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March 2014
Articles 5
Excerpts from a Dog & Cat’s Diary
6 Witness to Animal Abuse or Neglect
6
8
Training Tip
10 Grain-Free Foods 12
12 Creating the Perfect Cat 16 Four Leaf Clover for Rover 20 Memorializing Your Pet 23 Why Does My Dog Need Shots?
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28 Breed of the Month 30 The Adventures of Chip
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32 Pawzzle
Dear Readers: Happy Spring! The first day of Spring is just around the corner on March 20. It seems everyone is ready for Spring this year, especially since there has been so much snow and cold weather in the St. Louis area this winter. With Spring around the corner, now is a good time to think about getting outside with your four-legged friend. If your friend is a dog, now is a great time to go for a walk or visit a dog park. If your furry friend is a cat, think about adding some new play toys to her collection. This issue has some great articles including What to do When you Witness Animal Abuse or Neglect. This article provides Missouri statues and statistics. It also offers guidance about documenting abuse you witness and how to follow-up.
Publisher Barbara Riedel barbara@metropetmag.com Editor/Production Manager Dan O’Leary editor@metropetmag.com Magazine Layout ROI Marketing 816.942.1600 • roi@kc.rr.com
The very informative article Why Does My Dog Need Shots anwers questions we all have about the shots our dogs get at the annual check-up. Please take time to read this article. The article Grain Free FOODS – When any Why gives tips about why these foods might be a good fit for your pet. Take a minute to read Memorializing Your Pet for some ways to remember your pet. Enjoy the other great articles including Creating the Perfect Cat!, Four Leaf Clover for Rover, and, of course, Chip’s Adventure! Have a Great Spring!
Barbara Riedel, Publisher P.S. Please support our advertisers – tell them you saw their ad in MetroPet magazine.
Advertising Sales Ad Sales: 913.548.1433 Deals of the Week deals@metropetmag.com Contact MetroPet PO Box 480065 Kansas City, MO 64148 Phone: 913.548.1433 Fax: 913.387.4313
Contributing Authors Amy Cox Mike Deathe Heddie Heger Pat Hennessy Patty Homer Teresa Miller Nancy Bush Piper Erin Quigley, DVM
Publishing Policy: Articles printed in the MetroPet Magazine express the opinions of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the formal position of MetroPet Magazine. Acceptance of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement by MetroPet Magazine. Articles: Readers are invited to submit articles for consideration for publication to editor@metropetmag.com. All materials are subject to editorial review. © 2014 MetroPet Magazine. All rights reserved. Request reprint permissions at info@metropetmag.com. MetroPet Magazine is owned and published by ROI Marketing Services, all rights reserved.
Excerpts from a Dog’s Diary..... 8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing! 9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing! walk in the park! My favorite thing! 9:40 am - A ot rubbed and petted! My favorite 10:30 am - G thing! 12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing! layed in the yard! My favorite thing! 1:00 pm - P 3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing! 5:00 pm - Milk Bones! My favorite thing! 7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing! ow! Watched TV with the people! My 8:00 pm - W favorite thing! leeping on the bed! My favorite thing! 11:00 pm - S
Excerpts from a Cat ‘s Diary..... Day 983 of my captivity My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a ‘good little hunter’ I am.
www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - March 2014
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of ‘allergies.’ I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage. Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow - but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches ... the dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.
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by Amy Cox
to animal abuse or neglect
W i t n e s s 6
What should you do in these cases to protect animals and reach the best result? While none of us ever want to witness the abuse or neglect of an animal in our community, the facts are that it does occur. In the City of St. Louis, animal control responds to approximately 3,000 calls of abuse and neglect annually. The public should be prepared to act in defense of the defenseless and should know how to best report incidences. Recently, the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation consulted with animal control representatives and discussed the best way to help animals in need as well as the best way to report abuse and neglect. Here are some general guidelines to follow and some resources for individuals. How is abuse and neglect defined? The state of Missouri has statutes related to animal abuse and neglect and penalties for such acts. The City of St. Louis has ordinances that outline their definition of abuse and neglect. Your local municipality may have other ordinances that apply.
Missouri State Statutes:
http://www.maal.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Anti-CrueltyStatutes.pdf A person is guilty of animal abuse when they intentionally or purposely causes injury, suffering or death of an animal or when a person having ownership or custody of an animal fails to provide adequate care or adequate control according to Missouri State Statutes
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - March 2014
City of St. Louis Ordinances:
http://www.slpl.lib.mo.us/cco/code/title10.htm If you see abuse or neglect in your community, you should do the following:
Report: To report companion animal-related concerns
in the community, contact the Citizen’s Service Bureau (CSB) at 314.622.4800. Or, complaints or requests for city services can be made online at: http://www. stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-safety/ neighborhood-stabilization-office/citizens-servicebureau/.
Stray Rescue’s animal abuse/neglect hotline: 314.771.6121 ext: 255
It is especially helpful to provide as many details as possible, such as address, time/date of observation, description of animal, description of circumstances, etc. Which leads us to #2…
enforcement may not be able to share all the details of their investigation with individuals that are not a part of that investigation. They should, however, be able to confirm if the complaint was assigned to an officer and if a visit to the property has been made.
Document: In cases of abuse and neglect, documentation is very important in getting animals removed from the situation or to support later prosecution. IMPORTANT: Never trespass or put yourself in danger in documenting a situation. The best form of documentation of abuse and neglect is time/date stamped photographs. Examples of photographs that support removal and prosecution would be photos showing an animal chained or restrained where they cannot access proper food, water or shelter over time through the production of several time/date stamped photos. Follow up: If the animal continues to be in the
situation, follow up with law enforcement officials to find out if a visit was made and abuse was documented. Ask if there is further information you may offer in support of your complaint. Remember, in an ongoing investigation, law
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Resources:
• S tray Rescue 314.771.6121 •B i-State Pet Food Pantry info@bistatepetfoodpantry. org 314-596-2128 •M issouri Alliance for Animal Legislation Animal Welfare Directory: mail@maal.org •U SA Today article on chaining or tethering a dog: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/ pets/2009-08-12-stilwell-dog-chains_N.htm
Resource: In some cases, neglect is a matter of education. An individual’s history and/or financial situation may play a role in their neglect. If you feel the person would be open to receiving information on resources, please feel free to share information with them. There are many great resources available to provide food and medical care for animals as well as educational resources on tethering, adequate food, adequate shelter and more.
Amy Cox serves as Outreach Coordinator and Kansas City Chairperson for the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation. Ms. Cox is involved in fostering and rescue in the Kansas City community and has two rescued dogs of her own.
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MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - March 2014
Training Tip
Be careful when using punishment as a form of behavior modification. It can suppresses problem behavior temporarily, but may actually worsen the underlying cause. Positive reinforcement dog trainers believe in reward based training, but you can not train a dog without punishment! Why would I pick this as the quote of the day? Well simple talk of punishment has become so Taboo that every one thinks punishment is bad. Well, physical punishment or abuse is definitely wrong and should not be used. However the definition of punishment is “anything added to or taken away from a situation that decreases the frequency of a behavior.” Does that mean that we should never use a time out, ignore our dogs when they are doing something we don’t like, or withhold something they enjoy until they have earned it? Punishment depends on a couple of things and the big one is whose perspective we are looking at it. What we feel is not a punishment might be punishment from the dogs perspective! So my goal in this short little essay is to get you to realize the word punishment by itself is not a dirty word — it is how some use it that is bad. Let me leave you with this. Most modern research shows that adult dogs have the intelligence level of a two year old child. So would you ever rip a dirty diaper off a two year old and rub their nose in it and say “Bad Child?” Just something to think about.
