The Virginia Maryland Dog Winter 2014

Volume 5 •Issue 4

Winter/Holiday 2014

Dr. Steve Shoop: From Surgeon to High Flying Chauffer Walking in a Winter

Wonderland Happy & Safe Dogs Make Demystifying Spinal for Happy Howl-a-days!

Injuries in Dogs

Holiday Gift Guide Holiday Gift Guide Inside New! Ask a Neurovet

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“Mack” is seeking his forever

home through Black Dogs & Company Rescue (details on Page 45)

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Any Breed, Any Age, Any Size.

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Issue 4

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5 •Issue Volume

Winter/Holiday 2014 Dr. Steve From S Shoop: urgeo

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n to Haig W hgFlyin lkin g inChau in a W Wonder ter ffer Happy land & Sa Dfoem r Hystifyi fe Dogs Ma ke Spl-a How Injurieasppyng ina Holid in Dogs -dl ays!

Holidayay Gift Gu ide New! AGift Guide In sk a Ne side u

Weekend Getaway:

rovet

A Colonial Canine Christmas

On the Cover…

Training:

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“Mack”

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is seekin g his fore home thro ver Company ugh Black Dogs & Rescue (det ails on Page

45)

“Mack” is available for adoption through Black Dogs & Company Rescue (See Page 45 for details)

Three Reasons Your Dog is Stubborn

Photo by Ellen Pons, Ellen Pons Photography

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Fitness & Training:

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Stories Within The Bond:

The Zen of Dog Training

Partings

features 8

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Ask A Neurovet

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Rounding up Rover

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Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injuries: How to Help Your Dog Recover

with Dr. Lauren Talarico

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Two Sneakers. Four Paws.

One Leash.

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Annie’s Story

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Holiday Gift Guide

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Saying Goodbye to Zimmer

Happy and Safe Dogs Make for Happy Howl-a-days!

Ask Dr Katy: with Dr. Katy Nelson

Grooming: Pet Shampoo 101

45 Seeking A Forever Home

special feature 14

Dr Steve Shoop:

From Surgeon to High Flying Chauffeur

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contributors Kimberly Artley

Laurie Luck, M.A., KPA CTP

Kimberly Artley is Founder of PackFit: Body + Mind for Human + Canine. PackFit is dedicated to helping humans + their faithful canine companions achieve stellar health + wellness through various integrated modalities. Creating our best version of self + becoming the leader our dogs need us to be.

Katy Nelson, DVM

Prince Lorenzo Borghese Prince Lorenzo Borghese is founder of Prince Lorenzo’s Royal Treatment, an organic-based grooming line formulated in Italy. He is honorary animal welfare Ambassador for the ASPCA and the American Humane Association. He is also President and co-founder of Animal Aid USA, a not-for-profit organization comprised of all non-paid volunteers that through their monthly adoption caravans save an average of 150 lives per month.

For more information go to royalpetclub.com or animalaidusa.org.

Julie Buzby, DVM Dr. Julie is certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society and practices integrative medicine in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. In 2012, she founded Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips for Dogs—marketing nonslip nail grips for senior and special needs dogs. She shares her home with her husband and eight children, and their angelic rescue mutt named Luke.

Bruce Coston, DVM Doctor Coston owns and operates Seven Bends Veterinary Hospital in Woodstock, Virginia. He is the author of two books: The Gift of Pets and Ask The Animals. www.brucecoston.com

Krisi Erwin, DVM, CVA, CCRT Dr. Erwin, a life-long Loudoun County native, owns a house call practice called Wholistic Paws Veterinary Services that focuses on offering inhome acupuncture, rehabilitation, pet hospice, and euthanasia for her clients. Dr. Erwin is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist and a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist.

Bonnie Lefbom, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) Dr. Bonnie Lefbom is passionate about cardiology for pets. Her vast experience allows her to remain focused on the emotional and financial needs of owners while achieving optimal treatment for each pet. Dr. Lefbom’s home life is joy-filled with three teenagers, two spoiled dogs, and one very friendly cat.

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Dog lover and professional trainer, Laurie knows the joy that dogs bring to our lives. Smart Dog University specializes in dog-friendly, positive training. From pups to dogs, Laurie makes training fun for both ends of the leash!

Dr. Katy Nelson is a veterinarian and the host of “The Pet Show with Dr. Katy” on Washington DC’s News Channel 8 - the show airs at 11am on Saturday mornings. An ardent advocate for pet rescue, Dr. Nelson works with numerous local and national rescue organizations to promote pet adoption. Dr. Nelson is known as “Dr. Pawz” on Washington DC’s All News Radio Station WTOP live on air every two weeks. You can also catch her on her online radio show called “Pawsitive Talk with Dr. Katy” on the all positive radio network HealthyLife.Net. Dr. Nelson is a Certified Veterinary Journalist (CVJ), accredited by the American Society of Veterinary Journalists (ASVJ). Catch her every Friday morning on News Channel 8’s “Let’s Talk Live,” and you can even find her reporting on animal health topics every week on WJLA ABC7 News.

A prolific writer, you can follow her on The Pet Show’s blog www. wjla.com/blogs/the-pet-show/ and find back episodes of The Pet Show there, as well.

Lauren R. Talarico, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology/Neurosurgery) Dr. Talarico is a board certified neurosurgeon at VCA SouthPaws in Fairfax, VA. She graduated with honors from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, completed an internship at the University of Georgia and neurosurgical residency at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals. Dr. Talarico conducts research projects involving Chiari-like malformations through the pediatric neurosurgery team at Children’s National Hospital in DC. She has also been published in several veterinary journals and textbooks.

Dr. Talarico specializes in brain and spinal surgery, reconstruction procedures and treatment of medical neurologic diseases.

Ginger, Warder Ginger Warder, the author of Fido’s Virginia and Fido’s Florida, is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers, specializing in luxury travel and travel with pets. Her current canine research assistants are her German Shepherd, Tipsy, and her Daschund, Max.

Anne Wills Anne Wills is the founder of Dogs Finding Dogs, K9 Search & Rescue for Missing Pets, a 501c3 Nonprofit organization. In addition, Anne is a Professional Dog Trainer and Private Investigator, as well as the owner of Dogs Finding Drugs, K9 Narcotic & Firearms Detection. She is also an HLN and Fox News Consultant.

The Virginia–Maryland Dog

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Publisher/Editor in Chief Pamela Wahl Director of Operations Gene Wahl

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a note

from our publisher

Art Director Kim Dow, Kalico Design

“The greatest fear dogs know is the fear that you will not come back when you go out the door without them.”

