metro pet magazine july/august 2012 issue
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Metro Pet Magazine July/August 2012 IssueTRANSCRIPT
Feature Articles
5 Howlin’ Hula CookiesThis recipe makes 20 tropical treats!
6 Bladder and UTI Health Does your cat or dog suffer from Bladder or Urinary T ract
Infections? Learn about how to treat and prevent.
8 And The Joy Goes On... Back in the Swing is making a huge difference
for breast cancer survivors.
12 Benefits of a Wellness Plan +Pet InsuranceCan you afford to not have insurance?
14 Animal HoardingThese volunteers received the call “Animal Hoarding” —
Come Help!
16 Hot Weather Is Here Protect your pet this summer with these eight tips.
18 Who Moved My Bed?Moving is hard on pets!
20 Practice Makes Perfect... but love prevails. Have some fun with your furry friends.
24 Dogs BarkYou can train your dog to not bark.
26 The Adventures of ChipSwimming in water is fun, until it turns...
28 Play Groups for DogsDog parks can be fun, but you have to pay attention.
30 Traditional vs Alternative CareWhat option works best for your dog?
33 General’s Posse Rides AgainGeneral completes his 4th Run for the W all.
34 Another Success!25 Years of Pawtying!
In Every Issue
4 Summer Heat... and events for fun!
22 Chip’s Corner — Use your knowledge about dogs
and play groups s to complete this pawzzle!
July/August 2012
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Publishing Policy: Articles printed in the MetroPet Magazine express the opinions of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the formalposition of MetroPet Magazine. Acceptance of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement by MetroPet Magazine. Articles: Readers are invitedto submit articles for consideration for publication to [email protected]. All materials are subject to editorial review . © 2012 MetroPet Magazine. Allrights reserved. Request reprint permissions at [email protected]. MetroPet Magazine is owned and published by ROI Marketing Services, all rights reserved.
HOT WEATHER AND PETS — A KILLERHot weather can be a killer — literally. If you have a
a pet, please read the article on page 16. It providesgreat information about how to help your pet throughthis summer’s heat.
Interested in some making treats for your pet? Checkout the recipe on page 5. Don’t have time to cook?There are two area pet bakeries which can create spe-cial, wholesome fresh treats for your pet. Treat your-self and your pets!
LIVING AFTER CANCERIt is a known fact that pets can help humans survive cancer treatments. In the
past several issues, MetroPet has published several articles written by cancer sur-vivors. Included in this issue is an article about what to do after you survive can-cer. Back in the Swing has just announced its new cookbook — recipes for eat-ing well every day after breast cancer. The cookbook will be available at aSummer Celebration with Sheryl Crow on July 14, details in the article on page 8.
ALTERNATIVE VS TRADITIONAL VETERINARY TREATMENTWhen do you choose a traditional vs alternative veterinary treatment option? The
article on page 30 provides some background to help you make this decision.What about supplements? Sometimes the food we feed our pets causes healthissues. The article on page 6 provides information about supplements which canheal and prevent certain types of issues for pets. And, what about pet insurance?Check out the article on page 12
UPCOMING EVENTSThis summer and fall will bring many fun events. See the $2 off coupon for the
MidWest Kids Fest, July 28-29, at the Overland Park Convention Center. Also checkout Too Cool to Drool and Strutt with your Mutt
SUPPORT PET SHELTERSThe summer time is especially hard on local shelters. Consider volunteering your
time or supplies to a local shelter. One new group, Unleashed Pet Rescue andAdoptions will soon be celebrating its one year anniversary. Check out its story onrescuing pets from a hoarding situation, see page 14.
ENJOY YOUR SUMMER — SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER
Barbara Riedel, Editor
Publisher’s MessageStaff &
ContactsPublisherBarbara Riedel
Editor/ProductionManagerDan O’Leary
Magazine LayoutROI Marketing
816.942.1600 • [email protected]
Advertising SalesAd Sales: 913.548.1433
Deals of the [email protected]
ContributingAuthors
Christine Bessent, DVMMike Deathe
Sarah Estlund
Pat Hennessy
Mike Jones
Pawlean Journe
Heddie Leger
Kerri Marshall, DVM
Jena Newman
Cynthia Smith
Micheal Tarrant, DVM, CVA
Contact MetroPetPO Box 480065
Kansas City, MO 64148Phone: 913.548.1433
Ad Sales: 913.548.1433Fax: 913.387.4313
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P.S. Support our advertisers — tell them “I saw your ad in MetroPet magazine.”
Makes 20 tropical treats —more than enough for a
Labrador luau
Recipe credit:
Three Dog BakeryCookbook by Dan Dye & Mark Beckloff
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Ingredients:8 ounces canned unsweetened crushedpineapple1/4 cup vegetable oil1/4 cup honey1 egg1 tsp. vanilla2 cups white flour1 1/2 tsp baking powder1/4 tsp baking soda
Directions:• Preheat oven to 350°.• Drain pineapple and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, combine oil andhoney. Add egg, pineapple andvanilla and mix thoroughly.
• Combine flour, baking powder andbaking soda in a separate bowl.After blending, add this into thewet mixture and stir well.
• Drop tablespoonfuls of the mixtureonto a greased baking sheet andbake for 20 minutes. Cool on arack, then serve. Store in an air-tight container.
HOWLIN’ HULA COOKIES
I t’s a scary experience to rush your cats to the vetclinic because they cannot urinate. The thoughts “Willthey need surgery” and “Are they going to make it?”flash through your head. It’s important to know whatkind of dietary and supplemental options are on themarket to help keep your pet’s bladder and urinary tracthealthy.
It’s quite common for dogs and cats, especially male,neutered cats, to experience urinary and bladder infec-tions during their lifetime. According to Dr. ChrisBessent, veterinarian and founder of Herbsmith Inc.,they may experience crystals in the urine and recurrentbladder infections, as well as the incidence of bladderstones.
HOW DO YOU KNOW?But how does a pet owner know when their dog or cat
is struggling with a bladder or urinary tract infection?Pets with urinary and bladder infections exhibit symp-
toms such as straining or messing in the house, saidGreenfield, Wisconsin veterinarian Dr. Jim Work.However, Work pointed out that just because an animalis messing in the house does not guarantee they have aninfection. Bringing the animal into the vet to do a urinetest is necessary to unearth the true cause.
A pet with a bladder or urinary infection may alsoexhibit blood in their urine. In severe cases, your dog orcat may appear listless, inactive, and may even showsigns of pain and moaning.
The unfortunate side of bladder and urinary tractinfections is that there is no conclusive proof to showreason for these crystals in the urine and inflammationin the bladder. “Holistic veterinarians speculate that it’sfrom high carbohydrate diets,” Bessent said.
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT! Chinese food energetics emphasize the idea, “you are what
you eat.” High grain carbohydrate diets are speculated to pro-mote inflammation in the bladder and play a role in the occur-rence of crystals in the urine, creating what Chinese theoristswould call “damp heat,” Bessent said.
From a Western perspective, damp heat is equivalent to thisinflammation as well as changes in the pH of the urine.
According to Bessent, cats were originally carnivorous ani-mals that lived primarily on meat and only picked at veggiesand berries, while dogs lived as scavenger carnivores. Holisticveterinarians concur that high grain diets are not the optimalchoice for cats or dogs.
STEPS TO TAKELuckily, there are steps pet owners can take to attempt to
ward off bladder and urinary tract infections.On the holistic side, Bessent recommends dogs are provided
with plenty of water as well as a low carbohydrate diet. Lowcarb diets are also recommended for cats as well as addingmoist food to their diet. Raw food diets are one alternative forpeople seeking low grain diets for their pets.