Mike Deathe is an avid pet lover who found his passion as a dog trainer. Since 2008 he has trained hundreds of pet parents on how to live with their companion animals. He writes the Keep It Simple Stupid dog blog (K.I.S.S). Deathe authored The Book of Pee and Poop, and Forever Home — Dog 101 and How to be a Better Shelter Volunteer. Follow Deathe’s blog at @http://muttzmembers.blogspot.com/ or the website @ www. kissdogtraining.com.
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s d oo
y h w d F n e a e n r e F h w n i a r G As with any industry, there are many buzzwords* in the dog food industry. A few of these words have made it into marketing pitches for just about every dog food on the planet simply because there is no strict definition. What makes a food “natural” or “healthy?” To me, it means no chemical preservatives or artificial colorings, but there are no set standards or guidelines that marketers must follow. One of these buzzwords flying around these days is “grain-free.” While it is true that the migration away from certain grains like wheat and corn have helped to improve many pet’s allergy conditions, the replacement of all grains in food has only been around for about a decade. When grain-free products were introduced, the goal was to increase the ratio of meat in the product and to reduce the presence of carbohydrates to give dogs more protein in their diet. Most pet parents started to use this option as a source of energy and muscle for
r Mille a s e r by Te
their active dogs. In addition, high protein, low carb foods mean dog owners can feed much less because the kibble is more energy dense. Recently, more and more pet food companies have flooded the market with grain-free options. I strongly recommend that dog parents review their reason for choosing a grainfree food in order to make the best choice for their pet, carefully read the labels of food choices and most importantly, remember that it always comes back to the quality of the ingredients used in the food! Because I am not a fan of foods that get their protein from soy, corn or wheat, I recommend that your pet gets his protein from a quality meat source. There are three primary reasons to change your pet’s diet to a grain-free food from another quality food that may include grains such as rice or barley. The first reason is an allergy diet restriction. When your dog suffers from chronic itching or constantly chews on his paws, your veterinarian may diagnose
*Buzzword - an important-sounding usually technical word or phrase often of little meaning used chiefly to impress laymen (from www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary; accessed 3/29/2013) 10
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - March 2014
an allergy as the cause. The easiest dietary change to make is to remove grains all together. I recommend looking for a food with average levels of protein (25-35%) with quality ingredients. Many brands simply replace the grains with potatoes and that is all right to some extent. However, too many carbs for any pet can lead to problems, such as digestive issues, kidney disease and diabetes, so again, I urge you to read the ingredient panel carefully or talk with the trained associates at your pet food shop. Your dog’s energy requirements should be the second reason for you to consider switching to a grain-free. Does your dog play at the dog park every day? Does he run five miles with you every morning? Do you have an agility champion in your family that practices each week for hours? Dogs with high energy requirements do very well on high protein (over 35%), low carb, grain-free diets because those diets are made with high concentrations of meat, which help build muscle and provide energy. The third and final reason for a grain-free diet may be to address a health issue. I’ve seen dogs and cats with cancer, diabetes and other chronic illnesses do very well on a high protein, low carb diet that restricts the sugar generated by the body. Speak with your veterinarian if your pet has issues that may warrant a change in diet to improve his health. Finally, not all dogs need a grain-free diet, but there are instances where it will improve the health and life of your dog considerably. Do your homework, but don’t swayed by buzzwords that are used simply as a marketing gimmick. Ask questions, discuss with your vet or the specialist at your local pet food shop. The more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to make the right food choices for your pet. www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - March 2014
Teresa Miller is founder and president of Treats Unleashed, a natural pet supplies store with a focus of providing healthy choices for pets. While living in New York City, Teresa had grown accustomed to feeding high-quality, all-natural pet food to their two dachshunds, Max and Mickey. After moving back to her hometown of St. Louis, Teresa was unable to find the health-centric products that she knew had contributed to her pets’ good health. Teresa and her husband, Ian, started Treats Unleashed, the natural place for pets, a brick-and-mortar shop for pet parents to learn about holistic choices and alternatives. Started in 2001, Treats Unleashed has grown from a small kiosk in a local mall to a thriving company with eight retail locations with more than 45 employees and an active wholesale and online treat business. She and Ian have since adopted other dachshunds, Cooper, and a dachshund’s mix, Gretchen.
NEW! Country Naturals premium quality, balanced nutrition at a reasonable price! Made in the USA!
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Creating the Perfect
Cat By Patty Homer
Most every cat owner has heard “dogs have masters, cats have staff.” They seem to have a royal, yet sometimes, disdainful outlook on all things non-cat. But we sure do love them! Their purr is so comforting we can fall asleep to it. They are comical, sweet, stand-offish, playful and lazy. Lazy? Well, maybe during the day, but just wait until we try to sleep — that is when the activity begins.
very few who deal with cat behavior issues, but there are some out there. Until recently, the only option most cat owners had was to see a board certified veterinary behaviorist (the closest one in this area is in St. Louis) or a veterinarian that specializes in behavior. However, many dog trainers are widening their horizons and working with cats and their owners.
Life is great with a cat until there is a behavior issue, then what? Unfortunately, some people believe that cats are disposable. The cat starts acting up and it ends up in a shelter, euthanized or, even worse, dropped at the side of a road somewhere. This thinking is (hopefully) outdated and definitely incomprehensible to me. When you bring a pet into the home, whether it is a gold fish, guinea pig, cat or dog — it is then your responsibility to care for it for the rest of its life.
There are 2 things you can easily do that can change some behavior issues including play aggression, destroying or shredding paper, scratching on furniture and excessive nocturnal activity. Those 2 things are — change the way you feed your cat and increase your cat’s exercise.
Options are limited, however when your cat starts having behavior problems. There are lots of dog trainers who deal with canine behavior issues, but 12
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - March 2014
Change How You Feed Your Cat Cats are predators, it is in their DNA to hunt, kill and eat their prey. In order to fulfill this need without setting unsuspecting mice or birds free in your home, you can offer food by making them work to eat. There are several products on the market that make your cat work to eat including the Stimulo Cat
Feeding Station, Slim Cat Interactive Toy, Pavlov’s Cat Scratch Feeder and the “puppy” size Kong filled with your cat’s favorite wet food. You can also be creative and make your own “work to eat” toy by taking a small plastic container (like yogurt) and cut holes in it that are big enough for your cat’s kibble to fall through. At first, you want to make it easy for your cat, so cut larger holes and more of them and then slowly adjust to smaller and less holes to make it harder to get the food out. After your cat is used to the idea of working to eat, start hiding the container in a paper bag, a box or leave a couple of them in different rooms for him to find.