–Stanley Coren

Graphic Designer Jennifer Tyler, Kim Dow, Kalico Design Social Media Cami O’Connell Kristin Carlson

Welcome to our Winter/Holiday edition! This edition includes a Holiday Gift Guide filled with all sorts of wonderful items sure to make any dog and/or human on your holiday list happy! From comfy dog beds, to toys, to training services, we have it covered. We encourage you to take a look at this array of fabulous gift ideas.

Senior Editor Kimberly Holmes Photographers Ellen Pons, Ellen Pons Photography Carina Thornton, Fuzzypants Pet Photography Copy Editor Matt Neufeld Advertising Director Pamela Wahl Production Coordinator Diane Weller Web Site Manager Kalico Design, Kim Dow Business Manager Cathy Wahl Contributing Writers: Kimberly Artley Prince Lorenzo Borghese Julie Buzby, DVM, CVA, CAVCA Bruce Coston, DVM Krisi Erwin, DVM, CVA, CCRT Laura Jones Bonnie Lefbom, DVM, DACIM (Cardiology) Laurie Luck, KPA-CTP, CNWI Katy Nelson, DVM Lauren Talarico, DVM, DACVIM Ginger Warder Anne Wills The Virginia-Maryland Dog Magazine 1 College Avenue Frederick, MD 21701 Tel: (301) 514-2804 Fax: (301) 576-5079 www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com bark@vamddog.com

We are excited to announce a new section within our publication called Ask a Neurovet featuring Veterinary Neurologist Lauren Talarico. Lauren will be handpicking questions asked by her clients and our readers with easy-to-understand answers. In addition to her Ask a Neurovet section, be sure to check out Lauren’s “Two Sneakers, Four Paws, One Leash” article about her newly established We Ruff DC program designed to promote physical fitness alongside your canine companion(s).

Also included in this edition is our Special Feature article about Dr. Steve Shoop, a retired surgeon who spends time chauffeuring animals to forever and foster homes by air.

With all of the hustle and bustle associated with the holiday season, we encourage you to take a look at our Rounding up Rover section written by Dogs Finding Dogs founder Anne Wills. Anne offers some shocking statistics with regard to pet theft, as well as some very informative tips about precautions to take during the holiday season to ensure that your pets stay safe.

We would like to thank all of our fantastic readers, advertisers and writers for your continued support. We are extremely grateful for all of you!

Happy Holidays!

Pam Wahl Owner/Publisher

Copyright 2014 No part of this publication may be reproduced without expressed written permission of the publisher.

No part may be transmitted in any form by any means, including electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Publisher accepts no liability for solicited or unsolicited materials that are damaged or lost. Views expressed by editorial contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.

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Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injuries: How to Help Your Dog Recover

By Krisi Erwin What do squirrels and tennis balls have in common? They are leading causes for Cranial DVM, CVA, CCRT Cruciate Ligament (CCL) injuries in dogs. Squirrels and tennis balls are often implicated because of the quick stops, starts, and pivots they cause when dogs chase them. These risks are often compounded by obesity, being spayed and neutered at an early age and hypothyroidism.

Surgeries such as tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) or tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) are often recommended. Surgery can be successful, but it may not be appropriate in every situation.

Some patients are not good anesthetic candidates or may be too elderly. Regardless if surgery is on the schedule, the following suggestions may help your pup’s path to recovery:

1 Weight Management:

Obese dogs are at risk for joint injury. Restricted exercise during recovery can also cause weight gain. Pet owners should ask their veterinarian if their dog is at an ideal weight or maybe needs to shed a few pounds. Vets can find ways to reduce calories. Owners should ask about the green bean diet or a weight management food, and treat ideas such as ice cubes, baby carrots, and rice cakes, which are low-calorie options. These can help dogs achieve an ideal weight.

Even a few pounds of weight loss can go a long way to reducing inflammation and getting dogs up and moving.

2 Pain Medications: Cruciate tears are

painful, and most pets will need pain medication during the initial days after injury. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as Rimadyl or Previcox can help to reduce inflammation and provide muchneeded pain relief. Medications such as Tramadol may be recommended, depending on the severity of the injury.f you are worried about side effects of conventional medications, you can ask about alternatives such as Chinese herbs (i.e. Kan Herbal Benefits the Hips and Knees formula), western herbs (i.e. turmeric or boswellia), or homeopathics (i.e. Traumeel or Zeel).

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3 Joint Supplements:

Arthritis is a common sequela to cruciate injuries. Joint supplements such as fish oils and glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate should be considered to provide building blocks for long term cartilage and joint fluid health.

Adequan, an injectable polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG), is a great tool for helping to stave off arthritis in dogs that should be considered in any dog suffering a CCL tear.

4 Physical Rehabilitation:

Targeted rehabilitation such as massage, heat and ice therapy, therapeutic exercises, swimming, and underwater treadmill therapy can help to promote comfort, improve joint range of motion, and maintain and build muscles during recovery. This can help to prevent further injury and increase function, which can also mean a faster recovery if surgery is inevitable. Rehabilitation practitioners may also use tools like acupuncture, therapeutic laser, ultrasound, or e-stim to help expedite healing and improve comfort.

5 Orthotic Braces: Orthotic braces are

available through several companies such as Orthopets www.orthopets.com and Animal Orthocare www.animalorthocare.com. They can be helpful for patients that are not having surgery. These braces must be used in conjunction with a rehabilitation plan, but they can help to provide the support that your dog needs to stay comfortable while exercising and building strength.

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The Virginia–Maryland Dog

Rehabilitation practitioners may also use tools like acupuncture, therapeutic laser, ultrasound, or e-stim to help expedite healing and improve comfort.

Read. Share. Donate.

On December 14, 2012, six-year old Catherine Hubbard lost her life at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Her dream was to care for all living things.

Help us to preserve her legacy of kindness. Help us to tell her story.

“This is a story about turning tragedy into hope. About turning a dream into a reality.

But we can’t make it happen without help.”

www.tellthemiamkind.org Jenny Hubbard working with the documentary crew at the proposed site for the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary in Newtown, CT.

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Two Sneakers. Four Paws.

One Leash

By Lauren R. Talarico, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology/ Neurosurgery)

It is not a secret that we live in a consumer-driven society. It has become our perception that giving our dog a fancy chew toy or dressing them up in cute satin clothing makes them happy.

However, does a stuffed toy in the shape of a Manolo Blahnik high heel shoe that your pooch will devour in ten minutes really leave a dog fulfilled for the rest of the day?

The average person works six to eight hours a day, five days a week. Weekends are typically filled with social commitments and other necessary errands.

Think about how much time your pooch spends alone at home. You can imagine the mental impact that would have on a person if they were essentially left without companionship for that amount of time.

Many dogs will begin to develop bad behaviors as a way to keep themselves busy when their owners are not present. For example, chewing on the furniture and soiling the carpet are behaviors by dogs that are left unstimulated can exhibit. Simple daily exercise, such as running with your dog for 30 to 45 minutes a day can help solve misbehaviors and provide physical and emotional benefits for dogs and their people.