For those coming from a Western perspective or who arenervous feeding raw diets, it is important to choose the correctfood for your pet. According to Work, the key to bladder andurinary health is good nutrition. Work recommends feedingonly the premium fixed-diet foods. M
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by Christine Bessent, DVM
Bladderand UTI
Health
Additionally, prescription diets can be helpful, but Bessentsaid they may not be sustainable long-term and supplementscould be needed.
SUPPLEMENTS AS AN OPTIONWisconsin resident Tracy Marconnet struggled with uri-
nary issues with two of her cats. Her female cat struggledwith crystals in the urine and experienced straining andblood in the urine. After multiple trips to her regular veteri-narian to obtain a sterile urine sample, her cat was placedon amitriptyline, a drug primarily used as an anti-depres-sant for humans.
“She became very subdued and flat with no personality,”Marconnet said.
For pets that experience bladder and urinary issues suchas Marconnet’s kitty, a supportive supplement is especiallybeneficial. A form of herb called dianthus is especially help-ful in treating painful and difficult urination, in addition tod-mannose and cranberries.
CRANBERRY EXTRACTCranberry extract is essential for urinary health.
Cranberries are acidic and contain bacteria-blocking com-pounds that are helpful in preventing UTIs. They decreasethe ability for bacteria to adhere to the bladder wall so thatpets are able to push the bacteria out of their system. D-Mannose is a simple sugar that works in a similar way tocranberries by also decreasing the ability for bacteria toadhere to the bladder wall.
Gardenia and licorice are also important ingredients in abladder and urinary supplement because they have a cool-ing nature, which Chinese theory considers beneficial totreating the damp heat in the bladder.
After three years of giving amitriptyline to her cat, Marconnetwas able to slowly switch her female cat over to a raw diet andstart feeding supportive herbs including dianthus.
“Her inner kitty came out,” Marconnet said. “She had per-sonality and greeted us at the door. She started curling up inour laps.”
POSITIVE RESULTSMarconnet’s cat never had a recurrence, and she is still
using herbs. She also had positive results when using thedianthus with her male cat. Marconnet was ecstatic to weanher kitties off prescription drugs and onto herbal alternatives.
Place your pet’s diet as a top priority when consideringbladder and urinary health, and remember there are herbalremedies available to help your pet feel more comfortableso that you in turn can rest at ease.
Christine Bessent, DVM, is the owner and founder of Herbsmith Inc.She created Herbsmith Inc. as a way to provide impeccable qualityherbal supplements for pets. Dr . Bessent has been a practicingVeterinarian for nearly 25 years in Southeast Wisconsin, most of whichas a Holistic Veterinarian. JU
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References: www.cranberries.orgUniversity Maryland Medical Center, www.umm.edu
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T en years ago,Barbara Unell walkedout of her doctorsoffice a “cured”woman. She had beat-en breast cancer!
WHAT’S NEXT?She went home to cel-
ebrate with her husbandBob, adult twin chil-dren, and Molly, herdog. But, a question lin-gered in her mind, nowwhat? What was she sup-posed to do now, toaddress her bones, heart,skin and fatigue? Thedoctors and nurseshelped Barbara fight hercancer. Her life hadrevolved around this fight.But now she was left abruptly alone to fight the side effects ofher treatments, and to “put herself back together.”
It was 2002, and many of the individuals recovering fromcancer were in the same position. A road map of what to do nextsimply did not exist.
Barbara was not to be stymied. She went “shopping” for answers.She started working with other survivors and medical professionalsto find information on how to improve her life after cancer. Sheaddressed two main areas — exercise and nutrition. She came torealize that one’s survivorship care needed to be as personalized asone’s treatment.
ALONG THE WAYAs Barbara proceeded, she realized the power of many was
greater than the power of one. She organized a retail-shoppingevent — it was called Back in the Swing Retail Therapy. The storesin Hawthorne Shopping Center participated in the first four-day,
fundraising event in 2002. It was a suc-cess.
Back in the Swing, a non-profitorganization, was born to focus on cre-ating personalized, comprehensive,medical, post-treatment care for breastcancer survivors. With the help ofseven area hospitals and communitysupport organizations, Back in theSwing was able help launch survivor-ship services across the city. It helpedothers move past cancer and back toimproving and protecting theirhealth.
PETS AND CANCERTalk to any cancer survivor who is
also a pet lover and you will get anoverwhelming response. Phrasessuch as “I couldn’t have done itwithout her,” “He always met me atthe door when I came home,” or“She slept with me after the chemotreatments, just to make sure Iwould be ok.” Coming home to
unconditional love keeps many can-cer survivors going.
Just ask Barbara. Molly, the family’sWest Highland Terrier, was always waiting for her tocome home. After every treatment or doctors appoint-ment, it was Molly’s wet kisses and licks that madeBarbara smile.
Molly even became her signature icon, showing up onthe website, greeting visitors with a friendly bark, andholding Back in the Swing signs.
A NATIONAL EVENTBack in the Swing took off. Other stores in the Kansas
City area wanted to participate. Other cities wanted toparticipate. National sponsors stepped up. Back in theSwing Retail Therapy became a national event.
AND THE
GOES ON…JOY
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Back in the Swing has helped thousands of individuals get back intoeveryday life. It’s mission: “Improving and protecting your health afterbreast cancer through education and awareness,” has become a reality.
This year, Back in the Swing Retail Therapy will be held from October 8-14, Mon-Sun. In conjunction with the retail shopping week, Back in theSwing is pleased to announce the national launch of a new, book — TheBack in the Swing Cookbook: Recipes for Eating and Living Well EveryDay After Breast Cancer.
More than a cookbook, this book shares the essentials of what everybreast cancer survivor needs at her fingertips every day, from recipes toresearch, to help take care of herself and demand the best care from herhealthcare providers.
The contents are based on Back in the Swing’s first decade of support-ing the movement to care for this country’s nearly 3 million breast cancersurvivors, protecting and improving their health after treatment. Alsoincluded are tips on living life — including time spent with your four-legged companion.
A COOKBOOK CELEBRATION! Back in the Swing will host the “Summer Celebration” with Cheryl Crow.
This event will be held on July 14, at 8 pm at the Carlsen Center at JohnsonCounty Community College.
During this enchanted evening, you will hear the voice of Grammyaward-winning artist Sheryl Crow and her personal reflections about herjourney through cancer. There will also be other voices of survivors,healthcare providers and community leaders sharing their powerful mes-sages. The new cookbook will be avail-able for purchase at this event. Detailsand tickets can be found at back-intheswing.org.
PETS ARE GOOD FOR YOU!According to the new Back in the
Swing Cookbook, pets aren’t only cud-dly and lovable… they are good foryour heart and cancer survivorship.Cancer research suggests that visitswith animals may improve patient out-comes, decrease length of hospital stay,help with confusion, depression, andmanage pain symptoms.
Researcher Karen Allen and col-leagues at The State of New YorkUniversity, Buffalo, NY, found that petowners have significantly lower restingblood pressure and heart rate com-pared to non-pet owners. The researchstudy, published in September of 2002,in Psychosomatic Medicine, reportedthat individuals had the smallestincreases in heart responses to stress ifthey had a pet in the room with them,and they recovered from stress faster.Pets were even better stress reducersthan spouses!
Proceeds from the cookbook sales will benefitBack in the Swing USA. Back in the Swing USA isthe first and only national nonprofit organizationexclusively providing grassroots awareness, edu-cation and fundraising on behalf of the millionsof breast cancer survivors to empower them toget back in the swing of life physically, emotion-ally and spiritually. More information, is avail-able at backintheswing.org. ($29.99, AndrewsMcMeel Publishing, August 7, 2012).