Indoor cats can be taken outside safely on a leash and harness. Harnesses are much safer than neck collars — if your cat gets scared or starts chasing something and gets to the end of the leash, a harness will stop their body — a collar will stop their neck possibly causing spinal injuries. You can use a long leash made of clothes line with a hook on the end and make it as long as you want; this way your cat can explore, chase and capture bugs to eat (YUM!), roll in the grass and lie in the sunshine. I have even seen people walking their cats like people walk their dogs. Be
Exercise Have you ever seen an overweight feral cat? I haven’t! Work to eat is the first step to getting your cat more exercise. Step 2 is — play with your cat! Given the choice, most cats will lie around during the day and then start wandering through the house at night while you try to sleep. Cats love to chase. You will see many toys designed for this as you walk down the cat aisle of any pet store; different items on the end of a string attached to a stick. There are also some great toys like the Flying Fun Interactive cat toy, laser lights, Mouse in the House cat toy and the Peek and Play cat toy (you can search for these products on-line). I recommend having several different toys on hand and rotating them through so your cat doesn’t get bored with them. www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - March 2014
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abnormal behavior that it has never shown before, ruling out any medical causes should be your first priority – a visit to the vet is in order, then a call to the trainer.
cautious, though, indoor cats should not be outside unattended, they do not have the skills that outdoor cats have practiced and perfected. Enriching your cat’s environment is the first step to changing unwanted behavior and will make your cat a happy kitty. If your cat exhibits any unwanted or
Patty Homer is a certified professional dog trainer with more than 20 years of experience. She has also worked as a vet tech and veterinary hospital manager. Her experience includes being the Program Director for Pets for Life, owner of Good Pup Dog Training, and owner for Gentle Paws. She is located in Edmonds, WA, and can be reached at (206) 370-2728.
Resource Animal Medical Center of Wentzville 1120 W. Pearce Blvd. Wentzville, MO 63385 www.amcwentzville.com How Long Have You Been in Business? Since April 2010
Services: Medical and Surgical care for Dogs and Cats. Including: Vaccine Packages, Wellness Care, Grooming, Dentistry, Radiology, Diagnostic Testing, Routine Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery What Makes Your Business Different? Friendly, compassionate, customized care for your family pet 14
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - March 2014
What Are the Benefits of Your Business? Animal Medical Center of Wentzville offers wellness packages for all life stages. Our clinic customizes care for your pet’s lifestyle. We strive to make sure your pet is examined by a doctor as soon as possible when he or she is sick. It is also important to us that the prices for our products and services are an excellent value to our clients. Reasons Your Customers Come Back? Our customers see how much we care about them and their pets. They trust us to recommend and provide the best medical care.
Canine Signs
Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) Leader of the Pack Most canines who
fall under the jurisdiction of Aries are completely intolerant of other dogs, constantly getting into scraps and trying to dominate each and every other pet (and person) within the household. The type of Aries Dog that appears to thrive best under the influence of this constellation are Gun Dogs, Whippets, Lurchers and those of the hunting variety. Gemini (May 21 - June 21) The Yapper It takes the strength of personality found in a Leo native to help the Gemini Dog become more decisive, and a natural sympathy between the two usually ensures compatibility. Aquarius owners, being broad-minded enough to allow things to follow their natural course, will also find the Gemini Dog to be a suitable pet. Cancer (June 22 - July 22) The Home-Lover About once a month, the pull of the Moon will fill the Cancer Dog with a feeling of restlessness, urging him or her to spend the night in the garden, where he or she will howl until daybreak. However, that having been said, the Cancer Dog basically makes for a delightful and lovely pet, being loyal and faithful no matter how he or she might be treated by an owner. Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) The BossDog Fiercely loyal, this canine would rather die while protecting an owner than allow that owner to come to any harm. The Leo Dog makes for an exceptional guard dog but has one strange eccentricityhe or she is often deathly afraid of cats. Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Helper Generally, sheep dogs and working dogs governed by Virgo thrive very nicely, working from dusk until dawn and content in the productive nature of his or her employment. Since Virgo traditionally rules small animals, however, even toy dogs such as chihuahuas tend to flourish under this sign. All Virgo Dogs are loyal and expect the same steadfastness from any owner. It should be noted, however, that this dog does not take kindly to small children. Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) The ShopSteward This canine is remarkably persuasive... some might say even manipulative. They can also be ridiculously stubborn...for example, if the Libra Dog does not want to go for “walkies,” then he or she will refuse to budge. Since the Libra Dog models their life on that of the owner, if things go wrong then the owner only has themselves to blame. Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) The Paragon Thus, an owner should be able to keep on top of things and, by so doing, will discover that the www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - March 2014
Scorpio Dog is basically an affectionate canine, beneath their prickly exterior. This dog has a tendency to overweight in middle age, so any owner would be well-advised to take great care over the diet while this canine is still a puppy. Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) The Problem Dog The Sagittarius Dog will either take to an owner or not, based purely and solely on that owner’s merits as a person. If this canine does not find an owner to suit their particular taste, then that owner will be treated in the same manner as any other casual acquaintance...with polite aloofness. Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20) The Social Climber Ideally, this canine would prefer to be in a favored position enjoyed by such dogs as the Queen of England’s Royal Corgis...in other words, right at the top. When found in an average sort of household, the Capricorn Dog will begin to work on betterment of the current situation and, without the owner even realizing, this canine will gently nudge their human along (for example, they will make the house appear so small that a larger one is sought). Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18) The Friend Natives of both Gemini and Libra will greatly intrigue the Aquarius Dog. The airy mental attitude inherent in these Zodiac Signs toward life makes a perfect foil for the Aquarius Dog, serving to calm this canine to some extent and making them stop to think occasionally before leaping to conclusions. Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) The Interpreter Generally, the life of a Pisces Dog will be spent by putting his or her paw into it, while the other half will be concerned with trying to mend the situation. Forceful and pushy one minute, this dog is gentle, retiring and loving the next. Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20) The Strong Silent Type The owner must be prepared for the Taurus Dog to sit in front of the refrigerator and mournfully stare. Second only to this canine’s love of food is love of music. The Taurus Dog will happily sit for hours listening to the classic composers, such as Beethoven, and may even howl along to the orchestration. 15
Four Leaf Clover for Rover by Pat Hennessy
March may bring to mind the luck of the Irish, but is your dog a lucky dog? You may think that a roof over his head and food in his belly makes him a lucky dog (and that would make him more fortunate than those on the streets or chained up outside), but our pets need more than the basics, especially if you want to encourage good behavior and harmony in your home.