Why is Exercise for Dogs and People So Important?

It is no surprise that exercise is essential for physical health, but what about our mental health? It is a fact that a human’s brain releases neurotransmitters known as endorphins immediately during and after exercise. This is why you may feel what some people call a “runner’s high,” or why you feel extremely happy after working out. Coincidentally, these same

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The Virginia–Maryland Dog

endorphins are released when people interact with their canine companion. Think about how happy you feel when you come home from a long day at work and open your front door to find your dog standing there----with a smile on their face and their tail wagging uncontrollably. Instant happiness. No purchase necessary. This happiness is directly correlated to the endorphin release that occurs the second you lay eyes on your furry friend.

Veterinary neurosurgeons, such as myself, devote their lives to studying the canine brain and how it works. Working in a manner similar to what occurs in the human brain, endorphins that stimulate happiness and fulfillment are released when an emotional connection is established between a canine and their human, and during physical activity such as exercise. Through the combination of canine-human interaction and physical activity, the release of endorphins can be maximized, leading to a balanced physical and mental lifestyle in both species.

What is We RUFF DC? This author founded We RUFF DC, LLC as a way to enhance the quality of life of dogs and their human counterparts. This program is designed to promote physical fitness, and to create an overall sense of

fulfillment and happiness at both ends of the leash.

This author is a firm believer that when paws and sneakers are hitting the pavement in synchrony, sustainable mental and physical health benefits are produced that ultimately lead to an improved quality of life for dogs and their people.

As the winter months appear, it will become harder to remain motivated to keep owners and dogs physically fit. Why not come out on a group run with other dog lovers to help keep your mind motivated and you and your dog happy through the holiday season?! Just think how easy it will be in the spring to start training for that race you’ve been planning to run with your dog if you keep with a steady regime through the cold months.

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For additional information:

check out our website www.weruffdc.com.The programs have no cost to join, and the goal is to promote wellness for people and their pets. www.weruffdc.com

We RUFF DC has several programs for all levels of canine and human runners. The most basic program, Loose Leashes, is an entry-level group where the organizers teach the basics about how to properly train a dog to run on a leash. The Laces and Leashes group is designed for dogs that understand how to run with their owner and can endure two- to three-mile runs every other day.

The Milkbones for Miles group was developed for veteran runners that are ready for five- to six-mile runs four to five times a week.

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Dr. Lefbom with Annie & Sugar

Annie’s Story

By Bonnie Lefbom DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) in Collaboration with Dan Rollyson Photos Courtesy Dan Rollyson

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11+ years after Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) diagnosis, the most frequently seen congenital defect of dogs, Annie had surgery and contin-

head on the older dog’s foot and closed her eyes.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. At that point, there was little doubt as to where Annie would be spending the rest of her life!

ues to be a bundle of joy and energy!

Annie joined the Rollyson family via a rescue site called K9 Fur babies. Annie, who originally came from a puppy mill in West Virginia, was born with a congenital condition called Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). It is a failure of a large blood vessel (ductus arteriosus) to close after birth. Pets with this defect often die in the first year of life. Without surgery, Annie would probably have died before her second birthday.

Annie was taken to CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets and assessed for the surgical procedure by Dr. Bonnie Lefbom, a board certified veterinary cardiologist and her team. Surgery was performed on December 10th 2003. Dr. Lefbom successfully closed the PDA during the surgery and Annie recovered with lots of TLC from the surgical team at CVCA. She was able to go home to her family the very next day. The procedure was so successful that Annie was taken off all of her heart medications!

On the morning of October 11, 2003, Dan and Eileen, along with their older collie Nikki, met Annie for the first time. When Annie, like a typical puppy, had finished teasing Nikki, she gently rested her

Annie celebrated her second birthday on March 28, 2005. She was healthy, happy and a bundle of raw energy. A subsequent follow-up cardiac examination indicated that she was doing very well

The Virginia–Maryland Dog

Annie

Annie has a wonderful personality and is loved by all...except, perhaps, for the squirrels in her back yard and could expect to live a normal, active life with a normal life-span.

Annie is certified by Therapy Dogs International and along with her housemate Sugar, visits hospice to give respite to terminally ill patients, their families and caregivers. The pair also visit area nursing homes where all are particularly impressed that Annie and Sugar take their commands in both English or Spanish.

Annie has a wonderful personality and is loved by all...except, perhaps, for the squirrels in her back yard. She particularly enjoys herding sheep at the annual Collie Rescue of the Carolinas reunion.

She is also a regular participant at the annual CVCA & Inova Pediatric Heart Picnic, where the animals who have had cardiac surgery at CVCA get together with the children who have had cardiac surgery at INOVA. Annie is currently 11½ years old and still a bundle of joy and energy. Thanks to K9 Fur babies Rescue, her dedicated family, and her veterinary care team, she continues to live a remarkable, long and healthy life, bringing happiness to many.

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To Learn More: Bonnie Lefbom DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets www.cvcavets.com facebook: CVCAVETs

WInter/Holiday 2014 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com

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Dr. Steve Shoop, Photo by Fuzzypants Pet Photography

The Virginia–Maryland Dog

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Dr. Steve Shoop: From Surgeon to High Flying Chauffeur Story By Laura S. Jones

Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!

Well, actually, it is Superman in a plane. Truly. When you get to know Dr. Steve Shoop, you will discover that the aerial Hollywood reference is not hyperbole. A former surgeon to the stars in Los Angeles and the son of a pair of west coast luminaries, Shoop is spending his well-earned retirement in Virginia flying dogs away from certain death and into loving homes. And that is pretty super.

A resident of Great Falls, Shoop keeps his plane in Leesburg and enjoys using his time and talents to chauffer dogs “hither and yon,” as he jokes. Some of that enjoyment comes from the great similarity he sees between being a surgeon and flying dogs.

“Surgery lets you very quickly make a big difference in someone’s life, and so does moving a group of dogs from a life threatening situation into a foster or permanent home.” Service and respect for life are clearly integral parts of this dog lover. But in the surgery setting and in the rescue world, no man is an island, and Shoop says the value of the support staff for each cannot be underestimated. There is more personal follow up with human surgery, Shoop explains, because good surgical care requires a lot of pre- and post-operative work. When he flies for Pilots N Paws, that work is done by others, and he is awed by their dedication. The fictional Superman was never this humble.

Growing Up and Sewing Up in Hollywood As things often do, it all started at home. Shoop’s father, Major General Clarence Shoop, flew in combat in World War II. When the war ended, he was hired by Howard Hughes to develop the fight test department for Hughes Aircraft. Since Shoop’s father was also Commander - of the California Air National Guard - (in his spare time), he often took Shoop along when he flew jets for fun on weekends, instead of, say going for a leisurely drive up Highway 1. “The purpose was more for proficiency training and currency” says Shoop. Asked if that inspired his love of flying, Shoop admitted that “it sure gave me a love of it and a fascination for it.”