MOVING FORWARDSurvivorship and living a healthy life after breast cancer is the focus of Back
in the Swing. Pet parents who are fighting cancer know the difference their four-legged furry family member has made for them in this fight. If you are interest-ed in learning more about this wonderful organization visitbackintheswing.org.
A DIFFERENT SORT OF COOKBOOK“The cookbook is an empowering,
informative Survivorship Centerbetween two covers,” said BarbaraUnell. “We need the best trained pro-fessionals inside every medical practicein America who know how to seamless-ly provide survivorship care. And weneed to know what lifestyle choices wecan make in between medical visits toimprove and protect our health.Healthy living after breast cancer is nota matter of living scan-to-scan, blood test to blood test.”
According to Unell, we need to know how to change the conversation aftercancer from fear-based “waiting for the other shoe to drop” to confident “beingback in the swing” every day.
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Back in the Swing will host the“Summer Celebration” with CherylCrow on July 14, at 8 pm at theCarlsen Center at Johnson CountyCommunity College.
According to the newBack in the SwingCookbook, pets aren’tonly cuddly and lovable… they are goodfor your heart and cancer survivorship.
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Today, dogs and cats are not just pets, they arefamily members. Like they would for any family member,pet owners will always try to protect their beloved petsfrom anything that may cause them harm. But curiouscats and determined dogs have a way ofsurprising us, and it’s important to beprepared for the unexpected.
According to the American PetProducts Association, pet owners spent$13.41 billion on veterinary care in2011, making it the second-highestspending category behind food. This is areflection of the advancements in veteri-nary medicine available to pet ownerstoday, including treatment options for cancer, diabetes,and heart conditions. But what can pet owners do tocatch these serious health conditions as early as possi-ble, decreasing the pain and suffering of their pet? Andif these conditions are caught early, what options doesthe pet owner have to pay for treatment? The answers liein the importance of regular wellness care combinedwith a solid financial plan for accidents and illnesses.
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BenefitsBenefitsof aof a
WellnessWellnessPlanPlan
++PetPet
InsuranceInsuranceTHE VALUE OF PRE-SCREENING
Most veterinarians encourage pet owners to schedule once- ortwice-yearly wellness visits, even if the pet appears healthy. Thesevisits serve many purposes — they confirm the pet is up-to-date onvaccinations and dental cleanings, and they are a chance for the vet-erinarian to evaluate the pet’s weight and nutrition, but most impor-tantly they help ensure that any illnesses or injuries the pet has arecaught as early as possible.
These wellness visits allow the veterinarian to be an advocate forthe pet, catching any health concerns they may be hiding, and allow-ing the pet owner to start treatment as early as possible and savetheir pet from unnecessary suffering. Ultimately, this leads to a bet-
ter quality of life for pets — and their owners. Take Rossi, for example, an eight-month-old
Labrador Retriever. During a pre-screeningappointment prior to his neutering, Rossi’s vet-erinarian found high creatine levels in hisblood. After several tests, ultrasounds, andbloodwork it was determined Rossi had AtypicalAddison’s Disease. Because it was caught early,Rossi was able to start treatment right away andbefore significant clinical signs developed, sav-
ing Rossi from unnecessary pain and suffering.
MOVING FORWARD WITH TREATMENTSDuring wellness exams and pre-screenings, it’s important for pet
owners to be prepared for the possibility that something will beuncovered. Even a seemingly healthy pet could be hiding signs of aserious condition that may require extensive veterinary treatment.
by Kerri Marshall, DVM
The answers lie in theimportance of regularwellness care combinedwith a solid financialplan for accidents andillnesses.
It’s important for pet owners to have a financial plan in placeto be able to move forward with this treatment without finan-cial burden.
There are several ways pet owners pay for unexpected vet-erinary bills — credit cards, savings accounts, and borrow-ing from friends and family members are all commonoptions. But pet insurance can be the critical option for petowners without tens of thousands of dollars of disposableincome or savings available. Pet insurance takes the issue oftreatment cost out of the equation — but having this in placebefore you need it is vital.
Rossi’s owner, Brent M., chose to enroll Rossi in pet insur-ance just months before that fateful day at the veterinary clin-ic. Having this financial plan in place allowed Brent to approveadvanced veterinary care quickly and without worry of the highcost.
“We never would have been able to afford to help our littleguy without the help of insurance,” he said.
ALLEVIATING PET SUFFERING AND ENDING
ECONOMIC EUTHANASIAA regular annual or bi-annual physical examination allows
the veterinarian to get to know the pet owner and the pet andassess the pet’s health even when they are showing no signsof being unhealthy. These exams help benchmark the pet’shealth, giving an indication of what results are “normal” forthat particular pet, so any abnormalities are clearly apparent.Pet insurance gives the pet owner the peace of mind that if theveterinarian were to find anything concerning, they are ableto quickly move forward with a treatment plan to ensure thattheir pet has the best chance of recovery, and the best chanceat leading a long, healthy, and comfortable life.
The advantage of a wellness plan offered by your veterinar-ian paired with a pet insurance policy is that the pet ownerpays one monthly payment that can be included in the familybudget. With this care already budgeted, the pet owner is pre-pared so there is the least chance for them to be caught in asituation where they have no positive options to move forwardwith. In these unfortunate circumstances, some pet ownersare forced to opt for less effective treatment, no treatment, orin the worst situations, euthanasia. With a solid financial planin place, “economic euthanasia” will never be an option.
Dr. Kerri Marshall, DVM, joined T rupanion inJune 2011 as Executive V ice President ofCustomer Experience. As a licensed veterinarian,she is passionate about celebrating and protect-ing the human-pet bond. She uses her vast expe-rience to help T rupanion develop new ways tohelp people and their pets at the time they needhelp most. Her ultimate goal is to end economiceuthanasia in her generation of veterinarians. Marshall is a member ofthe American Veterinary Medical Association, American Animal HospitalAssociation, and the American Medical Informatics Association, amongother organizations. Details about T rupanion pet insurance can befound at www.trupanion.com or by calling 800.569.7913. JU
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The group arrived to find nothing could have preparedthem for the atrocities in this abandoned house.Overwhelmed by the stench of urine in the dark anddecrepit house, they found 15 dogs lying in their ownfeces. They hadn’t seen the light of day or felt the lovingtouch of a human in a very long time. And those were justthe young dogs — the ones under a year old. Huddled inthe skeleton of an old rusted out couch were 16 newbornpuppies and pacing nervously nearby was a female dogabout to go into labor.
A RESCUE IN PROCESS“We couldn’t hear each other over all the barking. It’s
hard to believe we were able to work together to getthose dogs out of that house so quickly but, we just didwhat had to be done.” McMillin said of rescuing the dogsfrom inside the cluttered and filthy home.
The rescuers gently corralled the dogs one by one andushered them out of the home into clean, blanket-cladcrates and into the transport van. Three hours later, with31 dogs successfully removed from the home, they thenused flashlights and cell phones to light the nearly pitch-dark house. They examined every crevice and corner forfear they would leave dogs behind. Upon further searchthey found a broken window, which led them to the ter-rified dog on the roof. He was so frightened he brokethrough the window to climb on the roof. It had been solong since he’d experienced human attention and love, ifhe ever experienced it, that when we got there he justdidn’t see another option.
ARRIVED JUST IN TIMEThe pregnant dog safely gave birth a few days later and
every single dog from this house of horrors will make afull recovery. “It isn’t known how long the dogs were leftto fend for themselves,” Reno said, “but from the looks
Her heart pounding and palms sweaty, Danielle Renofound herself on the roof of the foreclosed house, while thesun beat down mercilessly. She watched the young dog dan-gerously near the edge, cowering and trembling, and thengently coaxed him into her embrace. With the help of volun-teers on the ground below, Reno lowered him down the ladderinto safe and loving arms.