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MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - March 2014
If your dog has a behavior issue that you would like to change, then you need to decide what you would like your dog to do instead. You can’t train away from what you don’t want, but you can train toward what you do want. It is useful to choose a behavior that is incompatible with the behavior you are trying to eliminate. For example, if your dog likes to jump on people, then you could teach her to sit when people approach. If her rear end is on the ground then it can’t be in the air. If your dog likes to run to the door and bark when the doorbell rings, then you could teach her to go to a rug and wait until you open the door. If she is lying on a rug, then she can’t be running toward the door. If your dog does some excessive licking, then you might redirect that energy to have him chew on a bully stick. If you can offer rewarding alternatives to an undesired behavior you can easily turn it around. The keys to changing behavior are to provide a high enough value reward and to be consistent. If you spent $800 on a gym membership and your goal was to lose weight or tone up, you wouldn’t achieve that goal if you
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didn’t go and work out. However, if you got tired of it and the money spent on the membership wasn’t enough of a motivator, then you might not continue. If you didn’t continue then you might find yourself falling into old habits and not meeting your goal. The same rule applies when working with your dog. If you are not consistent in training your dog, then you will get inconsistent results
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(i.e. inconsistent behavior). It is important that all family members use the same training methods, or again you will get inconsistent results. It is also important to use positive reinforcement when you train. When you are training a new behavior or activity, you should make it fun. That will keep your dog motivated and encouraged to perform the behavior or activity. We all learn better in the absence of fear or pain. Imagine if you were trying to learn to play the piano and every time you hit the wrong key someone smacked you on the head. You would quickly become nervous and agitated that you were going to make a mistake and eventually you would become discouraged altogether and want to give up. Not only do you want to make training fun, but you want to offer your dog a high value reward. If you are tying to teach something new and are using every day treats, then he won’t be as motivated to learn as he would be with something fancy like hot dog, chicken or liver. It is best to keep some special treats on hand that you only use for training. When you pull out those special treats you will have your dog’s full attention for the training session. One of the other ways you can improve your dog’s behavior is to provide good management. Many behavior issues can be corrected with a bit of observation and management. If your dog is constantly getting in the trash, then make sure he doesn’t have access to the trash when you are not there to supervise. It could mean simply putting the trash can in a closet or the garage. It could also mean containing your dog to a smaller portion of the house (e.g. blocking off the upstairs or putting a gate across the kitchen/utility room). It is also important to make sure that your dog has enough environment enrichment to keep him occupied. That would mean having enough toys/chews for entertainment and maybe playing a TV or radio for some background noise). You will want to change out the toys periodically so he doesn’t get bored. Dogs that get bored can get into trouble, jumping up or chewing on things that are not appropriate, knocking things over, barking, etc. Environment enrichment goes for cats, birds, and other animals as well. If you were told to stay in one area for several hours with nothing to do, you would get frustrated. Think about the 18
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times you have been stuck in bed when you are sick and you can’t wait to feel better and get up out of bed and start doing something. Another essential aspect to balance and harmony for our animal companions is exercise. It is important that our dogs get enough exercise to burn off energy and to channel that energy in an appropriate way. Herding and retrieving breeds need to work and have activities that use those skills. Terriers need to chase (and sometimes dig). Hounds need to track and howl. Our dogs need to express themselves in ways that make sense for them. Cats need exercise as well (with plenty of
options if they are indoor only); and our avian friends are no exception (for the exercise or environment enrichment rules). Having exercise time and an outlet for your species and breed’s dynamics is a main ingredient to the recipe for a happy home and a good relationship with your pet. Your dog doesn’t have to be a wolfhound or a setter to have the luck of the Irish. So this St. Patrick’s Day when you are wearing green, consider using some green to buy a toy or special treat to show your furry or feathered companions how lucky you are to share your life with them.
Pat Hennessy is the founder of N2paws, LLC, an organization that provides a holistic approach to companion animal care through behavior education, energy work, and positive training methods. Pat is a Level 2 TTouch® practitioner, CPDT, ACDBC, and member of the IAABC, IAATH and AWA. You may contact N2Paws via email pat@ n2paws.com, phone 816-5227005, or visit the website www. n2paws.com.
Resource Happy Tails Inc.
2920 N Lindbergh Blvd, St Ann, MO 63074 (314) 291-3647 www.happytailsinc.com How Long Have You Been in Business? We just celebrated 10 years at our current location! Services: We offer daycare, boarding, grooming, dog training, and specialized pet sitting. What Are the Benefits of Your Business? Happy Tails is open 24/7/365 for drop off and pick up. Yes, we truly never close! What Makes Your Business Different? Happy Tails is open 24/7/365 for drop off and pick up. Yes, we truly never close! One of the many benefits of us being open 24/7/365 is that you can truly get a full day of daycare! Daycare dogs have all the same privileges as boarding dogs. The www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - March 2014
only difference is that daycare dogs are picked up and dropped off on the same day. Dogs enjoy approximately 12 hours of play a day in 8,000 sq feet of inside fun and 21,000 sq feet of outside fun on Prostyle Astroturf. After a full day of play, the dogs eat and sleep in their crate and receive a good night’s rest. We also offer personalized feeding with your own food and any needed medication administration. We also offer grooming! Our Pampered Tails spa offers complete grooming services for the health and well-being of your fourlegged family members, including cats and rabbits. Reasons Your Customers Come Back? Our clients (the dogs and cats) love to come to Happy Tails to play and socialize with others. Dogs get about 12 hours a day to play each day, staff is friendly and helpful, AND Happy Tails, truly never closes. 19
Memorializing
Your Pet
By Nancy Bush Piper
Your life has been blessed with a beloved companion animal. Now your pet has died. You arranged for the afterlife care of your precious pet. You may have chosen either burial or cremation. You may have buried your pet at home, at a pet cemetery, or on private land. You may have had your pet cremated privately with your pet’s cremated remains (ashes) returned to you, cremated in a partitioned cremation with cremated remains returned to you, or cremated with other pets and scattered or buried in a place you can visit. Now you feel a need to do something in remembrance of your pet. You miss him/her and wish to have something that will bring your pet closer to you again, to bring a smile to your face, instead of tears to your eyes. You want to memorialize your beloved pet.
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MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - March 2014
Memorialization Ideas
Create an area in your home with picture(s), favorite toys, treats, collar if you kept it, and/or hair clipping if you have one. If you have your pet’s ashes, you can have the urn there, too. I have three of my privately cremated pets’ urns in a basket on my couch. That was their favorite place to lie. Sometimes I sit with them on the couch with my hand and arm on their urns. I also have one collar in the basket and hair clippings in the urns with the ashes. • Make a shadow box with your pet’s picture, and mementos such as mentioned above. • Buy a Memorial Stone to put in your yard, in a flower bed, where your pet liked to lay in the yard, or under a tree close to where he played. You can personalize it as you wish, with his name, dates of birth and death, and/ or an endearment as well as perhaps an emblem such as a paw print or a doggie bone. It doesn’t matter if your pet is buried there or not, it is the memorial that
is important. There are numerous Memorial Stones to choose from: natural river rock, natural flagstone, cut granite or marble. There are also Memorials made from man-made materials, such as resin or corian. • Arrange for a memorial at a pet cemetery that is deeded to be a permanent cemetery. Call your local pet cemetery to see what options they have. • Have a t-shirt or sweatshirt made with your pet’s photo on it, as well as an endearment.
Private Cremation
Many people choose a private cremation for their pet, so they can get their pet’s ashes back, but are not always sure what to do with the ashes later. It is normally comforting to have the physical remains of your pet back home with you. During the intensely emotional grieving stages, it is common for people to take their pet’s ashes in the car with them, if the pet usually traveled with them; to sleep
Loving Hearts Pet Memorial Services 1631 W. 5th St. Eureka, MO 63025 636-587-8880 www.lovingheartspet.com
Serving those who think of their pet as one of the family by providing compassionate, ethical and dignified after-life care for their pet
Repaying loyalty, honoring memories Open door policy—visit anytime Private or Communal Cremation Communal Cremains scattered on memorial grounds Complete funeral or memorial services You may bring your pet to us, request pet pickup from your home, or ask your vet to use Loving Hearts
www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - March 2014
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with the pet’s urn; or to place the urn where they can pat it every day as they leave the house and also return, among other things. The urn is sometimes placed in a memorial area in the house.
A Casket or Urn
I feel that we have a continuing responsibility to the pet’s ashes. When you die, or all of the people who had the pet in their family circle die, then what happens to the pet’s ashes? If the ashes are not placed with you in your casket or urn, then what? If someone is going through your belongings and have no idea about your pets’ ashes, then they stand a good chance of being thrown away and ending up in the landfill. Or if they are in a beautiful urn, the urn ends up at Good Will or other Thrift Store, when your belongings are sorted. I have a friend who was a home organizer. She told me it was a common occurrence, when she started in on the closet in the bedroom, for people to say “oh, be careful!” She learned to ask “who is in there? Is it a friend, a relative or a pet? Or everybody?” People tend to put cremated remains in their closets because they don’t know what to do with them.