His father wasn’t the only famous one in the home, though. Shoop’s mother was Julie Bishop, who

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starred in over 84 movies alongside such leading men as John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart and Errol Flynn. That celebrity life didn’t affect Shoop much as a child. “My parents had interesting friends,” he will admit with his deadpan sense of humor. “Fred MacMurray would come over and play his saxophone,” he offered as one example when prodded. And after a dinner party one night in the 1960s, Shoop remembers a tall dark haired actor leaving with his petite wife and his parents saying: “If you decide to proceed, you definitely have our support.” That particular tall, dark haired actor was Ronald Reagan.

As for animals in his life, that started early too. “We always had dogs and cats growing up, and I had a string of rescue dogs during college, medical school and practice.”

After high school, Shoop followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Air National Guard, then went to college at the University of Southern California. He took a break after two years for US Air Force pilot training through the Guard because he was privileged to get one of two slots allotted each year for non-former active duty pilots. (He had his private pilot’s license -by then and about 100 hours of flying time.) After his year-long training, which included flying supersonic jets, he returned to his Air National Guard unit as a C-130 transport pilot and back to USC to finish college. He then attended Tulane in New Orleans for medical school, graduating in 1979.

Steve getting acquainted with a rescue dog prior to transport to a forever home. Photo courtesy of Steve Shoop. Bottom: “Jasper”.

Photo by Fuzzypants Pet Photography

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The Virginia–Maryland Dog

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His choice to become a surgeon was also fueled by family. Shoop writes: “Although during most of high school I was planning to go into business, in my senior year I became close to the surgeon who operated multiple times on my dad. After [my dad’s] death, I spent time with the surgeon making hospital rounds and seeing office patients. I heard the patients’ clinical stories and saw how their lives had been improved by their surgical care, often over a brief time span. I realized that as a physician I could be my own boss. I [also] saw the opportunity to learn and perform complex technical procedures, and to become the master of a craft and avoid having a desk-bound career.”

Shoop enjoyed medical school, despite the grueling hours, in part because Tulane was very community and service focused. A mandatory rotation in community medicine was part of the curriculum and took him to a small town in coastal Mississippi for a month. After that, he went to a Veterans Administration hospital in central Louisiana. New Orleans’ Charity Hospital, where he did most of his training, was the main hospital providing indigent care in the heart of the poorest section of the city and is still closed after Katrina. Shoop remembers Charity as a great place to get a lot of hands-on experience because “the residents ran the place.” Shoop was finding that he could make the difference he dreamed about.

After medical school he returned to California and quickly rose to the top of his field as a general surgeon. Contemporary general surgery, Shoop explains, is primarily focused on cancer and other intra-abdominal conditions, as well as surgery of the breast. Shoop’s talents propelled him into medical staff leadership at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where he became vice-chief of the medical staff and chairman of the Division of General Surgery. With 2,000 doctors on staff, the environment, though, was highly political. Eventually, he would be happy to get pulled back in the trenches.

“The Friday Afternoon Gun Shot Guy” Becomes the Altruistic Adventurer For Shoop, ‘in the trenches’ meant being on the ground level, an odd place for an aviator to want to be, but one that makes sense when you understand his desire to build and ‘do’. So having had his fill of the high flying lifestyle in Los Angeles, when Shoop was recruited to a rural Texas community near Amarillo 14 years ago, he went. He loved the more hands-on work and the fact that his patients were more trusting and compliant. On the bad side, though, there “was a limit to how sick a patient you can care for” in a smaller facility. But the staff knew who to call when things got sticky.

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“Somehow I ended up being the Friday afternoon gunshot guy.” One of those gunshots was from a .357 magnum and went through a patient’s aorta and another was an attempted suicide with a large bullet through the patient’s abdomen. Both survived.

Shoop was recruited again a few years later and moved to Great Falls in 2000 to work for a medical communications start-up as chief medical officer.

The goal of the company was to create “health issue awareness stories across multiple media using celebrities,” Shoop says. The position allowed him to use - his creative skills and medical knowledge, but the company didn’t last. “Subsequently for a few years I did healthcare management consulting for medical companies, working with my wife, who is also a physician and has an MBA.” A few years ago, he officially retired and got serious about service flying.

Pilots N Paws came into his life thanks to an ad in an aviation journal. “I signed up and started doing flights about three years ago.” He has flown over 100 dogs in his Twin Cessna 340A. The plane is designed for six passengers, but he has removed two seats to accommodate more dogs. Saving the country’s cast off dogs was not Shoop’s first foray into helping animals, though. He remembers a mission in a C-130 when he dropped pallets of hay to starving cattle on a Navajo reservation and the relief he felt seeing them eat. “To feel that immediate impact of what you do is

so gratifying, and it is very satisfying to use something you love to help,” he explains. “From the pilots’ standpoint, pilots want to fly and save people and animals like in the movies,” Shoop admits. “Pilots N Paws allows you to do this in the most satisfying way. Even the dogs seem to understand that something good is happening.” And there is always the next mission, the next life to save. So Shoop looks forward, often with his 14 year old son as co-pilot.

Shoop has flown over 30 different planes so far in his lifetime. Everything from racy Italian models that look like old Corvettes to lumbering but useful cargo planes to supersonic jets used by NASA astronauts for training. He has even flown gliders which have no engines and must be towed into the sky. Shoop has also flown many types of service missions in addition to Pilots N Paws flights including transporting critically ill patients on Angel Flights and being part of a team that used small planes to fly supplies to otherwise inaccessible regions of Haiti after the earthquake in 2010.

What Goes Up, Must Come Down Shoop may be so involved in lifesaving work because he knows the value of life and because he has cheated death himself. He almost didn’t get the chance to enjoy a second career as a canine chauffer as part of Pilots N Paws.

In the early 1990s, he had his first (and hopefully only) “unplanned contact with the ground,” the phrase - Shoop sometimes uses to describe accidents. Flying in mountainous terrain in California, Shoop and another pilot were caught in a powerful downdraft and crashed into the side of a mountain.

Luckily, the dense chaparral cushioned the impact.

“It happened so quickly, it felt like we were hit by a giant flyswatter. Neither of us was injured but the plane was totaled. Fish and wildlife officers saw the wreckage and they got us helicoptered out. We learned later that another couple had crashed in the same area and didn’t survive. They were found in a cave.”

It was actually the last of three tragic aviation mishaps that occurred around that time to close friends of Shoop’s. Despite the rash of crashes, “I don’t think it ever occurred to me to stop flying. Maybe it was because I had not been the pilot-in-command in any of the accidents, and defaulted to ‘that’ll never happen to me’. As close to me as they were, I just thought that such events were a part of aviation and flying. I’d had a rough patch, but onward we go. And I am so glad that I did continue to fly.”