Although not an unusual day for Reno, founder and Presidentof Unleashed Pet Rescue and Adoption, this was a first.
A HORRIFYING CALLJust a few hours earlier, Reno received the horrifying call
that upwards of thirty dogs were left to die in a foreclosedhome in Kansas City, Kansas. “We sprung into action immedi-ately and loaded crates in cars. We didn’t have time to thinkabout what was in store for us.”
Upon receiving the call, Reno, accompanied by MelissaMcMillin, Chad Ackerman, and a few volunteers, immediatelyleft Unleashed headquarters for the nightmarish hoarding sit-uation that lie ahead of them. Their only hope? That the ani-mals would still be alive.
AnimalHoarding
by Sarah Estlund
of the house, we don’t want to think about it. We are just soglad we got there in time.”
Sarah Estlund is a freelance journalist and hasworked in animal rescue for more than half her life.She supports animal activist organizations inKansas City including: Unleashed Pet Rescue andAdoption, Northland Animal W elfare Society, Chainof Hope, SNKC, FOP AS and Northland Pet Pantry .She is very active with the Missouri Alliance forAnimal Legislature and has a special place in herheart for bully breeds.
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Unleashed Pet Rescue and Adoption is a progressive,grassroots animal rescue located in Mission, KS. Originallya foster-based organization, Unleashed Pet Rescue andAdoption branched out and began saving “Death RowDogs” from KCMO, KCK and surrounding area shelters. It islocated in Mission, Kansas, and run entirely by volunteers.It is funded solely by donations. This “little group thatcould” has saved more than 400 dogs! The group will cele-brate its first anniversary this year. Unleashed Pet is lookingfor reliable volunteers with huge hearts for animals. It isalso in dire need of monetary and supply donations such ascrates, blankets, equipment for the outdoor play areas,oscillating fans, cleaning supplies, trash bags and bleach.Shelter hours are Tuesday through Sunday, opening at noonevery day. For more information, visit the websitewww.unleashedrescue.com
Hot
We are at the beginning of a the historical sum-mer, and I want to take a minute to talk to you abouthot weather precautions for you and your pooch. Istarted thinking about this topic yesterday when I hadLeo at the groomer for her summer groom. Leo is aLeonberger, great big hairy dirt colored bear of a dog.My first thought was to completely shave her, she wouldbe cooler with less hair right? Well not necessarily. Inmany cases, dogs with long hair actually use their hairas insulation from the summer heat and the winter cold. So by willy nillyshaving a dog you might just be making it harder for your pooch to dealwith the heat of summer. In Leo’s case we shaved her belly area, did aFurminator service (to get rid of the loose blowing coat) and simplyused trimmers to thin her coat a tiny bit. My groomer was adamant wenot shave her and as a (reasonably :) intelligent guy I listened to theexpert (the groomer) and allowed her to make the call.
HOT WEATHER TIPSSo besides a summertime grooming, what are
other ways to help our dogs deal with the heat ofthe summer?
1. Fresh Water — access to fresh water 100%of the time. Don’t just fill the water bowl twice aday make sure it is fresh and full all day. If the dogis outside much of the time, this is even moreimportant.
2. Access to Shade — Access to plenty ofshade, especially if your dog spends much timeoutside in the yard during the heat of the day.
3. Access to Kids Wading Pool — This isa great way for dogs to keep cool. In fact I used tohave a Malamute (London, rest his huge soul) thatwould spend hours just laying in his pool while thefamily was outdoors
4. Cooling Jackets — these are doggy jack-ets that are filled with a material that holds water.You simply dunk them in water and put them onyour dog. The coolness of the water helps keepyour dog from overheating. Be sure to periodicallycheck the jacket to see if it needs another dunking.
5. Early Morning Walks — Going on walksin the morning or the evening. Walking in the heat
of the day is not good for you oryour dog, so try to plan walks fortimes when it is not super hot.And remember to take lots ofwater. Just like you need tohydrate during hot weather sodoes your dog, so take enoughfor both of you!
6. Don’t Walk onConcrete — Do not walk your
dog on asphalt or concrete during hot periods. Wehave all made the mistake of trying to walk shoe-less across the deck of the pool. This can causeserious burns to the pads of your dog’s feet.
7. A/C In the Vehicle — Never leave a doginside a car without running the A/C!!! The insidetemp of a car can go from mid 70s to temps above110 in just minutes — don’t risk it!
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Weatheris here!
by Mike Deathe
In many cases, dogswith long hair actuallyuse their hair as insulation from thesummer heat and thewinter cold.
8. Talk to Your Vet — Talk to your vet about your dog’s hotweather abilities. For example “smoosh nosed” dogs do not breathas well as long snouted dogs and are more susceptible to heatstroke! Once again listen and ask the experts (The Vet) foradvice!!!
FINAL THOUGHTI leave you with one final thought about dogs and dog ownership.
Dogs are social animals and do not belong in backyards all of thetime. They are pets not shrubbery! If you leave you dogs outside allof the time and never allow them inside, it becomes animal cruel-ty, not animal ownership. Take care of them this summer and if allof this sounds like too much work, might I suggest a goldfish? Theymake great low maintenance pets!
Mike Deathe is a stay-at-home dad who found hispassion as a dog trainer in 2008. He enjoys identifyingunique and useful dog related products and ideas. Heis the author of Keep It Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) PetBlog, and has written several books on dogs and dogtraining. As an avid pet lover , he regularly sees thenumber of dogs and cats that never find a home, so in2009, he and his wife Kate founded Muttz “R” Us, afunny t-shirt and pet product company with the motto of “Saving Pets…One T -Shirt at a T ime” In 2010 KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID (KISS) DOG TRAINING wasborn and since then has been teaching dogs and owners at Broadmore Kennels,located in Shawnee, Ks. For more information about KISS or Muttz “R” Us V isitus on Facebook, twitter or follow the blog @http://muttzmembers.blogspot.com.We can’t wait to help you speak dog as a second language.
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I recently dis-covered that movingto a new house withpets is much harderthan I thought. Imoved from a bighouse with lots ofstairs and a fencedbackyard to a patiohome with just a fewsteps and an invisi-ble fence.Downsizing is aboutto change every-thing. For me, thatis a great thing. ForSamson and Wilson,not so much.
A TOUR OF THE NEW HOUSEI decided to take them over to the new house
before the official move, so they could get the layof the land. They devoured every scent like bombsniffing dogs. Wilson, who is adorable but dumb asa post, proceeded to poop in my new living room.I couldn’t believe it. He knew something was upand was going to make me pay.
The night before the big move, I packed every-thing except jeans, a shirt, and a pair of undies.The next morning, Wilson conducted a panty raidand the only way to get something out of this dog’smouth is to offer him a high value treat like a ribroast. With nothing to pry those jaws loose, I had achoice: go commando, or wait out this four-legged
My Bed?MOVED
Who
thief and spend the rest of the day in wet slobbery panties. Now, Iknow what it’s like to wear a wet diaper. The move went well becausethe dogs were in daycare. That was the last day I would use the words“went well.” Samson didn’t sleep for three days, barking at every newsound, and Wilson would prove to be a true nature lover, and not ina good way.