Other Suggestions
Here are some suggestions for memorialization for people who don’t know what to do with the ashes. Take the urns to a pet cemetery to be buried or the ashes scattered in their scattering garden. You can memorialize them there, as well. At home, plant a memorial tree, shrub or plant using some of your pet’s ashes to do that. The cremated remains by themselves will not nourish a plant. When they are mixed with a specially formulated 22
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planting mix, Let Your Love Grow, the beneficial plant nutrients are released from the ashes. You will have a beautiful living memorial to remember your pet with. You can do this with a planting in your yard, or in a container. I have friends who planted a tree with their dog’s ashes, using Let Your Love Grow. The tree is flourishing and they smile when they see the tree as they pull in their driveway. What better way to honor and memorialize your pet than to create new life from the ashes through a living plant memorial?
Beloved Memories
The memories of your beloved companion animal and the love you shared will always be a part of you. Your pets will always be memorialized in your heart, which is a joyous thing.
Nancy Bush Piper owns Rolling Acres Pet Memorial Center in Kansas City, MO, along with her husband Gary. Gary and Nancy are also co-owners of Loving Hearts Pet Memorial Services in St. Louis County, MO. At both Rolling Acres and Loving Hearts, their mission is “serving those who think of their pet as one of the family by providing compassionate, dignified, and ethical after life care for their pet.” Nancy has a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and sociology from Northwest Missouri State University. She is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and a charter Certified Pet Loss Professional as well as having a Pet Loss Companioning Certification. Nancy and Gary are blessed with many animals in their lives. For fun, she studies horsemanship and plays with her horses and mules.
Why does my dog need shots?
What is preventative care? How can I as a pet owner give my pet a long and healthy life? by Erin Quigley, DVM
www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - March 2014
All of us want to keep our pets healthy and safe to live a long life with our family. There are many aspects involved in preventative health care. So far we have touched on dental health and how it helps are pets live longer, and last month we talked about the importance of wellness exams for your pet and how a regular physical exam with your veterinarian can detect medical conditions early and avoid suffering or a shortened life for your family dog or cat. What else can be done during my Pet’s wellness visit to avoid him/her from sickness or harm? While a physical exam and recent history given by the owner is crucial for preventing disease in our animal companions, there are other tools veterinarians can utilize during the wellness visit, as well as to keep our pets healthy for a lifetime, and protect our family too.
Like what?
This month we are going to talk about ‘shots.’ Yes shots! Otherwise known as vaccinations. There is a lot of controversy regarding vaccines today. So let me arm you with information regarding what diseases we can vaccinate against and why these vaccinations may help you save your pet, or family member, one day. Vaccinations are one of the most important preventative measures you can take for the health of your pet. Vaccinations cannot only prevent against some deadly diseases but can contain conditions that might be transmitted to family members. Recommendations
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regarding type and frequency will depend on the age of your pet, environment and lifestyle, frequency of contact with other dogs, and the geographical area in which you live. Below is a listing of the most common recommended vaccinations for dogs in Missouri. Warning: I have included some boring scientific details but it will give you insight into how your pet can be exposed; symptoms and prognosis to animals exposed; and current statistics for disease risk in this area. My goal is to enlighten you as to the reality of these risks, even if you have not experienced them personally, and to help you avoid them. The three most common vaccines recommended to you for your dog are: Rabies, DHLPP, and Bordetella. What are they and what do they prevent against? Rabies What is it? Rabies is a virus transmitted to a dog or cat by the bite of an infected wild animal for example raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes.
Is it transmissible to people (zoonotic)? Yes it is zoonotic, which means transmittable to humans, through a bite wound or potentially an open wound exposed to infected animals saliva. Current statistics: Annually, 7,000 to 8,000 rabid animals are detected in the United States with more than 90% of these cases in wild animals. The annual number of rabid animals reported in Missouri in the last few decades averaged 40 cases per year. Fortunately, human deaths in the United States are relatively rare because of the effective vaccinations that are available for dogs. Recommendations: This vaccine is recommended for all dogs and cats, regardless of where they live (indoor or outdoor) due to the seriousness of the disease. It is required by law for dogs and required for cats in many states. It is given once yearly, or there is an optional three year vaccine for dogs that are older than one year or have already received a rabies vaccine. Legally this vaccine needs to be given by a licensed veterinarian.
What are the symptoms? The virus infects the nervous system, producing behavior abnormalities such as aggression, withdrawal or incoordination.
DHLPP-Distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvo. The vaccination is a combination to treat all of these diseases. What is protects against is explained below.
How is it diagnosed? The only way of diagnosing is testing nervous tissue after the pet has been euthanized.
Distemper - no it has nothing to do with your dog’s temperament!
What is the treatment/prognosis (aka. outcome)? Rabies is a fatal disease. There is no treatment for this disease.
What is it? Canine distemper is a widespread virus that causes high mortality in dogs. A dog can be infected by aerosolized droplets or from direct contact with bodily secretions, including nasal, ocular, urine and feces from an infected animal. Animals are carriers in Missouri include raccoons, skunks, and badgers. Exposure is considered inevitable during a dog’s lifetime, regardless of lifestyle and puppies and young dogs are at greatest risk. What are the symptoms? Symptoms can take on many forms, so it can be difficult to diagnose. Most commonly the virus affects the respiratory and central nervous system
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and commonly produces a fever. The dogs are extremely sick when infected and it is very contagious. Diagnosis? The disease can be very difficult to diagnose due to the variation in symptoms. Treatment/Prognosis? There is no specific treatment for Distemper. That means only intensive supportive care can be given. The cost can be expensive and most dogs do not recover so the prognosis is considered very guarded to poor. Zoonotic? Good news, No. Recommendations: Puppies should receive a series of vaccines to strengthen the immune system. Typically 3-4 vaccines, given 2-4 weeks apart, starting at the approximate age of 7 weeks old. As an adult the vaccine can be received yearly, or every 3 years, depending on the veterinarian’s recommendation. A dog’s distemper vaccine also includes a protection against other viruses. Statistics: The prevalence of canine distemper in the community has decreased dramatically due to the availability of vaccinations. However, the disease continues to spread among unvaccinated populations, such as animal shelters or dogs exposed to infected wildlife. This provides a great threat to both the rural and urban communities throughout the United States, affecting both shelter and domestic canines. Despite the effectiveness of the vaccination, outbreaks of this disease continue to occur nationally.