Co-Pilot “Jasper”. Photo by: Fuzzypants Pet Photography

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The Virginia–Maryland Dog

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Jasper, Canine Co-Pilot

The Head and the Heart

Shoop’s current dog is Jasper, an Australian Shepherd. Shoop takes Jasper on a lot of flights and puts him to work as a “combination sky marshal and flight attendant.” Having a dog who is comfortable with the pilot and the setting undoubtedly gives off good energy for the new passengers. “Jasper enjoys it and the other dogs feel comfortable with him. He is fairly flexible about yielding some of his place to new dogs.” But Shoop can’t take him when the plane is full, and he aims to do larger transports to be able to be as efficient as possible.

Shoop came from a famous family to be sure. Or to put it another way, he started with good genes. But it is what he did with those genes that makes him, in the eyes of our canine companions and the humans who love them, the most famous of all. At one point, Shoop considered going to vet school, but was concerned about his ability to maintain the necessary emotional detachment for his patients. “A caregiver has to be compassionate but cannot get too attached. There is a difference between compassion and having an emotional attachment.” You may not be able to function objectively if you get emotionally attached, he explains. “And you will burn out.” And as a lifesaving pilot or a surgeon, there is always someone who needs you to function at the top of your game tomorrow.

The only bad thing about the flights is that “not all the PnP dogs have iron stomachs. I have seen all types of liquid discharges,” Shoop says, laughing. But, he adds, as soon as the plane leaves the runway, the dogs often relax. “There is something about the airplane that does calm them, once we begin our climb.”

Shoop says he can transport more dogs if they are tethered (using a harness) rather than crated. The tethers attach to posts that anchor the aircraft’s seats and he uses a big moving blanket on the floor of the plane for comfort. “Invariably with the tethers one friendly dog will inch forward which is fine so long as they don’t push any buttons,” Shoop deadpans. He recounts the story of one dog who chewed his way through his nylon leash and sauntered into the cockpit with a kind of “hey, whatcha doing?” attitude. Luckily, Shoop says he had a human co-pilot for the trip who dug out the emergency metal leash and re-attached the passenger.

It seems appropriate to end with the modern version of the Hippocratic Oath, written in 1964 by Louis Lasagna, Dean of the School of Medicine at Tufts University. The last sentence of the oath is: “May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.”

Hippocrates would be proud. Superman might be a little envious, but that is his problem.

But some animals need crating – usually puppies who can’t be safely tethered, Shoop says, and any that the rescue groups suggest it for. That may be because a dog is nervous or might not get along with other dogs in a smaller space. Of course, one benefit of crating that applies on the ground and in the air is that a crate can control “fluid egress” Shoop says.

You can almost hear the grin on his face.

Asked about favorite passengers, Shoop admits that “almost every trip features one. But Dasher and Bree were two that I really loved.” And he remembers Hope, the mom to a litter of pups, all having been abandoned. He transported the whole family to Black Dogs & Company Rescue, and the rescue later brought Hope to a fundraiser -. “It is a luxury to get that kind of follow up.” It must remind Shoop a bit of seeing patients rejoining their lives after a complex surgical procedure.

Steve’s son Caelan assisting with a rescue. Photo courtesy of Steve Shoop.

WInter/Holiday 2014 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com

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{ weekend getaway}

A Colonial Canine Christmas

Stroll Through American History with Your Best Friend in Colonial Williamsburg

By Ginger Warder Photos Courtesy of Ginger Warder

A visit to Colonial Williamsburg is as close as most of us will ever come to time travel. In the early morning, as you stroll down Duke of Gloucester Street (called Dog Street by locals) with your best friend, the sounds of carriage wheels on cobblestones, the smell of wood smoke and musty boxwood, and the sight of workers in colonial costume hurrying to their posts will transport you to the 18th century. And there is no better of time of year than the holiday season to take a trip into the past, when the air is redolent with hot cider and the Colonial houses are decorated in 18th-century style with fresh garlands, fruit-filled wreaths and holly. Holiday festivities for 2014 kick off on the first weekend of December with the annual Christmas Parade, Christmas Homes Tour and Grand Illumination, and continue through the month with special programs and performances.

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The Virginia–Maryland Dog

{ weekend getaway}

The main street in Colonial Williamsburg, Duke of Gloucester, is often referred to as Dog Street, and judging by the number of canines you’ll see strolling on a pretty day, that’s not a stretch. Running from the Christopher Wren Building to the Capitol, Dog Street is lined with colonial homes, trade shops, taverns and gardens. Take a turn around the Palace Green or explore the sunken garden behind the Wren Building. You and your furry friend can sample some of Virginia’s finest produce, baked goods, jams, and other culinary treats at the weekly Saturday farmers market in Merchants Square. During the holidays, gorgeous handcrafted wreaths and holiday arrangements are hard to resist, as is the nearby Williamsburg Toymaker’s Shop and Wythe Candy Shop. Parking is free in the Francis Street lot until noon.

At one time the capital of the colony of Virginia, Colonial Williamsburg was restored by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. What began as a simple project became the world’s largest living history museum, set on 301 acres and including hundreds of restored original structures and reconstructed buildings. Costumed interpreters at the trade shops demonstrate the techniques of the past, making everything from hats

to jewelry, while daily street theater performances draw visitors into the drama of the day, as carts drawn by oxen and horse-drawn carriages move through the town. Colonial “residents” roll hoops on the Palace Green or march regally in the Drum & Fife Corps.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, the Williamsburg Inn was also built by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. You and your pooch will be treated like a Rockefeller at this gracious, five-star resort that has hosted the rich, the royal, and the powerful from around the globe. Expect stunning Colonial décor and stellar service from this official Colonial Williamsburg hotel. Small pets are welcome with an additional $50 per night fee and a refundable $500 damage deposit. Guests at the hotel receive a special discount on passes to Colonial Williamsburg which include admission to the 35 exhibition sites and 16 trade shops in CW, plus complimentary bus transportation and a discount on special evening programs. You also get preferred dining reservations at CW taverns and complimentary delivery to the Inn of your purchases at official Colonial Williamsburg stores.

WInter/Holiday 2014 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com

For More Information: Colonial Williamsburg colonialwilliamsburg.com /holidays/ Williamsburg Inn, 300 East Francis Street Williamsburg, VA (757) 229-1000 colonialwilliamsburg.com

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{ training }

Three Reasons Your Dog is Stubborn

By Laurie Luck, Trainers hear it all the time: “My dog is stubborn sometimes! What gives?” Let’s take a look at the KPA-CTP, CNWI reasons a dog may appear to be stubborn. And more importantly, how good owners go about fixing the problems.