DAY TWO OF TRAININGOn day two, the invisible fence man delivered training collars. The
fence was already in place but I needed to teach the dogs not to breakthe barrier. That was the goal but Wilson took off like a bat out of hellafter a bunny. Day two of training, he jumped into a small lake behindmy house in pursuit of succulent geese. I was praying none of my newneighbors saw me running around the backyard screaming forWilson to get out of the pond. Of all the places he could have jumpedin, he chose the green scummy side. Two days in the new house and
by Cynthia Smith
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my dog has just committed an act of vandal-ism under the covenants of the Home OwnersAssociation.
When he got out, he smelled like a wet bagof limburger cheese, but he had the biggestsmile on his face. Yes, this new home wasgoing to be just fine with Wilson…..geese,bunnies, and a swimming hole. Samson onthe other hand is sporting a newThundershirt, and I am seriously consider-ing Prozac for both of us.
Ironically, my immediate next door neigh-bor actually trains service dogs. I fully expectto see a “for sale” sign in her yard when shemeets these knuckleheads. Considering theirescape record, that won’t take very long.Welcome to the neighborhood Smith Family.
Cynthia Smith is President ofWayside W aifs, the largest no-killAnimal Adoption Center in KansasCity, MO. Smith is a two-time Emmywinner and a former news anchorfor WDAF-TV in Kansas City . Sheserved as President and CEO ofSunflower House, a Child Abuse Prevention Center .She can be reached at W ayside W aifs at (816) 761-8151 or visit www.waysidewaifs.org.
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You are sitting on the couch with Abby by your side. You look ather, snoozing and peaceful, remembering the fluff-ball when you firstbrought her home. Those were the days: puppy class — come, sit,down, stay. You made it past the chewing, potty training, and highenergy rebounds. However, Abby seems a bit rusty on the “sit” and“stay.” Come to think of it, she doesn’t seem to respond well on arecall either (aka “come”).
We all have habits and it is really hard to break them. When we learnsomething new, we will act on that for a while. Maybe it’s fun or we aremotivated to do it, but often we fall back into our old habits. We arehabitual creatures. It is the path of least resistance — to do somethingthat is familiar and comfortable. This applies to our animal compan-ions as well.
USE IT OR LOSE ITIf you find that you have a lazy canine, look no further than the mir-
ror. If you don’t practice with Abby what she has learned, then it is tooeasy for your faithful companion to quit responding consistently. Youknow the phrase “use it or lose it”. It doesn’t mean you have to prac-tice as if you are competing, but it does mean you need to reinforcethe behavior you want (so that Abby will respond when you need herto). One of the best ways to reinforce a behavior is to reward it peri-odically (making it a surprise), only after the behavior is trulylearned. It would be equivalent to hitting a jackpot on a slot machine.You keep playing after putting in several coins, thinking it will pay outany minute. To get a strong consistent behavior the “surprise” needsto be a good one to encourage Abby to maintain it.
The advantage to keeping up with Abby’s “cues” (aka “commands”)is that it gives you choices of behaviors if you need to redirect herattention, for example keeping her from chasing something out into
the street or calling her away from the front door.Teaching her new cues will build her vocabulary, giv-ing you even more choices for communication.
PRACTICE A NEW CUEAlong with practicing old cues, pick a new one
occasionally to teach Abby even if you don’t plan tostrengthen it over time, like “shake” or “high five”.There are benefits to doing this; one would be tokeep her mind sharp (similar to us working cross-word puzzles), and an extra benefit is the bondingtime with your loving companion. If you really wantto stretch Abby’s mental acuity and show off her tal-ent, try chaining two or three cues together making aroutine, such as waving good-bye, doing a down, andputting her paws over her eyes.
It is good to incorporate a non-habitual movement(like walking backward or sideways), into a cue,trick, or routine. Non-habitual movements stimulateneuro-pathways in the brain and promote focusedbrain function. It is also good to incorporate a vari-ety of surfaces when practicing a cue or routine (likeusing a plastic tarp or a wide board — if your dog isnormally on grass or carpet). Variable surfaces stim-ulate proprioception (pronounced pro-pree-o-sep-shen), the ability to detect the position of the body ora limb when responding to stimuli. Strengtheningproprioception promotes physical balance. Sincephysical, mental, and emotional health are all tied
by Pat Hennessy
Practice MakesPerfect... but
LovePrevails
We all have habits and it isreally hard to break them.
together, doing exercises that stimulate brain activity help yourcanine to be well balanced.
FUN THINGS TO DOThere are several fun things you can do with your furry fam-
ily member. If you want something relaxing try meditating tomusic or doing yoga together (the doggie version is Doga). Ifyou want to do obedience for fun, try starting with Rally(beginning Rally has simple routines, all on-leash). If you wantto step it up a notch try Freestyle (dancing with your dog),where you chain routines together to music. And if you want tostep it up another notch, give Agility a try - it will be a greatwork-out for you and your canine companion.
Finding ways to strengthen communication with your com-panion will improve the quality of life for both of you. Doing sowhile having fun is all the better! Practice may make perfect ifyou are a concert pianist or a major league athlete, but perfec-tion is not required for a happy life — it is love that prevails.
Pat Hennessy is the founder of N2paws, LLC, anorganization that provides a holistic approach tocompanion animal care through behavior educa-tion, energy work, and positive training methods.Pat is a Level 2 TT ouch® practitioner , CPDT ,ACDBC, and member of the IAABC, IAATH and AWA.You may contact N2Paws via [email protected], phone 816-522-7005, or visit
the website www.n2paws.com.
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www. .com
Behavior & Wellness support from a certified TTouch practitioner & CPDT
TTouch Reiki Alpha-Stim Doga
Whole Pet Positive Training
Looking for ways to improve behavior or enhance health?
Helping you solve your companion animal
problems with techniques that are simple to learn
and easy to use.
Call today 816.522.7005
We can help!
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Ch
ip’s
Cor
ner Pawzzle
by Pawlean Journe
For tips on the answers to this pawzzle, read the story about play groups for dogs on page 30.
Down:
2. Play is an excellent way to ________ your dog.4. Important to consider when selecting a play
date friend.6. Dogs play best when matched by
____________.8. Always be aware and ____________ for poten-
tial problems in interactions between dogs.13. Don’t be afraid to be ______________ when
choosing a play date friend for your dog.
14. This type of play date may be the bestsituation for you.
15. Not every dog will be _______________ withyour dog.
16. Find ways to spend time with your dog indifferent _______________.
19. An appropriate invitation to play.21. It is very important to be a _______________
handler/owner during play dates.
Visit www.metropetmag.comfor upcoming events
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Sunday, September 9, 2012Black Bob Bay
14570 W. 151st Street, Olathe, KS1:00-1:45 — Dogs 25 pounds or less
2:00-3:30 — All sizes welcome!$10 per dog
Register at olatheks.org/parksrecUse registration code: 21678
Across:1. Dog Parks can be ___________________.
3. A fantastic resource to find play date friends foryour dog.
5. It is important to understand dog body___________ before letting your dog play off leash.
7. Teach your dog a reliable ____________ for his/hersafety.
9. Play can build _______________ skills.
10. Dogs should meet on _______________ ground.
11. Dog Parks are not for ___________________.
12. Make sure your dog has a way to ____________ ifplay becomes to rough.
17. Use _______________ sense.
18. Inappropriate play style.
20. Meeting on neutral ground minimizes the changeof the dogs being ______________.
22. Reward and reinforce ______________ playinteractions.
23. Dogs are less likely to feel ______________ if theymeet on neutral ground.
24. Do not __________ a quiet or shy dog to play.
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guard his property. He sees the walker and barks. After barking, that scarystranger is now gone. After this occurs multiple times, the dog learns that whenhe barks at strangers they go away. The dog learns that this is rewarding and
empowering and the longer the behavior is allowed to bepracticed the harder it will be to change. Now when any-one comes near his property, the dog barks and continuesto bark even when the “danger” is gone.
