease, including arthritis, so keeping your pet at a healthy weight is a great preventive measure that keeps costs down throughout your pet’s entire life.” By looking up what type of food you are buying for your pet, you could reduce the chance of them becoming obese. Trying to save money by switching to low quality foods will not help. The low quality brands have more fillers and less of the necessary nutrients. Your pet will eat more, meaning you will need to buy it more often than the high quality food that is better for your pet. In the long run, buying a bigger bag of high quality food will help you save money.

– Grooming: To save money on grooming, do it yourself at home. It will take patience, time, and practice. However it will help you save money that you would have spent on getting your pet professionally groomed.

– Toys and Bones: To save money for pets (specifically dogs for this part), you could make your own toys out of old clothes. Consider buying bones from the butcher for dogs. For cats, I have used this one, you could cut up an old shirt or shoe. Cats will play with anything as long as it keeps them entertained.
Finally, talk to your veterinarian about other money saving options available. They want to help you and your pet, so take advantage of the extra aid.

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Rabbit Nutrition

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:51:00 GMT

By Dr. Susan Dyer

Rabbit nutrition is a very important aspect of rabbit care. Rabbits are considered a “hind gut fermenter.” They not only have a simple stomach, but have modified their cecum into a large compartment for the processing of fiber. Fiber does not provide nutrition; instead it provides a stimulus for gut motility. Because rabbits have such a specialized digestive system, the traditional diets that consist primarily of processed pellets made up of small fiber particles can lead to many health problems.

While wild rabbits prefer browsing on juicy buds and young leaves of bushes, they will also eat grasses, weeds, and bark. In captivity, a preferred diet for rabbits is a small measured portion of good quality pellet, timothy or local grass hay, and an assortment of vegetables.

Pellets should be formulated from timothy hay and have a fiber content of 18-22%. Alfalfa has an excess of calcium that can cause issues with urinary stone formation in some rabbits. Lower fiber content can increase the potential for diarrhea and anorexia. Pellets should always be measured, with lazy, overweight or under-exercised animals getting 1/8-1/2 cup per day depending on their size. For example, a 3 pound dwarf should get 1/8 cup, an 8 pound Netherland should get 1/2 cup at most. Pellets can be a source of obesity in rabbits when the protein content is greater than 16%. Younger animals can get pellets with higher protein and even utilize an alfalfa based pellet due to their higher calcium needs during growth.

Timothy hay fed freely to rabbits can help prevent obesity and life-threatening gut stasis. Stasis is a very painful syndrome in rabbits that causes them to stop eating and their stomach to start to expand from gas production. This causes a lack of appetite, no bowel movements, lack of energy and often tooth grinding which is a sign of pain. This syndrome is immediately life-threatening and should be treated by a veterinarian within 24 hours of any of these signs.

Greens are a natural way to provide more moisture and fiber to a rabbit’s diet. Greens should be introduced slowly to evaluate for any diarrhea. Once the preferred greens are determined, offer a variety of at least 3 greens at any given time to provide the best balance of nutrition. A list of preferred greens includes:
Arugula,
Carrot tops,
Cucumber leaves,
Endive,
Escarole,
Frisee Lettuce,
Kale (all types),
Mache,
Red or green lettuce,
Romaine lettuce,
Spring greens,
Turnip greens,
Dandelion greens,
Mint (any variety),
Basil (any variety),
Watercress,
Wheatgrass,
Chicory,
Raspberry leaves,
Cilantro,
Radicchio,
Bok Choy,
Fennel (the leafy tops as well as the base),
Borage leaves,
Dill leaves

The following greens are safe, but should be fed in lesser quantities due to the potential of the formation of oxalic acid, which can affect the kidneys when fed in high doses over long periods of time. Just provide one of these vegetables daily along with an assortment of those listed above.
Parsley,
Spinach,
Mustard greens,
Beet greens,
Swiss chard

Fruits are often offered to rabbits because they love them, but they are largely full of water and sugar, and lack much of the fiber and nutrition a rabbit requires. The sugars can act to change the intestinal flora and cause diarrhea as well. Feed fruits, root vegetables like carrots and potatoes, and flowers like broccoli and cauliflower in moderation. These provide a large amount of sugars with little fiber. For example, a 5 pound rabbit should get a 1/2 inch cube of apple or 1/4 of a medium carrot per day.

As you can see, feeding your rabbit can be much more complicated than common knowledge implies. With good monitoring you can avoid obesity and unnecessary abdominal pain, while providing your rabbit with a good variety in a high fiber and low protein diet. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you see diarrhea, inappetance or lethargy that lasts more than 12 hours or immediately if your rabbit is grinding its teeth, which is a sign of pain.

References:
Quesenberry, Katherine E. and Carpenter, James W., “Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents Clinical Medicine and Surgery” Elsevier, Inc., 2004.
http://www.rabbit.org/

Dr. Susan Dyer sees rabbits, dogs, cats, birds and other exotic pets at Stoneciff Animal Clinic of VT, Bradford, VT 802-222-4903 www.stonecliffacvt.com.

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Rare Breeds Around Town

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:50:00 GMT

The Shiba Inu

If you’re out and about in Hanover, don’t be surprised if you run into Saki (which means ‘blessing/happiness’ and ‘hope’ in Japanese). She is a black and tan Shiba Inu, and very rare even in Japan, let alone the Upper Valley.

The smallest of the Japanese native breeds, the Shiba was originally developed for hunting in the dense undergrowth of Japan’s mountainous areas. Alert and agile with keen senses, they are also an excellent watchdog and companion. Their frame is compact with well-developed muscles and he possesses a double coat that can be black and tan, red or red sesame.

Descended from the primitive dogs of the ancient people of Japan, the Shiba Inu was bred to hunt small wild game, boar and bear. The name Shiba in Japanese means brushwood, after the breed’s hunting terrain or the color of brushwood leaves in the fall and Inu means dog. World War II nearly spelled disaster for the Shiba due to bombing raids and distemper, but after the war, bloodlines were combined to produce the breed as it is known today.

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Spring Wildlife and Your Pets:What You Need to Know

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:48:00 GMT

by the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association – M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM

Spring is finally here and young wildlife is everywhere. With this abundance of young wild animals, it is important to be aware of the more common animals your pet may encounter and what to do if it does.

It is quite common in the spring for our dog or cat to present us with a live baby rabbit. In addition children may find one in the yard and bring it inside, thinking it has been abandoned by its mother. If the bunny’s eyes are open, it is able to eat and fend for itself in the wild. If you come across a nest of bunnies in the wild and the mother is nowhere to be seen, DO NOT disturb them – this is normal. By removing them from the nest you are greatly reducing their chances of survival. The wild rabbit mother only feeds in the middle of the night; she leaves her babies all day to not alert predators, so don’t assume she is not caring for them and take them from her!

So if your pet or child presents you with an uninjured baby rabbit, confine your pets in the house, and return the bunny to wherever it was found, immediately. It will do fine and the less time it spends in human hands, the better. If it appears injured, contact your veterinarian for the name of the closest wildlife rehabilitator near you. (Not all veterinarians are licensed to treat wildlife.)

Skunks present a smelly problem. They possess two small glands under their tail that produce a foul smelling material which the skunk can spray in the face of a predator or curious pet. While the spray is not toxic to our pets, it can cause tremendous irritation to the eyes, causing them to water and sting. Furthermore, if you think skunks smell bad, imagine how it is for our dogs and cats, whose sense of smell is up to 30 times stronger than ours! That horrible smelly material is usually sprayed right in the face of our curious pets, and the smell is so bad to them they will often vomit. Because these encounters are always a surprise, it helps to be prepared by having some products on hand to clean up your pet. Your local pet store or veterinarian has products available to clean up your pets if they are “skunked. Another option is a homemade solution made by mixing one quart of hydrogen peroxide with a half box baking soda, and 1 tsp of a grease-cutting dish soap. You must mix and use within an hour as it won’t keep. Whichever you use, remember you shouldn’t get the pet wet first: put the de-skunking material right on the pet. AVOID the eyes! If your pet will allow, you can rinse around the face with plain tap water. If your pet persistently paws or rubs at the eyes and they are red and tearing, call your veterinarian.

Porcupines have sharp quills that can imbed into your pet’s face, skin and paws. If your pet has been “quilled”, do not attempt to remove them yourself. The quills can break off under the skin, and also it is very painful for your pet. Call your veterinarian immediately for help with this problem. The longer the quills remain in the pet the more difficult they are to remove.

Baby birds are commonly found on the ground or retrieved by pets. If there is no obvious injury, the baby should be replaced in the nest or in a tree or bush as close to the nest as possible. Parents will not abandon their offspring, so even if you don’t see any adults around, leave the area so as not to frighten the parents away. Do not attempt to treat any wounds or feed the baby bird – they require specific types of food and are VERY difficult to care for. For any injuries or wounds, contact your veterinarian, who will help get the bird to a licensed rehabilitator.

Keeping your pet on a leash or in a fenced yard will greatly reduce the encounters with spring wildlife. Also remember with any wild mammal rabies virus is a concern. Rabies is always fatal to the animal, and it can be transmitted to people through saliva and bites. Vermont law requires your pet to be vaccinated for rabies, so make sure your pet is up to date on rabies vaccination, avoid handling wildlife, and report any wildlife acting in an unusual manner to the game warden or wild life officer. If you have any questions or concerns about spring wildlife and your pet, contact your veterinarian or visit the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association website at www.vtvets.org.

The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional organization of 330 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine.

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Hunting Season safety for your pets

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 17:44:00 GMT

by:Elisa Speckert- River Road Veterinary Clinic, Norwich VT
Fall is an especially beautiful time to be outside in Vermont and New Hampshire. Your dogs will be grateful for the opportunity to go on a long hike; or take your horses into the country for a ride. But fall is also hunting season, which means extra precautions are needed to ensure your pet’s safety.

For your dogs:

Go to your local feed store or pet store for blaze-orange coverage for your dog in many available items: bandanas, vests, leashes, etc. An inexpensive alternative is to fit a blaze orange t-shirt on your dog. Be sure it fits snugly and the dog is not tripping on it. Do not use white bandanas or any other white items on your dog, because the white is easily mistaken for the tail of a deer. Keep your dog on a leash while walking or hiking.

For your horses:

Keep your horses as close to your house and stables as possible. When riding, avoid know hunting areas, ride in open fields, and avoid riding during peak hunting times, such as early morning. If you do come across a hunter, inform them of your planned route. It is best to ride with a buddy. Wear a hunter orange vest and a brightly colored helmet cover. You should also get a brightly colored rump sheet for your horse.

Elisa Speckert graduated from the University of Vermont in 2008 with a BS in Animal Science. Since then she has worked as a veterinary technician at two different veterinary clinics in Vermont. She takes a special interest in client education and small animal veterinary medicine.

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Celebrating Greyhounds

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 17:33:00 GMT

Celebrating Greyhounds
Linda Evans and the Art of Aid

By Sandra Stillman Gartner

A few years ago, The Brandon Artists’ Guild of Vermont sent out a call to their members. The annual fundraiser theme for the year was “It’s Reigning Cats and Dogs”. Artist Linda Evans, a member of the guild and a proud owner of two Greyhounds, headed to the drawing board. She created an art deco picture in colored pencils that incorporated Greyhounds into the theme. The dogs were present but imbedded within the drawing.

Judy McGovern, who is the head of Greyhound Pets of America in Louisiana, has a summer home at Lake Dunmore, not far from the Brandon Artists’ Guild. She was so enthralled with Linda’s picture, that she bought the original off the wall of the gallery. With ten Greyhounds of her own, Judy was an avid dog lover like Linda and her husband Ron. She had the couple over for tea and the three of them became close friends.
McGovern said to Linda, “I love your work. If you ever do any more paintings of Greyhounds, I’ll buy the original piece”. This was the impetus that sent Evans on the road to create more Greyhound designs. McGovern continued to be an avid fan of Evans and over the years has collected numerous pictures. Evans scans the original piece into her computer before it moves to McGovern’s walls, so she can make prints for other interested art collectors.

“My two passions are Greyhounds and my art. I’m very fortunate to meld both passions together into a distinct art form,” Evans said. She has been doing art since she was three years old. The artist holds an undergraduate degree from Southern Connecticut State University in printmaking and design and was accepted into the Yale graduate studies in design.

Her mentors and lifelong influences include Anna Held Audette, famed artist and daughter of American art historian Julius Held. Another friend and mentor is David Flaharty, one of the country’s foremost ornamental plasterers. His work is in the White House in Washington, D.C. and the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum in NYC.

Once Linda and Ron made the decision to drive south for the winter from Vermont, she checked out the calendar of Greyhound adoption events along the eastern seaboard. It was her intent to use her work to draw attention to the plight of Greyhounds as well as raise money for the national Greyhound rescue organization. Evans loaded up the car with clothes, paintings and their two dogs, Leland and Emilee, snuggled in the back.
During the road trip to Florida, Linda and Ron have been privy to many stories from dog owners who attend the events where her “dog art” prints are sold. One woman lost her “heart dog” after 12 years of companionship and decided to visit the Red Rocks of Utah and hike as a way to help ease the loss. When the woman saw Linda’s piece titled “Moving Mountains” she bought it in remembrance of her pet and the healing journey she had taken out west.

Evans work doesn’t feature portraits of dogs, but focuses on architecturally structured designs that capture the anatomy and elegant form of the animal. To create her prints, Evans works with pencil, ink and colored pencils. Some prints capture the playfulness of the Greyhounds, like one titled “Inky” that shows a dog at play. Others feature botanical gardens, moving mountains, the four seasons and both visible and hidden dogs. Greyhound art appeals not only to owners of the magnificent breed but to the general public as well.

The Greyhound events are held both in formal hotels and on park grounds. There, Evans joins a group of vendors who have decided to donate a portion of their earnings to the Greyhound adoption group. Last season, Ron and Linda made a stop at Jekyll Island in Georgia where both owners and dogs literally gathered together. Evans said, “The Greyhounds don’t bark or sniff like many other breeds. Basically, the dogs just hang out with each other and they can sleep anywhere. It was quite a sight to see them at rest both in the hotel and on the lawn. They looked so regal”.

Another popular event is held Columbus Day weekend at Dewey Beach in Delaware, where thousands of dogs and their owners are present. There can be upwards of 50 vendors at an event of this size. Evans also donates pieces of her artwork for both live and on-line auctions. “It’s crucial that we continue to support the adoption of Greyhounds”, she said. “Racetracks in the Northern tier are closing down at a fast rate and sometimes as many as 300 dogs need to be placed in homes at the same time”.

Evans had the privilege of meeting Kent Roberts, a well-known Greyhound illustrator at one of these festivals. She was thrilled when Roberts purchased one of her prints for a “special occasion” gift. In addition to raising money for Greyhound adoptions, this is a time for owners to meet with like-minded people, listen to national speakers and have the “sheer enjoyment” of being in a place where their dogs are highly appreciated.
Back home in Vermont, in addition to her own artwork, Evans runs classes for groups who are interested in creating their own pieces called “By My Own Design”. At the end of a two-hour class, each participant goes home with a finished, framed piece of art. A portion of the tuition fee for these classes also goes to Greyhound adoption centers. The money that is raised for the Greyhound adoption centers is used for many purposes such as medical care, food, transportation, kennels and foster homes.

“Whether it is classroom of children or a small group of adults, the chemistry is the same. We are all challenged to make our ideas materialize into a visually satisfying expression within an environment of exploration,” she said. “When I began to market my Greyhound art, the teacher in me wanted to find a way to guide others who were interested in making their own visual work which displays the love we have for these special dogs”.
Another area where Evans uses her artwork to help out is through the Rutland Regional Medical Center in Vermont where she works with cancer patients. She offers four-week workshops to give patients a chance to utilize art as therapy. Evans is open to providing classes for different groups and is willing to do the workshops in her studio or off-site.

“As an artist, I’ve been aware that we don’t create in a vacuum. Inspiration takes many forms. Sometimes the best ideas come from when one is working with others engaged in the creative process. That is why I love to teach,” Evans said. “The opportunity to guide others in their own voice is a rare privilege, and for myself, the best art of all”.

Besides selling her art on the road, a couple represents Evans art from their home in Winter Park, Florida. They can be reached at www.Greytart.com. Evans also sells work on her own. Interested collectors or those interested in setting up a workshop, can contact her at: artontheriverstudioyahoo.com or call: (802) 773-8277.

Biography of Sandra Stillman Gartner
A former editorial assistant at Glamour magazine, Ms. Gartner’s writing has been published in such periodicals as Lady’s Circle, The Monitor, Vermont Magazine and Rutland Magazine. Several of her screenplays and poems have been published in regional and national anthologies. In Fall 2009, the book “To Life! A Celebration of Vermont Jewish Women” was published by Shires Press to accompany the DAVAR exhibit (presented by the Vermont Jewish Women’s History Project). She is one of three producing directors of Vermont Actors’ Repertory Theatre and serves on the board of the Vermont Film Commission. Ms. Gartner performs on stage, television and in film.

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Facts About Pet Homelessness

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:51:00 GMT

October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Did you know…

Only 1 out of every 10 dogs born will find a permanent home.
The main reasons animals are in shelters: owners give them up, or animal control finds them on the street.
Homeless animals outnumber homeless people 5 to 1.
3 to 4 million dogs and cats are killed every year because shelters are too full and there aren’t enough adoptive homes. Act as a publicist for your local shelter so pets can find homes. Sign up for Puppy PR.
Each year, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized because they do not get adopted.
According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2% of cats and only 15 to 20% of dogs are returned to their owners.
25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.
Over 20% of people who leave dogs in shelters adopted them from a shelter.
It’s impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the U.S. Estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. Overpopulation, due to owners letting their pets accidentally or intentionally reproduce, sees millions of these “excess” animals killed annually.
Many strays are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
www.dosomething.org

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The Story Behind the Photo

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:49:00 GMT

Dear 4 Legs & a Tail,

Am sending along a recent photo I took and will explain the story behind it.
I am a professional photographer and by any account the photograph itself is not that noteworthy from that view point. However, the story behind it is!
You can clearly see a dog’s silhouette on the surface of the rock! I was on a routine photo outing at the Blow Me Down Grange in Cornish, NH. and came across this sight. I was stunned! I kept looking at it from several angles and saw the same image. It looked exactly like my old friend Gypsy, a beautiful Chesapeake Retriever, who passed away many, many years ago. We still miss her dearly.

Gypsy wasn’t just any dog. We got her after she had her first litter of puppies from a gentleman who raised Chesapeake Bay Retrievers in northern Vermont. She was fully field trained to fetch ducks and her mother appeared on the cover of Vermont Life Magazine.

Gypsy helped us raise our two sons. When they were toddlers and wandered too close to the road, she would grab them gently by the shirt and pull them back into the yard! She was very protective of the entire family. When taking her for a walk, never needed a leash. Just voice commands to heel. When it came to swimming at the Lake she was declared the champion! She would beat all of us to the float and back every time.

I still can not get over the image on that rock! It has to be her!
Anyway, thought this would be of interest to you and your readers. Feel free to use in any manner you wish.

Sincerely,

David Nelson

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My Life with Buddy

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:47:00 GMT

Bobbe Mc Intyre

Sugar Hill , New Hampshire

It was the morning of May 20th, 2011 that Buddy died. He was 3 months shy of 12 years old and I loved him dearly. Buddy was a wild bird, a Cedar Waxwing.

Some people may say that he was “just a bird” , but to me, he was more than that. He was a friend, a companion and a member of my family.

***************

It was a warm and sunny August day in 1999 that Buddy came into my life. There had been a hurricane down south and we were getting the residual winds and rain here in New Hampshire. The sun had finally come out and my neighbor Pete, had come over on his riding mower to mow the lawn for me. I had just come back from a walk with my two dogs, Pepper and Patches, when Patches started sniffing the ground underneath the tree in the front yard. Pete was just about to mow that section and Patches would not move! He stood there until Pete and I came over to see what was going on. There on the ground were two baby birds! They must have fallen out of the nest in the tree and Patches seemed to be guarding them. I picked up both of them and brought them into the house so that Pete could continue mowing.

One of the baby birds had all his feathers and the other had hardly any. He probably just hatched not too long ago. I placed some soft fabric in the bottom of a fish tank, gave them some birdseed and water, and then went outside to see if I could find the mother bird. There on one of the branches of the front tree, was a Cedar Waxwing who seemed frantic, like it was looking for something! I felt that she was probably the mother so I went inside, brought the babies out and put them perched on the front tree. With much interest, I stood back and observed. She was indeed the mother bird and proceeded to feed the one with the feathers and totally ignored the one without. I was surprised that this mother bird did not give any attention to her other baby. Suddenly the mother and the older sibling flew off and left the other baby sitting on the tree all alone. This little bird could not fly, as he did not have his flying feathers grown in as yet. I just couldn’t leave him sitting there as prey, so I brought him back into the house.

The following weeks were good ones. This little bird proceeded to grow and started looking like a Cedar Waxwing. I would go out looking for worms, bugs and berries for him to eat. Then came the day when I felt it was time for him to leave as they normally would migrate south for the winter.

I took him outside and threw him up in the air and caught him. I did this a few times and it seemed the more we practiced, the more he understood what he was supposed to do in order to fly. He would start flapping his wings on the way down. It took a few days but he finally learned how to fly. He got it!

The day came when I was going to say goodbye to him. I had only had him for 2 weeks at this point and had gotten rather attached, however, I knew he was wild and needed to be free. I took him outside before I left for work, threw him up in the air and he took his maiden flight to a tree in the backyard. I whispered ”God Speed” and left the house.

On my way home, I was thinking of that little bird that I had nurtured and let go and was happy, but sad at the same time. The weather had changed during the day and the air was cold, damp and raining. I got home, walked out on my deck and there was that little bird shivering underneath my deck chair! I walked over to him, picked him up and put him back in the fish tank for the night.

The next day, I did the same thing. Let him go and went to work. This went on for 5 days! He would not leave! It was then that I decided he was going to live with me and because he had been my buddy for a few weeks, that was how he got his name.

My dogs, Pepper and Patches, accepted him graciously into our home and made him part of the family. The dogs would lay like bookends on the couch and Buddy would hop back and forth between each dog falling asleep on their heads while they slept. Buddy had free run of the house and would stay only on the main floor. We have a center staircase so he was able to fly around in a big circle for exercise. His favorite perch was on top of the cabinet over the refrigerator. If I didn’t know where he was, that would be the first place I’d look and would always find him.

When it was feeding time, the dog bowls would be put out in the sunroom and they would start to eat. I would normally find Buddy sitting on the rim of their bowls pecking at their food , and they allowed it! It was then that I started to think Buddy might be lacking in some nutrition so I took the moist dog food and chopped it up and gave him some every day. He loved it! This has been his basic food for most of his life. He also loved, berries (any kind) , vegetables (softened and chopped) and most of all he loved orange juice! He would hear me shaking the juice container and get all excited as he knew that whenever I poured myself a glass, I would give him some. He would sometimes sit at the edge of my glass and bob up and down to take a drink. It was fun watching him do this.

There were things that I remember him doing that were so human-like that he made you forget that he was a bird. He was a bird that acted like a dog that thought he was human!

One time, during the following summer, I was watching TV at night and had not put Buddy to bed as yet. He had been sitting on my shoulder and it got very dark. When I decided to go to bed, I realized that Buddy was still on my shoulder but he had gone inside the top of my shirt and had fallen asleep next to my neck! It was only after I had turned off the television that I realized he was there. I heard this almost cooing like he was snoring. It was so charming and wonderful to know that this little wild bird trusted me enough to fall asleep on my body. This was such a joyful moment for me.

There was another time when I could not find Buddy at all! He had been flying around the house and was not in any of the usual places. I then told Pepper and Patches to go find Buddy and they immediately went downstairs. They ended up laying down right in front of one of the bedroom doors and there was Buddy sitting on top of the door. It was the first and last time that he ventured off the main floor of the house.

There was something that Buddy did on a regular basis. He would take a deep breath, stick out his chest and ruffle his feathers. I know that all birds usually do this to let air get into their feathers, but when Buddy did this, I would call him” Fluffy Bird”! It got to the point whenever I wanted to see him do this, I would say “do Fluffy Bird” and he would! It seemed that he always responded logically to what I was saying to him which made me think that he did understand exactly what I was saying.

There was a weekend back in 2004 when my Dad came up to visit from New York. He sat down to read the paper in my sunroom and his friend, Buddy, flew in there to sit with him. Buddy ended up sitting on the top edge of the paper while Dad was reading. When Dad went to turn the page, Buddy would land on his shoulder. I actually took a picture of Buddy on his shoulder and it looks like he was whispering a secret into Dad’s ear.

As the years went by, we lost Pepper and Patches both to illness and it was just Buddy and Me. A few years later, I adopted a female Boxer name Dawn from the local kennel and she immediately saw Buddy in his cage and went into this attack mode stare! I knew that I needed to set her straight right away. It was something that she did pick up quickly and then I knew that she realized Buddy was part of this family just like her. From that moment, there was peace with these two. Dawn would lay on the floor right next to Buddy’s cage and ignore him. He was older and I no longer was able to let him out as he was flying into walls! After all, he was going on 8 years old when Dawn came into the house.

Buddy continued to be my friend, my companion, my muse. It was a good day when he ate his food, drank his water and took joy in splashing around in his bird bath. I would take him out of his cage and put him in the kitchen sink and let him splash around. As more time went by and he continued to live, I was amazed that he was still here. I now know that it was my love and care and his knowing that I cared about him, that kept him with me so long. Everyday, when I would take the cover off his cage, I would sing “good morning to you, good morning to you, good morning dear Bud-Bud, good morning to you!” He would then start to chirp and know that a new day was starting.
Since he was much older at this point, I had to take the perches out of his cage as he kept falling off of them and I worried that he would hurt himself. So his food, water and some flannel bedding were all on the bottom of his cage and he would hop around, still chirp and sing and respond to me every time I would walk into the room. I made sure he was clean, fed and happy.

On May20th,2011 I was getting ready for work and about to leave. Buddy suddenly started to screech. It was a sound that I had never heard from him before. I went over to him, picked him up and in seconds, he was gone!

*****************

Buddy was buried in the front yard underneath a weeping cherry tree with a granite brick that marks his final resting place. Inside the container I put a note: Dear Buddy, I will meet you at the Rainbow Bridge when it is my time. We will see each other again. Love you always.

*****************

This whole experience with Buddy has made me realize how very smart birds are and I have developed a new appreciation for them in our world. He may have only been “just a bird”, but he was truly my friend.

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Fish Tails

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:40:00 GMT

We’re starting to think Fall, and all the things associated with it. Many find this time of year a great one to get into a new hobby, or back into an old one. For many this means fish season. I’m not talking about going to the pond or local river to set up a pole, I’m talking about keeping fish in an aquarium.

For the extreme hobbyist every season is fish season, they’re always looking for the coolest: fish, aquarium plants, corals, etc. To the average person (who has one or two aquariums) this means cleaning it up and restocking. For the person who has just stumbled onto this hobby or is looking to get back into it, this can be a most confusing and influential time. For the new hobbyist it may seem scary. With so many things to learn, it can be overwhelming even before purchasing their first aquarium, with the good, the bad, and the myths.
Hopefully we can debunk some of the myths, and go over some up-to-date information. Just in the past 20 years, there have been innovations for fish hobbyists.

Here are some common Fish Tails/misconceptions that are out there:

Myth – I’m not sure I can successfully keep fish, so it is better if I try a fish bowl or something 5 gallons or less. Small is easier to keep up with and doesn’t cost as much, so If I can’t keep the fish alive, I didn’t lose much money.
Actually, it’s much harder to keep a smaller aquarium then it is a large one. Here’s a way to look at it: If you want to make sugar water, and you place a teaspoon of sugar into an 8oz cup of water, or a teaspoon into a gallon jug of water, which container is going to taste sweeter? Exactly. So with a larger aquarium, fish waste won’t affect it as easily, thus allowing you to keep water chemistry healthier, giving you a better chance of success. Don’t go out and buy a 100 gallon aquarium, 10 or 20 gallons is a great starter size. The added investment will increase your success rate by over 50%.

Myth – Fish only grow as large as the aquarium.
I hear this multiple times a day. This happens to be a myth with little truth to it. If you maintain proper water conditions, and the fish are eating a good diet, the fish will continue to grow. Some species will grow pretty fast in optimal conditions. Remember, the smaller the aquarium, the harder it is to keep. If you are able to keep the smaller aquarium healthy, larger species of fish will outgrow the aquarium.

Myth – Keeping an aquarium requires so much work. I will have to drain out all of the water and scrub everything down.
This is something that used to be done frequently a few decades ago. It was grueling and most people would spend many hours working on the aquarium, when they’d much rather be going to the beach, or watching the latest show on TV. This is much more work then you really need to do, and it isn’t good for the fish to go from one extreme to the other. The best way to work with your aquarium is to do smaller water changes more frequently and be consistent. So, instead of tearing it all down; every 2 to 4 weeks (depending on the type of fish or how many fish you have in your aquarium), only take out 20 – 25% of the water, putting fresh treated water back in. Use a gravel vacuum to get the water flow going into a bucket, and insert the cylinder into the gravel to remove waste and water at the same time. (For larger tanks there are systems you can hook to the sink.) When placing water back in, treat the water with a conditioner for aquariums first, and adjust PH if needed. Only taking out 20-25% often, keeps the water chemistry more stable. Once you have done it a couple of times, it might take you 15 minutes, saving time, dread and aggravation.