Depending on the vaccine, your dog’s distemper vaccine will include protection against other harmful infections. I will list the two most important ones below and explain the importance of protecting against them. Parvovirus What is it? This is a serious and very common virus that affects puppies and unvaccinated young dogs. It is extremely contagious and can live in the environment for long periods of time. It is also difficult to kill in an exposed environment. What are the symptoms? It comes on quickly and causes severe lethargy, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Diagnosis? There is a specific test that can be run by your veterinarian to diagnose Parvovirus, although the dog has to be shedding enough of the virus to get a positive result. Treatment/Prognosis? It can be treated, but the treatment is intensive and expensive, and too often dogs dies despite treatment. If the virus is detected early, and the dog is treated with continued hospitalized care, they have a better chance of survival. Zoonotic? No. However it is very contagious between other dogs and can live in the environment for months. Recommendations: It is highly recommended that your puppy be vaccinated against parvovirus starting at approximately 7 weeks of age, with follow up vaccines 2-3 weeks for a series of boosters
according to what your veterinarian recommends. So as soon as you get your new puppy, take it to your vet so a specific plan can be made for your pet. This awful disease can be prevented. It is also included in the yearly distemper booster for adult dogs. Statistics: Parvovirus is commonly found in any environment a dog has visited. There are thousands of cases a year. Your pet is most vulnerable if it did not received proper vaccinations in its young life. The immunity a puppy should receive from its mother decreases substantially after the age of 6 weeks. The highest risk of infection is between that time and 2 years old. Leptospirosis What is it? Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection contracted from exposure to urine of infected wildlife usually through contaminated water or food. Other than dogs, many species of animals carry this bacteria, including rats, mice, moles, raccoons, opossum, skunks, rabbits, and deer. What are the symptoms? This bacterium causes infection in the kidneys and liver and causes lethargy and generalized pain in dogs. Diagnosis? Leptospirosis can be difficult to initially diagnose due to vague symptoms. If it presents with classic symptoms diagnosis can be assumed, but to confirm, samples must be sent to an outside lab. Because of the delayed diagnosis, exposure to other pets and people can be high. 25
Treatment/Prognosis? Treatment involves intensive supportive care. There is no specific treatment. Since dogs are hospitalized for long periods the expense is high, especially since the patient must be kept under quarantine due to the risk of human transmission. Survival will depend on when the infection is discovered, and how much damage has been done to the pet’s internal organs. Zoonotic? It can be transmitted to humans by contact breaks in skin or mucous membranes. Transfer is typically made through exposure to a infected animals urine, this might includes water sources, streams, rivers, creeks, puddles etc. Recommendations: Leptospirosis may or may not be included in your dog’s distemper vaccine depending on exposure and risk of reaction to vaccination. You and your veterinarian can make the best decision regarding your pet. Statistics: Hundreds of cases in humans are reported each year. Most at risk are farmers, fisherman, campers, animal care workers anyone exposed to a contaminated water source or the animal carrying the infection.. Canine Respiratory Disease – Bordetella/ Kennel cough vaccine - aids in minimizing or preventing Canine respiratory disease. What is it? Is a troublesome disease in dogs caused by many infectious agents. The most common are 26
canine adenovirus type 2, canine parainfluenza virus (both included in the Distemper vaccine) and Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria. These infections are very easily transmitted through the air or by direct contact with other dogs or carried on objects such as clothing from an infected dog. What are the symptoms? The infection causes a tracheo-bronchitis and is commonly known as ‘Kennel cough,’ it typically causes a very persistent, harsh, dry cough which sometimes includes eye or nasal discharge. The symptoms usually last 2-3 weeks or longer and can decrease quality of life for the pet and owner, for example lack of sleep from persistent cough, restricted activity. Diagnosis? Diagnosis is typically made by observing symptoms on physical exam. Treatment? Prognosis? Treatment is supportive care (ex. antibiotics, cough suppressants, rest). Prognosis is good unless immune system is weak and pneumonia results. In most cases this infection does not harm the animal long term but it takes several weeks for the cough to subside and lots of pills that neither you or the dog want to deal with. Zoonotic? No. Only in dogs. In Summary Wow, take a breath. You got through the boring part. And for those of you still not asleep, I will summarize. That was the three basic vaccines that your veterinarian includes in your
MetroPet Magazine | St. Louis - March 2014
pet’s yearly visit. They probably give them to your dog so quickly that you don’t even realize they have been given. But now you can understand what just a few minutes of your time, a slight discomfort for your pet, and the price of less than one fast food lunch a month can do to protect you, your pet and your family from some serious conditions. You may have a few remaining questions such as…. But my dog is mostly inside or I am afraid of vaccine reactions for my pet? Regarding your pet being indoor - most pets with the few exceptions go outside to ‘do their business,’ in doing so you can now see they will be exposed to other pets or wildlife either directly or indirectly. Even if your pet has never stepped foot outdoors, which I know of none, as pet owners we do and we can expose them by tracking pathogens in our homes. Most importantly, I hope it is clear how serious these conditions are for your pet and your family and that even if the risk to your pet is small, any risk is too large to not prevent against a fatal condition. Vaccine reactions? Reactions to vaccines do occur. But these risks can be minimized or even prevented. Your veterinarian can customize a vaccine plan for your pet, by eliminating certain vaccines for high-risk breeds, spreading out the vaccines to multiple visits, or giving medication to greatly minimize the chance of reaction. Vaccine titer test can be administered for older dogs that should have immunity to see if
certain vaccines are needed. Have a discussion with your veterinarian about any concerns and together you will make a customized plan for your pet. I know that was a lot of facts. Thanks for hanging in there. You may have always wondered what these ‘shots’ protected against, you probably wondered why you drove your dog to the vet once a year, and if you didn’t, you know now. Knowledge is power. I hope you can now see value in vaccines in preventing disease that will help your pet live a longer healthier life in addition giving you peace of mind that you are protecting not only your beloved dog, but your entire family! Next month, we will continue our preventative care series We will cover the last component to your pets annual wellness visit: Parasite testing and prevention. We will also be covering feline wellness.
www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - March 2014
Erin Quigley, DVM, Member of AVMA, MVMA, grew up in Florissant, MO, and received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Missouri State University. After college I worked as a receptionist at Rock Road Animal Hospital, a zookeeper at the St. Louis Zoo and a veterinary assistant at Howdershell Animal Hospital until attending Veterinary School at University of Missouri-Columbia. I graduated with my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and have lived in O’Fallon, Missouri since I graduated. I have worked as a veterinarian in Troy, Wentzville, and Florissant, MO, until purchasing Animal Medical Center of Wentzville in 2010. I married in 2011 and live with my husband Ryan and boxer dog Finnegan in Lake St. Louis/O’Fallon. When my husband and I have free time from the clinic we enjoy spending time with our dog, family and friends. Our hobbies include attending Cardinal baseball and Mizzou football games. We also enjoy the outdoors biking, boating and horseback riding.
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Meet the Breed
March Pet of the Month
The Labrador Retriever Fun loving, happy-go-lucky and energetic, the Labrador has held the spot for most popular breed since 1991. They are owned and loved by millions of people. The gentle, intelligent and family-friendly Labrador Retriever continues to be the most popular breed in the United States, according to the American Kennel Club. This versatile breed comes in three colors — yellow, black and chocolate, and because of his aptitude to please his master they excel as guide dogs for the blind, therapy dogs, searchand-rescue teams, or in narcotics detection with law enforcement. They are masters at obedience and other competitive sports, such as agility and dock diving. They are known worldwide for their gentle, amicable temperament and fun loving personality. They love a good game of fetch and can go for hours on end. They are very friendly towards children and all ages of people. This active breed is suited for all types of jobs. They are very intelligent and thus highly trainable. Their desire to please humans makes them excellent in all venues.