WHO DOES IT AFFECT?Not only does barking affect the family of the dog but it also affects everyone
around him. If you live in an apartment the people on every side of you canhear it, in a house, your neighbors can hear it. Nobody wants the police beingcalled due to your dog’s barking.
HOW TO FIX ITSo now that we know there is a problem, how do we fix it? The quickest way
to control a barking dog is to redirect the dog’s attention. If you give him abehavior incompatible with barking, he will stop barking. For example, if your
Dogs Bark! It’s what they do. Thereare many reasons why dogs bark; they’veheard something and want to let everyoneknow, to get your attention or protect theirproperty. Some dogs bark just to hear thesound of their own voices, because they arebored and under-exercised. However, exces-sive barking, no matter the reason, must becontrolled. This can be quite a challenge.
Some of us like the idea that our dogs aregoing to bark to alert us to possible danger.It makes us feel safe that our dogs can warnus and/or scare a predator away. Most bark-ing is manageable if the dog stops in a timelymanner. The problem arises when your dog isbarking with no intention of stopping evenwhen asked to be quiet. It can becomeunbearable when this barking becomes ahabit and you are unable to interrupt it.
WHY DO THEY BARK?There are many things that can
set a dog off on a barking tan-gent. Whether it is a door bellringing, a knock at the door oreven a cat outside the window, there is alwaysa reason for the barking, even if it is just toburn off excess energy. You must determinethe reason for their barking. If the barking is aresult of boredom I suggest you exercise yourdog and give them interactive toys to play with.If they are barking out of fear or anxiety pleaseask a professional dog trainer for help.
Let’s look at a situation where someone iswalking by your house and the dog barks to
DogsBark!
by Jena Newman
There are many thingsthat can set a dog offon a barking tangent.
dog is toy motivated, throwing a toy in the other roomevery time the barking is about to occur will redirect yourdog’s attention. He cannot bark and chase his favorite toyat the same time. If you do this every time, eventuallywhen he sees the thing that makes him bark he will imme-diately look to you to throw the toy instead of bark.
Teaching a dog to be “quiet” on commend is anothergreat way to stop their barking. Start with a hungry foodmotivated dog and a high value treat like hotdogs orboiled chicken. Find that treat your dog goes crazy for.Use small, pea sized treats so he can eat them quickly -and it leaves him wanting more
TEACHING “QUIET”Now that you have your treats and a hungry dog, you are
ready to start training. We will use an example situationin which a dog barks every time someone comes to thefront door. Get a friend or family member to stand at thefront door and ring the door bell or knock. The instantthe dog starts to bark, say “quiet” and wait. The instant hestops barking, give him that wonderful treat and praisehim. Make sure every time he stops barking you give hima treat and a lot of verbal praise.
In order for this to work, you must do it over and overagain. When you are tired of doing it, do it 10 more times.In order to change this deeply ingrained habit, you haveto reward the “quiet” more than correct the barking. Itcan get frustrating, but the end result is worth it. You andyour dog will both be more relaxed!
If you have more than one dog who barks, you can dothe same thing but with a twist. Have someone ring thebell or knock. Say “quiet”, and then only give a treat tothe first dog to stop barking. Typically when you get onedog to be quiet the other will follow suit, and all the dogswill be quiet together. Not to mention, the second dog willwant the treat you gave the first dog; so next time maybehe will stop barking first.
REWARD THE WANTED BEHAVIORNo matter how you train this behavior, the most impor-
tant thing to remember is you must reward the wantedbehavior. Dogs will forever bark. It is our job to teachthem when it is appropriate and when it is not.
Jena Newman has been a zookeeper and hasbeen training exotic animals at the Kansas CityZoo for 4 years and recently started her own dogtraining and walking business. Using her skillsfrom the zoo and the helpful information provid-ed by Patty Homer’ s Good Pup Academy (GP A)she hopes to help create healthy , fulfilling rela-
tionships between dogs and their owners. Y ou can contact her at816-769-3631, [email protected], visit www.newmans-dogtraining.com, or follow her at facebook.com/NewmansDogTraining. JU
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CHAPTER 6We all piled into the car. Stephanie made us ALL wear seat belts, even goofy
big dog. Boy, they had a big car. Stephanie had packed a picnic lunch andRobert was driving. They said we were going on a day trip. I had never heardof such a thing and wondered what it meant. The car had a top that openedup and the wind could blow all around us. Stephanie and Penelope had onhats, but my ears and goofy dog’s ears flapped in the wind the whole way.Everyone was singing, talking and laughing. Even though it seemed like a longdrive we all worked together to make it fun, but it really was not that longbecause we got there way before lunch time. Our destination was the beach!
There were white birds flying all over the place and swooping down over ourheads, a roaring whooshing sound came around each time the water came upto the while earth. I learned the white earth was called sand. Stephanie tookout our lunch, a big umbrella and opened up four chairs, one for each per-son, then she put out a big blanket for me and goofy dog. Everyone pulled outbuckets and shovels and started to dig in the sand, so goofy dog and I startedto dig in the sand also. The sand was flying everywhere and when we turnedaround we could see Penelope and Allen covered in the sand we had just dugup. They were all laughing so hard, they were crying, but it was a good kindof cry. Then they got some water from what they called the ocean and startedto make shapes in the sand that looked like big fancy houses. Me and goofydog kept digging and sending sand to them. They thanked us for helping andsaid we were being very cooperative and good helpers. We were just havingfun being dogs and digging.
From the distance, I could see another figure coming towards us. It lookedlike a dog, but it did not walk like a dog. It had a kind of hopping motion toits walk. A lady was running with the dog and talking to him in an encourag-ing way. Good boy, Howie, she said, keep up the good work. They looked likea team together, but the funny thing was that the lady had one normal leg andanother leg that looked like a springboard or something. As they came closer,I could see that both of them were missing a leg, and they were encouragingeach other.
I could see how the dog cooperated with the woman as he looked back andwaited for her to catch up with him. Even with just three legs, he still had anadvantage over her with just one real leg. She stopped near us and wiped herbrow. It was hot and she did not have any water with her. Penelope and Allennoticed that she looked kind of tired, so they called to Stephanie and askedher to come over with somewater for the lady and herdog. Stephanie also broughtover a chair so the lady couldsit down and rest a bit. The
Cooperation — The act of workingtogether towards a common mutuallybeneficial goal.
ChipThe Adventures
of
RECAP FROMCHAPTER 5
Chip begins to feel like he belongsto a family. The big black and browndog turned out to be very calm, politeand quite humorous. He was a big,goofy dog and Chip could not believeI was ever afraid of him. We had ourvery first photograph together. A can-did moment in the lives of peoplewho had been through some trau-matic experiences, but come togeth-er and found loyal caring friends toshare their lives. How I wished thatmoment would last forever. I was sothankful for my new friends. I wantedto find some way to show them howgrateful I was for meeting them, forAllen and Penelope helping me whenthey needed help themselves, and forhelping me find food and a safeplace. I sure hoped some good thingswould happen for them too.
lady’s name was Sarah. She looked to be about Stephanie’sage, but was much taller and had very long dark hair. Shesaid her dog had saved her life. She was swimming whena shark had come up to her and bit off her leg. Her doghad jumped in to chase off the shark. But another sharkhad bit off his leg, too They were both injured, yet the dogfound a way to bark and get help. Sarah said the dog’squick actions had save her life and brought people quick-ly to her assistance. Sarah said that she did not want fearto rule her life, so she made sure that she and her dog,Amber, came to the beach every day to enjoy the water andregain the confidence of being near the place where theincident had happened. We made new friends that day.