Myth- I bought some fish at store X and now all my fish have ich (Ick). I will never shop there again.
This is something I hear a lot, especially during spring and fall. Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) is usually caused by temperature fluctuations. A major temperature fluctuation can rear its ugly head within hours. Season changes bring the biggest changes in temperature. There are other things that can cause water to change temperature: Not having an aquarium heater; Not having the heater set high enough; When doing water changes, new water into the aquarium is much cooler/warmer than the water already in the aquarium; along with many others. That’s not to say an accident can’t happen, and a store accidently sells a fish with ich. It can happen we are all human, but in my 19+ years most of the time it isn’t the store’s fault, nor the customer’s, it just happens.

To reduce the chances of temperature fluctuation when buying a new fish:
1. Ask that your fish’s plastic container be placed in a paper bag for added insulation.
2. Place your fish’s container into a cooler to help insulate from temperature changes.
3. Acclimate your fish to the water slowly, over the course of an hour. This will help reduce stress that can also cause Ich

Myth – Keeping a saltwater aquarium is a lot of work and is difficult.
Keeping a saltwater aquarium can be almost as easy as keeping a freshwater aquarium, or you can make it much more complex. This depends on the fish, creatures, plants or corals you want to keep, as well as the equipment and size of the aquarium.
If you have any further questions, concerns, or want to know more about keeping an aquarium, go to your local Mom & Pop store, they can be the best source of information.

DJ Nelson has worked in the pet industry for almost two decades and is the owner of AquaRealm Aquarium & Pets in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He works with Reptiles, Birds, Small Animals, Fresh/Saltwater fish, and Dog & Cat Nutrition. Since proper care is constantly changing, educating customers about their pets is the most important. WWW.aquarealmaquarium.com and Facebook

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A Dog has Its Day

Tue, 27 May 2014 18:44:00 GMT

Amos Esty

Originally published in Dartmouth Medicine. Reprinted with permission from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Office of Communications and Marketing.

In the early fall of 2011, the Orndorff family received some bad news. Eleven-year-old Jenny, a lively, adorable Schnauzer, had cancer.

The outlook was bleak. Jenny’s veterinarian had spotted a large, rapidly growing tumor in her mouth. The vet removed as much of the tumor as possible, but he warned Jenny’s owners, Sam and Sandra Orndorff, that it was likely that some cancer cells remained.

Unfortunately, he was right. Before long, the tumor had regrown and threatened to spread to Jenny’s nose and surrounding bones. “We were really shocked,” Sandra says.

The Orndorffs traveled to see specialists in upstate New York, but again the news was disheartening. Surgery was one option, but to be sure that all of the tumor was resected, the surgeon would have to remove part of Jenny’s nose, leaving her disfigured. Radiation was another option, but the specialists said that it would take a course of 16 treatments, and even then there was no guarantee that the cancer wouldn’t return.

Photo CaptionJack Hoopes talks with Sam and Sandra Orndorff about Jenny’s progress.

The Orndorffs were at a loss. “I panicked,” Sandra says. “I’m very emotional when it comes to her.”

Then Jenny’s vet told the Orndorffs about another possibility. Led by P. Jack Hoopes, D.V.M., Ph.D., a Geisel professor of surgery and of medicine, researchers at Geisel and Dartmouth-Hitchcock were starting a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of an experimental treatment using magnetic nanoparticles. The trial would enroll dogs who had developed specific kinds of oral tumors, and Jenny’s cancer fit the description the researchers were looking for.

The Orndorffs could do nothing, accepting that Jenny had already had a long and happy life. They could choose surgery or radiation, which might rid Jenny of cancer at least temporarily but would come with a cost in quality of life. Or they could allow researchers to test an unproven treatment on Jenny, a dog they had doted on since she was just a few weeks old, with no guarantee that it would work.

The decision was easy. Jenny became the first dog enrolled in the trial. “It was just perfect timing,” Sandra says.

The first meeting between Hoopes and the Orndorffs still sticks in Sandra’s mind. Jenny was her usual energetic self. “You’d never think she was sick, would you?” Sandra asked Hoopes. “She’s not sick,” Hoopes replied. “She just has a tumor.”

A longtime cancer researcher who is trained in veterinary medicine, Hoopes understood how important Jenny is to the Orndorffs. “No parent wants to think their kid is part of an experiment,” he says. So he took the time to explain the research and the trial to them.

Caption- Jack Hoopes prepares Jenny for treatment with nanoparticles. Coils under the table holding Jenny emit a strong magnetic field that interacts with nanoparticles injected into the tumor in Jenny’s mouth, causing the particles to heat up and destroy the tumor cells.

The goal of the trial is to test the effectiveness and safety of the nanoparticle treatment. There are three arms. In one, the dogs receive treatment only with the nanoparticles. In a second, they are treated only with radiation. In a third, they receive both the nanoparticle treatment and a reduced dose of radiation. Jenny was placed in this last group.

It’s hard to conceive of exactly how small the nanoparticles are. As a comparison, Hoopes notes that about a million human cells could fit on the head of a pin, and each of those cells could hold as many as half a million nanoparticles.

The nanoparticles are made of iron oxide (a combination of iron and oxygen), and they are magnetic. When exposed to the right magnetic field, they heat up. Scientists have long known that heat can be used to kill cells. But the trick—as with every cancer treatment—is finding a way to kill tumor cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. “It’s that specificity that people are looking for,” Hoopes says. “That’s what I think the whole field of cancer research is looking for.”

By injecting the nanoparticles directly into the tumor, the researchers could target cancer cells, hopefully without affecting the normal cells surrounding the tumor. The particles appear to be completely safe in the doses used. Only when exposed to a magnetic field do they become lethal. And that is what makes Hoopes so excited about this trial.

To deliver the treatment, Hoopes injected an inky liquid containing the nanoparticles directly into the tumor. After waiting about an hour for the particles to spread throughout the tumor, Jenny’s head was placed on a small table, under which was a magnetic induction coil. The coil delivers a magnetic field that interacts with the nanoparticles, causing them to heat up. Then, in Jenny’s case, this treatment is followed by multiple doses of radiation over the next two weeks.

Hoopes says that because spontaneous tumors in dogs, such as Jenny’s tumor, develop naturally and are similar in size and cell number to human tumors, they tend to be a better model than rodents for studying the development and treatment of cancer in humans. Within the next year, Hoopes plans to begin a trial in women with breast cancer who are good candidates for mastectomy, bringing the treatment that much closer to reaching the general population.

In the long term, Hoopes has even bigger plans. He is working with researchers at Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering to develop antibodies that could be attached to the nanoparticles. By creating antibodies that interact specifically with cancer cells, the nanoparticles could be delivered to tiny pockets of cancer cells hidden throughout the body. Often it is these metastases, not the primary tumor, that prove most dangerous. Ideally, the nanoparticles and antibodies could be injected into the bloodstream, allowing them to travel around the body and locate pockets of cancer cells, killing them before they grow large enough to be deadly.

The opening of the Advanced Surgery Center (AdSC) this summer will add to Hoopes’s ability to conduct this research (see below for more on the AdSC). Getting good images of the nanoparticles inside a tumor has proved to be difficult. Because the nanoparticles are magnetic, Hoopes can’t use conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to track their movement. He is collaborating with a researcher at the University of Minnesota who has developed an algorithm that allows MRI to be used to see the nanoparticles, but at the moment Hoopes doesn’t have access to an MRI machine that can be programmed with that algorithm and that is large enough to use with Jenny. The AdSC, however, will have such a machine.

It’s just mind-boggling.
It’s like science fiction.

“We think this will be a huge advance for us,” Hoopes says. “This ability to locate and quantify the nanoparticles is very important.”

Given how much is left to learn, Hoopes thinks of the research as being fairly early in its development. But that’s not how it seems to the Orndorffs. “It’s just mind-boggling,” Sam says. “It’s like science fiction.”

Given Jenny’s progress over the past year, the Orndorffs’ enthusiasm is understandable. Within two weeks of her second treatment, the tumor had virtually disappeared. And according to Sandra, the only side effect was slight grogginess for an hour or so after waking from the anesthesia.

More than a year after her first treatment, Jenny is still as energetic as ever. Sandra is thankful. “We feel blessed,” she says. “We’re very glad she’s part of the program.”

Hoopes is thankful as well. Jenny’s participation has helped him and his colleagues learn more about the use of nanoparticles and validated their faith in the direction of the research. “This is the future of cancer therapy,” Hoopes says

Nanoparticle treatment is just one of the many advances made thanks in part to the money raised through The Prouty. This annual event has made an enormous impact on patient care and strides to cure cancer. Support a participant at The Prouty on July 12 with your donation.

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Cat Facts

Tue, 27 May 2014 18:29:00 GMT

For the ailurophile(cat lover) in you!

1. There are more than 500 million domestic cats in the world, with 33 different breeds.

2. Cats “paw” or “knead” (repeatedly treading on a spot – sometimes its owner) to mark their territory. Cats sweat through the bottom of their paws and rub off the sweat as a marking mechanism.

3. Cat urine glows in the dark when a black light shines on it. If you think your cat or kitten has had an accident in your home, use a black light to find the mishap.

4. The print on a cat’s nose has a unique ridged pattern, like a human fingerprint.

5. 25% of cat owners admit to blow drying their cat’s hair after a bath.

6. If your cat is near you, and her tail is quivering, this is the greatest expression of love your cat can give you.

7. If your cat is thrashing its tail, she is in a bad mood – time for you to keep your distance!

8. Only domestic cats hold their tails straight up while walking. Wild cats hold their tails horizontally or tucked between their legs while walking.

9. During her productive life, one female cat could have more than 100 kittens. A single pair of cats and their kittens can produce as many as 420,000 kittens in just 7 years.

10. Sir Isaac Newton, discoverer of the principles of gravity, also invented the cat door.

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A Moment With Lassie

Tue, 27 May 2014 18:27:00 GMT

A Moment with a 4 Legs & a Tail Celebrity

Every year Hollywood rolls out the red carpet to honor their best. It was 70 years ago when Lassie Comes Home was nominated for an Oscar, and though the iconic picture didn’t win the award for Best Cinematography in 1944, she did win hearts for generations to come. 4 Legs & a Tail recently caught up with the film and TV star.

Lassie – Let’s stop right there. Nice intro, but I’m not a “she”. (The fact is, every Lassie has been a male.)

4LT – That’s interesting since I recall many references to you being a girl. Did that bother you?

Lassie- It was fine on the set, but brutal at the kennel. You know how sensitive teenage dogs can be. Right! Actually, the original Lassie was a female, but she freaked out during an action scene. I was the trainer, Rudd Weatherwax’s, collie and he gave me the stunt and I kept the role. Subsequently, males were used because our coats stay thicker in the summer.

4LT – For those unfamiliar with the movie, a couple falls on hard times, and are might to sell their collie to some rich guy, and the couple’s kid is heartbroken. The rich guy takes Lassie away where his grand-daughter senses Lassies unhappiness and arranges her/his escape. Along the way, you face many perils from violent storms to dog catchers, but you also meet some wonderful folks, until you are finally reunited with your family. Is that pretty much the story?

Lassie- You got it! The role of the grand-daughter was played by a young Elizabeth Taylor who only made 100 bucks a week while I was pulling down $250.

4LT- Was there any animosity due to the income disparity?

Lassie- She was always cool with it. She said I made her a star, which could be true since the part was originally played by Maria Flynn.

4LT- Who?

Lassie- Exactly!

4LT- There were seven sequels to the movie. What made you leave the silver screen?

Lassie- It wasn’t my decision. MGM felt they had squeezed all they could and sold the rights. Big mistake! I went on for another 19 years with 17 of them on CBS.

4LT- I thinks everyone remembers Lassie from TV.

Lassie- Here’s a good one the next time you’re playing trivia. Who was the original mom in the Lassie TV series?

4LT – June Lockhart. I win!

Lassie- Loser! It was actually Cloris Leachman. She left the show after a couple of years. Some say she didn’t like playing second fiddle to a dog. Other accounts said she dissed Campbell Soup, one of our major sponsors at the time. Either way, June was much nicer. I think Leachman was a cat person.

4LT- They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Lassie Come Home hit the big screen more than 70 years ago which makes you at least 490 in dog years. What new tricks do you still have in you?

Lassie- When I was a pup, my biggest vise was chasing motorcycles. These days, I’m too old to run down a Harley, but I wouldn’t mind cruising the interstate on the back of a V-Twin.

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Acupuncture in Animals

Tue, 27 May 2014 13:40:00 GMT

Acupuncture is a healing art that has been used for centuries in animals and dates back to ancient China. The principals behind acupuncture can be a bit abstract and hard to understand, but modern research has proven it works. Acupuncture is used in animals for pain relief, gastro-intestinal issues, anti-inflammatory effects, and behavioral problems to name just a few of the things it can be used for.

So how does it work? Acupuncture involves stimulation of certain points along a meridian. Meridians are considered channels that energy known as Qi flows through. These meridians are all over the body. There are 14 meridians in animals. Along these meridians are acupoints where Qi gathers. Modern research has shown that when these acupoints are dissected out there is a large gathering of nerve endings and other vessels. When these acupoints are stimulated with a needle it causes endorphins (these make us feel happy, give you a rush, and can help with pain) to be released. The goal of acupuncture is to stimulate the acupoints, usually with a needle, and cause an endorphin release.

Now that we’re through the boring stuff, you probably want to know what to expect at a session. There are over 280 commonly used points in animals. Acupuncture sessions typically last about 45-60 minutes. How frequently they occur depends on the problem being treated and the animal. For a new problem it is recommended that 3-5 sessions are done to see if acupuncture is going to help that particular patient. Depending on the severity of the problem we may do a couple of sessions a week or every other week in the beginning. Most patients start out on an every other week schedule. After the initial series of appointments, follow-up can range from as needed to every 4-6 weeks depending on the problem and patient.

Acupuncture has been shown to be very effective in helping with arthritis in animals. It can also help with seizures, behavioral problems, skin problems, disc problems, vomiting diarrhea, constipation, asthma, amongst other problems. Acupuncture can be used alone or in combination with traditional medicine. Acupuncture should not be used for animals with infectious diseases, open wounds, or in pregnant animals.

Acupuncture doesn’t work for everything, but can be very beneficial in helping many pets with problems when used in combination with traditional medicine. Talk to your veterinarian to see if acupuncture may help your pet.

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Starling God

Tue, 27 May 2014 13:38:00 GMT

“In an era when entire ecosystems the world over are under unprecedented assault, the acclaimed children’s and adults’ author Tanya Sousa has written the perfect story for our times. Part fable, part natural history, and beautifully written throughout, THE STARLING GOD places animals, rather than humans, at the center of the world. With great energy, scientific exactitude, imagination, and reverence for all living things, Sousa reveals how, in nature, there is indeed much more in the world than is dreamt of. Adults and children alike will love THE STARLING GOD equally.”

~Novelist Howard Frank Mosher about The Starling God by Tanya Sousa

I wrote The Starling God after falling in love with the birds who nested in the eaves of my first house. As the sun rose each summer day, the starlings landed on the tin roof outside my bedroom window and scrambled to stay put – at the same time making incredible sounds. There were warbles and clicks and something that sounded an awful lot like a ringing phone…

Later, I discovered starlings are “invasive”. They were transported from Europe by human hands, so that all of the birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays would live in North America. It was only a small flock, but from those few came all of the starlings here now. They succeeded against all odds.

The fact that they are “invasive” makes some people cranky about them. One woman told me, “They came from Europe. They’re European starlings and they would be fine if they stayed there – in Europe.” I had to look away. How quickly we forget where many of us came from not long ago! My mother came directly from Germany. My father’s grandparents came from Portugal. The woman I spoke to had a last name that suggested Irish heritage. It seemed to me that starlings and humans have a lot in common.

The more I learned about starlings, the more I knew I had to write about them. The first time I saw something called a “murmuration,” I was breathless. A murmuration is a huge flock of starlings moving in an aerial ballet, like they are painting images in the sky. Here’s a link for you to enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRNqhi2ka9k. Art? Instinct? Why do they do this in Europe and not here? My curiosity and imagination kept building and nudging me to write.

The final push was when I learned how well starlings can mimic – and how intelligent they are. Since they’re an invasive species, it’s not illegal to keep them as pets. Although I would never suggest any animal be taken from the wild and caged, there are times that orphans or injured starlings are found, nurtured and then can’t be released for various reasons. I’ve gotten to know a number of people who have such birds in their homes. Many of these rescued birds have an impressive vocabulary. Many of them problem solve, and some even have learned to use tools. Here’s a link to a talking starling named Weewoo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VZYG00_qvE. As for using tools, filmmaker Richard Smedley documents his starling, “Chur” using a foil ball (with no training) to transport food from his food tray to his water bowl so he may enjoy a moist meal as he prefers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=490knry73b4.

All of this helped me to realize there’s more to the animals that share this planet with us than we know or understand. Each creature is amazing in its own way, and even the ones we consider “invasive” or “nuisance” animals are perhaps no more invasive, messy, etc. than we tend to be. With that in mind, a novel was born. “The Starling God” is told from the point of view of birds, with none other than a starling as the hero of the tale. My dedication in the book reads, “For the animals who speak although we don’t always hear.” I invite you to truly watch and listen closely when you’re around other living things. What you notice will amaze you. – Tanya Sousa

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Route Rules (tips for hiking with dogs)

Tue, 27 May 2014 13:35:00 GMT

Route Rules: Tips for Proper Dog Etiquette on the Hiking Trail

Kate Hoehn

As a Vermonter, I like to take advantage of the few months of warm weather we get. One of my favorite things to do this time of year is hike with my dog. Hiking with your dog not only means that you are responsible for your own actions, but for your dog’s actions as well. This means we must be the epitome of respectful and responsible trail users and prevent actions that could lead to additional trail closures or restrictions for dogs.

Hikers should keep their dogs on a leash at all times or under strict voice command. While some hikers may be dog fans and want to pet your dog in passing, others may not, so don’t leave the decision up to your dog. If under strict voice command and not on a leash, your dog should heel when told, stay at heel, and refrain from barking. In general, the hiker moving uphill has the right away, but I like to yield to others either way if the other if I’m the one with the dog. When meeting bicyclists or runners, the hiker should always yield since it is easier for the hiker to step off of the trail.

I have yet to pass horseback riders on trails while hiking, but if that situation does arise, the dog owner must not only yield to the person and their horse, but also must make sure the dog stays calm and does not bark or move towards the horse. Some horses are easily spooked so it is the dog owner’s responsibility to keep the dog quiet and under control.

To keep trails clear for others, it is useful to carry a small plastic spade with you while hiking with your dog. That way, if your dog decides to make the trail its bathroom, you can dig a small hole to bury the dog’s feces. This is more convenient than picking up waste with a plastic bag and having to carry it until you reach a trash can.

These are just a few helpful tips to make hiking with your dog more enjoyable for you and other trail users. Most importantly, just use common sense and simple courtesy.

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Lucy’s House

Tue, 27 May 2014 13:34:00 GMT

Written by: Carlin Goodwin

Lucy’s House for the Prevention of Homeless Pets

Like many in the Vermont/New Hampshire area, and indeed all across the nation, I am not ignorant of the financial difficulties facing many of our neighbors in these troubled economic times. What I will admit to being ignorant to is the consideration of just how far reaching these needs have extended. Ignorant until, however, I stumbled across a website about a non-profit organization called Lucy’s House for the Prevention of Homeless Pets, a Pet Food Bank located in Essex Junction, VT.

Lucy’s House is an organization assembled in order to help pet owners and the friends they can’t afford to lose, but at times find they can’t always afford to keep. Caring for a pet can be very expensive, and can be especially draining for those whom deal with a low income, medical issues, or the elderly, living on a fixed budget. Lucy’s House helps to assuage these costs as often as they can, in order to help families stay together, and not have to be split up, sending their beloved animal friends to the shelter, or simply abandoning them to fend for themselves, which is emotionally and mentally draining for both pet and owner alike.

As I eagerly checked my email for a message from Jan Ellis-Clements, Executive Director for the Board of Directors of Lucy’s House, I received a message, one large paragraph, apologizing for the lateness of her reply. She was detained by an emergency vet visit for a woman with a puppy who had ingested a small object and needed emergency surgery. She explained that she was pre-occupied with setting up a medical appointment and trying to figure out the payment for the procedure, as the medical funding they receive was not due for another month. Luckily through a partnership with a local vet as well as the understanding of the veterinarian in practice, they were able to make arrangements to save the puppy, and I’m sure, the happy and relieved puppy-parent as well. I was taken aback by Ms. Ellis-Clements politeness in thinking that she should apologize to me, as I was simply staring at a laptop screen, while she was helping to save a life, possibly two. But considering all of the good works that Lucy’s does, kindness seems to be a trait they carry in excess.

Besides helping with emergency medical bills and delivering 12,000 pounds of food a month to food banks and meals on wheels programs, Lucy’s also offers support in dog training and pet planning for possible imminent relocation , and information on Trap-Neuter-Release programs for feral cat population control in order to cut down the homeless animal population explosion in the area. There are multiple ways that we as a community can help to support Lucy’s House, including donations of money, pet food, homemade dog biscuits and dog and cat toys.

A lot of people all over are making a lot of sacrifices in how they live and their quality of life through no fault of their own. And we donate what we can; canned foods, water bottles, send texts to various phone numbers in order to help out where we can. But to make a big difference in the stomachs AND hearts of many, it’s as easy as dropping off a bag of kibble. How much do we have to sacrifice to survive in today’s economic climate to keep our families together? Thanks to the big hearts and sharp minds at Lucy’s House, not more than we can bear.

Donations can be sent to:

Lucy’s House for the Prevention of Homeless Pets, Inc.
Attention: Executive Director Jan Ellis-Clements
21 Foster Road
Essex Junction, VT 05452

You can also call: (802) 879-0898 or find them on Facebook to learn about more opportunities to help, or to volunteer your time.

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A Dog Named Fenway

Tue, 27 May 2014 13:25:00 GMT

It takes a village to raise a child- But it took Red Sox Nation to help raise a Canine Companions for Independence Assistance Dog named Fenway! For the last 5 years, Canine Companions for Independence, a national non-profit that provides highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities has slowly warmed their way into the hearts of Red Sox Nation.

Fenway the dog has led a charmed life! His name was chosen before he was even born, and a path to greatness has been his destiny! Today Fenway is a fully certified Canine Companions for Independence Assistance dog. He’s a 3 year old cross between a black lab and a golden retriever, who is making an amazing difference in the life of 9 year old Brendan Gillespie of Long Island, New York.

But you can say Fenway’s journey began many years before, back in 2001. And not on the hallowed grounds of Fenway Park, but on the left coast…San Diego to be exact. That’s when Padres President and CEO Larry Lucchino was first introduced to Canine

Companions for Independence, the nation’s oldest and largest assistance dog organization that provides highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities all at no charge. Larry and his wife Stacey were moved by the amazing difference an assistance dog can make in the life of a person with disabilities. On command, these dogs can open and close doors, turn on and off light switches, and they can pick up dropped items as small as a dime and place them on the lap of a person using a wheelchair. Soon a dog named Nagal, who was a released from the program for medical reasons, was adopted by Larry and Stacey. Two years later, Nagal was joined by Vernell, another black lab/golden retriever cross, and the Lucchino’s appreciation and commitment to Canine Companions was cemented for the future.

Fast forward to 2011, and the wildly successful decade that the Lucchino’s have brought to the Red Sox, including two World Series trophies (soon to be three)! By this time, Stacey Lucchino serves on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Region of Canine Companions for Independence, and their hearts belong to a tiny lab/golden retriever mix with the magic name of Fenway. Volunteer Puppy Raisers are really the backbone of Canine Companions, and Fenway’s Puppy Raisers are Mary Ellen and Thomas Fydenkevez of Sunderland, Massachusetts. Fenway is in good hands. The Fydenkevez’s are experienced puppy raisers (currently raising their 4th Canine Companions puppy Dasher) and Fenway begins the journey to becoming an assistance dog by learning basic commands like sit, stay and shake. But one of the main tasks of a puppy raiser is to provide socialization for the dogs, and this is where the Lucchino’s and the Red Sox step up to the plate. Fenway becomes a second home to Fenway, with his own dog bed in the owner’s box, and regular greetings from players, managers and even fans chanted his name! Fenway also becomes the darling of Red Sox nation, with his own blog (fenwaythedog.com) that is soon the top blog in all of Major League Baseball! When Fenway turned 18 months old, it was time for him to say goodbye to the Fydenkevez’s, the Lucchino’s, and the legions of family and friends at Fenway Park. It was time to see if Fenway had what it takes to become a full-fledged working assistance dog. Fenway was returned to the Canine Companions Northeast Regional headquarters in New York, where he worked for six months with the organizations advanced instructors learning over 50 different commands. Fenway worked hard, and all his earlier training and socialization skills taught lovingly by the Lucchino’s and the Fydenkevez’s paid off. In August of 2013, Fenway was matched with 8 year old Brendan Gillespie of Massapequa, New York.

Brendan has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. His mother Jen says her son doesn’t usually play on sports teams, or go to camps…places where people his age usually meet friends. But Fenway has changed all of that. For his graduation ceremony after completing two weeks of Team Training with Fenway, the Boston Red Sox sent their ambassador Wally the Green Monster to New York to help hand out the graduation certificates to the class. (It must be noted here that Wally received a thunderous ovation despite being in a sea of Yankee fans!)

Brendan’s mom, Jen Gillespie says Fenway is helping her son open up socially, bridging the gap between Brendan and other children his age who might not understand his condition.

“Fenway is part of our family, now,” says Jen Gillespie. “He is helping Brendan be more confident, and improving his social interactions,” adding that Fenway is helping Brendan attend sporting events, something that was previously difficult for him to sit through. “This is truly an immeasurable gift. Fenway is a big part of our journey.” “I go everywhere with him,” Brendan adds.

In 2011, as plans for the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park started shaping up, the Red Sox included Canine Companions as one of their 100 Acts of Kindness. A unique partnership was formed with the Red Sox Foundation, Canine Companions for Independence, Eukanuba, and the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. Eukanuba donated healthy dog treats that were sold by the Girl Scouts at every home game in a special 100th Anniversary package. The campaign was based around a 10 year old Canine Companions graduate named Lillian Ellmore of Lexington, Massachusetts, who was featured on billboards around the metro Boston area. Lillian was embraced by Sox players and fans alike, and took the field with her assistance dog Frontier to help throw out the first pitch at the 100th anniversary game.

Throughout their 102 year history, volumes have been written about the Boston Red Sox heroic exploits on the playing field. But in a quiet home in Massapequa, New York, an amazing dog named Fenway is equally heroic to a nine year old boy.
Canine Companions for Independence is the largest non-profit provider of trained assistance dogs with five regional training centers across the country. Established in 1975, Canine Companions provides highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities and is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. There is no charge for the dog, its training and on-going follow-up services. For more information, visit cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.

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Doggy Diarrhea

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:52:00 GMT

Spring is here and with the warmer temperatures we also start to see many dogs that either are vomiting, have diarrhea or both. A few years ago I think I figured out why we seem to see this epidemic of GI problems in the spring. My theory is that all the birds, mice, chipmunks and anything else that has died over the winter in addition to various other animal feces that had been frozen for the winter is now thawed. For many dogs this is just a treat they can’t resist! Many times these tasty little treats are badly decomposed and contain many different forms of pathogenic bacteria. Also, all of the ponds and lakes thaw and dogs start drinking out of them again. Finally, there are several diseases that affect puppies and are more easily transmitted between dogs in the spring when they are outside and mingling with other dogs more

One of the parasites that commonly causes diarrhea is call Giardia. It is also known as “beaver fever” and is the reason that you are told not to drink the water from lakes and rivers when you are camping. While not all dogs that drink from these sources will get sick, some may and occasionally it can lead to severe and even life-threatening diarrhea and vomiting. There was a vaccine for the prevention of Giardia but in my experience it didn’t work very well and has been taken off the market. Giardia can be prevented by commercial filters used for camping or drinking only bottled or tap water. With some dogs though, it is impossible to prevent ingestion as they are swimming dogs and will be ingesting the water no matter what. In these cases I recommend just monitoring your dog. As I said, most dogs will not have any problems.

Cats can also have most of these same problems but fortunately cats seem to have them less often. I think it is because its true what they say about cats being finicky eaters.

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Miracles and Happy Endings

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 15:07:00 GMT

Maggie’s Story and the Reason why you never give up! Last Saturday evening a Man named Peter from West Lebanon NH Contacted GSDR. He was concerned about a dog that he had come across in the woods, he was able to snap a few cell phone photos of her but didn’t want to spook her out of the area so he let her go about her business. I asked him to please forward us the photos as we were curious about what dog it could be.

As soon as I received the photos I thought on my I think that is Maggie Missing from VT Since May! I forwarded the photos to a couple of other people who also thought it looked like her. I gave her rescue a call to let them know that it was a great possibility that Maggie was living in the Woods across the CT river in NH.

I Got the Question how can a 11 Year old dog survive these elements? We all know to well these dogs can survive and now how to survive and have a will to survive. Peter Contacted GSDR once again with some awesome trail camera photos of her (He makes his own trail cameras)! These photos 100% confirmed it was Miss Maggie and she was doing very well for herself.

Well this evening GSDR got the news that Liz from White River Animal Rescue was able to get Miss Maggie and she is now safe after being missing for 10 months. We hope that Maggie’s Amazing Journey Gives all our Long Lost dog families hope and they never give up and continue their search for their beloved four-legged family members.

We would like to Thank everyone that created Maggie’s Village especially Peter Abdu for all his help. Without him going out on a hike, and going back to set up food stations and a camera, Maggie would still be out in the woods waiting for someone to find her.

Welcome Home Maggie you are a true Survivor and give a lot of families renewed hope.
Maggie Missing Since 5-22-13 from VT
FOUND SAFE in the Woods of West Lebanon NH on 2-15-14.

2/17/2014 update regarding Maggie’s status –
“Maggie’s family is opting to not take her back so please, please let WRAR know if anyone is interested in having Maggie as an addition to their family! We are not asking an adoption fee.”