could be found helping pull heavy nets from the water. They also would be expected to catch and retrieve fish that escaped from the nets. They were bred for their willingness to stay with a job, and not give up. Their skill at retrieving gave them much value. The Labrador Retriever is best known as a hunting breed, but their talents do not stop there. Labs love to play, especially in water. They crave human companionship and are happiest and most content when part of the family. They are easily trained. Like most dogs, some may be reserved with strangers unless very well socialized, preferably while they are still puppies. Those bred for fieldwork tend to be much more energetic and can become high strung and difficult to manage without proper exercise. The English bred stock tend to be calm and laid back. While American bred stock lines tend to be more high energy. English stock tends to mature quicker than the American type. The breed comes in two distinct body types, the English Labrador and the American Labrador. The English bred stock has a general appearance that is different than the
In the show ring the Labrador Retriever is recognized as a member of the sporting group. This breed is an http://www.labradorretriever.com/homepage.html amazingly versatile. It originated in Newfoundland. http://www.akc.org/breeds/labrador_retriever/index.cfm They were used to work side http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/labrador-retriever by side with seamen and http://nationallabradorretrieverclub.com/ fishermen. This strong dog 28
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American bred Lab. It has a stockier build that is heavier, thicker and blockier. The American bred stock is tall, rangy and lanky. The double coat is smooth and does not have any waves. Coat colors always come in solid black, yellow or chocolate. Both the English and American stock are strong and compact with webbed feet that aid the dog in swimming. Labs of both stock lines are considered good-natured, trustworthy, dependable and generally easy-going. They are stable, and aren’t easily upset or startled. The lab does love to chew things! So beware, they will mouth and chew anything they can get their teeth into. Because they are natural retrievers, they love to carry things around. Due to the fact that the lab likes to carry things in their mouth, they can be prone to swallowing things, like socks, toys, or bones which can cause intestinal blockage. As long as a lab can get out for a walk or run every day, they can live quite happily in an apartment without a yard. If you have a yard it needs to be fenced or they tend to wander in hot pursuit of the most interesting scent. • Height: Males 22 - 24 inches Females 21 - 23 inches • Weight: Males 60 - 75 pounds Females 55 - 70 pounds • Some males can grow to 100 pounds or more.
dystrophy and retinal dysplasia. • Dogs which are intended to be bred should be examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist for an eye score. • Hereditary myopathy, a rare inherited disorder that causes a deficiency in type II muscle fibre. Symptoms include a short stilted gait or “bunny hopping,” and in rare cases ventroflexion of the neck accompanied by a kyphotic posture. • Labradors are somewhat prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, especially larger dogs. • Labradors also suffer from the risk of knee problems. The Labrador Retriever makes the ideal companion for all types of people.
The Labrador breed will shed hair twice annually, and/or regularly throughout the year in temperate climates. Be prepared to groom on a daily basis as the Labrador coat is generally short and straight, and they can shed profusely at times. Their interwoven coat is also relatively waterproof, providing more assistance for swimming. The Labrador Retriever has webbed toes making them excellent swimmers.
Health Issues • Eye problems are possible in some Labradors, particularly progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, corneal www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - March 2014
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The Adventures
of chip by Heddie Leger
Recap from Episode 2: Chip and the boy have bonded, but Penelope is still not so sure having a puppy along as they search for food and shelter is a good idea. Penelope’s last words to him were “you have lost your mind”… The three of us walked through what seemed like miles not see the humor in this and did not want to play along. of piles of debri, pieces of houses, cars crushed like pepsi She was tired, hungry and in a very bad mood. cans, clothes hanging from trees and it was very, very quiet. There were no people and no leaves on the trees. Allen and I spun around a few more times, I wagged my It was so quiet it made Penelope start to cry. “I just know tail and he tried to imitate me, but since he did not have we are the only survivors.” She cried. “How are we going a tail, he looked very funny and I smiled at him, and he to find our friends and family?” I felt like I needed to do smiled back at me. It felt good to smile and have a little something, but did not know what, so I stopped in the fun, even though it was a scary situation. Allen knew how middle of the street and turned in a circle three times to make the best of a situation and apparently decided chasing not to let my tail. Penelope’s Word of the Month: The boy bad mood Sense of Humor looked put him in a The quality of an individual to find certain things funny at me, bad mood. started I guess it to smile, put his arms straight out and looked up at the was a good thing for me to be there to help at least one sky and turned around three times imitating me. He of them be able to smile a little bit. It seemed like hours encouraged Penelope to do the same thing and was went by when we came upon houses that were not even starting to laugh as I spun around three times again, and damaged. Everything looked normal in the neighborhood he did too. Then the two of us were walking staggering we walked into. There were children riding bikes, dads around and the boy was laughing very hard. “Allen, stop that this instant,” Penelope yelled at him. This is serious and you are playing around like nothing was wrong. Activity “Awe, come on, Penelope,” Allen replied, “there is nothing Read about the program Hug-A-Tree. Decide if this that says we cannot have a little fun.” Penelope just did could apply to any situations in your life if you should
become lost. 30
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washing cars, and moms pushing strollers down the street visiting with neighbors acting like nothing had ever happened. We felt very out of place all covered I mud. Allen and Penelope stopped to talk with one of the mom’s pushing a stroller and she looked at them with such shock, I thought she was going to run away. When she heard their story, she got this funny look on her face like she was going to cry and called to the man washing the car to come over. They talked a few minutes and invited the three of us to come into their home. Once inside it was apparent that these were very nice people. They gave Allen and Penelope clean clothes, showed them where the place to clean up was and gave them soap and towels to clean up, plus some clean clothes. The mom put the baby in her playpen and turned to me with a nice smile on her face and said, “Come here little pup.” She scooped me up and for the first time in a long time, I felt very safe.” She placed me in a bowl, put warm water on me, and soap, and gave me a bath, warmed a towel up and wrapped me in it to dry me off. By the time she was done and I was all dry and clean, Allen and Penelope came into the room where a table of food was waiting for them. The lady just happened to have some dog food and filled a bowl for me. Oh my, we thought we were in heaven. As we all ate, the man and woman talked in the other room. I could hear their voices get a bit tense and angry, and thought we were in trouble. But, when they came back in they were smiling. They apparently had talked and decided to help us, but first they had to call the police, they explained. They wanted to make sure and see if anyone was looking for us. Allen and Penelope did not like the sounds of that, but they were wondering what had happened to their family. They were homeless and without parents just like me. The police arrived and asked lots of questions. They filled out forms as we answered their questions. They were very nice to us, but when they said they would have to take me away and put me in a shelter, both www.metropetmag.com | St. Louis - March 2014
Penelope and Allen started to cry. The man and woman who helped us spoke up and said they would take care of me while the police tried to find Penelope’s and Allen’s family. I was really scared as they took Allen and Penelope away in the police car. They looked out the back window at me with tears in their eyes and I did not know if I would ever see them again. My life was about to change once again when I realized that there was another animal that lives in the house. A BIG black and brown dog was staring at me from the outside looking in. I did not know if he was friendly and would want to share his yard with me, but I was about to find out as they opened the door to let the BIG dog in. I closed my eyes and turned my head away as I did not know what was going to happen next. I could feel his hot breath all over my body, he was panting and drooling all over me, but I dared not move.
Story Discussion Tips 1) Do you think Penelope and Allen did the right thing by taking the puppy with them? 2) What would you have done? 3) What would you do if you were lost?
Heddie is a Certified Humane Educator and member of APDT, APLB, APHE and NHES sharing a lifelong passion of helping children and the elderly learn manners reinforcement with their pets through the PawZone In-Home PetSitting. You can reach her at 816.820.5829.