We were ready for lunch by then and Stephanie invitedSarah and her dog, Amber, to join us. Of course, I was notdelighted about sharing my lunch, and goofy dog, definite-ly did not like it, as his favorite thing to do is eat, but theypraised us for being kind, sharing and cooperative, so wecould not disappoint them. We all ate and drank justenough and then everyone decided to fly kites as there wasa very nice breeze. Penelope and Allen were really excitedabout flying the kites.
I noticed some clear mushy things floating in the water.I started barking and running towards them in the water,as they looked like they would be fun to catch and playwith. I heard some voices behind me yelling, but could nottell what they were saying. I kept running through thewaves, it was so much fun, and then I caught one! For asecond, I was so happy and excited, and then instantly asharp pain went shooting through me and I could notmove, then I blacked out. All I could hear was crying andscreaming and people saying, get him, get him. I was float-ing out on the waves faster than they could run or swim. Iwas limp and could not move. I could hear goofy dog andAmber barking excitedly and smelled goofy dog’s breathvery close. The last thing that went through my mind wasthe smell of lunch on goofy dog’s breath. Then, and Iblacked out again.
STORY DISCUSSION TIPS1. In what ways did characters in this episode demon-
strate cooperation?2. How do you feel when you meet a person that is dif-
ferent physically than you? Such as if they are in awheelchair, or cannot hear or see?
3. In what ways did the dog, Amber, in the story help herowner?
ACTIVITYWatch the movie Dolphin Tale or go the website:
www.seewinter.com. Read about TriPod dogs and how theylearn how to function in life. Discuss how you might be a bet-ter friend in school to someone who is different physicallyfrom you. JU
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M any people believe that dogparks are a great place to socialize theirpet, but dog parks are not for every-one. Sometimes a play date is a betteralternative for you and your dog.According to researchers at several uni-versities, dogs have an inherent geneticneed to socialize with other dogs.
Dog parks can be chaotic and unpre-dictable as far as the activities and level ofplay the dogs engage in. There are noguarantees that the other dogs will becompatible with your dog.
SIMPLE DOG PARK TIPSA private play date for your dog can be
the solution for you. Below are a few sim-ple tips to have a safe and successful playdate for your pet.
• Dogs should meet first be on neutral ground. Neither dogwill feel that their territory is being invaded and less like-ly to feel threatened.
• Don’t be afraid to be selective regarding size of dog andplay style. Smaller dogs often play better with dogs closeto their size. High energy dogs are often too overwhelm-ing for dogs with a calmer play style.
• Reward and reinforce the positive interactions that yourdog displays in his/her behavior.
• When you are comfortable with understanding your dog’sbody language, you are ready to take the dogs somewherewhere they can play off leash.
• Always be aware and watchful to make sure this play dateis enjoyable for all the dogs.
PRACTICE FIRSTPlay sessions with a trainer are the best option for first time
dog/puppy owners who may need a little extra coaching inlearning dog body language and what it means when the dogsgrowl, pounce, chase, and bark during play. A supervised playgroup can help determine what is appropriate puppy play,and what may constitute as “bullying.” Dogs and puppies
by Heddie Leger
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PLAY GROUPSFOR
DOGS
RESPONSIBILITY AT PLAY DATES AND DOG PARKSThe most important aspect to enjoying your play date experi-
ence is to be a responsible handler.• Use common sense.• You may feel you have the right to be there, however, you
gain nothing by pushing your limit and risking a dog fight.If an out of control or dangerous shows up, leave the park.
• Learn when the quiet and off-peak times are, those are thebest times to be there with your dog.
• Teach your dog a reliable recall. Immediately call your dogaway from the pack, if a scuffle should arise.
• Be more fun than other dogs at the dog park. When you go,play the games your dog absolutely loves to draw him/heraway from the dog pack.
• 100% of your of your focus should be on your dog, whenyour dog is off leash either on a play date or at the park,
• Don’t just go on play dates or visit the dog park. Vary yourinteractions with your dog. Go for walks, go swimming ,find ways to play or train in different locations.
• For more information visit: www.playdatebuddy.com/or www.dogplay.com/index.html
should engage in role-reversal: chase/be chased, pounce/bepounced on. Your dog will learn many lessons in a play date.If negative behavior is persistent, or accompanied with growl-ing, lifting his lip, general overstimulation, or is “bullying,”find a trainer with a background in positive reinforcementwho can help you redirect unruly play before it becomes amore serious behavioral issue.
Meetup.com is fantastic resource for finding existing playgroups in your area. You can search by breed, by location, orby type. Some dogs are intrinsically shy or introverted. Withtime, these dogs will likely come out of their shell, but don’tforce them into play. If your dog seems nervous or shy, makesure there are plenty of places they can hide, and escape to.Play is an excellent way to exercise your dog, build socializationskills, and teach them how to behave around small dogs and bigdogs alike. It’s a great way for your puppy to learn bite inhibi-tion and become comfortable with different kinds of dogs.
Heddie Leger is a Certified HumaneEducator. She is recipient of the 2011Excellence A ward from the InternationalAssociation of Animal Behavior Consultants.She is the Director of Community Programsand V olunteers for HSPCA. She is also aCommunity T raining Partner for BestFriends Animal Sanctuary and the local Kansas City Area Representativefor the Animals and Society Institute. Her compassion for animalsextends to all species. Y ou can reach her at the PawZone In-HomePetSitting (www.thepawzone) and The DogSpot Training Center.
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that I would like to address in this article. These are herbalmedicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, and nutritional therapy.These treatment options have the most credibility and are morewidely accepted in the veterinary community as valid treatmentmethods than other alternative treatment options such as color,sound, light therapy, reiki, qi gong, reflexology, therapeuticmagnets, and homeopathy.
Herbal MedicineHerbal medicine includes the use of both western herbs and
Chinese herbs. Herbs can be used for any condition that couldbe treated by conventional western pharmaceuticals. In myexperience however, there are some diseases/ailments thatrespond better to pharmaceuticals and some that respond bet-ter to herbs.
Herbal medicine, in general, takes a bit longer to start work-ing but can address the underlying cause of the issue instead of
So what exactly is thedifference between tradi-tional veterinary careand alternative vet-erinary care? Thereare many differentways that we, asveterinarians, cantreat our patientsand the real differ-ence between tra-ditional and alter-native care is sim-ply the approachused to treat a spe-cific illness or ail-ment. Here is abrief overview ofsome of the treatment options that are available.
TRADITIONAL VETERINARY PRACTICEFirstly, there is the traditional veterinary practice
which includes the majority of veterinarians in theKansas City area. In these practices, through physicalexams, bloodwork, x-rays and others diagnostics wetry to find out what is causing the problem. We thenuse things like surgery, antibiotics, anti-inflammatorydrugs and other medications to address the problems.This is what most people think of when they think oftaking their animal to the vet.
ALTERNATIVE PRACTICESSo you’re asking what exactly are the other options
and alternative treatments? There are four main areas
by Micheal Tarrant, DVM, CVA
VETERINARY CARETraditional vs.Alternative
masking the symptoms. When the root cause of the prob-lem is treated the secondary symptoms will resolveaccordingly. Herbal therapy is usually continuedfor weeks to months by adding powders or tabletsto the dog/cat food and is changed according tothe needs of the animal.
AcupunctureAcupuncture is the insertion of needles into
specific points of the body to elicit physical orchemical changes. Some of the changesinclude change in pain sensation, decreasedinflammation, decreased blood pressure,muscle relaxation, and the release of hor-mones. It can be used for a wide variety ofissues such as pain, arthritis, urinaryincontinence, allergies, chronic GI prob-lems, immune system disorders, andintervertebral disk disease (IVDD). Thereis a recent veterinary article in JAVMA cit-ing dogs treated for back problems (IVDD)that shows better results with acupuncturethan with surgery.1.