No judging please – Maggie’s former family may have realized that they cannot give her the security that is required to keep Maggie safely at home. Or their situation may have changed since May 2013 (ie adopted another dog who would not accept a “sibling”).

Anyone interested in finding out more about Maggie should contact White River Animal Rescue
https://www.facebook.com/ …/White-River…/ 184709754911873

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Spring Means Baby Chicks

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:49:00 GMT

As the days grow longer and the sap starts to run, we look forward to the arrival of perhaps one of the most beloved symbols of spring: the arrival of the baby chicks! In my mind there are very few things that signify the coming of the season than the “peep, peep, peep” of those fuzzy little hatchlings. It’s a sentiment I’ve had since I was a child, helping to raise our own family flock. And to this day, it still kindles a sense of hope, of new beginnings, and of eager anticipation for the season to come. Nothing announces the coming of spring quite as boldly and eagerly as the baby chicks.

Raising chickens is a tradition that has been practiced for thousands of years, primarily because as far as raising livestock for food goes, it is relatively simple and quite practical. In spite of the fact that today there are fewer commercial farming operations, there has been a dramatic resurgence of subsistence poultry-raising in recent years. This is the direct result of families becoming much more aware of the risks associated with processed, mass-marketed foods and the converse health benefits of growing their own. And because rearing a flock is relatively easy, parents see it as a wonderful opportunity to teach their children some valuable life lessons. There are certainly a variety of merits to raising and keeping poultry, and it is truly an activity that both young and old can enjoy together.

Getting started raising chickens in your own backyard is fairly easy and can be quite rewarding. In fact, if you are new to raising poultry, West Lebanon Feed & Supply even offers free poultry-raising workshops specifically designed to teach the basics to folks who are just starting out. We are happy to discuss your goals and supply you with information on poultry health and nutrition, breed selection, housing requirements, flock protection, and more. Most people find that, beyond the initial investment of purchasing the birds and supplies, raising poultry is a relatively low-cost activity that provides a fun and educational experience for the entire family.

Although nothing can replace the practical advice of a local expert, there is certainly a wealth of information about raising poultry available in books and on the internet. Before placing their first order of birds from us, many families will spend time researching the various breeds that fit their needs, looking at color and variety, as well as temperament, egg production, and hardiness in New England weather. It’s always such a gratifying experience to have a grade-school child step confidently up to our counter, with a parent in tow, and explain that, after doing loads of research, they’ve decided on exactly what to order to achieve the “best” flock. Of course everyone has their own opinions about which birds are superior, but I love seeing the way that raising poultry can bring a family together to share in something special, just like it did when I was a kid.

West Lebanon Feed & Supply has been the Upper Valley’s home for all things poultry since 1926 and our customers have long looked to us for expert advice on raising and keeping birds. Here are just a few of the most common questions we get asked on a regular basis:

Why do I need to keep my baby chicks indoors?
When you pick up your birds they are typically only a few days old. This is a very delicate stage of life and there are several things that must be done in order to provide the best chance for survival. We recommend using a brooder lamp to provide adequate heat, medicated starter feed and a vitamin & electrolyte water supplement to fight off infection, and lots of supervision in order to get them beyond that fragile period. For more specific details on caring for baby chicks, please ask us.

Do you sell organic poultry feed?
Yes, for those who wish to feed organic to their flock, we do stock organic poultry feeds.

Does my flock need a rooster?
Although more information may be required depending on your specific goals, the simple answer is no, you do not need a rooster in order for hens to provide unfertilized eggs.

How many eggs will I get?
On average, a hen at peak egg production will lay one egg approximately every twenty-five hours, or roughly an egg a day.

Why do you require a minimum number of birds for my flock?
Although state requirements may have recently changed, we still believe that chickens are instinctively flock birds and thrive in numbers. Our experience indicates that the birds simply do better when they are part of a flock and therefore, we recommend raising them in a flock environment. It is primarily for the overall health and well-being of the birds that we have maintained our minimum quantity policy.

I’m getting more eggs than I need. What should I do?
Donate your surplus farm-fresh eggs to feed local hungry families! We launched a wonderful program in 2009 called “Share the Harvest” and, in partnership with Willing Hands, our participants have aided in the distribution of tens of thousands of fresh eggs to hungry families. But the need is still great and we are always looking for more help to provide wonderful, nutritious eggs to those who can use them. Ask us for details and learn how you can help “Share the Harvest”.

Of course this is merely a sampling of the wide variety of questions we get asked on a daily basis during the busy poultry season. West Lebanon Feed & Supply typically sells approximately 10,000 birds annually, and we’ve continued to see dramatic increases as a growing number of people “flock” to the practice of becoming more self-sustaining. If you have any questions, are interested in placing your order for chickens, turkeys, ducks, or geese this season, or would like to sign up for one of our free poultry workshops, we encourage you to contact us. We’re always here to help!

For more information on West Lebanon Feed & Supply poultry ordering or the Share the Harvest program, please contact us at (603) 298-8600 or visit us online at www.westlebanonsupply.com.

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Good bye Winter

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:40:00 GMT

Is your dog ready for spring? 4 Legs & a Tail has some helpful tips to ensure your furry friends are primed to spring forward when warmer weather arrives.
“At our house the arrival of spring is right up at the top, in terms of things we look forward to every year,” says Cindy Dunston Quirk, owner and developer of Scout & Zoe’s an online store and dog info resource. “Scout and Zoe can’t wait to shake off their winter blues, get out of the house and start enjoying the warmer weather. But like any other transition during the year, it’s a good idea to make sure they’re ready!”

Here’s a quick checklist from the experts to consider, before warmer weather arrives:

Ensure that flea and tick protection is up to date. Whatever preventatives you choose, it’s important to get a head start as temperatures begin to rise. As always, check your pet thoroughly for fleas and ticks after playing outdoors or hiking in the woods!
Make sure that all your dog’s vaccinations are up-to-date, especially rabies.
Say no to heartworms! Spring is the time to begin administering heartworm preventatives if your pet is not already on a year-round medication plan. Consult your veterinarian.
Make sure that your pet first aid kit is up to date. Dogs are different from people, so they need their own kind of first aid when injuries and mishaps arise. For more information go to www.4LegsAndaTail.com or take a CPR class.
Make sure all of your spring planting is pet-friendly. Some of the flowering plants, bulbs and shrubs that homeowners plant in the spring can be toxic to pets. Verify that all of your plants won’t endanger your dog by consulting your local lawn and garden professional.
Give your furry friend a good spring cleaning! As soon as temperatures start to rise, consider taking a trip to the groomer for a thorough wash and trim. This will help shake loose the thicker winter coat and have them looking and smelling great in order to show off for their friends around town and at the park!
Clean up their gear. Spring cleaning time is also a great time to clean up and possibly replace your dog’s bedding, toys, bowls, placemats, collar, leash and grooming tools.

It’s said that, “Springtime turns a man’s fancy into love.” If true, man’s best friend certainly has a passion for a southern breeze and longer days. Maybe it’s the feeling of mud in their paws or the simple fact that the snow is receding or gone.

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First Aid For Pets

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:31:00 GMT

“Anyone with a fun-loving and active pet in the family knows that injuries are bound to happen, whether it’s just a minor boo boo or a situation requiring an urgent trip to the vet,” says Cindy Dunston Quirk, owner and founder of Scout & Zoes. “Having a few basic first aid supplies on hand, and knowing how to use them, is really a no-brainer. The worst thing you can do is wait until disaster strikes before realizing how important it is to have a first aid kit for your pet.”

First aid kits for dogs are available for sale from a number of different companies and online stores. But putting together a homemade kit by assembling a few necessary items works just as well.

Items to include in your basic home first aid kit include:

Some items of a more advanced nature to consider for your first aid kit:

While having supplies on hand is important, perhaps the most important thing to have in your home first aid kit is knowledge. Experts recommend taking a first aid course offered in your community. To find one, the best place to start is the local Red Cross.

Dr. Ben Ealing, medical director at VCA Northwood Animal Hospital in Anderson, Ind., says that while first aid kits are valuable, they are no substitute for the expert attention your dog will get from the veterinarian.

“A well-stocked first aid kit will allow the pet owner to provide immediate, and sometimes life-saving, nursing care for the pet until they can locate and transport their pet to a veterinary facility,” Ealing says. “Having the first aid kit is only one half of properly caring for your injured pet. The pet owner also needs to become familiar with the items and how they are properly used on a dog or cat. Just because it works on a person, does not mean that it will work in the same way on a pet. This is especially critical with ANY type of medication that an owner may have with them. Never give a medication to a pet without consulting with a veterinarian first.”

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Weight Management in Cats

Fri, 22 Nov 2013 20:49:00 GMT

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT IN CATS

By Stephanie Carter
River Road Veterinary Clinic, Norwich, VT
www.rrvetclinic.com

Obesity, or the state of being seriously heavy, is a common condition in cats today. Cats’ lifestyles have changed dramatically since they became domesticated. In the wild, cats spent the majority of their time hunting for food and very little time eating. Now, most cats are not required to hunt for their food, and spend more time eating than exercising. The decrease in exercise along with over-consumption of food is the leading causes of feline obesity. Some cats are predisposed to obesity because of their personality, breed, or disease state.

Obese cats show specific physical characteristics that differ from the normal feline shape. A cat with an ideal weight will be well proportioned. His waist will be distinguishable from his ribs. His ribs should be noticeable, and have a small amount of fat covering them. As a cat becomes heavy, the ribs are less noticeable, and the fat covering the ribs increases. It becomes more difficult to be able to tell the waist apart from the ribs, and the belly takes on a round shape. When a cat becomes obese, her ribs are no longer noticeable, and the fat covering her ribs becomes thick. She becomes heavy over her entire body and her waist is no longer distinguishable. Her belly is very round.

Obese cats are more likely than slimmer cats to develop health problems. Overweight cats are prone to developing type II diabetes. Cats with type II diabetes usually requires a twice a day treatment with insulin injections. Obese cats are also more likely to have arthritis, liver disease, and breathing and circulatory troubles.

Cats diagnosed with obesity are generally put on a “diet” to decrease their weight. It is very important to consult with a veterinarian when starting a weight loss program for your cat. Cats should lose weight gradually, and need to be monitored during the process. Cats that lose weight too quickly can develop life-threatening hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disorder). Hepatic lipidosis occurs when the liver accumulates an excessive amount of fat. This fat accumulation can lead to problems such as liver dysfunction, vomiting, muscular deterioration, and brain function impairment. Symptoms include weakness, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of eyes), vomiting, excessive salivation, and depression. If left untreated, hepatic lipidosis will lead to further metabolic dysfunction and death. It is very important to transition the food over to diet food gradually in order to avoid developing this disease. Cats may actually starve themselves to death rather than eat a new food, so the transitioning process is imperative.

There are several obstacles to successful weight loss in cats. The first obstacle is awareness. In order to begin a weight loss program, the owner must be aware of the fact that there is a weight issue. Once the owner is aware of the problem, a solution plan can be made. The second obstacle to successful weight loss is being a cat in a multiple cat household where each cat is at a different weight. The first step in this situation is to change the feeding behavior of the household. The cats should be taught to eat two meals a day, rather than letting them have access to food all day. This will make monitoring food intake much easier. After that, generally, the quantity of food can be decreased by 10 percent to produce weight loss in the overweight cat without negatively impacting the slimmer cats. Next, cats that require a special diet will need special consideration when administering a weight loss plan.

Finally, owners may be faced with the difficulty of trying to decrease the weight of a cat that is always hungry. Usually, weight loss can be achieved by decreasing the food consumption by 10 percent. Measure the amount of food provided (provide more than the cat will eat), then measure the amount of food left at the end of the day. Subtract the amount left from the amount given (to find out how much was actually consumed). It is this final figure that you will decrease by 10 percent. With obese cats that are always hungry, it is sometimes advised to change their diet to either M/D diet food or DM food. These foods are higher in protein than carbohydrates and help to decrease hunger. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you as to how to safely proceed for your cat’s unique situation.

Contact your Veterinarian if your pet:

1)    Won’t eat her diet food.
2)    Is acting weak or depressed
3)    Is abnormally hyper or agitated
4)    Or has a change in over-all health.

River Road Veterinary Clinic is operated by Dr. Christine Pinello, a native of Bethel, VT. She started the practice in 1985.

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A Dropped Food Cornucopia

Fri, 22 Nov 2013 15:44:00 GMT

A Dropped Food Cornucopia

By Mark Carlson
The Tale Wagging the Dog, San Diego Pets November 2012

President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared Thanksgiving a National Holiday in 1941. The history of Thanksgiving is well known and some of it is even true. Whether or not the Pilgrims really sat with the Indians and celebrated the bounty of the Earth to take them through the winter is not as important as what it means to us today.

First, it’s a time for family and togetherness, of being grateful for the blessings we have. For many, it’s the beginning of the Christmas Season, the day before the madness of shopping begins at 12:01 a.m. at the department stores. Then there is the tradition of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York and the raucous revelry during the football game. Good food, drink, laughter, music, that’s Thanksgiving in 21st Century America.

But to the furry quadrupeds that scamper around our feet all that Thursday morning and afternoon it’s something else.

Beg-A-Palooza! A Dropped Food Cornucopia, a Smell-a-Thon. Yes, our canine friends are awaiting that special day but not for the football. They want the dropped Cheetos and Pringles. They don’t care about the Miss Piggy float in the Macy’s Parade, they’re looking longingly at the tray of cold-cuts and cheese on the coffee table. They’re watching with hungry eyes at the mountains of food being carried to the dining room.

This isn’t an article to admonish those who give their dogs ‘people food,’ nor is it a cautionary warning about their health. Responsible dog owners are just that. Responsible. I myself have tried to keep my dog Musket from eating anything he shouldn’t have, but darn it, HE’S TOO FAST FOR ME!

Musket, as some readers know, is a retired Guide Dog. And you may know, from reading my book ‘Confessions of a Guide Dog’ that he has some peculiar quirks. Most…no, ALL of them have to do with food.

Musket, because he was a well-trained and disciplined Guide Dog, never ever stole food from a low table. He behaved. Yet he wasn’t too proud to beg. When my wife Jane and I sat down for dinner, Musket began ‘Watching the tennis match.’ Back and forth between Jane and me he watched every spoonful, every laden fork, every single time we chewed. For the most part we were able to ignore him, but it’s like ignoring a bullet fired at you. Sooner or later you’re going to notice it.

The one ironclad rule (he wrote it) is The five-nanosecond rule: If food dropped on the floor remains longer than the prescribed five nanoseconds it is automatically his and he may eat it.’

For those of you who don’t watch ‘Big Bang Theory’ a nanosecond is one- billionth of a second. So if I drop a piece of ham on the floor I have to move pretty fast. But here’s the catch: I’m blind.

Musket always waited the prescribed five nanoseconds, I’ll give him that. He’s not stupid. He wrote that rule because he knew I wouldn’t be able to prevent it.

So on Thanksgiving, when Jane was making dinner for our guests, such as her parents, she had a furry Hoover vacuum cleaner following her around like a panting shadow.

She knew about the rule but for some reason SHE didn’t worry about it. She even encouraged him! “Musket, come here, Mommy dropped a bit of stuffing!”

What’s a blind husband to do? So I just set the table (incorrectly of course) and pulled the wine corks. Then Jane’s family and guests arrived, warmly greeted by us and enthusiastically by Musket. He knew that the arrival of Nanny, Pop-pop and our friends meant one thing: he could beg around every seat at the dining table.

Once we were all seated among the platters of succulent roast turkey, steaming mashed potatoes, savory gravy, aromatic stuffing, crispy vegetables, warm biscuits and a dozen other gastronomic temptations, the serving began. You all know the drill, but add a hungry dog to the equation. I swear I always fed him before we sat down but for some reason he seemed to have forgotten he’d eaten.

From me to Jane, to Nanny to Pop-pop to our neighbor to the next guest and the next, he made the rounds. His circuit took about three minutes. By the time he was back at his starting position, we each had forgotten he’d just had a bit of turkey or a carrot slice. Note I said ‘a bit.’ However, multiply ‘a bit’ by five or six or eight people and pretty soon it wasn’t only the turkey that was stuffed. The two people most guilty of this were Jane’s parents, who had NO willpower when it came to Musket. Musket just gave Nanny that big, soft, brown-eyed gaze of hungry longing and she melted faster than Blue Bonnet on the mashed potatoes. I’m surprised she didn’t put a plate on the floor with a full serving of everything.

Dad’s short-term memory was shaky so Musket got a helping every single time he went to Pop-pop. No wonder he loved them so much. They were putty in his paws.

I’ll admit it. I’m trying to sound stern, but really, I never minded his begging. It became part of the Thanksgiving tradition at Chez Carlson. You readers know what I mean. We all love our dogs and they love us. Thanksgiving isn’t just about football or pigging out on cold cuts. It’s so we can feel grateful for what we have. And for the last ten years, Jane and I have been blessed with the furry love of a wonderful dog.

It works for me because I don’t like football.

Reprinted from The Tale Wagging the Dog, San Diego Pets November 2012

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Winter Horse Care Considerations

Fri, 22 Nov 2013 15:38:00 GMT

Winter Horse Care Considerations
Heather K. Hoyns ,DVM. Evergreen Equine of VT, Reading, VT

Winter is just around the corner. You want to give your horse the best care, so here are some winter horse care tips to help

Water: One of the most important things you can do for your horse this winter is to provide him with liquid water, ideally warm. Horses are more prone to colic, especially impaction colic, during the winter and supplying plentiful water helps to keep your horse hydrated and helps to prevent colic. Horses will drink up to 30% more water if it is warm, so it makes good sense to provide warmed water for your horse. Heated stock tanks or heated water buckets are convenient ways to provide ‘round-the-clock warm water for your horse. If you don’t have access to electricity for water, bring warm water to your horse at least twice a day. In either case, wrapping your bucket or tank with Tek-foil (an insulated, foil-covered bubble wrap, available in most hardware stores) will help to keep the water warmer longer. While horses will eat some snow, relying on this it to provide your horse’s water is not a good idea. They don’t consume enough, and warming it to body temperature requires a lot of energy.

Feed (Hay/Grain): This is the fuel to keep your horse warm and healthy. Hay should be the major portion of his feed. While many people increase their horse’s grain in the winter, it is actually the hay portion of his diet that should be increased. The digestion of hay produces more heat (which keeps him warmer) than the digestion of grain. Providing a bit of extra hay, especially in a slow-feeder hay bag, also keeps him occupied longer and mimics grazing, so your horses is less likely to chew on your barn or develop stomach ulcers. This is a good time to assess your hay supply. Do you have enough to get your horse through until May/June when you’ll get next year’s hay? If you don’t store all of your winter’s hay in your barn, have you arranged for a steady hay supply for this winter and into the spring? If not, check now with your hay supplier. Don’t wait until April when all the hay is gone. Look closely at your horse’s body condition. Is he too fat or too thin? Does he need more (or less!) hay or grain? If you are concerned about your horse’s body condition, or have specific feeding questions, you should consult your horse’s veterinarian.

Hoof Care: Now is a good time to decide if your horse will be barefoot or shod this winter. If shod, it may be time to get our horse “sharp-shod”, either with borium or studs, and consider snow pads. We’ve been fond of the “Hoof grips” rim pads. They allow the sole to be open, but (usually) keep snow from balling up in the foot. If your horse is to be barefoot, try not to pull his shoes or trim him just before the ground freezes hard to avoid sore, bruised feet. The wet fall weather we’ve had recently has led to a larger number of hoof abscesses, as well as an increase in thrush. Daily cleaning & occasional thrush medication application can help keep thrush at bay. Remember, that even though you are riding less, your horse still needs to have his feet trimmed during the winter too.

Vaccinations: Winter can be cold and flu season for horses , too (just like it is for us). They are often moved to barns where there are more horses, the doors are kept closed, and dust and moisture levels rise. This can lead to coughs and flu. We strongly recommend that horses (especially those that are boarded, are old or are very young) receive a vaccination against Flu and Rhino in the late fall/early winter.

Body/Blankets: Blanketing horses is probably one of the most contentious winter issues. While many horses can go without a blanket most of the time (providing they have shelter from the wind/rain), every horse should at least have a waterproof rain sheet available. Healthy horses with a full winter coat and access to a shed generally do not require a blanket under most circumstances. Their insulating coats will keep the snow on top, and keep them dry underneath. But a cold, driving rain when temperatures hover around freezing will penetrate their coats, so this would be a good time to wear a rain sheet. For horses in work throughout the winter, clipping part or all of their coat will allow them to sweat less and cool out more quickly. Clipped horses do need to be blanketed, but don’t overdo it. They need to be warm, but not to the point of sweating. They will probably need a lighter blanket when inside than when turned out. A lighter blanket will be needed for warmer weather, a heavier one, or layered blankets, for colder days. Old horses may also benefit from winter blanketing. If your horse is blanketed, have you looked at your horse’s blankets recently? Are they clean, repaired & ready to go for the winter? Do they fit your horse and not rub at the withers or point of shoulder? Whether your horses is blanketed or not, it is important to regularly groom your horse, and check for any skin conditions such as dermatopholis (aka “rain rot”).

Lameness Issues: If your horse is lame, why wait until spring to see if he “has healed”? Wouldn’t it be great to get the lameness issue diagnosed and treated now, rather than waiting until spring/summer riding & competing?

Deworming: Don’t forget about parasite control during the fall/winter. Late fall is a good time to deworm for tapeworms with a product containing Praziquantel. It is also a good time to deworm for bots and strongyles so they don’t overwinter in your horse. Pinworms, while not dangerous, occasionally is a problem of stabled horses; increased tail rubbing can be a sign that your horse has pinworms. Call your veterinarian if you have any questions about winter fecal egg counts or which dewormer would be best for your horse now.

After graduating Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Animal Science from Cook College, Rutgers University, with a special interest in Nutrition, Dr. Hoyns then went on to Cornell University, where she received her DVM degree in 1981. She practiced Equine Medicine in New Jersey for 5 years before relocating to Vermont in 1986.

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Oh The Weather

Fri, 22 Nov 2013 15:32:00 GMT

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful… For Pets, Too!

By M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM
North Bennington, Vermont

Temperatures are dropping, and with the colder weather, it’s time to think about the dangers this presents for our pets, both indoors and outdoors only ones. By taking a few common sense precautions, you can help reduce the cold weather dangers to your pets.

Although some pets are conditioned to cold weather, veterinary experts agree that you should bring outdoor pets indoors if the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Puppies, kittens, and short haired pets should not be left outside for extended periods anytime the temperature goes below 40 degrees. For pets with long hair, proper grooming is essential to help them maintain a layer of warming air within their coat. Pets who are heavily matted cannot keep themselves warm.

If your pet must stay outdoors, be sure to provide shelter for your pet: they can suffer from frostbite and hypothermia just like we do. A pet’s outdoor house must have at least three enclosed sides, be elevated off the ground, and contain generous amounts of bedding such as straw or hay. In cold weather, bigger is not always better. A house just big enough for your pet will warm up faster and retain heat better than something that is too big. Your outdoor pet will need access to fresh water that isn’t frozen. Use heated water bowls and replenish them frequently.

Cats love to warm up underneath car hoods. If cats have access to your car outdoors or in your garage, be sure to pound on the hood of the car prior to starting it. Many cats are killed or grievously injured by fan belts and moving engine parts. Another danger that cars present to pets in cold weather is antifreeze poisoning. If you suspect your pet has consumed any antifreeze at all, call your veterinarian immediately.

Consider keeping dogs on a leash when they go outside: Each winter we see cases of dogs that have gone off exploring “frozen” lakes or streams and fall through the ice into the frigid water.

Inside the house, monitor all pets around wood-burning stoves, fireplaces, and space heaters. These can cause severe burns. Younger pets romping through the house can knock objects into these heat sources and cause a fire, so make sure to “pet-proof” the areas around them. With the colder darker months, many people like to use candles in the home. Make sure to place them where pets (especially cats) do not have access. They can not only tip over the candle, they can set their fur on fire leading to serious burns.

Our pets can suffer from arthritis in cold weather, just like humans do and it is just as painful for them. If you are unsure if your pet has arthritis, want to know ways to keep your older pets comfortable during the cold weather, or if you have questions about cold weather issues with your pets, talk to your veterinarian.

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Gun Dogs – Planning ahead for Hunting Season

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 21:51:00 GMT

Gun Dogs – Planning ahead for Hunting Season
by John Hayes

With only a few days left before we get our faithful k-9 companions out in the field, there are still many things we should do. A complete physical is smart business and should be done every year. We want to make sure our dogs are sound in every way before hunting season starts. Make sure you have a stool sample analyzed as every dog can have parasites. Weight is another concern. If your dog has enjoyed too many summer cookouts it is time to trim him down. On the other hand if your dog has a high metabolism, increase the rations or go to a high protein formula of dog food, in order to get him in condition for the upcoming season.

A point to remember in preparing your gun dog for the season is; just because you have Saturday and Sunday to go hunting, don’t think that your dog can come off the couch, sleeping 16 hours a day into your gung-ho regimen of hunting the whole weekend. This train of thought is deadly to a gun dog. The alternative? Go with a friend and rotate dogs. Be in tune with your dog and the possible injuries that come from fatigue and over work. When you start hunting in September your upland dog can’t take 8 to 10 hours of 70 and 80 degrees. Go early in the AM for a few hours, take a break and go back for a few hours in the afternoon.

Dogs do not teach other dogs good habits, they only make other dogs misbehave and not pay attention to you. The only one who teaches dogs good and expected behaviors (as opposed to natural behaviors) is a person. Remember this if you are hunting with your friend who wants to run two dogs at once. There are very few people who have dogs with the maturity, training level, and experience to hunt with other dogs competently and successfully. Hunt the dogs one at a time and this will give them the break they need to avoid injuries.

Another point to remember is that today there are drinks for dogs that are along the same line as sports drinks. I have not yet used them, but my clients have said that these drinks make a difference.

If you have a nervous dog that has a hard time keeping weight on, take rice cakes and cover them with Karo syrup and put them in a baggie in your vest. Bagels and cream cheese are great for this application as well.

Most importantly, use common sense. I have friends who hunt little covers a bit close to the highway, when I ask them if they think it is dangerous they say, “Ya, but there is always a bird or two under that apple tree.” Or there are those who hunt the dogs in old farms with barbed wire everywhere or old dumps with sharp and broken glass and metal. These situations are open invitations to injuries. I always get the calls when a client or a friend’s dog has sliced his pad or had to get 20 stitches across the chest, or worse has gotten run over or killed. DON’T TAKE UNNECESSARY CHANCES!

In the early season when it is dry I like to hunt where there is water, the dogs do better and the birds seem to be nearby. We are all guilty of going to the same old spots. This is the time to be adventurous and to explore. Take your dog and go for walks, look for new covers or marshes that hold ducks. Remember, places don’t hold birds or duck forever. Beaver ponds get old and are abandoned; orchards become overgrown or turned into house lots.

A common misconception is that grouse are always around the apple trees. Remember that the apple is only a minor food source for grouse and for a very short part of the year. Early in the season look around areas where there are berries. Try some new spots and you may be surprised.

Another subject many people tend not to think about is etiquette and sportsmanship. Be respectful to other hunters, landowners, and others you are sharing the woods with. If someone is parked at a spot you want to go to, let them hunt it and you can go to another spot. Also, when hunting leave some birds, if you shoot a bird or two, move on to another cover. It seems the people who complain about no birds want to shoot every bird they see.

Today more and more land is being posted. September is a great time to go around and meet some of these land owners (without a shotgun in your hand), introduce yourself, tell them where you live, what you are doing, what vehicle you drive, and ask permission to use their land. People are a lot more accepting of hunters on their land if they know who they are and if they leave the land as they found it. Don’t carry only your trophy birds from the woods, but pick up empty cans and wrappers you may come across. Someone will appreciate it.

So many people call me and want to know where to go hunting. No, I am not going to tell you my hunting spots. However, there are over 100,000 acres of land in wildlife management areas that you have paid for with license dollars. Find out where they are and start using them. No, they are not going to have an X to mark the spot for birds and waterfowl, but after all we are enjoying the sport we call Hunting.

Good Luck and Great Hunting.
John Hayes owns Kirby Mountain Sporting Dogs in East Burke VT, where he has bred sporting dogs and trained all breeds since 1990.

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Common Questions about Kennel Cough

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 21:31:00 GMT

Common Questions about Kennel Cough

Dr. Rachel Morgan – BEVS, Burlington, VT

1.) What is the underlying cause of “kennel cough”?

Kennel cough, or infectious tracheobronchitis, is a general phrase that can refer to a number of underlying causes. While many people use the term “kennel cough” to refer to respiratory infections caused by the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica, there are a multitude of viruses and bacterial agents that can cause a dog to develop a cough. If your dog begins coughing, it is important to have a physical exam performed by your regular veterinarian to rule out any other underlying causes.

2.) My dog was fully vaccinated and still contracted kennel cough—how could this happen?

While Bordetella vaccinations offer protection against infections caused by the bacteria, they cannot prevent 100% of infections, and they cannot offer immunity against other bacterial or viral causes of infectious tracheobronchitis. Despite its shortcomings, there is evidence that the Bordetella vaccine can help decrease the overall number and severity of infections. A naturally occurring infection does not provide immunity against future infections.

3.) How can I tell the difference between kennel cough and canine influenza?

Definitive identification of the underlying cause requires sending samples from an infected patient’s nose and throat to a diagnostic laboratory. In cases where symptoms appear mild, additional testing is often not performed. However, in cases where the dog is lethargic, has a fever or lack of appetite, your veterinarian may recommend additional diagnostics such as blood work, chest X-rays and more samples.

4.) My dog has not spent time in a boarding kennel—how could he have kennel cough?