Here are three reasons your dog might appear to be stubborn:

1 The dog is distracted.

Like a good trainer, the owner has taught the dog how to do what’s asked in class and at home. But has the owner practiced with the dog in the real and actual conditions? For instance, lots of people teach their dog to sit. Teaching the dog to sit is just the beginning. After the dog learns how to sit, the next task is to teach the dog how to sit while other stuff is going on around him. Because if the dog needs to sit when people ring the doorbell and enter the house, the owner needs to teach the dog to do that very thing. If the dog hasn’t had a chance to practice in the actual conditions, there’s a fairly high probability that the situation will be too distracting.

The dog can’t do the behavior because he’s too distracted by the doorbell, the commotion at the door, the new visitors, or other factors. Taking some time to teach the dog the skill in and around distractions solves many “my dog is stubborn” problems.

Solution:

Take the time to teach the dog in the conditions and location where the behavior is needed.

2 The dog doesn’t know the behavior.

This can be hard for owners to believe. They say, “He knows it! I’ve seen him do it!” Here’s the sad, hard truth: the dog is likely good at guessing what you want most of the time. Guessing usually works!

It looks like the dog knows what’s being asked of him, but in reality, he’s a great guesser.

{

For more information: Laurie Luck, M.A., KPA CTP Smart Dog University 240.394.1112 www.SmartDogUniversity.com

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{

The Virginia–Maryland Dog

Solution: Take the time to make sure the dog really knows what’s being asked. If he doesn’t really know it, teach the dog.

3 There’s nothing in it for the dog.

Too often, a dog is asked to do something and winds up getting nothing for what the dog considers is a job well done. Would you go to work everyday if there wasn’t a paycheck? Probably not. Yet we expect our dogs to do their jobs because we said so. That’s just silly! A main tenant of behavior states: behavior that isn’t reinforced will go away. Good behavior must be reinforced--or it will go away.

Solution: Be generous with reinforcement!

Good trainers are generous trainers!

There’s nothing to be gained by calling the dog “stubborn.” It’s a useless label that gets an owner nowhere fast. Instead of getting stuck with “stubborn,” take the time to teach the dog what’s needed, and remember to be generous with reinforcement when the dog gets the right answer!

“Benevolent, instructive stories of the bonds between animals and humans.”

-Kirkus Reviews

The Gift of Pets is a featured title on the 2012 LA TIMES Summer Reading List and in the 2013 Virginia Festival of the Book. Available from all major book retailers, Amazon. com and in ebook format for both Kindle and Nook. Get a signed copy from Dr. Coston’s website.

www.brucecoston.com

2014

Holiday

Gift Guide 24

The Virginia–Maryland Dog

{ holiday gift guide }

holiday gift guide Solid Gold Pet

My Buddy Pal Treat your pet right this holiday season by changing their diet to Solid Gold holistic pet food. Crafted with GoldSource Core Nutrition, every Solid Gold dry food uniquely combines a carefully balanced blend of purposeful ingredients.

Find your pet’s favorite Solid Gold formula and begin unleashing their inner gold today!

Did you ever wonder what a dog thinks about? I did.

See Pal’s thoughts on life in our humorous and quirky greeting cads and note cards. Perfect for bringing smiles to friend’s faces. Wonderful stocking stuffers. Free shipping.

Wholesale pricing available.

www.SolidGoldPet.com | 800.364.4863

www.mybuddypal.com | 828.696.0944

Woodrow Wear

Soft Bite Floppy Disc Dogs don’t just Love Original Soft Bite Floppy Discs… they Obsess over them!

They’re a wonderful safe toy for yourself and your animal friends. Made in USA with the finest materials available, Soft Bite Floppy Discs are soft durable retrieval toys designed to avoid injury to your dog’s teeth and gums

Woodrow Wear is proud to offer Power Paws socks for dogs - a unique solution for medical, traction, and mobility issues. They are made of cotton and elastic for comfort, fit and adaptability.

Eight regular sizes and 4 hare-footed sizes ensure a good fit; 11 colors assure they go in style!

www.woodrowwear.com | 877.737.3545

www.SoftBiteFloppyDisc.com | 855.364.3472

Ma Snax Dog Treats

Off-Leash K9 Training, LLC

Ma Snax Dog Treats™ offers a fantastic selection of holiday biscuits, hand-decorated artisan cookies, DIY kits, treat club gift memberships, custom labeled treats and personalized gingerbread doghouses. Handcrafted and small-batch baked in the USA with people-quality healthy & holistic ingredients. Enter coupon code: VAMD14 and save 15%

www.masnax.com | 707.293.9676

Give your K9 the gift of being off-leash for the holidays! Check out our over 400 videos on YouTube and our over (100) 5 star reviews on Google to see the results we guarantee!

Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/ OffLeashK9Training

www.offleashk9training.com | 888.413.0896

WInter/Holiday 2014 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com

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{ holiday gift guide }

holiday gift guide Unleashed Life

ClotIt Inspired by a julep cup we found in London, the Abbott Collection features intricate beading and a classic dog bowl profile suitable for the most prestigious pets.

ClotIt is a patent-pending, triple-action compound of all-natural minerals, designed to rapidly stop bleeding in minor to severe wounds.

Product Benefits: •All-natural ingredients • Faster clotting time than the leading brand • Colorless powder - no yellowing or staining that other brands may exhibit • Versatile - works on minor to severe wounds

Unleashed Life. Style… Not Reserved for Humans

www.unleashedlife.com | 417.869.8181

www.clotit.com | 952.250.2665

Royal Pet Club

SNEEFERS Organic honey, oatmeal, Shea butter, virgin olive oil, coconut, chamomile, and almond oil are blended with essential fragrance oils formulated in one of Italy’s top cosmetics facility. The ultimate luxury in grooming for your pet. Soap, paraben, alcohol and SLS free!

SNEEFERS is an online pet store specializing in made in America and Eco Friendly pet products from food, treats, toys, beds and other great accessories so shop at www.sneefers.com for some amazing items for your pets!

www.royalpetclub.com | 908.766.5361

www.sneefers.com

Furry Travelers

Shirley Scott Pet Psychic To Go Bowl is the only multi-purpose dog bowl that is designed to fit into your car’s cup holder. The award winning design includes a splash guard and lid to prevent spilling. Remove the cup portion to use on the ground. Use the cup to store treats! For dogs of all sizes, Made in USA.

www.FurryTravelers.com | 866.553.8779

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Shirley’s an internationally known animal communicator and clairvoyant.