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Chip’s Corner
Pawzzle
Answers to this Pawzzle can be found in the Breed of the Month story on page 28. Answers to this Pawzzle can be found in the Care of Rabbits story on page 12. 32
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Across
Down
1. Labrador Retrievers used to help
2. In the show ring Labs are a member of the _________
_______________ with their nets. 4. The Lab comes in three colors Yellow, Black and _______________. 8. The retriever craves human ___________. 10. Labs are best known for their _______________ ability. 12. The American bred is ____________ in size. 13. The lab likes to carry items around in their ______________. 16. As long as the lab can get out for a walk or run each day, they can live happily in an _______________________. 18. Labrador Retrievers natural love ________________. 20. Like most dogs, they should be _______________ early as young puppies. 22. They have _____________ feet that aid them in swimming. 23. Should be brushed or groomed on a ______________ basis. 24. Due to their trainability they are very ____________ and can serve in many ways.
group. 3. This breed is VERY ____________ and highly trainable. 5. The English bred labs body type is ________ . 6. There are two types of Labrador ______________ and American. 7. They would also retrieve ____________ that escaped from the nets. 9. According to the AKC Labs have been the most ________________ breed since 1991. 11. They ________________ and excel in many sports. 14. English labs tend to ____________ more quickly than the American type. 15. Labs are also recognized as extremely talented registered ___________ dogs to assist people with needs. 17. Due to their friendly nature, they also make great _________ dogs. 18. They have an interwoven coat that is relatively _____________. 19. One water sport they excel in is called ___________________. 21. This breed can be prone to hip and elbow ________. Pawzelle Answers Feb 2014
25. They are owned by _______________ of people. 26. Their webbed toes make them excellent ________________. 27. Labrador Retriever originated in what country?
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Dierberg’s Markets
12420 Tesson Ferry Rd 9901 Manchester Rd 421 Lafayette Ctr 11481 Olive Blvd 1322 Clarkson Clayton Ctr 860 Arnold Commons Dr 2516 Lemay Ferry Rd 2021 Zumbehl Rd 222 N US-67 11900 Manchester Rd 1730 Clarkson Rd 7233 Watson Rd 5640 Telegraph Rd 12595 Olive Blvd 6211 Mid Rivers Mall Dr 2979 Highway K 450 Old Smizer Mill Rd 2460 Taylor Rd 217 Salt Lick Rd 820 Wentzville Pkwy
Saint Louis Saint Louis Ballwin Saint Louis Ballwin Arnold Saint Louis Saint Charles Florissant Saint Louis Chesterfield Saint Louis Saint Louis Saint Louis Saint Charles O Fallon Fenton Grover Saint Peters Wentzville
St. Louis Mills Mall - Door #4 370 & Mills Mall Dr
Straubs
211 W Lockwood Ave 302 N Kingshighway Blvd 8282 Forsyth Blvd 13414 Clayton Rd
Hazelwood Saint Louis Saint Louis Saint Louis Saint Louis
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Schnucks Markets
8200 N Lindbergh Blvd 10650 Olive Blvd 15425 Manchester Rd 1950 Zumbehl Rd 3431 Union Blvd 2030 Dorsett Vlg 20 Dillon Plaza Dr 3029 Highway K 6083 Mid Rivers Mall Dr 3900 Vogel Rd 8660 Veterans Mem Pkwy 141 Hilltown Village Ctr St 101 Civic Center Dr 8650 Big Bend Blvd 10070 Gravois Rd 10233 Manchester Rd 9074 Overland Plz 1060 Woods Mill Plaza 8037 W Florissant Ave 1393 Big Bend Rd 2511 Kehrs Mill 10275 Clayton Rd 74 Grandview Plaza S/C 8867 Ladue Rd 5434 Southfield Ctr 245 E 5th St 13987 New Halls Ferry Rd 12332 Manchester Rd 4171 Lindell Blvd 1160 Shackelford Rd 800 S Duchesne Dr 2073 Washington Xing 1960 Wentzville Pkwy 1181 W Gannon Dr
Florissant Saint Louis Ballwin Saint Charles Saint Louis Maryland Heights High Ridge Saint Charles Saint Charles Arnold O Fallon Chesterfield Lake St Louis Webster Groves Saint Louis Kirkwood Saint Louis Chesterfield Saint Louis Valley Park Ballwin Ladue Florissant Ladue Saint Louis Eureka Florissant Des Peres Saint Louis Florissant Saint Charles Washington Wentzville Festus
Feline Signs Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) The Stray Cat The Aries Cat has no desire to spend evenings in a mutual haze of “stroke and purr” with his or her owner and a well-balanced, two-sided partnership between human and cat will never be within the range of this creature. Basically a loner, if forcibly confined to the lap of one who feels the need for company, the Aries Cat will quickly convert from a feline to a writhing bundle of needle-ridden fur. Gemini (May 21 - June 21) Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Being exceptionally bright creatures, the Gemini Cat will soon learn how to open any cat-flap. This cat views the home as one glorious adventure playground created especially for its enjoyment. This feline will cavort endlessly, sliding down banisters and climbing up curtains, but hardly ever sits still long enough for a cuddle. Cancer (June 22 - July 22) The Crazy Cat There may possibly even be a feeling of togetherness as this cat sleeps through the day in the middle of the kitchen, but it is important not be too easily fooled. Should the necessity arise to move residence, the Cancer Cat is likely to refuse to follow...humans simply do not mean that much to this feline. This cat has the uncanny ability to melt a human heart with its constant desire for affection. Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) The Top Cat This cat is intensely loyal (in its own way) and equally as faithful as it is self-opinionated. In fact, as cats go, this feline can be quite a friendly soul. However, being inherently jealous by nature, the Leo Cat does not care to be in a houseful of other animals who will doubtless compete for attention. Although a confident creature, this cat is proud and easily embarrassed, with surprisingly fragile feelings. Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Kitten Cat Outside, with nature at paw’s reach, this feline will forget all his or her problems and hang-ups. Birdwatching or other type of nature study will quickly relax the Virgo Cat, while giving the owner some breathing space at the same time. However, it would truly be foolish to expect this feline to catch any mice. Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) The CopyCat The Libra Cat will be a truly loving and devoted feline. An inherent urge for unity with others will make it natural for this cat to create an atmosphere of harmonious relationships with home companions...and of dire importance to this feline is to be among people who are sympathetically inclined.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) The Cat’s Pajamas The Scorpio Cat is always strangely drawn to those unfortunate humans who are not fond of cats. If such an individual is invited into the home and tries to banish the Scorpio Cat, it will fail to work. Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) The Stable Cat It can help if there are other animals in the household, as this provides practical stimulation for the Sagittarius Cat, who is fond of feline companionship and delighted to allow another cat (or even more than one) to share home and family. Still, the true love of this feline’s life will always be horses. Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan 20) The Cat Burglar The Capricorn Cat prefers city life to country living. In the beginning, the Capricorn kitten appears to be fitting-in quickly. They will be house-trained almost overnight and may only once make the mistake of jumping onto the kitchen table. Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18) The Hip Cat Contact with humans (albeit from a distance) is more important to an Aquarius Cat than the time spent with other felines and his or her best friends are likely to be birds. This cat will attract people with an incredibly strange allure until he or she has a battery of acquaintances of all shapes and sizes, from all walks of life. Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) The Ship’s Cat Natives of Cancer and Scorpio tend to get on best with the economic “two for the price of one” bundle which is the Pisces Cat. Cancer subjects possess a big enough sense of humor to actually enjoy this feline’s many quirks and peculiarities, while Scorpio subjects will combine their psychic powers with that of the Pisces Cat, making for something of a psychedelic atmosphere at times. Taurus (April 20 - May 20) The Earth Mother It will be necessary to vacuum, dust and step around this feline. This cat sleeps most of time and during slumber, nothing will awaken it. This cat rarely allows paws or torso to lose contact with a solid surface because it will be too heavy to move very far.