Many causes of respiratory infections are extremely contagious, and dogs can become exposed by close contact with another infected dog in a variety of settings including dog parks, daycare facilities and training classes. These facilities attempt to limit the spread of infection by requiring proof of vaccination and directing owners of animals with these symptoms to keep their dogs at home.

5.) Why are Bordetella and other respiratory infections so contagious?

Many viruses and bacteria like B. bronchiseptica prefer to establish themselves within the lining of a dog’s airway. The bacteria or virus is then released into the air each time an animal coughs, producing a source of infection for other animals. As a result, any dog with a suspected respiratory infection should be kept away from other dogs for at least one week after all symptoms have completely resolved.

6.) If my dog is exposed to an animal with kennel cough, how long will it take him or her to develop symptoms? What symptoms should I watch out for?

The incubation period ranges from 2-14 days. The most common clinical signs include the abrupt onset of a dry, hacking cough that often ends with a retching noise. Some animals may also experience fever, nasal discharge, lack of appetite and lethargy. Although there is the chance that a mild respiratory infection may become more serious, most infections are typically self limiting and show as a mild cough that lasts 1-2 weeks. However, even if your animal’s symptoms are mild it is important to schedule a physical examination with your regular veterinarian.

7.) Are respiratory infections like Bordetella and Canine Influenza transmissible to humans or other pets, other than dogs?

These infections are strains that are specific to dogs, and cannot be passed on to humans, felines or other non canine pets.

8.) My dog’s cough worsened even after being placed on oral antibiotics—why would this happen?

Coughing can become a vicious cycle even in patients with a mild infection. Coughing is a result of inflammation caused by the actions of a viral or bacterial infection. However, the action of coughing can also lead to additional local irritation and inflammation. If you feel your dog’s episodes of coughing are frequent and severe enough, that they interfere with eating, drinking and sleeping, speak to your regular veterinarian. Ask whether or not a cough suppressant should be prescribed. Respiratory infections often need time to run their course, and it is not unusual for patients to have a pronounced cough for 1-2 weeks even with antibiotic therapy. During this time, it is important to keep your veterinarian updated as to how your dog is doing at home, in regards to appetite and energy. If you see changes in these areas, or if your dog seems to have any difficulty breathing comfortably, seek prompt medical attention.

9.) Is there a vaccine available? How often should my dog be vaccinated against kennel cough?

There are currently injectable, intranasal and oral forms of the vaccine against Bordetella bronchiseptica available. According to the vaccination guidelines established by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the oral or intranasal form can be given as early as 8 weeks of age and can be boostered 2-4 weeks later. The injectable form is typically given as early as 8 weeks of age, with a booster given 4 weeks later. It is recommended that adult dogs that might be exposed to at-risk environments be vaccinated every 6-12 months.

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PUREBREDS AND MUTTS – WHERE TO ADOPT

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 16:56:00 GMT

PUREBREDS AND MUTTS – WHERE TO ADOPT
Patricia Jauch

There are plenty of homeless dogs and cats in need of a new and forever home, but the trick is to unite each animal with a loving owner. Shelters and breed rescue groups can be your best resources in your search efforts for a companion animal. If you are willing to settle for instant love, regardless of appearance, lineage, etc., a shelter can provide you with an adoptable pet. If your desires are more specific, i.e., if you have your heart set on a specific breed, then you may want to check the numerous rescue organizations available.

At times, shelters have purebred cats and dogs that have been surrendered by their owners, because of unrealistic expectations regarding how much energy, finances, and time, being a responsible pet owner takes. Matching your needs with their inventory may take time, but patience can reward you with a companion animal that will suit your preferences. There may be a waiting list for a particular type of animal. Your specific request may not coincide with the animals that are currently available. Many shelters network with others in the vicinity and may be able to locate an animal to fit your description.

When you have made the decision to adopt, contact the shelter or rescue group and pay a visit. Make the effort to see the animals that are in need of a new and forever home. Be willing to adapt your focus based on the pets you see, recognizing that they need a good home, the longer they stay isolated from someone to love, the less enjoyable their lives will be.

Be aware that fees vary, but generally are much lower than the cost from pet stores or breeders. Factored into the fee will be immunizations, specialized veterinary care that the animal may have required, spay/neuter costs, and food and shelter for the time that the animal was in their care.

Somewhere out there is a lovable cat or dog, puppy or kitten, in desperate need of a permanent home that will be the perfect companion animal for you. All it takes is the time and effort to make the connection – and to make it permanent. CARE enough to adopt a pet and provide it with a new and forever home.

Patricia Jauch is devoted to promoting animal welfare in the NEK. She works closely with Caledonia Animal Rescue Inc. in St. Johnsbury, VT www.caledoniaanimalrescue.com/ Pat also writes a regular pet column in the Caledonian Record Newspaper.

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Management of Pain and Arthritis in Older Pets

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 16:54:00 GMT

Management of Pain and Arthritis in Older Pets
Jonit Barsky, DVM, CCRT- Vermont Integrative Veterinary Associates, Waterbury Center, VT

“Buffy won’t do the stairs anymore.” “Fred can’t jump onto the counter to get to his food bowl.” “I have to help Oscar get into the car.” None of us enjoy witnessing the signs that our pets are getting older and not able to do things that once came easily. With advances in modern medicine, dogs and cats are living longer, but with that longevity comes arthritis and other chronic pain disorders. Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of chronic pain in our older pets, and is thought to involve around 20% of the canine population and around 10% of the feline population.

As our pets get older, the cartilage that lines the surfaces of their joints begins to deteriorate. When cells die, they release enzymes that cause inflammation of the joint capsule and production of excessive joint fluid. Extra bony spurs (osteophytes) develop, the joint space narrows, and the bones themselves begin to change, adding to the pain and lameness. Many of these changes may be seen on X-rays. This discomfort will lead to reduced usage of the limb and overall inactivity, which causes muscle atrophy.

Unfortunately, when less motion occurs at the joint, the more degeneration and pain will occur, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of disuse, stiffness, weakness, and pain. The most effective way to combat the cycle of osteoarthritis is to target the pain. Less pain leads to more mobility and comfort, which then slows the progression of the disease.

Conformation (body shape, symmetry, and composition) can play a major role in the development of degenerative joint disease in younger animals. Responsible breeding and the use of Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) certification to evaluate joints of prospective breeding animals are critical in minimizing the risk of hip and elbow dysplasia, which leads to arthritis. Secondly, feeding a high-quality diet throughout life and maintaining optimal lean body weight are also crucial. If your cat or dog is overweight, a healthy weight reduction plan is often the MOST important step you can take to increase joint comfort and prevent further disease.

The best results are achieved by working with your veterinarian to develop a customized plan to target your pet’s specific issues. An integrative, multimodal therapy regime can maximize your pets comfort and minimize side effects. Many of the most useful pain management techniques are based in non-pharmaceutical methods.Not only can use of non-pharmacologic techniques help to manage pain, but they can also allow lower doses of traditional medications to be used, which is safer on the pet’s body (and your wallet) in the long term.

Around the house: Provide well-padded bedding away from drafty areas. Carpeted steps or ramps to get on and off of furniture can help. Ramps can also be used outside instead of steps. Nonskid flooring (yoga mats are easily cleanable and movable) wherever surfaces are slippery is also very helpful.

Massage: Many arthritic pets appreciate massages, which stimulate blood flow to atrophying muscles. Certified veterinary massage therapists are available in most areas of the country; many are willing to demonstrate techniques to owners. Warm compresses over sore joints can also be soothing, but always test the temperature first to avoid injury to your pet’s delicate skin.

Supplementation: Countless joint supplements are available to promote healthy cartilage and joint health. These contain varying combinations of glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green-lipped mussel, omega-3 fatty acids, and other cartilage boosting substances.

Exercise: Maintaining mobility with reasonable exercise is important regardless of a pet’s age and the extent of the arthritis. Non-weight–bearing exercise— swimming, for example—can be an excellent tool. Look for a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner or Therapist (CCRP or CCRT) for help with designing an appropriate exercise program.

Complementary therapies: Many arthritic pets can be made more comfortable and more mobile by acupuncture. It is important to note however, that the response to acupuncture is not as immediate as the response to drugs. We recommend three weekly sessions before assessing the response.

Laser: The therapeutic laser is a newer form of treatment that stimulates blood flow to tissues and can greatly improve arthritic conditions.

Pharmaceuticals: When it comes to drugs, there are several options. Adequan (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) injections are considered the gold standard for treating arthritis and other degenerative joint diseases in dogs and cats. This compound provides the body with the building blocks of cartilage that it needs to assist in repairing its own tissues. Pain medications like Tramadol, Gabapentin, and Amantadine are very effective drugs at targeting the nervous system, altering the transmission and strength of pain signals, especially in the cases of nerve pain.

If none of the above provides sufficient relief, one of the veterinary NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can also be effective. While these drugs are highly effective at reducing inflammation and pain, the potential side effects are numerous; and can be unpredictable and severe.

With these tools, we can support fit, structurally sound pets through their golden years. We can work towards long and comfortable lives for our beloved companions even in the face of chronic joint disease; getting Buffy to walk up the stairs, Fred jumping back onto the counter, and Oscar jumping into the car again.

Jonit Barsky, DVM, CCRT, a graduate of Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine has a special interest in surgery, sports medicine, and pain management. She is certified in canine rehabilitation therapy and pursuing advanced training in acupuncture. She enjoys kayaking, hiking, and winter sports with her husband and two Alaskan Malamutes; Kanu and Kayak.

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Dear God

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 16:42:00 GMT

Dear God:

Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could and so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought he had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, “To Meredith” in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it; inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, “When a Pet Dies.” Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away. Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and send it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find. I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

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Flea and Tick Prevention

Tue, 28 May 2013 15:54:00 GMT

Flea and Tick Prevention
What Works and Why it’s Important
Dr. John Eustis, DVM- Orchard Veterinary Hospital, S. Burlington

Fleas. They’re a nuisance that gets into your home, bites your pet and you, cause annoying allergies, but they don’t generally transmit diseases. Ticks are MORE than a nuisance. They can transmit Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and other nasty diseases we will talk about later. How do you get rid of them? It is much easier to prevent them than get rid of them. Spot-on topicals, pills, collars, shampoos, sprays; the list goes on and on. They all advertise that they are the best but are they safe for my pet? Are they safe for me? Are they safe for my kids?

These are the questions that should go through your head when confronted by the myriad of flea and tick products that are now available. It seems like every few months some new type of flea and tick product comes out. Even veterinarians have trouble deciding which is best and we are constantly being bombarded with information about all the new offerings. Basically, you can boil it down to three questions about the product: Is it effective? Is it safe? Is it easy to use? Answer “yes” to all these questions and you’ve found your product.

Collars, shampoos and sprays: Do they work? Yes, for a short time. Are they easy to use? No. Are they safe? NO! These products are commonly made with something called organophosphates (OP’s) such as chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, naled, tetrachlorvinphos, diazinon and malathion. In overdoses, OPs can kill people and pets. Even with normal use of flea-control products containing OPs, pets and children may be in danger.

Pills: Do they work? Yes, but only against fleas and only against fleas after they have bitten your pet. Are they safe? Yes. Are they easy to use? Yes, but some of them have to be given daily which might make them not so easy to use.

Spot-on topicals: Do they work? Yes, if you buy a good quality product and follow the directions. Unfortunately, at present there are no good products for cats that kill both ticks and fleas. There are great ones for fleas and there is one very good one for ticks but there are none that I know of that get both. Luckily, cats are not prone to getting Lyme disease and since most are good groomers they can take care of the ticks themselves most of the time. Are they easy to use? Yes. Are they safe? Yes, if you buy a good quality product. Unfortunately there are products in the supermarket, pet shop and on the internet that are advertised as being “just like the products your veterinarian sells”. Most are NOT!! Many of these products are made with OP’s and can be very, very toxic to both your pets and you. I strongly urge you NOT to use these products. This is one of those instances where you absolutely get what you pay for.

Now why is getting rid of ticks so important? It’s true that Vermont and New Hampshire never had many ticks until the last few years, but we definitely have them now! Several tick varieties include Lone Star, American Dog, Black Legged/Deer, and Brown Dog ticks. There is even a Fisher tick. Each is a potential disease-infected parasite! According to the Vermont Lyme Network, “If you, your dog, or your cat is bit by a tick in Vermont, the chances are from 20% to 50% that that tick is carrying Lyme disease.”

Ticks are here, they are going to stay here and they are going to transmit some pretty nasty diseases to both us and our pets. In addition to Lyme disease ticks also can be carrying Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis. What you need to know is what each of these diseases looks like in your pet. The most common symptoms for Lyme disease are lameness and high fever. What we call a “shifting leg lameness” means that the dog could be lame on his right front leg yesterday but today is lame on his left hind leg. High fevers usually cause them to be lethargic and not want to eat. Lyme disease can also cause a severe kidney disease that you would observe as very frequent urination and drinking a large amount of water.

The initial symptoms of Ehrlichiosis can be depression, loss of appetite, fever, loss of stamina, weight loss, eye and nasal discharges, difficulty breathing, swollen glands and limbs. The more advanced stages of Ehrlichiosis can cause severe bleeding, including bleeding from the nose, mouth and eyes, pale gums due to anemia, weight loss, abdominal tenderness and neurological problems. Also, like Lyme disease, there can be lameness involving one or more limbs, muscular stiffness, difficulty standing up and joint swelling and pain.

Symptoms of Anaplasmosis include fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and a reluctance to move due to pain in multiple joints. This disease is most commonly diagnosed in the fall season when the transmitting tick is most active but Anaplasmosis can be seen at any time.

All of these diseases have many symptoms in common but the most important commonality is they are only transmitted by ticks. Spot-on type flea and tick preventative purchased from your veterinarian is the most effective way to stop ticks. Vaccinating your dog for Lyme disease is also highly recommended. Please see your veterinarian for the preventatives before you need a cure.

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Say Cheeze!

Tue, 28 May 2013 10:59:00 GMT

Say Cheeze!
Lucas deSousa, Lucas deSousa Photography. West Bolton, VT

t 4 Legs & a Tail, we receive hundreds of pet pictures and many have made it into the magazine. They are all wonderful, but not every picture achieves its full potential. Pets, unlike humans, do not understand what we are trying to do and won’t just pose for the camera! Here are 9 tips that will help you get the most out of your photo sessions.
1. Use Natural Light
If possible, always use natural light when taking your pet’s picture. Avoid flash, as a flash burst can not only cause red-eye, but also frighten the animal. Instead, try to go outside, or if that is not possible, use a room well-lit by a large window.
2. Keep the Eyes Sharp
Having sharp eyes is important in any kind of portrait photography. As they say, “Eyes are the Window to the Soul,” and pet’s eyes can be very expressive. So make sure to focus on your pet’s eyes and keep the tack sharp. If you use a SLR or DSLR style camera place the focus dot on the eyes to gain a sharper in-focus image.
3. Go to Them
Your pet should be at ease and feel comfortable, invite them to come to you. It is most important to get down to their level. Show us the way they see the world. Try not to stay hidden behind the camera, as some pets will lose interest if they can’t see your face.
4. Give Value to their Character
You know your pet better than anyone else. A successful picture is one that conveys the character of its subject. If you have a lazy cat, show him yawning. If your animal is the playful type, show him in action performing his favorite trick.
5. Go Macro or Try Different Lenses
Put on that long lens and fill the frame with your pet’s face and fur. Close-up shots often make beautiful animal portraits.
6. Surprise Them
One of the most difficult things is to get your pet to hold still. An easy trick is to let him play quietly. Once you have everything ready, let someone call for him or whistle. This will surprise him and catch his attention. You will have a few seconds to capture him in a nice and alert posture.
7. Schedule your Session
If you are longing for a formal pet portrait shot, try to schedule a photo session when your animal is somewhat sleepy, or has just woken up. It will be much easier to keep them still. If you want a more dynamic shot, then pick a time of day when your pet is energetic. If they are sick it is better to just postpone it for another day. If you use treats to have them look at the camera, hold the treats close and at lens level. Watch your fingers, you don’t want them to show up in the photograph too.
8. Be Patient
Pet photography requires a lot of patience. No matter how excited your furry friend is, if you are patient enough, they will end up relaxing and you will have the opportunity to get a decent shot.
9. Experiment
Take your time and enjoy the session, try different approaches, angles and compositions. Shoot a lot, you will have time to worry about the results later.
When not photographing events, Lucas can be found hiking the back roads of Vermont in search of landscapes. www.lucasdesousa.com

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Salmonella

Tue, 28 May 2013 10:58:00 GMT

Salmonella – Are You or Your Pet at Risk?

Valerie Nikel- Pet Food Warehouse, Shelburne and Burlington, VT

In light of recent pet food recalls, Salmonella is once again raising concerns about pet food and safety.

While many dogs and cats can be carriers of the bacteria (with no or very minor symptoms) there is a slightly higher risk for very old or very young animals, and especially for those with a weakened immune system.

The biggest cause for concern, however, is the transferability of the bacteria to people, if contaminated foods are brought into the home and not handled properly. Because your pet can be exposed to the bacteria and show no signs of illness, it is especially important to follow safe-handling procedures with pet foods, just as you would with people food.

Safe handling includes:
*Washing your hands after handling food, touching your pet and picking up feces.
*Disinfecting food preparation surfaces, dishes, scoops and storage containers.
*Not sharing utensils with your pet.

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Pet Vacation Mishaps

Tue, 28 May 2013 10:57:00 GMT

Pet Vacation Mishaps
Tim Hoehn

The Key to Holiday Travel

Holiday travel sucks! It was 4th of July weekend, between holiday traffic and highway construction (no construction going on, thank goodness the signs are still out so traffic crawls forever) our eight hours to Hershey, PA turned into ten hours easily. With the family in tow, including our golden retriever, Max, we endured bumper-to-bumper traffic through Hartford CT, and the Cross Bronx Expressway in New York City.

As a respite after the city, we hit the first rest area for a well-deserved leg stretch and break from the white knuckle driving. Max, welcoming the chance to sniff more than air conditioning and cheap simulated leather bolted for the first tree.

I remember grabbing an old tennis ball and I remember putting the car keys in my pocket. Max eagerly chased my lob throws, returning each of my tosses with enthusiasm. As we wrapped it up and headed across the parking lot to the car, my car keys worked their way out of my pocket. I did notice them hit the pavement, but so did Max. As swiftly as he had chased the ball, he snatched the keys and ran for a final round of fetch.

Max had a good 10 ft head start when I hollered STOP! He stopped. Unfortunately, he was standing on a sewer grate. In what seemed like slow motion, he turned and dropped the keys. A holiday weekend is a bad time to lose your car keys.

All Aboard!

Chester is 145 pounds of pure energy wrapped in a Great Dane’s body. He loves to be on water, but does not like to be in water. His early fondness for the lake came from summer evenings, when he would join me for a quick paddle in my canoe. Most of the time he would watch me methodically paddle the boat or bark at a passing gull. Occasionally something would catch his attention and he would excitedly run up and down in the boat (never my favorite).

Each evening we would race the last daylight back to the beach. The scratching sound of the canoe bottom on sand, was the close of yet another great time on the lake. Tomorrow’s excursion was but a day away. I wouldn’t call it lazy on my part and I should have known better, but when I’m done, I’m done. After paddling for the better part of an hour, I would leave the canoe as is; mostly on the beach.

That changed one day when I received a call from the Coast Guard. On that one occasion, Chester decided to go it alone. He apparently jumped into the canoe and with his weight, launched the canoe by himself. We’re not sure how long he was floating in the bay, but I remember the call, “Sir, do you own a green canoe and a Great Dane?”

The Great Cat Vacation

Summer vacation knows no demographic in our house, even though this annual event is as predictable as the morning light. Every 4th of July it’s a day’s drive to my parents for a week of celebration with family and old friends. One year as we made the dinner table announcement of the annual trek to Indiana, our youngest daughter appeared less than enthusiastic about the upcoming trip. With a little prodding, the culprit turned out to be our new cat, Fritz. We explained that it was a long ride for a cat and that grandma and grandpa’s home was not the right place for Fritz. Although we tried to reassure her that the neighbors would check on Fritz every day, she moped until the day we left.

“The cat is in the garage with plenty of food, water and a litter box. Check on him daily and give me a call if you have any questions”, was the simple favor asked of my responsible and good friend, Hank. As we pulled out of town early that morning, my daughter seemed to accept the fact that her cat was in good hands. In fact, unlike other road trips, her and her sister appeared to be the perfect travelers with none of the usual ETA requests.

When we arrived that evening, we were eagerly greeted with warm hugs and handshakes from familiar faces. Another familiar staple was also on hand, the pop-up camper in the backyard. My dad had retired years earlier and my parents tried their hand at camping, once. I had asked my dad why he didn’t sell the camper and he quickly replied, “Because the girls like it.” Indeed, the camper had become a summer tradition. Starting with the big dollhouse as little girls, the fort as tweens, and now as teenagers, the camper was space away from adults. In fact, on this trip they by-passed the house and brought their luggage directly to the camper.

As we settled in for the night, my neighbor Hank called. It seems that he went to check on Fritz, but the cat was missing. Unsure if he was just hiding in the rafters or if there was a secret escape route, he assured me he would take a look and call me the next day. I really thought if the cat had found a way out of the garage, he would surely find his way back in.

Hank called the next day with a disturbing report, “no sign of the cat.” They had checked every inch of the garage, the cat’s food and water were untouched, and the litter box was still clean. By the third day, with Fritz still on the lamb, my neighbor had organized a search team to scour the neighborhood, hand out “missing cat” posters and called the local humane society and animal control. We tried to enjoy our vacation, but the sense of helplessness being so far away, left us a little unsettled. At that point, we still hadn’t informed our daughters about the incident, worried that maybe her initial concern about leaving him was correct.

As we packed for the journey home that final day, with Hank’s latest update the same, we reluctantly broke the news to the girls. Fritz was missing and we were very concerned. Their smiles quickly turned to frowns, but not for the expected reason. Not sadness over their beloved cat, but fear of a pending punishment, and rightly so. It appeared that Fritz was not missing, but kidnapped to Indiana! He had been smuggled into the backseat, and spent his vacation in the backyard camper, with his girls.

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Domnic Runs Away

Tue, 28 May 2013 10:49:00 GMT

Domnic Runs Away
By: Alyce Hoehn

Domnic was a long haired cat.
His coat was black and white.
He slept all day though sometimes played
And often came out at night…..he prowled around at night.

His girl was Deanna, his boy was Rob.
They lived in a big white house.
And all things went along quite well
Until Domnic caught the mouse…..he caught a little mouse.

It was gray and wriggly with a long black tail
And eyes that were beady and bright.
So when he dropped it at Deanna’s feet
It really gave her a fright…..oh how it gave her a fright!

Deanna screamed and said, “BAD CAT!”,
And this made Domnic sad.
She didn’t like his mouse at all
And it was the best mouse he had…..the very best mouse he had.

He felt depressed, unloved, dejected.
He’d leave, the she would worry.
Rob would miss him, Deanna too
They’d be so very sorry…..oh would they be sorry!
He ran away to Finny Cat’s house,
For she had often told him,
That her people were so very nice
They would never, never scold him…..how nice, they’d never scold him.

He jumped up in the rafters high
When they opened up the garage door,
And here he’d stay, he’d not come down
He’d pout and sulk some more…..just pout and sulk some more.

Though it was dark and Domnic was cold,
And oh so hungry too,
He’d show them all how bad he felt
He’d stay ‘til he turned blue…..poor cat, so cold and blue!

Finny Cat’s man put down some food,
Oh how he longed to be fed,
But then he thought how sad they’d be
When they found him stiff and dead…..poor cat all stiff and dead!

And so he stayed and stayed and stayed.
He slept and time was flying.
He stayed for one day, two, then, three
By now they would all be crying…..they surely would be crying.

But on the fourth day, he couldn’t believe it!
Deanna and Rob strolled by.
Finny Cat’s man called, “Have you missed your cat?
He’s here but he’s hiding up high…..he’s hiding up very high!”

“Oh is Domnic missing?” Deanna asked.
“We didn’t know he was gone.”
So when they came and called to him,
He certainly would not come down…..he just would not come down!

They called to Domnic, “Oh please come down,
We love you and need you at home.”
But he wouldn’t come down, not now or ever,
He’d rather stay all alone…..he’d pout and stay all alone!

At last they left after begging and pleading,
But Domnic stayed on just the same.
He had waited so long, for four whole days
Before they ever came…..they never even came!

He stayed and fretted for three more hours,
But then he began to cry.
His whiskers were frozen, his nose was so cold,
If he stayed he would probably die…..he would surely, surely die!

He thought of Deanna and good ‘ole Rob
And how really sweet they were.
With memories of bed and good warm food,
He began to loudly purr…..you could really hear him purr!

He’d jump down now, and hurry on home
But he must bring something nice.
A big surprise! What shall it be?
Yes! This time he’d bring them TWO mice…..tow wriggly, long-tailed mice!

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Feline Obesity

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:42:00 GMT

Contact your Veterinarian if your pet:
1) Won’t eat her diet food.
2) Is acting weak or depressed
3) Is abnormally hyper or agitated
4) Or has a change in over-all health.

From the article:
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT IN CATS
By Stephanie Carter
River Road Veterinary Clinic, Norwich, VT
www.rrvetclinic.com
River Road Veterinary Clinic is operated by Dr. Christine Pinello, a native of Bethel, VT. She started the practice in 1985.

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The Alpaca Lifestyle

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:52:00 GMT

I’ve always taken pride in the fact that I know a little bit about everything. But when it came to alpacas, I realized how wrong I was. Sure, if I was in the first round of The National Spelling Bee I could spell alpaca. A-L-P-A-C-A. Alpaca. If there was a true or false on my trade school entrance exam, ‘Does an alpaca have four legs and a tail’? True. But even when I asked my over-educated daughter the difference between a cashmere sweater and an alpaca sweater, her answer was, “about $200”.

To learn more about these interesting animals, I went to Bill and Linda Ley at the Parris Hill Farm in Brownsville, VT. For starters, Alpacas are fiber-producing members of the Camelid family raised exclusively for their soft and luxurious wool. Their fleeces are sheared once a year. Each shearing produces roughly 5-10 pounds of fiber per animal, per year.

There is evidence that forty million years ago, the alpaca’s early ancestors inhabited the lower plains of North America and evolved into two Camelid groups – lamaloid and camel. Then, approximately 3 million years ago, these early Camelid split up into three groups. Some journeyed north through the Bearing Straits and into Asia and on into Africa. Another group left North America traveling south through Central America, hugging the coast, and settled in Chile, Peru and Bolivia. The last group stayed behind and existed for centuries. Approximately 10-12,000 years ago, the Camelid of North America disappeared. The cause of their disappearance is not known for certain. The two groups that migrated out of North America thrived and became the one and two hump camels of Africa and Asia and the Lama family of South America (llama, vicuna, guanaco and the alpaca).

Around 1400, the Incas conquered almost the entire western half of South America and carved out an empire that extended from modern-day Columbia and Ecuador to Chile in the south and Argentina in the east. They created this empire in less than 100 years and produced lasting architectural marvels and developed fiber arts to a very sophisticated level. To the Incas the alpaca had very special religious significance. They sacrificed an alpaca at sunrise, noon and sunset to appease their gods. Only royalty was allowed to wear alpaca fiber.

In the mid-1800’s, an Englishman named Sir Titus Salt got a package of raw alpaca fleece. So he set about modifying his fiber mill to process the lanolin-free alpaca fiber. He developed a luxurious cloth that he sent to the British royal family. It became the popular cloth of British and European aristocrats, making Sir Titus a wealthy man. He re-invested his wealth in building a large alpaca-exclusive mill called “Saltaire” in England.

The first alpacas were imported into North America in 1984. In 1988 the Alpaca Registry (ARI) was created as a division of the International Llama Registry. Almost every alpaca born in North America is now registered to guarantee its parentage and investment value. When a baby is born, its owner sends in a few dropsl of its blood to be DNA tested at the University of California, Davis. Once its parentage is verified, the Alpaca Registry issues a pedigree certificate to the owner. No animal can be shown without proof of registration and most breeders will only purchase registered alpacas. In 1998, ARI closed the registry for imported alpacas in order to preserve the value of the existing American herd.

Alpaca fiber is stronger and more resilient than even the finest sheep’s wool. Unlike sheep’s wool, however, alpaca contains no lanolin and is ready to spin right off the animal. It comes in 22 distinguishable colors. It is considered hypoallergenic, because of the way the scales of alpaca fiber lie down against the shaft of each hair follicle, so it doesn’t irritate the skin.
Historically, alpaca production has been concentrated in the high Andes Mountains where pasture is limited. The worldwide population of alpaca is barely three million animals. As a result, alpaca is considered a specialty fiber with limited available supply. Alpaca fleece is comparable to cashmere in softness and is often mixed with other fibers, such as mohair, to vary the texture of the yarn produced. A strong domestic commercial market for large volumes of alpaca fleece is easily envisioned and a national fiber co-op is working with breeders large and small to see this vision become reality.

Males strike a pose broadside to signal aggression from far off. They stand sideways, rigidly holding their tail high, neck arched, ears pinned back and nose tilted skyward. It can signal to an intruding male a mile off that it’s approaching the gesturing male’s territory. A male in the company of females is likely to strike this pose.

When a dog or cat walks nearby, all alpacas will stand with their bodies rigidly erect and rotate their ears forward in the direction they are staring. The tail is usually slightly elevated. This posture signals curiosity about a change occurring in the immediate environment. This posture will come before and “alarm call” or rapid flight, if the herd interprets the change as danger. It also will cause the entire herd to bunch together and move forward in unison to investigate or chase off the intruding animal. Alpacas have keen eyesight and can often see hidden kitties long before people can.

The holiday party season is here (my last one is well into January) and you are now well informed about alpacas. Once conversation has past the weather, hurricane Irene and people you see too often or not often enough, you can impress both friends and strangers alike with your thorough knowledge of the alpaca.