She reads animals and humans to help understand behavior, health and other problems. Her readings deepen the connection between humans and animals. A reading is a great gift for the holidays. To schedule a phone reading or purchase a gift certificate, visit her website

www.shirley-scott.com | 541.577.3051

The Virginia–Maryland Dog

{ holiday gift guide }

Healthy GOO™ Glow

Comfort Zone Pet Products This giving season, give your canine friend a Healthy GOO Glow™ with a tasty peanut butter treat! GOO-liscious sublingual Doggy GOO to fight itchy enviro-allergies.

And GOO-licious GOO Gut Rescue for a healthy GUT MicroFlora during/after anitibiotic/NSAID or heavy medication protocols.

Two Layers of heavyweight polyester lambskin sewn back to back. Machine washable.

Uses: Crate pads, sleeping pads, furniture protection, in vans or SUV’s 18x24: $8.76 24x36: $13.59 30x40: $18.19 plus shipping

www.HealthyGOO.com | 855.246.2426

www.ComfortZonePetProducts.com | 800.369.7741

Glowdoggie™ LED collars

Madra Mor

For those that want to keep their furry loved ones seen & safe on dark winter mornings and nights, the German-engineered Glowdoggie™ LED collar provides the ultimate, high-quality solution. It’s 100% waterproof, extremely durable and guaranteed for two years.

From $49.99, with Free Shipping, exclusively at www.glowdoggie.com.

Delicate Skin!

Underneath all that fur is thin, delicate skin! Dry skin is exposed and vulnerable to the irritants of the environment. Madra Mór Canine Mud Treatments supplies vital nutrients and lipids, promoting the healthiest skin, at bath time. Nature’s Way to clean and treat.

www.glowdoggie.com

www.madramormud.com | 800.975.8364

Tail Bangers

Smokey Toes Tail Bangers Seasonal Cookies! One Pound of adorable Christmas Dog Treat Cookies. Santa, Christmas Tree, Gingerbread man and more! The perfect Gift for your beloved dog and friends dogs at Christmas! Fresh Baked Locally. U.S.A. Only $13.50 each!

www.HappyDogShop.com | 877.725.2469

Brined and Smoked Chicken Feet, Naturally High in Chondriotin, Made in USA. Give your dog the treat he really Wants with Smokey Toes Smoked Chicken Feet.

10/pkg $9.95 Free shipping,

www.smokeytoes.com

WInter/Holiday 2014 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com

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{ fitness & training }

The Zen of Dog Training Dog. Canis Lupus Familiaris. Man and Woman’s Best Friend.

By Kimberly Artley

Dog Training. A language we establish to openly communicate with our dogs based upon a fine blend of trust and respect, behavior analysis, psychology, health, lifestyle, environment, and the human’s ability to meet and fulfill a dog’s instinctual needs as a canine.

Despite what most may think, dog training is far more than teaching commands and acts of obedience. It’s about connection. Relationship. Partnership. It’s team building at its best, and is actually much more about training the human end of the leash than anything.

A “pack” is to dogs what “family” is to us. Every pack or family has a head honcho. A “parent.”

Leader. A calm, patient, grounded individual who they feel safe looking to for guidance, direction and to meet the needs of the rest of the group.

When misbehaviors and such arise, outside of medical issues, it can usually be traced back to one or more of a dog’s instinctual needs not being met. The behavior is the byproduct stemming from this frustration—as in, excessive barking, whining, digging, jumping, aggression, chewing, and other behaviors.

Here’s how we can sidestep and even resolve many of the common challenges we face with our dogs, helping them to achieve and maintain a more balanced state of mind:

1 Providing calm, patient and

confident leadership. Practicing the “I-got-

this” mentality in any given scenario. Being proactive and not reactive. Being clear and following through with expectations.

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The Virginia–Maryland Dog

Dogs instinctively do not and will not trust, respect or follow unstable, unbalanced, emotional, stressed out, anxious, impatient, fearful, angry energy. When we are calm, fair, grounded and confident in our approach, we tap into the energy source our dogs instinctually trust, respect and will follow. This goes for people, too.

Dogs look to us for their cues and guidance. How we feel about a certain scenario. It’s important to be very mindful of how we’re feeling and the type of energy we’re projecting, for it ripples out and affects all who share space with us.

2 Creating and providing

structure in all things.

Feeding, exercise, bedtime, the introduction of a new pack member, and other factors. These are rituals that should be conducted in a very thoughtful, structured order and manner. Dogs are living in, and trying to make sense of, a world created and managed by a totally different species. Structure and order generates the feeling of comfort, security and safety.

{ fitness & training }

3 Establishing trust and respect.

This is the foundation from which every beautiful relationship blossoms and thrives, with both dogs and people. We build this through meeting our dog’s instinctual needs, following through, being clear in our expectations and by simply spending quality time with them.

4 Daily exercise to meet and

deplete your dog’s individual energy stores. The intensity and duration of a

dog’s exercise should always meet and exceed the energy level of the individual dog. Some dogs will do okay with a daily leash walk, but most don’t and need more. When we meet this need for our dogs, we help them maintain a calmer, more peaceful and balanced state of mind—a state of mind which gives them the ability to practice making good, sound decisions on their own.

5 Providing opportunities to

practice social skills. Despite what most

people think, being social doesn’t necessarily mean frolicking through lilac meadows or sharing a particularly long spaghetti noodle on a beautiful, starry night (Think: “Lady and the Tramp”). Being social is the ability to share space with others without being reactive. That’s it. Not only do dogs learn how to relate to other dogs from their mother and siblings, but they rely on us to teach them what’s socially acceptable and not acceptable. Manners. Polite behavior. Social etiquette.

6 Setting rules, boundaries and

parameters. Just like children and teenagers pushing the envelope, dogs are trying to figure their place in the order of things. It’s up to us to clarify this for them, letting them know what’s permitted and acceptable, and what’s not. What we allow and do not address will always continue.

WInter/Holiday 2014 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com

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{ fitness & training }

7 Providing effective, fair

discipline.

Despite the feeling it may evoke, discipline is part of creating relationship and mutual understanding with your dog. Reinforcing wonderful, desired and acceptable behaviors and states of mind, and letting them know when they’re practicing behaviors and states of mind that aren’t desirable or acceptable. Reinforcement and discouragement.

We wouldn’t let our child bully other children, steal their lunch money, or engage in other unacceptable behaviors, would we?

8 Providing sound, natural and

species-specific nutrition. It’s up to us to provide the type of nourishment our dogs’ bodies were physiologically designed to take in, utilize and absorb. Real, enzyme-rich foods. Not highly processed, additive and preservative-pumped, “food-like products.” Dogs are no different from any other living, eating organism in this regard.

There’s a reason why their ailments are paralleling ours these days.

9 Providing kind, loving and gentle

companionship. Dogs are social beings.

Pack animals. They crave companionship and don’t fair well when kept in isolation. They want to be with us. Near us. Stay connected to us. When we domesticated them thousands of years ago, we became their pack. And they became our family.