Acupuncture can be used as the solemeans of treatment or in conjunction withother types of therapy. It varies from patient to patient anddepends on their response to the needles. Treatments areinitially performed from once daily to once weekly, andthen taper off. Acute sprains or strains will often resolvein a few days to weeks and chronic con-ditions such as arthritis or allergies willoften require maintenance treatmentsthat vary from once a month to every sixmonths.
ChiropracticChiropractic therapy is also used in
veterinary medicine. It is mainly used formusculoskeletal pain and follows aschedule similar to that of acupuncture,with more frequent visits at first andtapering off as indicated by the patient.
Nutritional TherapyNutrition is the last “alternative” treat-
ment modality to be covered in this arti-cle. There has been a lot research in theU.S. in the last 20-30 years regardingnutritional requirements for animals.
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This has lead to the preven-tion of a number of nutri-tional diseases such asheart disease in cats caused
by taurine deficiency andthe formulation of thera-peutic diets that willhelp with dissolution of crystals or stones in the bladder.These diets have helped countless numbers of animals.There are also many animals that are getting too many car-
bohydrates and fats. Along with a lack of exercisethese diets lead to an increasing number ofobese pets and weight related health prob-lems, such as arthritis and diabetes. By pro-
viding high quality nutrition: food, vita-mins, minerals, and supplements manydiseases can be successfully controlled
or even reversed.
WHICH OPTION IS BEST?So the question — when to use traditional medicine
and when to use alternative medicine.For acute conditions or very severe medical conditions such as
infections with high fevers, congestive heart failure, or seizures,
So the question —when to use traditionalmedicine and when to use alternative medicine.
1. Reference: Journal of the AmericanVeterinary Medical Association, June 1, 2010,Vol. 236, No. 11, Pages 1225-1229 doi:10.2460/javma.236.11.1225. Comparison ofdecompressive surgery, electroacupuncture, anddecompressive surgery followed by elec-troacupuncture for the treatment of dogs withintervertebral disk disease with long-standingsevere neurologic deficits.
I tend to reach for western pharmaceuticals because theyare very powerful and will have an immediate impact on thepatient’s condition by relieving pain, suffering and possiblysaving their life.
For more chronic conditions such as recurrent skinand ear infections, allergies, hip dysplasia or arthritis, Iprefer to use herbal medicine or a combination of bothtraditional and alternative medicine. These are the con-ditions that have not developed overnight and are notgoing to be resolved overnight.
Arthritis or hip dysplasia is a great example of wheretraditional and alternative/complimentary medicines canjoin together to benefit our patients. Use of anti-inflam-matory drugs such as Rimadyl or Deramaxx can decreasepain and inflammation; nutrition changes can promoteweight loss; supplements such as glucosamine/chon-droitin can protect cartilage in the joints; and acupunc-ture can decrease pain and reduce inflammation to relaxthe surrounding muscles.
Many people are not aware that there are alternativeoptions for treating their pets. As both human healthcareand veterinary care evolve, many of the “alternative” treat-ments will become more mainstream and gain acceptancein the United States.
Mike Tarrant grew up in a small farming inOklahoma where he gained invaluable experi-ence working with all types of animals. Heattended the University of Kansas andOklahoma State University, where he graduatedin 2003 as a Doctor of V eterinary Medicine(DVM). Y ou can reach Dr . Michael T arrant atArbor Creek Animal Hospital, by calling 913-
764-9000 or by visiting www.acanimalhospital.com.
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June Pawzzle Answers
On May 11, 2012, General got aboard his2010 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic ElectraGlideand headed west. It was going to be another expe-rience like no other. Since 2008 General has riddenin the Run for the Wall (RFTW) event. This will behis 5th Run. It was also his 2nd All The Way (ATW).All the Way means you ride to LA. and from there you ride to DC. The tripform LA. to DC. takes 10 days.
MEETING UP WITH THE POSSEGenerals’ first stop was Liberal, Kansas. Very nice little town. However we
saw a billboard that said it was the home of Dorothy from Wizard of Oz. Thatkind of made the black clouds seem a little more ominous!
The next morning we rode to Tucumcari, NM, to meet up with The Posse,three other riders from the 2008 Run. I passed out patches that said “TheGeneral’s Posse 2012” with an image of General.
ON TO CALIFORNIAOur next stop would be Phoenix. The
recent fires were just getting started whenwe went through. General wanted to stopalong the way to see the Petrified Forestand to visit General Patton.
We arrived in California Monday after-noon. It was good to be back with family.When General was there in 2009 he onlymissed one item on his list of things to do.This trip he would not miss it again. Hefinally had his picture taken in front of theHollywood sign.
HONOR OF JR. AMBASSADORThe Run started on Wednesday. Our first
stop was back to Phoenix. Through thedesert it was 115º. I had made priorarraignments for General to ride in an airconditioned vehicle. During the heat of the
year when we ride I pack him in ice packs.However this heat was not tolerable for him.
This year General was given the honor ofbeing a Jr. Ambassador. The AmbassadorCorp. has the honor of stopping at theoverpasses to thank the supporters that
are there every year holding American Flags andbanners of encouragement. He was presented witha visor which he wore it with pride.
This year was General’s best Run so far. He willride again in 2013. It will be another All the Wayand he will be an Ambassador again. The bestthing about next year is that it will be The Run forthe Wall’s 25th anniversary.
Mike Jones is General’ s driver . When he is not travelingaround the country with General, he is a StructuralEngineering T echnician with Shafer , Kline & W arren inLenexa.
by Mike Jones
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General’sPosse
Rides Again
Our top runners this year includedsome new and familiar faces.1 Mile Run1st Place Female Angie Moody, dog Lucy;
5:312nd Place Female Elizabeth Kelsey, dog
Prada; 5:473rd Place Female Lori, dog Jax; 6:001st Place Male Jacob Lock, dog Casey;
5:452nd Place Male Faulker, dog Bella;
6:153rd Place Mail Tyler McDaniel, dog
Max; 6:232 Mile Run1st Place Female Carmen Hamblin, dog
Greta; 12:51
2nd Place Female Patty Vidrine, dog Ellie;13:30
3rd Place Female Jessica, dog Maddie;13:48
1st Place Male John Coler, dog Sage;10:24
2nd Place Male Hodges, dog Miley;11:17
3rd Place Male Bruce Campbell, dogBoss; 11:27M
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The Country Club Plaza became a dog’s play land onSunday, June 10 for the 25th Annual Dog-n-Jog. Nearly 1,000dogs and their people trekked to The Country Club Plaza forthe 1 and 2-mile run/walk and to enjoy the various dog activ-ities. A grand total of more than $83,000 was raised for theanimals!!! Special thanks to our celebrity emcees that keptthe dog loving entertained: NBC Chief Meteorologist GaryLezak, KFKF radio host Debbie Erikson, and Q104 radio hostTJ McEntire.
A BIG THANK YOU!A big thank you to our top three pledge collectors that went
above and beyond to collect donations for the shelter petsfrom their friends, family, neighbors and co-workers: CrissyMcNellis raised $3,500, Teresa Kellough raised $3,105 andStacey Rieckmann raised $2,600. These three women single-handedly raised enough money to keep all the shelter pets fed for the next fourmonths!
To view pictures of the event, visit www.thomasphotographic.com. (A por-tion of event photo purchased will be donated to the Humane Society.)
Dog-n-Jog:25 Years of Pawtying