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Bravo for Bravo

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:49:00 GMT

Bravo for Bravo

In 1956, I was just a pup. I woke up one morning six feet from the floor, cradled in the warm hands and silky beard of a tall man, John Tuck, Jr., a Naval Seabee officer known as Jack. My name is Bravo. I was born at McMurdo Station in the Antarctic. Jack’s job was to handle sled dogs. My job was to follow Jack around.

“How’s that pup of yours?”asked an older trainer, Dutch Dolleman.
“Bravo’s growing bigger every day, watches everything like he knows something important is going to happen.” Jack replied setting me down in the dog pen. Jack smelled like leather, he and Dutch were making sled dog harnesses.

I ran over to Mom who sniffed me all over. She said that Dutch knew a lot about dogs and surviving in cold climates. Settlements would be built around Antarctica as the International Geophysical Year was starting, the first worldwide scientific survey of our planet. Scientists would come from all over the world to study the climate, the environment, and atmosphere. My brother and I do our own studies of the environment at our dog hut, “Dogheim”. We sniff the frosty air and smell penguins. We dig the hard packed ice and find more ice. We watch the sky come alive with shooting, waving colors at night, it makes our hair stand on end.

“Mom, what’s your job when you are done raising us?” I asked as I burrowed into her thick fur.
“We dogs are here just in case,” Mom said, “If any transport planes land and can’t get back to McMurdo, then drivers, dogs, and sleds would be dropped by parachutes for a rescue operation.”
“Yikes! I’m glad we’re not sled dogs yet!”

I wandered outside and listened to Jack and Dutch. Jack had graduated from Dartmouth College and studied reindeer in Greenland. When he heard about this opportunity, he wanted the Navy to send him. He worked with the other Seabees gathered around Dick Bowers, the building leader. I loved listening to the plans for the pole. Dick was warning the guys about the dangerous, difficult adventure ahead.
“No one has attempted this before. We’ll be about 850 miles inland from here and 9000 feet about sea level. We’ll be flown in by ski planes and our supplies will be dropped from the air. October is the start of summer here so we can expect temperatures to rise to around zero degrees. We will have some blizzards but the sun will be visible until March.”

“What’s the first building to be erected?” asked Jack.
“We’ll build a Quonset hut with a heater and cook stove. Some men may sleep in tents and some will sleep inside,” Dick answered. “We’ll use the bulldozer to even out the ice and snow for the bases of all the other buildings, if it drops from the plane safely.”
“Heater and cook stove,” sounded good to my puppy ears. I wasn’t sure about bulldozers falling from the sky, that sounded scary!. Our mom taught us survival skills such as digging into the snow to keep warm in a blizzard. I was hoping these men knew how to dig in too!
The time of departure for the pole arrived, but so did bad weather. After several days of frantic activity, the men and equipment settled down like new fallen snow. Piles of bags were everywhere and the sled dogs, going to the pole, were snoozing.

“Why aren’t they more excited?” I yipped to my brother, as I paced in my pen pleading to go. I wanted to be with the guys; Jack, Bowers, Bristol, Woody, Montgomery, Nolen, Randall, and Powell. No one had ever lived at the pole, it was an awful place. Now these men were going to build places to live for the winter and carry out science projects like: movement of glaciers, gravity experiments, seismology studies, the airglow and auroras, geomagnetism, ionosphere physics, and cosmic rays.

I sensed that these brave men were anxious, but they were strong and smart too. I loved to watch them work together, joking as they got a lot done. I wanted to be part of the fun and work with Jack!
On November 20, 1956, I watched two ski planes with Jack, Lt. Bowers and his crew of builders, and eleven sled dogs take off. A third ski plane carried more men, and big Globemaster planes flew along to help locate the Pole, drop the dog food, sled and harnesses, and heavy equipment. I thought my heart would break when Jack climbed into the plane and disappeared. I ran in circles in my pen until Old Dutch came over and held me tightly against his big jacket.
“He’ll be back. He’ll be OK,” Dutch kept telling me.

“ 29 degrees below zero at the pole, the men are in tents and the dogs are sleeping outside,” I heard the radioman report to Dutch. Brrrr! Supplies were streaming onto the pole damaged, because the ropes tying them to parachutes broke when released from the supply planes. One bulldozer buried itself thirty feet in the snow. Parachutes would land and sail away across the snow because of high winds. I love to chase things, but the men were getting tired of chasing them down, and wanted to solve the problem.

A week later the scientist, Dr. Siple, came to visit Dutch. He said that mail was delivered for the first time at the South Pole. Dr. Siple was a big man, a leader. I sat and behaved myself when he was around. He told Dutch that Jack had been asked to be the Navy officer in charge at the pole

“You’re mighty lucky,” he told Siple, “Jack’s as fine as they come. This pup Bravo, you’ve been eyeing as mascot for the Pole Station will be all yours now. He’s really Jack’s dog, and Jack will insist on having him.”
Jack came back to McMurdo to work out a solution for the wrecked supplies. I turned myself inside out, I was so glad to see him! Jack let me roam around with him and played tug of war with me. He tied supplies onto wooden pallets and wrapped them in canvas. Hopefully these pallets would drop safely. Besides building materials, delicate scientific equipment would be flown in by ski planes along with nine scientists led by Dr. Paul Siple.

“I just heard the admiral has appointed you as the Navy support officer in charge at the pole this winter. Long, dark days in that awful cold, what are you going to do for entertainment?” Dutch said, smiling at Jack, but winking at me.
“Dutch, we’ve seen most of the movies by now. The men like to read and we plan to give lectures.” Jack turned and looked at me. I sat very still except for my tail, which couldn’t help but wag.
“What do you say, Bravo? Do you want to spend the winter with eighteen guys and a lot of cold weather?” Jack asked as he hugged me. I licked his bearded face and howled in delight. All I needed was to be with Jack. We were off on a great adventure!

By Sarah Tuck Gillens
Sarah Gillens lives in Plainfield, NH, is an Medical Technologist and writes stories that will interest children in science and history. Finding her distant relative, Jack Tuck, led to this story about Jack’s dog, Bravo

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Separation Anxiety

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:47:00 GMT

The pet that can’t be left alone: Separation Anxiety

Your lovable new puppy cries when you leave it in its crate. Or, your dog freaks out when you leave it to go outside. So, you go get them and bring them with you. Most people love it when the puppy cries for them. Of course they miss us because they love us so much. If we are not careful we might be creating or reinforcing separation anxiety. Our simple act of compassion might actually create more anxiety in our pets.

When we go to their aid we are supporting the behavior. If their antics
cause us to keep them with us they will never learn to be alone. They will never learn to deal with their initial anxiety. Most pups are pulled from their litter and their initial response is to whimper or cry. This is normal for puppies. It tells the mother dog to come and find them. But, if we support this behavior it can spiral into a full blown case of separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety is one of the most common behavioral problems Veterinary behaviorists treat. As you can imagine from the previous examples, it is created by the loving pet owner all too often. How many pet owners take their pet with them wherever they go because they can’t leave it alone? Many pets will exhibit destructive behavior or house soiling as a result of the anxiety they feel upon being left alone. If this anxiety is not treated it often gets worse. The dog’s destructive behavior is rewarded when the owner inevitably returns. All the pet knows is that if it destroys the house and or soils it their Master always returns thus reinforcing the behavior.

The secret to treating separation anxiety is teaching the pet to be alone. This is accomplished by exposing it to increasing amounts of time alone without it causing the anxiety. Initially, this could mean teaching the pet to stay on the other side of the room. With time one can increase the time alone until the pet forgets it is waiting for them. Since pets have a short attention span this is usually around 20 minutes. Separation anxiety usually manifests within the first 20 minutes of departure. We always want to reward good behavior. So, if the pup sits without crying it should be rewarded. Eventually it will learn this new game and the training can continue with increasing time alone.

Most importantly, the anxiety must be avoided. If your dog becomes anxious due to this training you are creating too much separation. You’ll need to shorten the time and distance you are away from them. The key is to gradually increase the time alone as long as the dog can handle it. Anti-anxiety medicine can shorten the amount of time needed for this training since an anxious dog cannot learn. The object is to allow separation without it causing anxiety.

Most dogs with separation problems read cues that you are leaving. This is usually the trigger for the aberrant behavior. Jingling car keys, putting on boots or a jacket or starting up the car are common cues that dogs look for to begin their anxiety. So, eliminating these cues is of paramount importance in treating separation problems. Until the pet is cured you’ll have to start leaving your coat or keys or boots in some other place away from your pet.

Sometimes distracting them with games or a treat can be enough to preclude the manifestation of the behavior. Leaving a TV or radio on can also help them from feeling alone. One trick we use sometimes is teaching a hide-the-treat game. While the pet is running around looking for the treats we can slip out the door without leaving any cues. Once the dog finds its treat it will be too busy eating it to worry about where we are. If we can avoid the initial anxious period they may not exhibit any separation anxiety. This is learned behavior. If we avoid the triggers and distract them well enough they can learn new ways to cope with your absence…like sleeping until you get home. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Chris is an avid outdoor sportsman. He is a well known telemark skier (since 1982) in the Northeast and around his home mountain of Killington. Chris also enjoys rock climbing, windsurfing, tennis and hiking. Since he must be around to be available for emergencies, Chris spends a lot of time in his gardens growing both flowers and vegetables…with his pager on

The pet that can’t be left alone: Separation Anxiety
By: Chris Mangini, DVM
Woodstock Animal Care,
441 E Woodstock Rd., Woodstock, Vt.
www.woodstockanimalcare.com

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Kenneling Your Pet

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:07:00 GMT

Kenneling Your Pet

Going out of town? A boarding kennel can give your pet quality care—and can give you peace of mind.

Your pet depends on you to take good care of her—even when you have to be out of town. Friends and neighbors may not have the experience or time to properly look after your pet, particularly for longer trips. Leave pet care to the professionals, such as a pet sitter or boarding kennel.

A facility specializing in care and overnight boarding allows your pet to:

How to find a good kennel

Ask a friend, neighbor, veterinarian, animal shelter, or dog trainer for a recommendation. Once you have names, it’s important to do a little background check.
After selecting a few kennels, confirm that they can accommodate your pet for specific dates and can address your pet’s special needs (if any). If you’re satisfied, schedule a visit.

What to look for

On your visit, ask to see all the places your pet may be taken. Pay particular attention to the following:

How to prepare your pet

Be sure your pet knows basic commands and is well socialized around other people and pets; if your pet has an aggression problem or is otherwise unruly, she may not be a good candidate for boarding. Before taking your animal to the kennel, make sure she is current on vaccinations.

It’s also a good idea to accustom your pet to longer kennel stays by first boarding her during a short trip, such as a weekend excursion. This allows you to work out any problems before boarding your pet for an extended period.

Before you head for the kennel, double-check that you have your pet’s medications and special food (if any), your veterinarian’s phone number, and contact information for you and a local backup.

When you arrive with your pet at the boarding facility, remind the staff about any medical or behavior problems your pet has, such as a history of epilepsy or fear of thunder. After the check-in process, hand your pet to a staff member, say good-bye, and leave. Avoid long, emotional partings, which may upset your pet. Finally, have a good trip, knowing that your pet is in good hands and will be happy to see you when you return.

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Support For Hurricane Sandy Victims

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:30:00 GMT

Emergency response fund and Best Friends ground team and volunteers to ease suffering from Sandy

Transport and supplies right now the most pressing needs in the hardest hit areas.

(603) 542-3277
lacenh@comcast.net

Best Friends Animal Society, thanks to member support, is making funds available to help defray the extraordinary costs incurred by the companion animal rescue groups and other organizations saving and caring for pets impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

Sullivan County Humane Society in Claremont, NH is an animal rescue group that just opened its first shelter on August 6 (currently are a feline only shelter). They are also a network partner with Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in their No More Homeless Pets campaign and received a call last week asking what help they could offer to the shelters hit by Sandy and agreed to take in cats/kittens. This will not only help shelters that have been damaged but will also help operating shelters make room for animals displaced by the storm. SCHS is one of seven shelters in New England that received animals via a transport run by Best Friends.

Supported by generous donations from the public and corporate partners, Best Friends’ relief efforts will target animals and shelters impacted by Hurricane Sandy across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Funds also will support the transport of displaced shelter pets to Best Friends Network Partners located outside of storm-affected areas, expected to begin in the next several days. Limited fuel supplies, road closures and driving restrictions in some affected areas are complicating factors.
The first such transport will be of animals from Animal Care and Control of New York City to Network Partners in New England and is expected to take place in the next several days. Animals will be moved in a Best Friends Emergency Response vehicle deployed for such purposes.

Shelters are eligible for micro grants to assist in repair and recovery from the storm, as are rescue organizations that have taken in animals from shelters impacted by the storm. Priority consideration will be given to shelters working with their community to achieve no-kill status.

Our Emergency Response specialists, John Garcia and Ethan Gurney, have been in the New York area since mid-week. John and Ethan are both expert dog handlers and have advanced certifications in animal search and rescue techniques that qualify them to work side-by-side with police, fire and National Guard human search and rescue operations. They are prepared to provide relief manpower as needed. The team also has a specially outfitted, climate controlled transport vehicle to move animals within the disaster zone and to distant receiving organizations outside the area affected by Sandy.

Soon, Best Friends volunteers will be helping to fill in work shifts at shelters, delivering pet food in Bergen County, N.J., Long Island and other areas, and provide pet supplies to a shelter in Woodbridge, N.J.

Our New York Programs team, under the leadership of Jamie Lyn Rubin, is coordinating our support of rebuilding efforts in the Tri-State area, which includes helping care for pets in an evacuation shelter and delivering emergency supplies to other flooded shelters whose supplies were destroyed. In the coming days, the team will:

Special thanks to our online retail partner, Wag.com, which, in conjunction with Best Friends, has committed to donate a full week’s worth of food for more than 200 dogs and cats, plus a week’s worth of litter for more than 100 cats at the Bergen County Shelter, Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter, and Jersey City Humane Society. These much needed supplies are expected to be delivered to destination shelters by Best Friends volunteers today.

Wag.com is also launching a campaign starting today to raise funds for Best Friends’ ongoing disaster relief work. When a special promotion code WAGDONATE is included with orders, Wag.com will make donations to the fund up to $10,000.

If you would like to make a contribution toward our disaster relief work, your gift will be used exclusively for our relief work to help animals during this and other disasters. Thank you. www.bestfriends.org

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ENJOYING THE AUTUMN WOODS

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:22:00 GMT

ENJOYING THE AUTUMN WOODS

Sharing the woods: walkers, runners, and huntersGeorge Sandmann, Norwich Regional Animal Hospital

Fall is a wonderful time of year. The woods are spectacular, with beautiful light reflecting through autumn leaves. Running and playing in the woods with our kids and dogs, making leaf piles and having leaf fights: Autumn is really a fun time for families to be outside.

Fall is also the time of year when many take to the woods for more solitary pursuits, chasing woodcock and grouse, or hunting deer. Last year 70,000 hunters took to Vermont’s woods, with a similar number in New Hampshire. Hunters come from all walks of life, and are an integral part of the Upper Valley’s fabric. They are your friends and neighbors, doctors and grocers, carpenters and moms. We all share the woods for a few weeks, and with a little planning we can share the woods in peace.

Many people are concerned about walking during hunting season, fearing for their safety and that of their dogs. Accidents are exceedingly rare: the vast majority of hunters are careful, considerate, safe, and ethical.

Hunting seasons start in September with bow season, and firearm hunting starts in October, running into December. Most activity is during the rifle season for deer, traditionally held during in the second half of November. For exact dates, visit vtfishandwildlife.com and wildlife.state.nh.us.

Although hunters are in the woods at all times of day, they are most active at dawn and dusk. Bow hunters may be in camouflage, but rifle hunters often wear blaze orange. If blaze is the best way for hunters to see each other, it is also the best way for you and your dog to be seen! Blaze hats, bandanas and vests are available at Dan & Whit’s, LL Bean, and other local stores. Stay away from deer-like colors, especially white mittens and hats. These can be mistaken for the deer’s namesake white tail. Some opt to put a bell on Nellie and Sam (the dogs, not the kids) –available from the same stores. A simple blaze bandana around your dog’s neck can really make her stand out!

Hunting, like logging and farming, has a long heritage in our area. Hunting is an integral part of our cultural fabric. Hunters opened up the Green Mountains back when this area was the wild frontier. Hunters do not want to ruin your day; frankly they work hard to not bump into you at all. With simple planning, we can share and enjoy the woods during hunting season as much as we do during the rest of the year.

Key Points:

Keep pets in voice control, or on a leash
Each person and pet should wear at least one blaze orange item
Avoid brown and white clothing, hats, and mittens: these can be mistaken for deer
Walk the woods in the middle of the day, between 10 and 3
Use more popular areas, at this time of year stay ON the beaten path
Share the woods: hunting season is just a few short weeks!

Quick Links:

www.danandwhits.com : blaze clothing and pet supplies

www.llbean.com : blaze clothing and pet supplies

www.uvtrails.org : trail information

www.vtfishandwildlife.com : Vermont hunting seasons

www.wildlife.state.nh.us : New Hampshire hunting seasons

Norwich Regional Animal Hospital
Just 1 Mile South of King Arthur Flour!
13 Fogg Farm Road, White River Junction VT 05001
www.norwichanimal.com
802-296-CARE (2273)

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Top Dog Names

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:58:00 GMT

Top Dog Names!

Like Nostradamus, we’re going in to full on prediction mode. According to our friends at MyDogMagazine.Com , the annual popular dog names list is always fascinating reading, particularly in retrospect.

It’s great fun to read the previous popular dog names from years gone by, seeing old favorites such as ‘Max’, ‘Ben’ and popular female dog names like ‘Sasha’, ‘Maisy’ and ‘Trudy’ mixed in with Zeitgeist names such as ‘Ga Ga’, ‘Beyonce’ and ‘Britney’.

So what can we expect to be amongst the most popular dog names of 2012?

Here are our predictions.

The Regulars (Most Popular Dog Names of Historical Prominence)

1. Bella
2. Max
3. Bailey
4. Lucy
5. Molly
6. Buddy
7. Maggie
8. Daisy
9. Chloe
10. Sophie

The New Entrants (Most Popular Dog Names 2012 by Trend Predictions)

1. Lady
2. Bieber
3. Kim
4. Perry
5. Obama
6. Shakira
7. Rhianna
8. Taylor
9. Charlie
10. Kanye

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What Does It Really Mean?

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:49:00 GMT

What Does it Really Mean?

As children we all sang about The Farmer in the Dell (a dell is a V shaped Valley). It was an 18 th century nursery rhyme about the natural progression of life in the day. From farmer to husband to father, etc. But does it still have the same meaning? In this day and age the family farm has all but disappeared and large corporations have taken over as commercial growers to the world. Thus, The Farmer in the Dell can be described as a consortium of agricultural enterprises, organized as a Delaware Limited Partnership (the Dell) for tax and depreciation purposes.

We decided to take a look at other popular phrases, what they use to mean and what their meaning has evolved into:

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Dental Health and Your Pet

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:34:00 GMT

DENTAL HEALTH AND YOUR PET

Elisa Speckert, Veterinary Technician
River Road Veterinary Clinic

Most dog and cat owners have had the distinct pleasure of being up-close and personal with their pet’s breath. From sloppy Golden Retriever kisses to the sandpaper tongue of your friendliest cat, the sentiment is usually appreciated, while sometimes the smell is not. What causes your pet’s breath to smell so bad, and is it a sign of something more serious? Some owners may have heard the term “periodontal disease”, while others may have been told that their pet needs a dental cleaning, or daily tooth brushing. Although dental health is becoming an increasing concern to pet owners and veterinarians alike many owners still find themselves unfamiliar with the world of companion animal dental care.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease refers to inflammation or infection of the teeth and their surrounding tissues. It is one of the most common health problems in companion animals. 70-80% of dogs and cats greater than 3 years old suffer from some level of periodontal disease. Your pet’s mouth, just like a human mouth, is full of bacteria. Gingivitis is an inflammatory reaction caused by irritation of the gums from a buildup of bacteria and salivary proteins. This plaque of bacteria and proteins continues to accumulate and hardens into tartar if it is not removed. Periodontal disease is divided into four grades, ranging from gingivitis to plaque, calculus, root exposure, and mobile teeth.

How do I know if my pet has periodontal disease?

Many common signs of periodontal disease are bad breath, yellow-brown crust on the teeth, bleeding gums, not eating, weight loss, change of chewing habits, abnormal drooling, dropping food out of the mouth, and swallowing food whole. Some animals will display multiple symptoms, while others may not display any at all.

Why is periodontal disease a problem?

Severe dental disease is painful for your pet. Infection and gum recession can result in permanent damage to the bone structure surrounding the teeth, causing them to fall out. Small-breed dogs are prone to fractures of the jawbone resulting from bone destruction. Cats are also prone to developing “resorptive lesions”, resulting in nerve exposure and difficulty eating. Teeth affected by these lesions must be extracted. In severe cases, bacteria from the mouth can cause systemic infection, spreading to the heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver.

How is periodontal disease treated?

Once your pet is diagnosed with periodontal disease, a professional dental cleaning is necessary in order to remove hardened tartar and treat gingivitis. During a professional dental cleaning your pets teeth are scaled and polished above and below the gum line with ultrasonic cleaning equipment, removing all tartar. All loose or compromised teeth will also be extracted. Any questionable teeth should be radiographed using a dental radiograph machine. If diagnosed early, a professional dental cleaning can be a short procedure that usually allows for full recovery of the gums and teeth. If done during a later stage of disease, the procedure is often longer, and some of the periodontal damage may be permanent. Unfortunately, all pets require general anesthesia in order to have their teeth cleaned. General anesthesia requires hospitalization and blood tests in order to monitor liver and kidney function. Pain medication and antibiotics can also be prescribed near the time of a professional dental cleaning.

What can I do to prevent periodontal disease in the future?

Brushing your pet’s teeth daily is the best way to prevent periodontal disease. Daily brushing can prevent your pet from ever needing a professional dental cleaning. It is important to use a specially formulated enzymatic dog and cat toothpaste, as human toothpaste does not work in the same way, and can be harmful. Toothbrushing allows for the removal of plaque before it can cause gingivitis and allow tartar formation. Specially formulated prescription dental diets can also help to prevent plaque accumulation. Enzymatic dental chews, wipes, gels, and water-additives are also helpful when brushing is not an option.

Being familiar with the answers to these five common questions will allow you to make informed decisions regarding your pet’s dental care. Healthier teeth and gums make a happier, all-around healthier companion.

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Charge of the Beagle Brigade!

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 19:46:00 GMT

The battle against terrorism conjures up images of our brave neighbors in the military, patrolling a dessert full of danger, thousands of miles from the placid hills and mountains of home. Long before such terms as bio-terrorism and Homeland Security, protecting those placid hills and farms has fallen to a variety of government agencies, including the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Agri-business is big business in New Hampshire and Vermont, providing millions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs. Although agriculture no longer plays the same role in northern New England as it did just 50 years ago, it is still a significant contributor to our local economy. With Boston’s Logan International Airport the primary port of entry into New England, the task of protecting our country and New England’s agriculture industry, rests in the proven paws of The Beagle Brigade.

Since 1984 a team of beagles and their handlers, trained at the USDA’s National Detector Dog Training Center in Georgia, have been the successful first line of defense against bio-terrorism and protecting our food chain, from the mycobacteria and insects that could cripple it.

These are “agents” without rank. They go by names like Hoover, Sam and Rolo. According to Agriculture Specialist Kevin Dialey, these dogs (who average about six years on the job) have gone through extensive training prior to their arrival in Boston and are fine-tuned on a regular basis. “They are typically shelter rescues and are trained to detect fruits, meat and plants. Being based in New England, their skills are further honed to products coming into the country, and specifically those that would have a greater impact on New England such as apples, pears & etc.”

The first time Hoover went to the mat, he uncovered 30 mangos and a dressed out pig brought in by a passenger returning from Cape Verde, off the coast of Western Africa. Mad Cow Disease virtually wiped out the meat industry in Britain more than a decade ago, and the country has never recoved as a beef exporter since. Another “agent”, Rolo, recently detected Austrian Sausages disguised as cigars being brought in illegally, while his counterpart, Sam, busted parrot smugglers from Portugal.

While many of these may seem harmless to us, every item confiscated is sent to a government laboratory and analyzed. There, detection of everything from insects like the Mediterranean fruit fly, to foreign bacteria are found on an occasional to regular basis. In fact, The Beagle Brigade averages about seven responses a day at Logan, with even more during the busy summer season.

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House Training-The Puppy Papers

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 19:36:00 GMT

House Training – The Puppy Papers

This is where crate training comes in. By confining a puppy to a small area they will instinctively hold their waste. If they can’t get away from it they will learn to hold it. It is our obligation to make sure they get a chance outside of the crate often enough. Before 8 weeks they need to go out as often as every 2 hours. By 12 weeks they might last 4 hours. You’ll have to wait another 4 weeks before their kidneys mature enough to hold it for 6 hours. If you are having trouble with urination try withholding water for a couple hours before they go to bed and they may get through the night. Don’t leave water in the cage until they can be trusted and are at least 16 weeks old.

You don’t necessarily have to use a dog crate. The concept is to confine them to a small enough space that they can’t get away from the excrement. A small pen made between furniture etc. will suffice. Growing puppies that mess their crates need a smaller crate. Try putting a box in the crate to reduce the inside space and remove it when they grow up. During the early months when they really can’t hold on too long it can work to bring them to work in a crate. If the weather is right (not too cold or hot) you could even leave them in the car with the windows open. It is easy to get them out at the requisite time since it only takes a minute. Remember that they probably have to go when you get there. So, get them right outside. Every time they eliminate outside it is reinforced. Ditto for messing in the house. We want success.

The big challenge comes when they are at large in the house. To the new puppy it is one big poop pad except for where they sleep. So, be careful about letting them roam. Did you ever notice how they soil the oddest places…like where they never spend time? You find the bomb in the spare bedroom when getting it set up for guests. Over time the entire house will be their den. Until they learn this, keep them confined to common areas they’ll more easily recognize as home turf. If the puppy has just eliminated (especially both #1 and #2) you can relax and let them roam a bit. Knowing that they are empty makes it easier to let your guard down so the puppy can explore without soiling. This is how the house becomes “theirs”.

With hard-to-house-train puppies try keeping them on a leash while in the house. Attach the leash to the couch you are sitting on or the table you are at. Keep it affixed to your belt and have the puppy move around the house with you. The simple act of being confined by the leash will give them second thoughts about soiling. The same concept is in play here as they can’t get away from the mess. But, if you catch them in the act you should offer a correction like a loud bark or “No”. Then whisk them outside and praise them to reinforce the idea. There is no need to “rub their nose in it”. But, letting them get the smell and pairing that smell with going outside is worth the energy.

A fun way for a dog to let you know it needs to go out is with a bell. Try attaching a bell next to the door(s). Ring it and open the door. Usher the puppy out at first. Play near the bell and whenever it bumps into the bell open the door and let them out. After a while they learn to ring it when they want to go out. It will be fun for them to ask and receive. Once they get the concept it steam rolls.

Some breeds are harder to house train then others. The smaller breeds are more difficult. It is not uncommon to see Cocker Spaniels who cannot be trained. A big part of the problem is that many of these smaller breeds can be dominant aggressive. They are actually soiling the house in an effort to establish their turf. This can be a clash with another dog or even a family member. Many owners of small breed dogs actually give them the message that they are in charge. When they treat them to the contrary they get confused and try to set you straight.

With aging some dogs seem to forget their house training. Often this is preceded by trouble getting around due to arthritis or old injuries. Their puppy house training was a long time ago. Let’s just say that they are not very concerned about the consequences anymore. So, we may need to do a refresher course with our geriatric canine pals. Once again simply confining them to a smaller area for a while should get them back on track. A trip to the Vet for some arthritis medicine may help as well.

A well house trained adult dog that starts house soiling may be trying to tell you something. They may have a medical condition that is causing the problem. If the stools are loose or the urine bloody you can’t blame your pet. They need your help to get them to your Vet. How long has it been since you let them out? Did they do their business? Make sure that you are not too blame.

The truth is that Puppies really don’t want to soil their den. One problem is that we live in much bigger dens than they would. With vigilance and care we can easily teach them what goes where and when. Simple. Right?

Dr. Mangini graduated from The Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine in 1984 with high honors (Cum Laude) and has been practicing veterinary medicine, surgery and behavior for 28 years.

Chris Mangini, DVM
Woodstock Veterinary Animal Care

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Tiki Part I: Re-home Rebound Re-birth

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:59:00 GMT

The Tiki Chronicles
Re-home, Rebound, Re-birth

The story of how my 17-year old cat crossed the entire East Coast, and beat the odds to be here with me today

I arrived in Florida a week before Christmas to start a working student position at an Olympic Dressage barn. On my second day there my boss’s daughters and another working student conspired to move one of the 6 barn cats into our house. His health had been deteriorating for months and this would be a last ditch effort to save him. Technically, working students were forbidden to have pets, but seeing as we were all animal lovers we were more than happy to sneak a cat into our house.

When I first saw Tiki he was stumbling to the barn barely able to move his little legs. He looked like someone had locked him in a closet with a swarm of moths, and then left him out overnight in a Vermont winter. He was so skinny that you could see his spine under his matted coat, a horrible cough shook his whole body, and he approached the barn looking around like he expected to be attacked from any angle. My boss’s daughter had rescued Tiki seven years earlier when he was hit by a car. Apparently Tiki had been completely feral and did not like people. Thankfully by the time I met him he had mellowed into the most affectionate barn cat of the bunch.

Tiki moved into the working student house and we started administering banana-scented cat medicine twice a day for his cough as well as feeding him a limitless amount of food. He ate heartily, crouching over his heaping bowl of dry food, and eat from top to bottom in one sitting. Then he would drink, turn around to look at us, and meow until we filled it again. Tiki had never had the luxury of eating in peace; apparently he had been bottom rung of all the cats in the barn. A devoted creature of habit; he slept in exactly the same spot on the couch every night, and the same spot on an armchair during the day. When it was bedtime he would shift from his Egyptian cat stance to a curled up ball of orange fur. There he would stay until the next morning when he would get up and eat breakfast with us, meowing and purring with delight as he gobbled down his food.

When my housemate had to go home because of an injury, Tiki completely latched onto me. Over my remaining months we became so attached that I could depend on him to join me at the dining room table—on his own chair of course—for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The other working students that moved into the house all ate breakfast in their rooms, but Tiki and I would sit together in the kitchen and watch the sun rise over the back field every morning. When I too, was injured a few weeks into my stay, Tiki spent the entire day sitting next to me while I iced my back and leg. The next couple of months were spent struggling with pain in my neck and shoulder, to the point that some nights it was all I could do to eat a couple bites of dinner with Tiki sitting next to me. He was the best company I could have hoped for—he was affectionate, calm and utterly devoted. As he went through his daily pattern of oscillating between the couch, the chair, his food bowl and the dinner table, he was always watching me as if to say: “you’re not alone here.” And somehow that made the long days more bearable.

A few weeks before I left I was sitting on the couch sending e-mails. I looked up to see Tiki staring at me from his chair. Every time I glanced his way he would start to purr, a deep chortling sound like an expensive car that hadn’t been tuned up in a while. We played the purr game (I looked away he’d stop, I looked at him he’d start) for a couple of minutes, and I thought to myself: “this is one special cat.” The next day I asked my boss’s daughter if I could bring Tiki home with me. His fur had grown back, his cough was gone, he was practically fat, and we loved each other so dearly that I couldn’t imagine leaving him behind. While she was sad at the idea of losing her favorite barn cat she agreed it was in his best interest. Even my parents acquiesced and said that I could bring him home on the condition that he saw a vet first.

The next week I took a trip to the vet proudly bearing my purring, chubby, glistening orange cat. As the test results started to come back I was horrified; he had a significant heart murmur, cataracts obstructing his vision, tumors in his ears and worst of all, he was positive for FIV. FIV is the feline version of HIV, it is not transmissible to humans or any other species. Tiki had been such a good sport during his appointment; he lay on his back and purred while they drew blood, he didn’t budge an inch as they listened to his heart or looked in his eyes, and he even let them poke around his belly. The vet and her tech both commented that he was surely their easiest patient of the day. I couldn’t wrap my head around how this kind creature could have such a devastating prognosis. I was tearing up while they explained that he would have to be kept away from other cats and that he could live with FIV, but something as minor as a common upper respiratory infection would be fatal. I nodded along, clutching Tiki to my chest and tried to figure out how I would convince my parents to let him come home when we already had two other cats.

On my drive back to the barn I decided that I couldn’t put my family’s cats at that kind of risk, regardless. But leaving Tiki behind wasn’t an option either. The other girls in the house didn’t want to take care of him. My boss’s daughter had cats at her house, her parent’s house and the barn, so he couldn’t live in any of those places. He had nowhere to go.

And so I decided it: Tiki was coming to college!

Francesca Finch Bochner is a Dartmouth alum who fell in love with the Upper Valley and decided to stay in the area after graduation. She is currently taking a year off before graduate school to train and compete her dressage horse, Tess. She lives in Strafford with her boyfriend (a veterinarian) and their menagerie of animals

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SKUNK!

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 14:52:00 GMT

SKUNK!

By Tom Browe

When most people see a skunk they tend to over react. Have you ever met a person that was directly sprayed by a skunk? Skunks do not spray unless they feel threatened with immediate harm. They’ll give a lot of warning first, because they don’t want to shoot if they don’t have to. It takes them time to produce more protective “spray.”

In answer to the question above; if you’ve met me, you have met someone who has been sprayed by a skunk. I was 5 at the time, and the skunk was my pet, Jimmy. (Of course, we should not have had him) Long story short, he had full use of his natural defenses. The German shepherd running up behind me caused Jimmy alarm, and he shot. I was in the middle, as usual my mouth was open, and I took a direct hit.

That was 59 years ago. I still fondly remember Jimmy and still salivate at the smell of skunk. Not from desire for the taste! Rather to get rid of it. I nearly died because I could not breathe, but a panicked mother and neighbor worked until I could breathe again. Unfortunately, Jimmy went away, causing me many tears. It wasn’t his fault. All these years later I still have an affinity for skunks! They are gentle creatures, wishing harm to no one but bugs and larvae.

When I first began working at Rutland County Humane Society back in the 70’s I frequently helped people with skunk problems. For a few years I trapped and relocated 20-30 skunks a year. Now this is illegal due to the rabies issue. Dealing with all those black and white critters left me unscathed by any of them. I trapped them and carried the traps to my truck waiting to be “scented”. But it never happened.

One time I hand-removed 5 baby skunks from a cellar window well. Baby skunks can and will shoot; often faster than older and wiser ones. Moving slowly, talking soothingly (more for me than them), I coaxed them all into a paper grocery bag and then took them a few feet away and released them. They scampered off into the tall grass never to be seen again. Skunks are wanderers and normally do not set up permanent territories.

Another time, I was called to remove a skunk from a pit near the Howe Scale Plant in Rutland. The planks covering the pit had been knocked into the hole and the skunk fell in. The pit was about 6 feet deep and 3 ft. by 3 ft.. No way was I going to climb down a ladder in that small an area. I was not afraid of the skunk, but there may have been a snake down there!

So I took a snare pole, used for handling dangerous dogs, leaned down into the hole with another person holding my legs, and snared each of the planks one by one so I could get at the skunk. All this time the animal observed the activity and moved about, but never once showed any warning signs of imminent “sprayage”.

All the time I was at this task I kept wondering where I could go afterward, because I could not get into my truck smelling all skunky! Finally all of the planks were removed, leaving just the skunk to raise 6 feet to the surface. I learned one new fact that day. Skunks are wedge shaped. I’d finally get the loop around the front of the skunk and began to lift, and it would slip out. After three attempts at this, and holding my breath with blood filling my head and pulsing in my ears, I had had enough. I slipped the loop behind the back legs and pulled it tight, hoping it wasn’t too tight to squeeze the scent gland!

Wiggling backwards I lifted myself, the pole, and the skunk out of the pit. The skunk had made its exit in a less than glamorous manner, butt upward. I slowly set the critter down 3 short feet away from me (the length of the pole) and gently released the loop. All the while I held my breath with my mouth shut, because I remembered that direct hit, all those years ago.

The adult skunk turned to face me and blinked its nearsighted eyes, trying to focus on me. I began my soft babbling again, hoping to convey my lack of threat. The skunk turned around, at which point I shut up and held my breath again! It waddled a few feet away, turned around and looked back, and then left the scene quietly.

The man who had helped by holding my legs stood there amazed. “That skunk just thanked you!” he said. I looked at him and said, “Yes, I believe you are right.”

So, if you are confronted by a skunk, stand quietly and allow them to assess your threat level. Usually they’ll just waddle off to tend to their own business. If you startle one, you may then know someone else, who has been sprayed by a skunk!

Tom Browe is the Executive Director of the Springfield Humane Society .

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Top 10 Pet Owner Mistakes

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:07:00 GMT

Top 10 Pet Owner Mistakes
By Megan Kaplan, RealSimple.com

Avoid common errors, and keep your four-legged pal healthy and well-behaved.

Mistake 1: Buying a pet spontaneously Why this is a mistake: That doggie in the window may be darling, but he might not be the right fit for your family or lifestyle. How to avoid it: Fully inform yourself before you bring home a pet. Every dog or cat has its own needs, some of which are specific to the breed. Terriers tend to dig; Abyssinians explore and climb. If there’s a breed that interests you, read up on it (try the website of the American Kennel Club or the Cat Fanciers Association, talk to owners, and get to know someone else’s Border collie or Persian That said, not every dog or cat is typical of its breed, so “ask about the pet’s history, health, and temperament,” says Stephanie Shain, a director at the Humane Society of the United States. When dealing with a breeder, you should be shown where the pet was raised and meet his parents.

Mistake 2: Skipping obedience training Why this is a mistake: Bad habits can be difficult to train out of a pet. So unless you have the know-how to school an animal, you need the help of a pro. How to avoid it: Even before a puppy starts formal training, teach him simple commands, such as sit and stay. A puppy can begin formal training at eight weeks (and ideally before 12 weeks), after he has had his shots. “Between the ages of 8 and 16 weeks, puppies readily absorb information about the world around them,” says Andrea Arden, author of Dog-Friendly Training. To help a dog stick with good behaviors, every few years take him for a refresher course. (Find one in your area at the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.)

Mistake 3: Being inconsistent with the rules Why this is a mistake: If one child lets Fifi on the bed and another punishes her for it, the animal will be confused. Bad behavior is inevitable. How to avoid it: Make sure everyone in your household knows — and follows –the rules, says Arden. “You want your dog to sit before eating a treat? You don’t want your kitten to pounce on your hands? Then figure out a system that will help your pet succeed.” Pets thrive with a sense of order, so discuss with your family when yours should be fed, exercised, and even given a treat.

Mistake 4: Dispensing too many free treats Why this is a mistake: Treats lose their training value if your pet gets them for no reason. How to avoid it: “Think of treats as currency given to a pet to reward good behavior,” says Marty Becker, a veterinarian and a coeditor of Petconnection.com. Assign each type of treat a value, and pay according to how well your pet behaves. Kibble is worth a dollar; a chicken strip, five; bologna, 10. “But it’s important to not pay off the good behavior all the time,” Becker says. “That way, your dog will always hope he might get that piece of bologna, and he’ll eventually perform without seeing a treat.”

Mistake 5: Neglecting to socialize your pet Why this is a mistake: Pets that aren’t exposed to a variety of animals and people at a very young age can develop fears and aggressive behavior. How to avoid it: Introduce your pet to adults, kids, animals, and environments so he’ll take every novelty in stride. It’s optimal for a pet to start the process before you bring him home, since the critical socialization period is early in life. “For a dog, it’s between the ages of 3 and 12 weeks. For cats, it’s between 2 and 8 weeks,” says Nicholas Dodman, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, in North Grafton, Massachusetts. The breeder or the shelter’s adoption counselor can tell you how much socialization an animal has had.

Mistake 6: Skimping on exercise Why this is a mistake: Pets have pent-up energy that needs to be unleashed through physical activity. Otherwise it will be channeled into barking, jumping, or even hostile behavior. How to avoid it: “Walk your dog at least twice a day for a minimum of 30 minutes each time,” says Cesar Millan, host of The Dog Whisperer, on the National Geographic Channel. “To your dog, that’s a primal activity — birds fly, fish swim, and dogs walk.” Pamela Reid, vice president of the ASPCA’s Animal-Behavior Center in Urbana, Illinois, recommends that dogs get at least 40 minutes of aerobic exercise daily. “Dogs need more exercise than people do,” says Reid. Try running or biking with your dog or playing fetch or Frisbee. With a cat, “you can’t take her jogging, but before and after work, give her 10 to 20 minutes of playtime,” says Reid.

Mistake 7: Neglecting to keep your pet mentally active Why this is a mistake: Bored pets are more likely to get into trouble. How to avoid it: Give your pets something to do. For a dog, that can mean having him hunt for food. Place a meal or treats in spots around the house for him to sniff out, or “feed him out of a food-dispensing puzzle toy instead of his bowl,” says Andrea Arden. Keep a cat engaged with simple amusements, like a toy mouse dangling from a string. “You can stimulate your cat visually by placing a bird feeder outside a window, or setting a lava lamp on a shelf,” says Arden Moore, author of The Cat Behavior Answer Book.

Mistake 8: Leaving a pet alone for too long Why this is a mistake: A lack of proper companionship can lead to separation anxiety and destructive behaviors. How to avoid it: “Don’t leave a puppy alone for eight hours,” says Reid. Hire someone to watch him or drop him off at a doggie day-care center. Your puppy will need to learn how to be alone for a few hours each day, however, so “teach him to self-pacify almost immediately,” says Andrea Arden. Put him in a crate (or leash him to a stable object) a foot or two away from you, then gradually increase the distance over the course of a week. Then make sure that he spends escalating amounts of time alone in his crate or confined to a room. Break up the day for dogs of any age with a visit from a dog walker or a neighbor, and give your pet access to toys and visual stimuli. Unlike puppies, kittens can be left alone, but they should have access to toys and visual stimuli.

Mistake 9: Failing to make your home pet-friendly Why this is a mistake: A cat without a proper litter box will just use the carpet. A dog without a cozy bed will end up on the couch. How to avoid it: Location is key with a litter box. “A cat doesn’t want to travel a long way to go to the bathroom any more than you do,” says Mieshelle Nagelschneider, a feline behaviorist and a consultant at the Cat Behavior Clinic, near Portland, Oregon. Place litter boxes (one per cat, if you own a few, plus one box they can share, says Moore) in quiet areas throughout your home. Plug in a night-light beside each one so your cat can find it in the dark. Cats dislike strong odors (even air freshener), so use uncovered boxes and unscented litter and scoop out each box every day. Dogs are far less persnickety about where they relieve themselves, but do them the favor of regularly picking up the poop in the backyard. Cats and dogs also need spots where they can cuddle up and feel safe. “A dog needs a crate like a teenager needs a room,” says Dodman. Provide a crate or a cozy bed, and make it taboo for your family to pester the dog while he’s in it. Cats naturally want to climb to an optimal vantage point, so set up a place where yours can look out a window.

Mistake 10: Punishing your pet Why this is a mistake: You might think Chewie knows you’re screaming at him because he ate the loaf of bread on the counter, but he won’t connect your behavior with his action. How to avoid it: Never physically punish your pet; he’ll just learn to fear you. It’s OK to startle a pet out of a behavior, but only if you catch him in the act. Command him with a firm “No!” or “Down!” and he’ll connect the reaction with what he’s doing and learn that it’s not OK. Otherwise, the punishment should come from the environment. Teach a cat or a dog to stay off the counter, say, by arranging sheet pans in a pile that will clatter to the floor if he jumps up. The counter, not you, will become the thing to fear.

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Tiki Part II: Tiki goes to College

Tue, 22 May 2012 20:06:00 GMT

The Tiki Chronicles
Part II: Tiki goes to College

This is the second chapter in a three part series about Tiki, an older cat with a myriad of health problems (including FIV, a feline version of HIV that is non-transmissible to humans). Despite his various handicaps Tiki is still alive to this day and continues to lead an extraordinary life.

Dartmouth College; home of brilliant academics, cutting edge arctic science research, an excellent hockey team, Animal House…and in March of 2010 my little tabby cat Tiki.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am not a rule breaker. And in the rare event that I do break a rule or two, I am usually very bad at it. If an authority figure even looks at me twice I will rush to tell them what I did wrong. However for Tiki’s sake I was willing to take a walk on the wild side.

Rumor has it at Dartmouth that if you are caught with a pet in your room the school will suspend you. While the custodial staff does not clean individual rooms, campus security has the right to go anywhere they please at any time. Furthermore the walls in the dorms are so thin that each room is like a reverberation chamber, meaning that anyone walking down the hallway could easily hear a cat meow. Tiki has a particular penchant for vocalizing every emotion (hunger is a loud, demanding screech; happiness is a rumbling purr; welcome home is a series of short meows) so I was understandably concerned that we’d get caught.

During my senior spring my dorm room was a generously sized single on the fourth floor of the oldest building on campus. I set the whole room up as a perfect home for Tiki. He had a chair under the window to lie on, his litter box was under my desk for privacy, and I set up his food and water bowls next to my bed so I could always see if they needed refilling. The only problem with the room was that it was right next to the bathroom, so every morning around 7:00AM the custodian would spend a fair amount of time on the other side of my wall. That would have been all well and good if 7:00AM was a time when Tiki slept. Quite to the contrary 7:00AM was just when Tiki would rise and stretch and let out an earth-shaking screech to announce that his breakfast needed to be served.

The first few months that Tiki lived in my dorm were heavenly. I would feed him in the morning and pray that the custodian was hard of hearing. Then I’d be off to class, pick up lunch and come back to feed him again. When I went out in the evenings I would always use Tiki as an excuse to cut out early, figuring that snuggling with my elderly orange cat trumped playing pong into the wee hours. My friends initially rolled their eyes at me for being so animal crazy but they all ended up falling in love with the little guy. At the beginning of the term I would rush home to feed him and then have to go back out to see friends. Within a few weeks I had girlfriends who specifically asked to come see him, and one who would bring over turkey from the dining halls that she had bought just for Tiki. I have never seen Tiki happier than when he was at college. He got to be around people every few hours, and in between he napped on his chair in the sun. I did all of my homework in my room while he sat right next to me. Every Monday night I would pull an all-nighter to finish the chapters of my thesis that were due on Tuesday, and Tiki would curl up on my desk right next to the computer charger that became his personal heater. There he would stay, snoring blissfully as I typed.

We made it all the way from mid-March to mid-May before we hit our first speed bump. By this point the custodian had established that he knew Tiki was in my room (he and everyone else on the floor) but promised he would not report me. I guess the daily smile and “how are you” that I sent his way were so out of the ordinary for Dartmouth students that he decided to cut me some slack. Unfortunately, as the vet in Florida had warned me, the tumors in Tiki’s ears caused recurrent infections that could make him really uncomfortable. I had purchased an ointment specifically to manage those infections, but in the beginning of May Tiki’s ear began to bother him and nothing I did seemed to help. I tried the ointment for a few days but one night he kept us both awake scratching and shaking his head so I knew that he had to go back to the vet.

Getting Tiki out of the dorm, past the security guards that drive up and down behind the buildings as well as the other custodians who were not going to be as forgiving as our friend on the fourth floor, was going to be a production. Getting him inside the building had been a two-person job involving sneaking his carrier into the building in the middle of the night through the one entrance without a security camera. But I couldn’t bring him out in the middle of the night, so I decided to just cover the case with a towel, park my car right next to the building at the risk of getting towed, and make a run for it. The stars must have been aligned that day because I managed to get down the stairs without passing any custodians, get out the door at a time when the security guard was behind some other building, and safely take Tiki to the vet. The vet put him on some special eardrops with the promise that he’d be better in a few days. Afterwards I waited with Tiki in the car until dusk and then managed to get him back into the dorm room with the help of a few friends.

My last month of college went by in a bit of a blur, all of which Tiki spent by my side. He sat with me in one place for two days straight as I finished my thesis (thankfully I stocked up on enough food for those 48 hours). He watched from the bed as I got dressed for my last ever college formal. And on graduation day he dozed and gazed at the rain out our bedroom window.

The end of college is a phenomenally bittersweet experience. It is in turns surreal, unreal, stupendous, disappointing, sentimental, and hopeful. I came back to my room after getting my diploma to finish packing, feeling extraordinarily sad to be leaving but excited about moving forward. I closed up the last few suitcases, carried my box of textbooks downstairs, and managed to squish my pillow into the last inch of room in my back seat. And then I went upstairs to put Tiki in his crate. The same crate had brought him 30 hours from central Florida to central New Hampshire. Now it would bring him somewhere new. He looked at me and let out a screeching meow, clearly saying: “I don’t think so.” I scooped him up and gave him a hug. “Well at least we aren’t in danger of getting suspended anymore,” I said and put him in his crate, ready to start our next adventure.

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The Stray

Tue, 22 May 2012 20:02:00 GMT

The Stray

Joan E. Chandler

We were young, with two toddlers. Rod worked at one full-time and two part-time jobs, trying to make ends meet. We seldom found time for a few moments alone, time to appreciate our recently-bought, shabby home and its gravel-bowl front yard.

On one of those oh-so-rare occasions, a sweltering summer night at dusk, we sat on a front step and surveyed our kingdom. The air was still. It was pleasant to simply rest our elbows on our knees and our chins in our hands, and to enjoy the quiet.

We both saw it at the same time. It was a cat, off-white and long haired, and it was walking in the center of the road. It seemed unaware of the traffic. I said to Rod, “Do you think that cat is ill? It looks listless.”

Unable to ignore a sick or injured animal, Rod approached the cat, hoping to at least coax it out of the road and away from cars. But it didn’t respond. Gently, Rod reached down and picked up the cat, and walked toward me. This poor animal looked awful. His coat was dirty and tangled, and his yellow eyes were mere slits. Rod said, “I can feel his ribs. Let’s see if he’ll drink some milk.”

We couldn’t just keep referring to him as “The cat”, so we called him Nomad. We took him into our kitchen, where he cowered in a corner as Rod warmed a little milk and poured it into a saucer. While the cat lapped up a bit of milk, I called Dr. Johnson and described our predicament. He said, “Bring him on down.”

The vet examined the waiflike creature, and suggested we leave him there at least overnight, maybe longer. He thought the cat might be lost and half-starved, but a cursory examination showed nothing life-threatening. The next morning I used some of our very limited spare cash to purchase cans of cat food, a narrow collar, and a tinkly cat toy. Unless its owner appeared, we would be welcoming home a new pet.

Nomad came home in two days, clean and fluffy, freshly wormed and inoculated, and minus a hairball or two. There were two new dishes in a corner of the kitchen, one filled with salmon stew and the other with milk. An old towel was crumpled nearby for a soft bed. Despite the fact we had given to his PCP $85.00 we didn’t have, and spent another $30 for pills and supplies, we were happy to welcome home our beautiful new cat. We were pleased that he ate and drank, pawed at his new toy, and curled up on his bed, seemingly content. Recalling that rare moment on our front step two nights before, I thought, “Timing is everything.”

The next morning, Nomad, obviously well housetrained, scratched at the kitchen door. We let him out, and then watched in disbelief as he calmly proceeded to the center of the road and walked away.

The Journey

I don’t know how long I had been walking. The pad on my rear paw was sore. I was tired and hot, and hungry, too. And something hurt in my stomach. But I felt that if I could stay upright and steady for just awhile longer, with the cooler night on its way, this road would take me back to my house and my family. Perhaps, along the way, an easy meal, maybe road kill, would present itself.

A car slowed and moved around me. I just couldn’t seem to garner the strength to avoid it on my own. I heard a human speak. A man, not one I recognized, picked me up. It hurt when he did this, but I was too weak to strike out at him or try to get away. He spoke to a woman, and they took me into their house. I was afraid, but soon realized they would not be mean to me. I couldn’t resist the warm milk and soft bed they provided. My stomach still felt bad, and I missed my children, but at least this night was a more comfortable one than my last few.

I was frightened the next morning when these people forced me into a pillow case. Then I could sense that I was in a moving car. When my soft cage again opened, I found myself in another new place, being poked softly by a man. He looked closely at my eyes, made me open my mouth, and pressed on my tummy. He stabbed me with a sharp needle, and then put me in a fearsome cage. For awhile, the cat and dog noises from other cages made me too nervous to eat, but when I realized they couldn’t hurt me, I ate some dry food, drank a little water, and felt a little better.

For two days I stayed in that place. I was very lonely, and I didn’t understand why I was there. But the humans were gentle, and they smiled when they spoke to me. I drank bitter medicine, and was stuck with another needle; but I had a bed and food and water. On the second day, a young woman gave me a bath and brushed my fur. I looked handsome, and felt happy when my new friends came to get me.

I was a lucky cat. I no longer felt sick, my stomach was full of good food, and I was rested and strong enough to continue my journey home. Just when life was at its dreariest, and I was losing hope of being reunited with my family, a miracle had happened. I had passed the house of a couple who were willing to help me. I thought, “Timing is everything.”

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Dangerous Summer Plants

Tue, 22 May 2012 19:50:00 GMT

Most pets use their sense of smell and taste to investigate things that are new to them,” said Insert Vet. “When they come across interesting plants or other items, their first reaction is to smell it, which often leads to tasting it.”

Being aware of poisonous plants and substances can help avoid potential dangers that can result in emergency trips to the veterinarian.

Lily of the Valley

When ingested by pets, the Convallaria majalis plant, also known as Lily of the Valley, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, a drop in heart rate, severe cardiac arrhythmias, and possibly seizures. This plant contains cardiac glycosides, which are also used in many human heart medications. Any pet with a known exposure should be examined by a veterinarian and treated based on their symptoms. Treatment may include blood pressure monitoring, heart monitoring, and, in severe cases, an expensive antidote to bind the toxin.

Crocuses
There are two types of Crocus plants: one that blooms in the spring and the other in the autumn. The spring plants are more common and cause only gastrointestinal upset accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. However, the autumn Crocus, also known as Meadow Saffron or Colchicum Autumnale, are highly toxic and can cause severe vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, and multisystem organ failure with bone marrow suppression. Symptoms may be seen immediately but can also be delayed for days. If you witness your pet eating a crocus and you are not sure what variety it is, it’s best to seek veterinary care immediately for decontamination and treatment.

Fertilizers or soil additives
In addition to flowers and plants, there are other gardening-related dangers that pet owners should be aware of, such as fertilizers and pesticides. While fertilizers are typically fairly safe for pets, those that contain blood meal, bone meal, feather meal and iron may be especially tasty – and dangerous – to them Large ingestions of these products can form a concretion in the stomach, obstructing the gastrointestinal tract and causing severe pancreatitis. Also ingestion of pesticides and insecticides, especially if they contain any organophosphates, can be life-threatening, even when ingested in small amounts.

Parting advice: Keep your dog away from any mushrooms. “Always assume any ingested mushroom by a dog is toxic and will cause liver failure,” says. “The problem is that many poisonous mushrooms often grow together with non-poisonous mushrooms.”
Enjoy the outdoors with your dog, but always be aware. If you think a pet may have ingested something harmful, take action immediately and contact your veterinarian. Learn more at Pet Poison Helpline.

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The Sullivan County Humane Society

Tue, 22 May 2012 14:41:00 GMT

The Sullivan County Humane Society, a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, has a whole new executive board with a renewed passion to help local animals. Their goal is prevention. They are working hard to combat overpopulation, abandonment, neglect, and surrenders.

To reach this goal they have two very important initiatives. They will be holding six low cost spay/neuter clinics for cats in 2012. Their January clinic was a huge success with 46 cats being fixed! Their other initiative is to work with low income families to aid them in being able to provide for their animals. They distribute pet food and other supplies, damaged product donated by Wal-Mart of Claremont, to needy families. Since December, they have donated food to fifteen families as well as offered assistance to other local rescue organizations. Along these lines, they have also started a Sponsor-A-Spay program. For $40, they will ensure that the cat of a local low income family is fixed. There were two recipients of the Sponsor-A-Spay in January. Hopefully, that number will increase with future clinics.

If you have a cat that needs to be spayed or neutered, please call to make an appointment for a future clinic. The clinics are always on Thursdays. The dates are:, July 5, September 27, and November 29.

Sullivan County Humane Society does not currently have a shelter but is working hard to get one. They realize that, despite their best efforts, there will always be some animals that are abandoned or surrendered. Their hope is to be able to provide those animals with a safe haven until they can be successfully adopted to a loving home.

In order to meet their goals and to successfully manage a shelter, they need reliable and dedicated volunteers. Volunteers to help organize activities, arrange fundraisers and public outreach events, to assist with the animals in their care, and to provide fresh, new ideas! If you are interested in being a part of the Sullivan County Humane Society please attend one of our monthly meetings held the second Tuesday of every month at River Valley Community College Room 214 at 6:00 pm. Or, contact us at 603-542-3277, sullivanhumane@hotmail.com, or PO Box 111, Claremont, NH 03743. Follow our progress at, http://schsofnh.org

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K9 Awareness Day

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:37:00 GMT

Title: K9 Awareness Day
Location: West Lebanon Supply
Link out: Click here
Description: Be sure to join the fun and learn about Police K9’s.
Come down for this popular annual event and enjoy demonstrations from Local Police K9 Units, food, prizes, and much more! Our K9 Awareness Day is a great community event that teaches awareness of K9 Law Enforcement and helps to raise funs for local programming.
Date: 2012-05-19

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Cats and Lilies

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:05:00 GMT

CATS AND LILIES

KNOW THE DANGER

It probably will come as a surprise to many cat owners that something as beautiful as a lily could potentially kill their beloved pet cat within hours.

As spring approaches, lilies will become more common in households as potted plants or in bouquets. Unfortunately, several types of lilies can be deadly to cats.

Easter lily, tiger lily, rubrum lily, Japanese show lily, some species of day lily, and certain other members of the Liliaceae family can cause kidney failure in cats. (So far, toxicity has not been reported in dogs.)

Eating just one leaf of this toxic plant can result in severe poisoning and within a short time your cat will exhibit signs of toxicity. Minutes to hours after ingestion, your cat may stop eating and begin vomiting. As the toxins begin to affect the kidneys, your pet may become lethargic, and within five days, kidney failure will cause death.

If you suspect your cat has eaten part of a lily plant, it is important that you contact your veterinarian immediately. If treatment is started early, chances for recovery are good, but once the kidneys have been severely affected, your cat may not survive.
Obviously, the best prevention of lily toxicity is to keep the plants away from your kitty.

If you bring Easter lilies into the house, keep them in a separate room where your nibbling cat cannot enter. To help educate cat owners about the dangers of lilies, and other plants, the CFA and the ASPCA have developed website information for cat owners. Among the site’s materials are common types of poisonous plants and a list of non-toxic plants.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

All parts of the Lily including flowers, stamens, leaves, root and stems are poisonous to cats. Equally worrying is that many of these lilies are routinely included in bouquets of flowers that you may buy or be given on special occasions.

Only small amounts are required to cause renal failure in cats, although the exact toxic does is not known.
Bear in mind that brushing past the flower and then grooming the pollen from the fur can also have the same effect.

HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY CAT HAS BEEN AFFECTED:

Your pet will most likely show signs of vomiting, a lack of interest in food and generally lethargic behaviour.
If your cat appears to improve after 12 hours or so do not assume they are safe, as this can happen briefly before they progress on to advanced renal (kidney) failure with 24 – 72 hours. An affected cat will either show signs of frequent urination or complete cessation of urine, excessive thirst and a lack of interest in activity.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SUSPECT MY CAT HAS INGESTED LILIES?

The sooner you can get you cat to a vet the better, and make sure to tell your vet that the cat has possibly had access to, and ingested Lilies. Your vet may well want to make your cat vomit and it is crucial your cat is put on fluids in the form of a drip as soon as possible, and even if the vet does save your pet, their is a strong possibility the cat will be left with a certain amount of kidney damage as a result of the poisoning.
Cats not treated within 18 hours are most unlikely to recover.

HOW CAN I AVOID THIS HAPPENING TO MY CAT?

Tell your friends not to buy you flowers unless they specifically request that the florist does not include lilies in the bouquet or basket. Explain why this is and how important it is they get this message across to the florist, (this is important because even after requesting lilies to be excluded, I have seen bouquets arrive which had them in regardless).

If in doubt keep any flowers away from an area your cat can get to.

Don’t plant Lilies in your gardens.

Warn other cat owners so that they too ensure their pets are not put at risk.

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On the Fly Travel Tips

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:40:00 GMT

Kate Hoehn

Traveling with your pet this winter? Here are some helpful tips to make your trip go a little smoother for you and your companion.

For any trip, no matter the means of travel, it is wise to locate the closest veterinarian to where you’ll be staying. It’s best to be prepared for the worst, and this includes becoming separated from your pet while away from home. To increase the chances of a safe and quick return, bring a recent photograph and written description of your pet including its name, breed, sex, age, any microchip or tattoo numbers, and a description of coat, color, and markings including unusual markings, scars, or other identifying marks, as well as weight and height.

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Keeping a 96-Year Old Promise

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:39:00 GMT

Keeping a 96-Year Old Promise

Safely tucked away in the green rolling hills of West Windsor, Vermont, there lies a sort of heaven on earth for cats, dogs, horses, and the occasional rabbit. An idyllic haven complete with a pond, trails, and fenced meadows, Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society is a joyful place where surrendered animals live contentedly until they find a final home. Animals have been calling Lucy Mackenzie “home” for over 96 years, but it wasn’t always what it is today.

The world was a different place one hundred years ago. In 1915, the time of Lucy Mackenzie’s founding, the world was still feeling the echoes of the Industrial Revolution. As the United States became more industrialized, factory owners hired children for many tasks. Horses were regularly used as work animals, and life could be harsh. What humanity needed was a champion. For the U.S., in 1916, it was the Keating-Owen Act, which prohibited “the sale in interstate commerce of goods manufactured by children in the United States.” For the valleys of Vermont, it was Lucy Collamer Mackenzie.

Wife of a prominent Woodstock, Vermont, businessman, Lucy was a caring woman with a “practical interest in humane work and in the various social and religious activities, which always appeal to one of her sympathies…(and a) readiness to do helpful things at every opportunity.” Mackenzie quietly worked to support those who needed help. Upon her death, Mackenzie’s husband established the Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society to care for “abused (and neglected) children as well as animals including horses.”

In a large Victorian building at the center of Woodstock, Vermont, dogs, cats, horses, and children found a refuge where they lived in harmony, well-cared for, when the world let them down. Half a century later, the building moved to another location in Woodstock, and the need to serve children was no longer necessary. After almost 100 years, and now located on 14 semi-wooded acres in West Windsor, so much has changed, yet the heart of Lucy Mackenzie remains the same.

Abandoned animals of Vermont and New Hampshire still find respite at Lucy Mackenzie, receiving the medical care, socialization, and affection they need. Hundreds of cats and dogs come through the doors, but many hundreds have been adopted. The society maintains a “no kill” policy “to insure that every adoptable animal in (their) care is given an opportunity to find a safe and happy home.”

The spirit of Lucy is alive today at the shelter. Each year there are multiple sessions of Kids Camp, which teaches humane care of animals to children 6-10 years of age, and seeks to influence positive behavior toward animals for generations to come. Dog training classes are offered throughout the year, and dogs at the shelter are often recipients of training themselves, providing them with the tools and preparation they need for life in their forever home. The happenings at Lucy Mackenzie are many, and they continue to grow each year.

This past spring, what began as a routine renovation project to turn former horse barn space into a new educational and multi-use facility, turned out to be much more. If the noise of the outside world and economic woes had sought to distract all from everything but day to day tasks, a force much more powerful took hold and reminded all involved with Lucy Mackenzie of its greater original mission. When work on the barn was needed, Trustee Dow Davis suggested Lucy Mackenzie consider using a work crew for inmates from Vermont’s Southeast State Correctional Facility.

After interviews with the head of the program, and positive recommendations from towns that have used the crew for other projects, work on the barn began. The President and Vice President of the Trustees provided home-cooked meals for the crew while on site, the work crew and shelter staff came together for lunch time meals, and what transpired was a series of conversations that left all at Lucy Mackenzie inspired by humanity and filled with hope for the future.

Some members of the work crew who visited with animals at the shelter while on breaks, saw something in the animals that struck a chord deep within themselves. As low-risk offenders, they have been incarcerated for various reasons for varying lengths of time, but each person, in one way or another, felt a connection with the animals that someone not having the experience of being behind bars would not feel. Each saw himself in the animals at the shelter. Some described the kinship of waiting; waiting to go home one day to be free; waiting to go home to a loving family they missed so badly it hurt. One crew member said he could see it in the dogs’ eyes. Perhaps it is something only they can see; they also share the knowledge of what it is like to be unwanted by society.

The cats and dogs that make their way to Lucy Mackenzie are like other cats and dogs at other humane societies, in that they share similar histories of once being loved and wanted, and then set aside when a divorce came, when it was time to move, or when a new child came into the household. Seeing visitors come to Lucy Mackenzie during the day and eventually follow-through and adopt a dog or cat, gave the work crew hope as days passed. Knowing that the work they did each day would help to shorten their sentence, gave them hope to know that they too, would soon go home, and that they were better off having been through the experience. So too, are the animals at Lucy Mackenzie. Sometimes receiving extensive emergency medical care, sometimes receiving one-on-one rehabilitation, they serve their time at the shelter well, in a place where what may have been viewed by past owners as flaws, are worked into positive attributes.

As Lucy Mackenzie looks forward to its 100 ^th anniversary in 2015, and reflects upon its history, so much has changed in the world. We can say that Lucy Mackenzie has been successful- we are reminded of that each time an animal is adopted, and we realize we are making a difference in helping animals to achieve their freedom. But, at the same time, so much remains the same. We won’t be able to say we have done our job until the need for humane societies no longer exists. Until then, we will keep the promise made to those in the care of Lucy Mackenzie from its very beginning; we’ll remain committed to our mission of “enhancing the bond between animals and people by providing shelter and care for homeless pets.” We will treat the animals in our care as if they have found their own personal slice of heaven until they finally do reach it.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society is one of the country’s oldest continually operating humane societies, and is dedicated to enhancing the bond between animals and people by providing shelter and care for homeless pets, and educating people about the care and training of animals in a humane community. It is located ¼ mile from the intersection of Routes 106 and 44 at 4832 Route 44 in West Windsor (Brownsville), Vermont, and can be reached at 802-484-5829

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How to Train a Dog/ Teenager

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:33:00 GMT

How to Train a Dog/Teenager

I always refer to that time between the end of fall foliage and the first snowfall as Gray Stick season. It was on a particular Saturday morning during Gray Stick that I found myself just killing time at the Norwich Bookstore. Sure, I could have been home, knocking off a few from the honey do list. But then, what would I do in February when re-staining dog-chewed woodwork is actually a welcomed prescription for cabin fever.

As I slowly shuffled through the store, I came to heal in the Dog Training section. There were more than a dozen books, all with well- behaved dogs on the cover and smiling pet owners next to them (although, all the humans were very attractive, so they could have been models. Come to think of it, so were the dogs. Is there such thing as a dog model?). Thumbing through several of the books, I found that, although the names of the dogs were different and the profound impact on “Masters” life varied slightly from book to book, the message was essentially the same. All you needed to get man’s best friend to sit, stay and speak is patience and some yum-yum treats.

As a father, I contemplated the simplicity of basic Behavior Modification and realized, if you can train a dog, you should be able to train your adolescent daughter using the same principles…patience and yum-yums. After all kids are smarter than dogs (or at the very least should be, with the amount of property taxes I pay that go to the school district). Kids have more complex communication skills than the family dog. Dog speak is a bark, a ruff-ruff or, maybe a howl. Whereas, with your kid you’ll get a plethora of communications such as: “Ewwww”,” Huh”, ”Word” (which is new slang for yes) and the non-spoken “What planet are you from?” gaze.

Yum – Yums are the problem. An industrial size box of dog treats is less than ten bucks. I have friends who pay their kid $25 for every A on their report card, plus an additional $50 if they make honor roll. With three marking periods per year, you do the math. Yes, Katie does well in school, but do you think she could put a dish in the dishwasher instead of the sink? The problem is that we live in a high-tech society. Kids are motivated by IPods, IPads and Smartphones …a trip to Dairy-Twirl just don’t cut it anymore.

So with patience well in hand, and a gift card for Abercrombie & Fitch, I decided to train my kid. According to the dog book, it is best to start small, with the basics, and work your way up. Pick something that is achievable and will please both master and dog/kid. Easy. My daughter wears her hair long and ties it back with florescent colored hair bands. The only problem is that there are more hair bands lying around the house than in her hair. Hair bands on the bathroom sink. Hair bands on the kitchen counter. We even have dozens of hair bands wrapped around the stick shift in the car. It’s time to train the kid to take care of her hair bands.

And so … it begins. I patiently explain the issue of the hair bands all over the house and car, to which she replies…”Huh?” I then patiently ask if she would like an Abercrombie gift card for picking up her hair bands? Word! At this point, I’m feeling pretty good with thoughts that I might just be the next Dr. Phil.

Unfortunately, that was the high point of my “Great Experiment.” As days turned into weeks, hair bands seemed to multiply everywhere. With positive reinforcement thrown out the window and my patience worn thin, it was time to chuck the book and go to plan B.

As I gathered my composure, I casually mentioned to her one evening that she really needs to take care of her hair bands, because the dog was eating them. As she flashed me that quizzical glance of, “how do you know?” I responded that I have been finding them in the yard when I clean up after the dog. And when she asked what I did with them after, my simple and patience response was, “I rinse them off and put them back in your drawer”.

“EWWWW!”

Needless to say, the hair bands were never an issue again and I re-gifted the gift card. Teenager Trained.

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Exotic Questions

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 11:35:00 GMT

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Eight Lives Left

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:28:00 GMT

Eight Lives Left

Kate Hoehn

I was about six years old and I remember the dreary overcast on this in particular day as I ran from the bus stop to the apartment complex in which my family lived in. Afternoons were an anxious excitement, knowing that I’d be able to spend hours playing with my friends. This day was different though.

Unknown to me at that moment, my dad had been driving to work earlier that day and saw a cat that appeared similar to our very own Maine Coon-Tabby mix, Jasper. He pulled the car over and crouched over the stationary feline. My father painfully concluded that this was our family cat and that he had been hit by a car. He got back into his car and called my mother with the news.
“Are you sure it’s Jasper?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure he’s dead?”
“Yes. His eyes are open and glazed over, not blinking, and not breathing.”
“Well, you can’t just leave him on the side of the road, Timothy! Go back and pick him up,” was the immediate response from my mother.
By that time, my dad had already made the short distance to work, so, he got back into his car and drove back to the spot where he had located Jasper.
“Honey, the cat isn’t here. The game warden must have already scooped him up.”

I walked through the door with my older sister, Sara. We usually came home and would find my mom cleaning the house while Maury on the television filled the room with background noise, but today, we instead saw her standing in the kitchen with glazed eyes and a frown. She called us into the kitchen and I hoisted myself up onto the counter as she informed us that we needed to talk. She then went on to tell Sara and I that God had taken our beloved cat to a better place and that it was okay for us to cry. Cry is an understatement for what I did. I instantly began to bawl. This crying continued for the next five hours as I lay on the living room couch, numb to everything but my sadness over the loss of Jasper.

I finally drifted off into my tear-induced sleep for the night. I woke up the next morning to the horrible reality that my cat was dead. I tried my hardest to make it through the day but yet again, it was tear filled. It wasn’t until that night that everything changed.

I was getting ready for bed and went to the kitchen for my nightly cup of orange juice. I picked up my lethargic feet, one step at a time, until I reached the glass sliding door

that led to the backyard, and flicked the light switch to the outside off. It was then that I saw a very muddy and frazzled looking Jasper, meowing to come inside. It was a miracle. I wrapped my arms around him and ran upstairs, screaming and crying with happiness to
my parents and my sister. They were all just as thrilled and overwhelmed as I had become.

It turns out that my dad is, shockingly, not a veterinarian or anything close to such. Jasper had been the cat on the side of the road the day before and he indeed had been hit by a car, but he was not dead. He had luckily only been hit with the outer side of the tire of the moving vehicle, which more or less smacked him in the head and flung him to the side of the road, where he lay unconscious. It was in this mental state that my dad had found Jasper and confused him for dead.

I sometimes forget the sadness I felt when I received the news of Jasper’s pseudo-death, or the joy I experienced when he came home alive, but anytime I tell this story to others or even just replay these events in my head, I’m filled with a sense of heartwarming love, happiness, and gratitude for being able to have Jasper in my life for sixteen years.

*Tip: If caught in similar situation, gently poke the cat in the eye (with toothpick). It will help you determine if the cat is dead or just unconscious.

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Morris the Cat

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:06:00 GMT

Morris the Cat, The Untold Story
Alice Larsen

The Labor Day Pet Parade was coming up so we decided to make Mr. Puff a dangerous lion and my husband built a box cage with doubled wires for bars, Dan (9 yrs.) and John (6 yrs.) dressed up as safari hunters and we gaily decorated the family wagon. So with Puff in the cage and the fearless hunters pulling the wagon, off we went to the parade area. There were many pets entered with lots of barking and meowing and one quiet (possibly dead) goldfish. What an important day! Well, wouldn’t you know, right in front of the judges’ stand, Mr. Puff discovered he could squeeze right through those wire bars and the fearless hunters and their very pregnant mother had to keep catching him and squeeze him back into his jail! The announcer loudly proclaimed, “The dangerous lion is escaping!” Poor Puff was really pooped by the time we got him home, but we made the front page of the local newspaper and won 1st prize: two pairs of roller skates.

In 1968 we had to bring Mr. Puff back to our suburban Chicago Humane Society when I brought home my new baby boy. Poor little Timmy was wheezing and coughing excessively and the doctor said we had to get rid of the cat. I kept Mr. Puff out of the house as long as I could until he jumped down from a tree and onto the back of a little girl scout. Puff had to go!

My husband always said that he knew for sure that Mr. Puff was immediately adopted by MGM studios and became the famous ‘Morris the Cat’ of TV and movies, making mucho bucks, and a really, really rich cat!

It turned out that Baby Tim was allergic to milk and all the wheezing ceased when he was fed soy bean substitute formula. When our sweet baby grew to be a teenager with the typical issues of most sixteen year olds, my husband would say, “should have kept the cat and gotten rid of the kid”. This was our punishment for not keeping Mr. Puff (aka) Morris the Money Making Cat!

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Another Bad Dog Book

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:02:00 GMT

Another Bad Dog Book

I had gone to the bookstore to read the gossip magazines for free when I saw it—yet another best-selling book about someone’s adorable, out-of-control dog. Usually these types of bad-dog stories center around a yellow Lab or similar large, loping breed, though the subject of this newest memoir was, according to the title, “a very bad beagle.”

The description on the back cover read pretty much the same as all those other bad-dog books that fly off the shelves. The doggie main character was an exuberant, incorrigible scamp with a habit of overturning houseplants, eating table legs, and making madcap dashes through restaurants, offices, and other public venues, all while teaching its owners life lessons like the value of commitment, and what it really means to be a family.

The very bad beagle’s mischievous eyes looked up at me from dozens of display copies, all hogging the most precious of real estate in the bookstore—the new release table at the entrance. Just seeing that cute face and those floppy ears, on a hard cover no less, aroused all of my considerable professional jealousy and frustration. My new release should have been the one on that front table, that is if I had bothered to write a new release. Unfortunately, my career as an author had not been going so well, at least not since I had discovered the Watch Instantly option on Netflix.

“In this heartwarming and hilarious memoir,” I began reading aloud from the cover copy, my voice dripping with disdain.
“I’ll be in the music section.” My daughter, who had come to the store with me to kill a rainy afternoon, quickly made her escape. This wasn’t the first time she’d heard me rant about dog books.

I returned the bad beagle to the table, face down as a form of protest. Of course the store showcased other, equally predictable instant best-sellers: yet another vampire book; another paean to Jane Austen; another celebrity autobiography penned by a ghost writer. Oddly enough, I felt no resentment toward these types of books, maybe because they seemed so far removed from my own realm of interest and ambitions. Vampires? Sure, I’d love to have sex with one, but what’s the fun in writing about it? Jane Austen? To me, Jane Austen was like horses, one of those common female obsessions totally lost on me. And celebrity life stories? I fantasized all the time about how great it would be to be a celebrity, specifically a member of the royal family. But if I was a royal, I wouldn’t deign to talk to anyone as common as a ghost writer.

But a bad-dog book! As I grabbed some magazines and headed to the café for a Caramocha, it hit me why this breed of book irked me so much. Bad-dog books are the one genre both publishers and readers adore . . . and I should be exploiting.
I have a bad dog. In fact, I’ve had several bad dogs throughout the years, all of them as incorrigible as any of those troublemakers whose life stories have been made into major motion pictures. What’s more, I am a dog person from a long line of dog people on my mother’s side of the family. (My father’s side, fussy Jews from Romania, are more like plastic slip-cover people.) I’m sure those best-selling bad-dog authors on their fancy book tours endlessly brag about how much they love their pets, but are they dog people like my people? Are they willing to kiss their dogs on the lips, regardless of where those lips have been?

My current bad dog is named Eli, a tiny creature with blackish, fuzzy fur and big, pointy ears. Given that Eli was a stray, his actual pedigree remains a mystery, but he appears to be a disheveled Chihuahua Bat. Eli weighs only nine pounds but has defied our four-hundred-dollar invisible fencing system. One time when I took him to town, he dashed into the open door of a costume designer’s studio, and peed on her imported Italian silk fabric. He also scratches a lot (though the fleas have finally been eradicated), and won’t let anyone pet our cat in peace. Eli has only lived with our family a short time, but already he has taught us countless life lessons, not the least of which is to forego the idea of carpeting or area rugs for the foreseeable future.

Yet, for all Eli’s bad-dog behavior, I love him with all my heart. In fact, on my “Happy List,” which I keep taped to my light therapy Sun Box that I use as my desk lamp, I accidentally ranked him above my husband and kids. And if we’re talking about best-selling potential, Eli even has a heartwarming back-story. He was a rescue dog, found wandering the streets of Hartford, Connecticut. After he was picked up and taken to a shelter, the veterinarian who first treated him determined that she needed to pull nine of his little rotten teeth. Unless you happen to be a starving kitten dumped into a library drop box in the middle of a Midwestern snow squall, a back-story doesn’t get any better than that.

As I sat in the café thinking about my dog and how much more fascinating he was than most celebrities, an idea started to take shape. I pushed aside the gossip magazines I had been skimming, retrieved a notepad from my purse, and began to write… (con’t)

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A Dog is a Dog

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:01:00 GMT

A Dog is a Dog

“A Commentary on Life with a Canine”

By Roberta Giroux
Recently a friend e-mailed me photos of her latest completed project. Her client was an interior designer’s dream come true, wealthy and in need of a total home renovation. As I viewed the slide show, I marveled at the gleaming hardwood, luxurious Persian rugs, raw silk draperies flowing to form puddles of fabric on the floor, velvet couches, and leather ottomans, to name just a few of the very fine elements. Many thoughts ran through my mind… Where was this house located? What did the owners do for a living? What did this lavishness cost? But, foremost was the realization that there was no way these people had a dog, a big dog, a seventy pound long-haired shedding dog. A dog that was losing his summer coat to make way for the even thicker winter coat, a dog with dirty paws and pieces of dried leaves stuck to his bottom; who pants and drools at the mention of a kitty-cat. Like the dog that is living in my house.

We call him Bentley, as in the classic British sedan. It sounds distinguished, refined and sensible. His looks compliment his name. “Your dog is gorgeous” we often hear from strangers. My husband and I thank them, beaming with pride as if we were somehow responsible. A white coat, with large swatches of golden-red lightly freckle his snout and front legs. His wavy soft hair and glorious feathery tail, a colleague once observed look like a plume on a lady’s hat. His almond shaped eyes match the color of his spots and appear to be rimmed with black eye liner. Sometimes when he is enjoying the sun on the back patio, calmly sitting, face to the sky, I absolutely think he is one top dog.

The truth is, Bentley is a mutt. From various accounts he appears to have a Saint Bernard, Golden Retriever, and Border Collie hodgepodge of traits, some more desirable than others. He and his sister Mercedes were guesstimated to be about eight weeks old when they were brought to a rescue shelter in rural Mississippi. The pair had been abandoned on a backcountry road, and at the time of their arrival the staff was using automobile names to identify the strays. We weren’t sure that we liked “Bentley”, but he answered to it. Since he had already been through who knows what, we decided to keep it and him, in spite of his questionable background. If anything, because he was so adorable, we felt regret that we hadn’t met him sooner – robbed so to speak of those months of puppy cuteness.

We were a bit nervous too. It had been nearly four years since our painful loss of Lizzie, another rescue puppy we had acquired at seven months. She came with a bowl, collar, leash and severe anxiety. More than one veterinarian had explained that the first four months are critical…everything that happens up to that time is cement in a dog’s memory bank. So what did Bentley’s hold?

Well it turns out that Bentley is not that complicated and a great deal less sophisticated than his name implies. His behaviors are motivated by his constant desire to be part of the pack, and he views my husband Steve as the leader. If Bentley could write a “Top Ten List of Favorites” this is how it would look:
1. Steve
2. Hiking with Steve
3. Riding in Steve’s truck
4. Getting to stay in the truck when we get back home and take a nap
5. Running with Steve
6. Catching Steve’s Frisbee
7. Eating peanut butter Kongs
8. Chewing plastic stuff, cardboard tubes, used dinner napkins
9. Playing at The Ranch with my buddies
10. Roberta

Now, Steve would try to tell you that I’m at least number five on the list, but I know better. Bentley is very good at what we call “interruptus betweenus”. He can be in a deep sleep, yet suddenly appear when he realizes that we’re talking, or cooking, or in the studio fiddling with paint – it doesn’t matter. Hearing both of our voices means that it is time for him to participate too. He needs the reassurance that he is still in the pack, and if at all possible he will sit on my foot to show me where I belong in the hierarchy. A good example of this is the day I was upstairs and Steve came to the bottom of the stairs to ask me something. I sat down on the top stair to have the conversation and sure enough, Bentley arrived on the scene, climbed the stairs, turned around, and sat on the stair in front of me so that he could face Steve. Of course he managed to sit on my feet.

So I suppose he does have a touch of insecurity that comes with his history. I hate to say that he came with baggage – that is such a human term. Through our rose colored glasses of love we try to remember that he is a dog, and dogs like to be dogs, doing dog things. That’s what all the dog experts say. Still, if you came to my home, even if we had just finished vacuuming, Bentley’s presence makes a statement that lets you know, he might just be a little bit more than that.

Roberta Giroux is a managing partner at BowWowMedia.tv She welcomes your comments via e-mail: roberta@bowwowmedia.tv

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Animals as Gifts

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:25:00 GMT

Animals as Gifts

Kate Hoehn

Holidays, Birthdays, and Anniversaries can be a stressful time for those faced with one difficult question: What do I give for a gift? Many choose from a standard list including items such as iPods, cameras, and other electronics, as well as appliances and clothing. Now more than ever, people are opting to give pets, with kittens and puppies seemingly the most popular; as gifts to their loved ones.

Pets can make irreplaceable companions and unbeatable gifts, which I found out first-hand on three separate occasions. I received Sadie B, a Pomeranian for Christmas the year I turned eight years old; Bailey, a German Shepherd for my seventeenth birthday; and Cliff (also known as Heath Cliff), a spontaneous present when the seven week old orange kitten was in need of a good home. While it is true that pets bring us untold joy and wonderful companionship, they are also a huge responsibility.

I have had nothing but good luck with my companions given as presents. But, there are things to be aware of and take into consideration, when it comes to giving an animal as a gift. When I received Sadie as a child, my parents were aware and supportive of the puppy being given to me. If you are considering surprising a child with a pet, absolutely do not make it a surprise to the parents. Have the parents participate in picking out not only the species and breed of animal, but also the specific critter that shall be adopted into their home and family. This will help ensure that the animal is the right fit for the family. A child is not capable of taking full care of a puppy or kitten or paying veterinary bills, so there must be an adult willing to take responsibility for the new addition. My parents were the ones to give me Sadie, so they were aware that they would be performing many of the daily necessities to care for a puppy.

If you are going to be giving a teenager a dog or cat, you should plan for the future. What will happen to the animal when it is time for the teen to move out for go to college? No surprise introductions. Have the recipient of the gift pick out and meet the animal before adopting, and again, get the blessing from the parents if the animal will be living in their household. I refused to leave Bailey with my parents when the time came for me to move out on my own. Having a German Shepherd made it nearly impossible to live on any college campus, and continues to make it difficult to find an apartment. Many landlords do not allow pets, especially large dogs with somewhat misconstrued reputations. Since I knew all of this when I adopted Bailey, I have no regrets.

Think twice about your plan to put that puppy or kitten under the Christmas tree this year. In general, Christmas or the first night of Hanukkah are not appropriate times for introducing an animal to a new home. There is usually too much activity for an animal to be properly welcomed into a new environment.
Many humane organizations simply will not adopt out an animal for the purpose of holiday gift giving because, sadly, up to half of them end up back at their doorsteps.
In order to prevent an animal given as a gift from being abused, neglected, or abandoned, it is crucial to make sure that the recipient really wants an animal. Is that person ready, responsible, and stable enough to take care of an animal?

While getting a young puppy from a breeder is great, consider adopting a dog or cat from a shelter, it could save a life. Most humane societies require interviews with the potential adopter and all of the adults living in the household before making a decision to adopt out a dog or cat. Let the person know about the wonderful gift you want to give them, because they are a vital part of the process of welcoming a new pet.

Another option for helping a loved one get a pet, is to give a gift certificate to be used at a shelter when the time is right. Also, consider pairing the gift certificate with a gift basket filled with all of the things that a new pet will need, such as toys, a collar and leash, treats, food, and bedding, as well as books on training, breeds, and living with an animal.

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Ipads: Not Just For Humans Anymore

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:22:00 GMT

IPads: Not Just For Humans Anymore

Kate Hoehn

Technology is everywhere, including underneath my cat, Cliff, as he transforms the keyboard of my laptop into his

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bed and favorite place to relax. There is now a reason for cats to take over your computer though. The Mac IPad has been developed not only for humans, but recently, for cats!
A new application by Hiccup has been made available for download and is designed for your cat’s entertainment and has been referred to as “the world’s best video game (for cats, not humans).” You’re cat can now chase a laser or mouse on the screen of the IPad or IPhone. Available at the App Store is a free download of the laser level, or the mouse level as an in-app purchase, and totally worth it.
Check it out at www.ipadgameforcats.com

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Human-Animal Bond

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:05:00 GMT

This is Why I Stand Out in the Rain Watching my Dog Go to the Bathroom

Kim Jones DVM Stoney Brook Veterinary Hospital Lebanon, NH

You may be familiar with the veterinarian’s role as medical provider, preacher of proper diets, and administrator of vaccines. A less well known role, but no less important, involves matters of the heart. The veterinary field uses the term “Human – Animal bond” to describe the commitment and love humans have for their pets. Pets are not working animals. They provide no sustenance or source of income. There is no monetary justification for all the things we do for them. We just love them, or we love them because our kids love them. Our bond with pets is special and unique. Each person may have a pet preference. Dog people cannot comprehend avid rat lovers who carry around their little friends in their sleeves. The dignified cat and its human sit in the lobby with quiet disdain, observing the drooling out of control Labrador, unsuccessfully trying to pull it together before entering the exam room. Horse people cannot understand why anyone would put up with a litter box in the house. Different strokes for different folks.

The pets we love give us a reason to get up and get going. They give us a reason to consider
buying a $400 vacuum, or spend a few hours a week scouring dried saliva off the walls and nose prints off the windows. They are the reason we trudge out to the barn through four feet of snow in subzero weather, to make sure their water isn’t frozen, and they have enough hay. Our pets give us perspective on our daily hardships, and simplify the meaning of life.

For a family veterinarian, this love makes my job so rewarding. People know they can always get another cat, but they want THEIR cat to live. So I remove the Christmas tree tinsel out of Sassy’s intestines and get her back to her family. People know they can buy another guinea pig, but their child is in love with THEIR guinea pig. So I examine and treat little Peanut for an upper respiratory infection and make him healthy again. There may be plenty of dogs to adopt, but people love THEIR dog. So Dozer goes to the specialist and has his knee repaired.

There are many examples of the lengths to which we’ll go, to help our pets. I’d like to share a few of those memorable stories:
A man was visiting the Upper Valley from Massachusetts and lost his dog while hiking around Boston Lot Reservoir. He ended up taking a leave of absence from work and searched for his dog for 6 weeks, until he finally found her. I was lucky enough to be the vet who saw him and his dog right after he found her. He was crying tears of joy into his cell phone, as he called his wife and announced “ I got her, I got her” over and over. Apart from being very skinny and dehydrated, the dog was okay to go home. The faith this man had, not to mention an undeniably cool boss and wife, to allow this search to go on for 6 weeks. Would I be able to do that for my dog?

Another time, an elderly woman with very little money was determinedly caring for her 60 pound diabetic dog. The dog was notoriously grumpy and difficult, with his twice daily injections and frequent trips to the vet for blood tests. Although she couldn’t really afford it, the woman never faltered in her financial sacrifice to continue treatment. She confided in me, she was absolutely certain this dog was her deceased husband, reincarnated in the dog. This woman was not crazy, she was quite rational and educated in every way. How could I question that sort of devotion?

Another family would not give up at all costs, when their 12 year old Labrador developed such a severe infection in her hind leg joint, her ankle basically came unhinged. Despite her age and terrible prognosis, they took her to Tufts Veterinary School and had major irondog surgery and metal fixators placed on her leg. She had many complications with the leg and hardware. She also had another surgery in her larynx because the cartilage was getting weak and she had a hard time breathing. FINALLY, after a year of difficulties, she healed. This dog is now over thirteen, walking around easily, wagging her tail like the bright ray of yellow Labrador sunshine she is. I am humbled by that level of faith and devotion. I can’t imagine, having thought she wouldn’t survive the ordeal. The sacrifice of time and money that family made for their dog was done from pure love.

There was a dog that was dropped off at the local humane society by a relative. The dog’s family had lost their home and couldn’t keep the dog. I got to meet the dog to try to help him with a terrible cough. He was middle aged but his heart was fine. The cough persisted and didn’t respond to the standard treatments. After two weeks, the shelter manager called the relative for more information about the dog. It turned out the dog had been in a house fire. He had been the one to wake up the family in the night and warn them. They were able to escape before their house burned down. Once I treated him properly for smoke inhalation, his cough went away. His heroic story was added to his personality profile and he was adopted within a week!

There are so many lessons we can learn from our pets. Some are inspiring, humorous, or painful, but they deepen our compassion and open our minds to new perspectives. Animal lovers are the most genuine people I know and I consider myself lucky to be able to share in the Human – Animal bond every day.

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You are What You Eat

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:58:00 GMT

You Are What You Eat

Dr. Susan Dyer
Most of us are aware of the obesity epidemic afflicting America. Fewer of us are aware of this epidemic afflicting our pets, and our pet birds are no exception!
The traditional diet offered by pet stores to birds is seeds. Occasionally a pet store may recommend some other human foods to supplement your bird’s diet, but these foods are often not ideal either.
Seeds are very high in fat, which makes them delicious. Unfortunately, much like a Twinkie, they are deficient in important vitamins and minerals. This combination results in overweight yet undernourished birds with poor skin or feather quality and fragile bones. Many people don’t recognize the poor feather quality or so-called “stress bars” in their birds feathers as abnormal. But, when their bird has improved after eating a better diet for a few months, many will notice a difference.
The ideal diet for a bird is pellets, since they are balanced based on the specific requirements for birds. People are often comfortable feeding their livestock, chickens, dogs and cats balanced and “pelleted” diets, but incorrectly shy away from feeding their pet birds these diets. Ideally, we recommend a pelleted diet with no dyes or other additives, but even these diets are better than seeds. The primary diet of our pet birds should consist of 90% pellets, 7% vegetables and 3% fruit.
Converting a bird from a seed to pelleted diet is not always easy, but well worth it for the increased health and well being of your bird. Please don’t attempt to do this conversion on your own. Schedule a consultation with your veterinarian to evaluate your bird’s overall health to be sure it is able to tolerate the stress of a diet conversion. Many stubborn birds put themselves at risk by boycotting their new diet. Your veterinarian can teach you how to monitor your bird’s health while doing a diet conversion. If your bird is particularly difficult to convert, a veterinarian can also board your bird while doing the conversion under direct supervision.
If you must supplement your bird’s diet with other foods, below is a table that includes appropriate foods and their function in the body. Be aware, that your average parrot should only get thin slivers for portion size. Think of feeding a parrot a grape as being similar to a human eating an entire watermelon. Your pet will get lots of fluid and sugar, but not a large amount of balanced nutrients from that single item.

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Distance Driving

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:56:00 GMT

Susan Greenall

DISTANCE DRIVING

To Finish is to Win

If you are looking for a way to enjoy your driving horse in a relaxed competitive setting, distance driving may be for you. Distance driving emerged in 1984 as an alternative to competitive trail riding. Since then, it has diversified and grown in many forms. The basic concept is to compete the driving horse over a prescribed distance in a set time and finish in the best form possible. While competitive in nature, the events are designed for the driver, and horse, to have a great time, enjoy the countryside, and have a feeling of accomplishment at the end.

Since there is no “national” organization sanctioning these events, most have adopted rules from existing local or regional distance riding groups. Such examples are Eastern Competitive Trail Riding Association (ECTRA), South East Distance Riding Association (SEDRA), Midwest Distance Driving Association (MDDA) which operates under the rules of the Upper Midwest Endurance and Competitive Trail Riding Association (UMECTRA) and the National Endurance Driving Association (NEDA) which follows American Endurance Riding Association (AERC) rules. Many of the distance driving competitions are held along with a distance riding competition, which adds to the fun.

The distances may vary, from 10 to 100 miles (over three days) with the main emphasis on the condition and well being of the horse. The pace averages 6-7.5 mph (9.5-12 kph), which is slower than most combined driving marathons. There is usually a veterinary hold about half way where the horse is examined to be sure it is fit to continue. Judging at the end of the drive is based on pulse and respiration recovery, soundness, tack area, metabolics and the overall impression of the horse.

Robin Groves, two time member of the USEF World Champion Singles Driving Team, uses ECTRA distance driving as a method of cross-training her horses. “I love the sport,” she tells, “it is a pure and simple test of reinsmanship, horsemanship and intelligence. Some of our drives take us over some tough terrain which requires as much skill, if not more, than an advanced CDE.”

Sue Morris, of Pierson, Florida, was the 2009 Driving Champion for SEDRA. She drove in three, one day events, a total of 82 miles, with her Arabian horse, Zanzer. “We started out in Pleasure driving shows doing a lot of local driven dressage and cones which he excelled at. We graduated to driving trials and eventually a full combined driving event. Eventually I looked for something less financially exacting and since I had a history in distance riding I asked if there were any drivers out there doing distance driving. We were welcomed by SEDRA who is the local distance riding organization in the state of Florida. My horse loves the trails (could it be cuz mom does?), and because I have physical limitations that prevent riding, happily we can compete driving.”

The Midwest Distance Driving Association (MDDA) started up in 2001 and has been growing ever since. In 2010 we have reached our high point of 21 competitive driving days,” tells Jacque Deweese. “We had 19 drivers participating in at least one event. The pace ranges from 6 to 7 mph. Distances longer than 15 miles include a break and vet check at a mid point in the drive.”

“The emphasis is on safety and the well being of the horse with most drivers simply enjoying the opportunity to drive and share some beautiful trails in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. The motto of MDDA is “To Finish is to Win”. Our members are also members of UMECRA whose motto is “Persevere”. One story in particular comes to mind where one of our drivers had a close encounter with a deer on the trail. The reaction of his horse resulted in a broken shaft which he quickly repaired with a sapling and duct tape to finish the drive.”

MDDA’s most active driver, Tim and Ruth Casserly, explain how they got involved with the sport. “When Wes Licht and Tony Troyer of MDDA came to a meeting of our local pleasure driving club and presented the sport of distance driving, I saw it as a perfect fit for us and our horses! A month later was the first event of the 2009 schedule, preceded by a clinic to describe the rules, scoring, etc. We drove through the mud and cold rain and had a wonderful time! When we received our score sheets at the awards ceremony (at the end of the day), we did remarkably well considering we didn’t know what we were doing! We attended 3 events, a total of 5 drives and 79 miles and were MDDA 2009- Pairs Rookies of the Year.”

“When the 2010 schedule came out, I set our goal of driving at all days of all the events! I’ve been told that no one has done this feat before in the history of MDDA, so why not go for it?!? Tim does all the driving, I am full time groom and nag-ivator. Tim and I have not opted for the top mileage on each date, perhaps leaving a goal for a future year?! “

“We compete with a pair of home raised Arabians. Prior to distance driving, we did a lot of trail riding with them. In the winter, we get together with friends with horse teams, hitch our boys to a bobsled and go out and play in the snow.”

“If you love to be out in the woods and prairies driving your favorite equine(s) with like-minded people, check out distance driving! I feel that it is a true test of your training and nutrition programs. The hours and miles of conditioning and competing build a very close bond with your animal(s)! We love going to new parks to drive, with trails that have been marked, cleared and approved for our use. Find a distance driving club and attend a clinic, see if it sounds like something you’d like to try! So why not try it, what do you have to lose? “

The British Driving Society (BDS) embraced the concept of distance driving in 1988 to bridge the gap between private and F.E.I. driving, enabling drivers with any type of horse or pony to compete on equal terms.. They implemented a pass/fail competition of three levels, bronze (40Km in one day), silver (40Km on day one, and 20KM on day two) and gold (40Km on day one, and 40Km on day two). One needed to turn out a perfect score from the vet, farrier and timer in order to earn a medal. Pneumatic tired vehicles are not permitted and the combined weight of the vehicle and passengers may not outweigh the horse or pony.

The sport emphasizes good management in training and skilful driving where turnouts arrive home in good condition and without penalties. Entrants are keen and interested in meeting and helping each other during the event. They enjoy both the day and the drives, probably because it is an event where they compete against their own achievements, past and present, and not against each other.

The biggest difference between endurance driving and other forms of distance driving is that it is not judged…it is a race. The National Endurance Driving Association (NEDA) was formed in 1989 in Nevada and most recently a race was held in conjunction with the Winnemucca Mule Races and Show and Draft Horse Challenge in Nevada. The race started twenty-five miles from the Fairgrounds and finished on the track in front of the grandstand. On course, one 15 minute pulse gate is used once the horse met 64 beats per minute. Any type of vehicle may be used as long as it has at least one wheel or runner. Prize money is given to fourth place.

Steve Thompson, of Silver Springs, NV, is the contact person for NEDA and an avid driver himself. “Most of our events are here in the Silver Springs area, we are having a night race here at my house Saturday night, and a two day race at Frenchman’s reservoir next weekend.” Horses are required to pass a “vet” inspection in order to continue. At least one inspection every 20 miles is suggested. “I enjoy cart racing as it blends the accomplishment of endurance riding with the thrill and skill of driving fast (most is done at fast trot to full gallop) and finishing in one piece.”

How to get started in the sport of distance driving? First, contact an organization in your area. If you have the opportunity to get to a distance drive to observe and ask questions, you will learn a lot of what is expected of you and your horse. You will find that these groups welcome newcomers and are only too willing to give advice.

A well fitting harness, of any material, and a safe and comfortable carriage are very important, both to you and your horse. You will then need to start a conditioning program where you keep track of your horse’s progress over increasing distances and times. You need not drive 25 miles for your first event if a lesser distance is offered and you should to allow 6-8 weeks for your conditioning program. To offer a guideline, if you can travel 10-15 miles in 1:30 to 2 hours and have your horse’s pulse recover to 44 or less in 30 minutes you are ready to compete. Be sure to check the terrain you will be competing on and attempt to duplicate that in your drives. Most importantly, be prepared to have fun!

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The Art of Ponying

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:55:00 GMT

TWO FOR ONE – THE ART OF PONYING

Susan Greenall

The main object of ponying was to exercise more than one horse at a time. It is not uncommon to see a string of 5 or 6 polo ponies strung together for an hour of exercise. It is advisable, however, to start with just one extra horse. Distance riders like using this method of exercise to condition their horses. “Many of us find ourselves with one old campaigner and a new horse that we are getting ready,” explains Dr. Heather Hoyns, a veterinarian from Windsor, Vt. “I have limited time to ride, so ponying was the logical solution. It keeps the older horse fit and develops the younger horse at the same time. I was able to bring the new horse along a lot faster as he did not have to carry my weight before developing some muscle. It also allowed him to adjust to our hilly terrain. By the time I was riding him and ponying my seasoned horse, he was in very good shape.”

Traveling down the trail alongside a seasoned horse is a very good mental exercise for a young horse. They get to see all the “boogies in the bushes” under the calm guidance of a trained horse. It is much easier, on both man and beast, to get over all that at the end of a rope rather than under saddle. “We purchased some young stock from Canada that were just about feral,” tells Liisa Mayo in NY. They were draft crosses and as two year olds were never going to get any smaller or easier to handle! A common practice among draft horse trainers is to tie a youngster to the outside of a hitch and simply take him along until he got the hang of it. We didn’t have a quiet pair of drafts, but we did have a dead quiet gelding that would put up with just about anything. We started the young stock by ponying them off of that gelding. Because they related to him and he was not bothered by us, the youngsters accepted us far better than if we were on foot. We were amazed how quickly they adjusted to being touched and led. “

The young horse perhaps benefits the most from this exercise. First, they do not have to carry a rider’s weight. Second, they have another horse to rely on for confidence. And thirdly, they learn to travel in a group and obey commands. “I start ponying my babies at about two months of age,” tells Linda Curcio, a small breeder in NJ. I ride the mare and simply take the foal around the pasture or ring a few times at a walk. By they time they are weaned, they can trot along easily. As yearlings I take them along on the trail, by the time they are two they have been over creeks, climbed some hills and cantered along quietly. At three I can pony their younger siblings while I ride them!”

Before you run out and grab two horses, there are a few important tips to share to make ponying the positive experience it should be. The horse you are riding is very important. It does not have to be dead quiet, but it does have to be well trained. Consider that you will have to split your attention between the two horses and that the one your are riding need not demand all of your attention to control him. “I was very surprised to find my rather challenging to ride Morgan an excellent horse to pony off of”, commented Lucy Snook. “He actually liked the idea of controlling another horse and would pin his ears if the other tried to put his nose out front. “

The horse you are riding needs to be tolerant to being bumped by the ponied horse. If the horse you are riding is forever attempting to get away from the horse you are holding, you are not in for a good experience. “I had a sensitive Arab mare who ponied beautifully,” adds Lucy. “However, the reason she was so nice to lead along is that she always kept her distance from the horse I was riding. When I attempted to pony off of her, she was terribly upset every time the other horse bumped her. It simply was not a good combination.”

There are several ways to manage two horses. A long cotton rope and a sturdy, snug fitting halter are necessities. Should you anticipate that the ponied horse might be difficult to control, you can place the cotton rope over his nose or use a chain. Be sure that you have led the horse with a chain before attempting to use one while riding. Many people simply hold the rope in one hand and the reins with the other. Riding a horse that neck reins or understands indirect rein comes in very handy. The danger in this method is that the rider can be pulled from the horse being ridden. Dallying the rope around a Western horn is workable, but has the potential for disaster should the ponied horse pull the saddle to the side.
Employing the use of a stirrup leather around the horse’s neck through which you can run the cotton lead will allow leverage in handling the ponied horse. It will also allow you to use two hands on the reins.. The stirrup leather is very safe in that it will not interfere with the rider should the ponied horse balk or pull. In fact, it allows the ridden horse to act as an “anchor” for control. The leather should be placed loosely around the ridden horse’s neck and can be secured to the saddle with a small strap. This will prevent the leather from running up the neck should the ponied horse pull to the front. The cotton lead is run through the strap and twisted several times before going into the hand. The rider will be holding two pieces of rope.

The rider needs to practice adjusting the rope from the hand before heading out alone. By simply relaxing the hand, the ponied horse can pull out more rope. In order to shorten the rope, the rider will need to pull in the loose end with the other hand. It takes some practice, but works very well .

Starting out in an enclosed area is a very good idea if available. Practice starting, stopping and turning. The ponied horse should never be allowed behind the horse you are riding, he should always be along side. When changing direction, take care that you do not turn your horse too quickly as you can “trap” the ponied horse behind you. A rope under a tail is no fun, indeed. Once you, and the horses, are comfortable, move up to a trot. Use a verbal command so that the horse you are leading understands what is expected of him. The same for a halt, be clear with your signal to both horses. Most horses take to this exercise very quickly and enjoy it. Employ turns and serpentines, anything you can think of to keep the horses thinking that this is training exercise not a game. Cantering two horses takes some coordination, but is really quite easy to do. Just concentrate on keeping the horses together and be clear to them what you want.

Taking two horses out on the trails is really quite a bit of fun. If you are worried about your first adventure, ask someone to ride along with you. Have them stay in front and set pace, as this will allow you to better concentrate on your two. If you have a balky horse, you can have a rider behind him to encourage him forward.

“I had a gelding who was just the best pony horse I ever had,” recalls Curcio. “I could take a young horse out with him and canter through wooded trails and he would help balance that youngster and correct them if they tried to get ahead or pull. Every horse I started off of him was super on the trails and never minded riding in a group or got excited about galloping in the hunt field. I still get a thrill thinking about some of those training rides.”
Happy riding!

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Dog Questions

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:52:00 GMT

Dear Rebecca,
I am asked this question all too often, and there are certainly a few important things to keep in mind when training a dog to reliably come when called.
1. Always use a happy, upbeat voice. For your dog, upbeat voices are generally a predictor of good things. Deep, angry voices tend to cause dogs to be hesitant in coming your way. No matter what Bain has done, always be super happy when calling him to you. Tone of voice and facial expressions will prompt Bain to run towards you, not away from you.
2. Only call Bain if you are positive you’ll get the response you want; otherwise it’s a waste of breath causing you to be more frustrated. If he’s in the middle of playing or chasing something, chances are he’s not going to come running to you if you’ve never taught him to do so. Besides, chasing things or rolling in dead things is historically more rewarding than coming to you…until now.
3. Practice makes perfect! First with no distractions, then build up one distraction at a time. Until Bain becomes conditioned to run to you immediately after calling him, it’s unlikely to happen.
4. Motivation! Give Bain a great reason to come running to you. Use “high value” food motivators to reward him when he comes. Pencil eraser size pieces of hot dog, cheese cubes or deli ends work wonders. He will soon start to learn that “Bain! Come! = High Value Reward.
With dogs, it’s all about association and doing what works for them. Dog training requires patience and consistency, and considering what is highly motivating from their point of view, not ours.

Dear Lisa,
It’s always exciting to welcome a new addition into your family. Here are some quick and simple tricks, to help Kayla acclimate. Dogs learn by association and the most important rule is to begin by creating a positive association with the crate. Start by simply feeding Kayla in her crate. Placing her food bowl just inside the crate so she sticks her head in to eat, is one way to start this association. All new toys and yummy things to chew on, should be tossed into the crate so she’ll go in to get them. The goal is about having all good things happen when she’s around the crate. Sit on the floor a few feet away from the crate and gently toss a high value treat (cheese or hot dogs bits work well) one at a time into the crate. She should enter to get the treat and come back out. That’s your cue to toss another one in. Do this a few times in a row throughout the day to help continue building a great association. Comfy bedding is a must and leaving the door open when you are not actively training is also important. Short training sessions throughout the day for a few days, will work wonders in the long run. When she’s happy staying in the crate, gently shut the door without latching it. Offer a high value treat through the wire door and then swing the door open wide so she can come right back out. Briefly work for longer periods of time in the crate with the door shut, rewarding her for remaining calm and quiet when she’s in there. Always be sure to wait for her to be quiet before opening the door, once she has learned to like her crate. After you’ve spent a little training time you’ll be well on your way to forming a bond between your pup and her crate!

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Horse Questions

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:51:00 GMT

Paddock Partners

Question: I am seeing horses turned out with blankets on in different weather, and then I see other horses without any blankets on ever. How do I know if I should blanket my horse? – Marcey – Royalton, VT

Answer: Thank you for your question! I am sure that many horses would appreciate their owners becoming as educated about this as possible. Originally, horses developed in areas of extreme weather and their bodies naturally protect themselves from many different types of weather. They can grow very long dense coats that protect against cold, wind, and most water situations, they can shed out to a very sleek and thin coat in the summer to protect against heat, and yet shield their skin from UV rays and bugs. More importantly, what is your plan for your horse? If you plan to give your horse the winter off with a few fun rides here and there as weather allows, and you will have the time to properly cool your horse out after these rides, then let your horse grow his coat out and don’t worry about blanketing. The ability to grow a coat and have air on the skin is a healthy thing for a horse. However, if you are going to ride or work your horse through the winter and are likely to make it sweat, even a little, know that the winter coat has a density with the same ability to hold in sweat and moisture, as it does to hold in warmth. If you have to cut your cooling out time short, and you put your horse away with any dampness, it could get a chill. It is those horses in work that are blanketed to prevent the growth of a long coat, as well as those who have been clipped in a way that takes away their natural protection. When we clip a horse we have reduced its ability to stay safe in the elements. The only time a horse should be clipped is when it is absolutely necessary for work related or hygiene related reasons. Horses’ coats are water resistant, but not at all waterproof. If they are outside where the rain can get to them, they need to have the safety of a shelter and in very cold temperatures, a water proof sheet. The sheet doesn’t offer warmth, just protection from the moisture. A horse will let you know if you are making the right choices by shivering. Remember to look at a shivering horse with realistic eyes. Shivering on a cold morning stimulates the hair growth, so don’t panic, give your horse a flake of hay and you will see the shivering subside. Shivering on a rainy day is something that needs to be prevented, by either bringing the horse in to a shelter or barn, or getting it as dry as possible and putting a water proof sheet on it. All in all it is important to protect a horse whose natural defenses have been diminished in any way. Otherwise, the natural horse is just fine without any blankets.

Question: My horse is eating the poop in its pasture, it has plenty of grass and I even leave hay out for it, but it still eats poop. Pam – Lyme, NH

Answer: This is always a tricky question as no one wants to think of their beloved horse being in a situation where they resort to coprohagia, the scientific word for eating stool. There are many reasons that a horse may eat stool, and there are just as many important reasons we do not want it to do that. Primarily, parasites are the reason that we don’t want them eating stool. Part of a parasite’s life cycle is outside of the horse, or host, and part of it involves getting back in. There are a couple of trains of thought as to why a horse would do this. Lack of other feeds could be a cause, or boredom. It seems like you have the concern about feed covered, with a grass pasture and hay. Your horse may also have teeth issues that make masticating the fibrous grass and hay difficult. Your vet can determine if there are dental issues. Boredom can be part of the problem. Does your horse have a pasture mate? Do you ride it, or work with it in any way? If it spends hours on end in the pasture with only a visit at feeding time, I would suggest going out and interacting with your horse more, to see if that makes a difference. It doesn’t have to be riding or driving your horse, it could be grooming, or “in hand” work. There are also boredom toys that can be purchased if you simply don’t have time. Some are more effective than others, but try some. We notice that Jolly Balls, get some good action here at my farm. There are also products that you can fill with treats, or carefully use to dispense the horses’ daily ration of grain, that work well. Still another train of thought is that an animal that resorts to coprohagia is missing something in its diet that needs to be supplemented. This could be vitamins or minerals, or it could be bacteria necessary for proper digestion. The first thing would be to take a simple blood test to be sure that the horse is healthy, and that there is not one specific vitamin or mineral that the horse is lacking. This may be something that is working hand in hand with a feed change, if your horse has had a change in diet, for example, a new grain, or just changing from all grass or hay, to a different ratio of grass and hay. Sometimes adding a probiotic that can be purchased through the local feed or tack store can stop it. If this is not related to feed changes and the horse is otherwise healthy, then be sure that the horse has access to a mineral block, or salt lick. Any salt lick that is offered to the horse should contain minerals and not just white salt. There are many on the market, if you are confused about which one to get, a call to your vet can help inform your choice. Please know that no matter what the reason for the horse doing this, we would like it to stop, as it is hazardous to encourage the parasite life cycle. If nothing else works some people suggest feeding garlic to the horse, or manufactured feed supplements that could deter a horse from this behavior.

Please submit questions for this column and Heidi, by visiting www.4legsandatail.com
Heidi Jo Hauri-Gill is co-owner, along with her husband Bob, of First Choice Riding Academy in Enfield, NH. A graduate from Morven Park and a UNH “L” graduate with distinction, Heidi spends her days teaching and training at the farm. www.firstchoiceridingacademy.com

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The Diva

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:46:00 GMT

Michael Fanizzi

The Diva

Bored with the beauty of the lake, the Diva retreated to the patio and stretched out on the lounge chair next to mine. The sun hit her golden hair, and I was filled with joy and blessed the day the Diva had come into my life. She glared at me, and my fantasy quickly ended. One must be careful never to invade the Diva’s personal space so I quickly found refuge on the porch.

Satisfied she now had patio all to herself, the Diva moved into the grass. She frolicked in the newly mowed grass and looked like a young dancer who had finally lost all her inhibitions. This brief moment of bliss suddenly ended with a shrill cry. In mid step, the Diva had hit a small rock hidden in the grass. I had not raked. Her look of disdain told me there would be consequences. The Diva never wasted energy. She would wait until I was close enough to show me her disappointment about the rock.

Retreat was the better part of valor so I fled into the house. She would soon want her lunch. The Diva’s palate was unpredictable, and I always worried that yesterday’s fancy feast would become today’s swill. An annoyed hiss outside alerted me the Diva was ready to come in and that the door had not been opened. Living peacefully with the Diva meant anticipating her every want. I had missed another cue. There would be consequences.

I opened the door, and she stood motionless deciding if and when she would enter. Even a hint of impatience on my part would earn a menacing stare. She finally crossed the threshold and stopped briefly only to let me know that although there would be no consequences at this time for the stone and the closed door, she would not forget. Her lunch was set out for her, and to my relief her expression of indifference and not disdain told me it was to her liking. She ate quickly and for someone of her breed not very neatly. I had made the mistake once of approaching her while she ate. The scratches had healed quickly.

With lunch done, the Diva went for her nap. She chose the couch and soon was asleep. Her beautiful hair glowed against the green of the couch, and I saw her inner beauty shine through. The glow erupted into an explosion when the phone woke her. I had forgotten to mute it when she went for her nap. There would be consequences and… well you know.

After the Diva marched off into the guest room to finish her nap, I came out from behind the kitchen island where I was hiding and muted the phone. She would come out in a few hours for dinner, or in a few minutes for a snack. I had to be ready for either or face her wrath.

The Diva had a horrible first six weeks of her life, and since the day she came to me I have tried to make up for it. I have willingly offered the couch or any of the other pieces of living room furniture for her to claw. She has special treats, two kitty litter boxes and the occasional hand full of catnip. I comb her hair, clip her nails and clean her face. My reward has been an uneasy co-existence much like the inhabitants of occupied France endured during the Second World War.

She came out early for dinner, and I was not properly prepared. A look let me know this would be added to the stone, closed door, and un-muted phone. After dinner, we sat in our favorite chair and watched TV. The Diva had always deferred to my choice of shows. Of course, my choice had to somehow agree with what she wanted. I added watching the Antiques Road Show when she wanted NCIS to the stone, closed door, un-muted phone and late dinner.

I had never believed in re-incarnation, but the thought had entered my mind that my Diva had once been Marc Anthony’s Cleopatra and our lake her Nile. I only hoped I was not the slave that would be buried with her in her final resting place after the Asp had fulfilled its mission. Dying was not a problem, but spending all eternity with consequences would be.

I prepared her bed and fixed just the right number of pillows in just the right position. I carefully arranged the coverlet so as not to smother her, a thought that, like re-incarnation, had entered my mind. Only after her expression of indifference signaled everything was as she wanted, did I slip quietly into my third of the bed. Any rustle of a pillow or movement of a sheet would spell disaster and …. well, I really don’t have to repeat myself, do I?

Only after the lights went off, did my Diva show me why I loved her so. My Cleopatra stretched out her long slender body next to mine and purred in my ear. I knew what she wanted and began to stroke her. She arched her back and asked for more. My hands knew all her special places. Soon the insatiable would be satisfied.

Suddenly, she turned on me. Her fluffy tail which had been stroking my arm stiffened. She stood up, hissed and smacked my arm with her front paw. I had done something wrong or not done something right. With the Diva there was no difference. She left my bed and found a spot in the chair.

Even with the lights off, I could see the look of disdain. There would be consequences, and I would have the scars to prove it.

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Specialty

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:18:00 GMT

Holidays, Birthdays, and Anniversaries can be a stressful time for those faced with one difficult question: What do I give for a gift? Many choose from a standard list including items as such IPods, cameras, and other electronics, as well as appliances and clothing, but now more than ever, people are opting to give pets, kittens and puppies seeming to be the most popular, as gifts to their loved ones.

Pets can make irreplaceable companions and unbeatable gifts, which I found out first-handedly on three separate occasions. I received Sadie B, a Pomeranian, for Christmas, the year I turned eight years old, and Bailey, a German Shepherd, for my seventeenth birthday. I was also given Cliff (also known as Heath Cliff) as a spontaneous present when the seven week old orange kitten was in need of a good home. Read More…

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Exotics

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:17:00 GMT

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Horses

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:17:00 GMT

Susan Greenall

DISTANCE DRIVING
If you are looking for a way to enjoy your driving horse in a relaxed competitive setting, distance driving may be for you. Distance driving emerged in 1984 as an alternative to competitive trail riding. Since then, it has diversified and grown in many forms. The basic concept is to compete the driving horse over a prescribed distance in a set time and finish in the best form possible. While competitive in nature, the events are designed for the driver, and horse, to have a great time, enjoy the countryside, and have a feeling of accomplishment at the end.

The Art of Ponying
Susan Greenall

Ponying was without a doubt created by the Mother of Invention. Someone, somewhere had two or more horses that needed exercise and half the time to do it in. It is a common practice on the track and in polo which is most likely the origin of the name. The benefits of ponying expand beyond the track and can be of great benefit to the professional trainer down to the pleasure rider.

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