Providing means of mental stimulation. Although the canine brain takes in and processes information far differently than ours, a brain that goes unexercised is just as frustrating to them as it would be to us. When we challenge our dogs in this manner (as one of my clients brilliantly said, burning “cognitive calories”), we’re helping them drain energy as well as training their brain and improving their mental acuity.

Fulfilling breed-specific needs.

Whether our dog is 100 percent this, or a mixture of this-and-that, it’s up to us to learn about our dog’s heritage. Some dogs were bred for very specific reasons, such as sporting, herding, protection or scent work, and these dogs will need to have this part of them, this natural, instinctual craving, fulfilled in some way. Have fun with this.

It’s a way for you and your dog to bond and spend quality time together. Try out some agility classes, take your dog for a swim, find a local spot that permits dogs to come herd sheep, have your dog pull a sled on a snowy day, or hide pieces of their favorite food around the house so they have to use their nose to find it. All are ways that pet owners can creatively help their dogs satisfy this part of their genetic being.

Although the amount will differ from dog to dog, as each dog is unique in their own, very special way, these are needs every dog has that must be met and fulfilled by us, their human guardian and companion.

Fulfillment fosters relationship, creates balance and produces peace of mind. Unfulfillment diminishes relationship, creates imbalance and produces neurotic behaviors.

What happens with children when they don’t receive guidance, direction and discipline? When there are no rules, boundaries or parameters set? When they don’t get mentally challenged? When they have no opportunity for play and exercise? When they do not have sound nutrition?

When we chose these magnificent creatures to walk alongside us and accompany us in our walk of life, we assumed the responsibility for tending to their needs. It’s up to us to hold up our end of the bargain.

30

The Virginia–Maryland Dog

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{ stories within the bond }

Partings

By Bruce Coston, DVM

Goodbyes. They are the dark clouds hanging ominously on the horizon of every dog-human affair. Sometimes they build slowly like a heavy summer thunderstorm. Sometimes they break without warning, blowing over the coastlines of our hearts like an unexpected hurricane. However they come, painful goodbyes are the inevitable conclusion to every relationship with a dog.

As a veterinarian I participate in these goodbyes all too often. It is with a suffocating heaviness that we ease a dog suffering from intractable pain or a stubbornly untreatable disease into peaceful rest. Many of these patients I have seen since before they lost their first tooth. I’ve nursed them through myriad minor afflictions; staved off the inevitable for weeks or months or years with careful craft and the commitment of a loving family. But every patient I’ve ever treated has come finally to that last visit, surrounded by a family whose shoulders are bent with grief and shaking with tears.

Strangely, despite the immense responsibility I feel and the waves of intense emotion that buffet me at these times, facilitating the parting is not a task that I despise. Don’t misunderstand. I do not enjoy it. It does not lighten my day. But it is for me an opportunity to extend onto the very threshold of eternity the comprehensive care I have always provided to that patient, a chance to validate one last time the depth and breadth of a relationship that has enriched the emotional lives of the family. It is the last thing I can do in loyal service to the powerful bond that envelopes the human and canine hearts. And because of that, it is a role I fulfill with special care.

“Too sad”, you say. “Don’t remind me of the storm building over my own shoulder”. Perhaps you’re right. But I cannot shake off the need to examine the uncomfortable sadness now. Partings are particularly heavy on my heart this fall, having just laid my little girl, Starr, to rest only two weeks ago.

I’ve nursed them through myriad minor afflictions; staved off the inevitable for weeks or months or years with careful craft and the commitment of a loving family.

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The Virginia–Maryland Dog

{

{

{ stories within the bond }

We grieve because there is great value in entwining our lives with a dog’s. Our hearts have been ennobled by opening them to the attributes they embody.

Dr. Coston & Starr Photo Courtesy Dr. Bruce Coston

The specter of losing Starr was a low, threatening cloud that hung over our household for the last year and a half of her long life. The first hint of the storm came at fifteen years of age with a dip in her usually enthusiastic appetite and one bout of vomiting. Like a hypochondriac I took her into the hospital the next day. Blood work, x-rays and physical examination failed to identify the issue. But a quick peek with the ultrasound probe revealed an angry mass lurking like a felon in the right adrenal gland.

My stomach lurched.

By the next day she was under the surgeon’s knife at the referral hospital, me hovering in the surgical suite. I knew, of course, that tumors of the adrenal gland are rarely benign. But I could not lose the battle without mounting a counter offensive. Despite ominous anesthetic complications, Starr’s right adrenal gland was successfully removed. Against all odds; the biopsy results came back benign. She recovered uneventfully. We had dodged a bullet, but the cloud did not go away.

For another year and a half it hovered, darkening as each month rolled by until the storm I had known was coming finally burst. There was no crisis really, just the slow decline of age, the advancing crawl of incontinence, of arthritis, of neurologic atrophy, of decreasing zest for life. When Starr’s tail no longer wagged when I entered the room; when her walks outside flagged to standing on quivering legs; when her interest in interacting held less appeal for her than the desire to sleep I knew she was finally ready to rest.

Why do we dog lovers do it? Why put up with the low-hanging clouds of grief that always attend our dogs’ passing? Why choose this loss knowing from puppyhood that it’s coming? The countless rituals that are no longer shared are hourly reminders of Starr. Her presence by my feet at night is missed.

I no longer receive the nightly kiss on the nose or sense her eyes searching mine. No paws pad

to the refrigerator to beg for ice cubes from the door when I pour a glass of milk. Her absence is a persistent ache in my heart. But there is no regret in my grief.

And that’s the key, isn’t it. We mourn, but we do not wish the mourning gone. The sadness stands like a marker, a headstone over the memory of a beloved companion. We grieve because there is great value in entwining our lives with a dog’s. Our hearts have been ennobled by opening them to the attributes they embody. Yes I am sad. But it is fleeting compared to what Starr added to our lives for almost seventeen years: gratitude, joy, humor, love, devotion, loyalty, and commitment. So no regret attends my sadness. Only gratitude for how her influence made me more human.

WInter/Holiday 2014 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com

33

{ ask a neurovet }

Ask A Neurovet

By Lauren R. Talarico, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology/Neurosurgery) Photo Courtesy Dr. Lauren Talarico

Dear Dr. T,

Dr. Lauren Talarico

My young Labrador Riley has a history of ear infections. Recently, he developed a tilted head, wobbly gait and a facial droop. Do dogs suffer from vertigo similarly to people with severe ear infections?

— Carol H, McLean, VA

Dear Carol & Riley, The canine equivalent of vertigo is referred to as vestibular disease. In a young, otherwise healthy dog with a history of recurrent ear infections, your dog likely suffers from peripheral vestibular disease, meaning the it is originating outside the brain itself.

The most common cause of peripheral vestibular disease in dogs is inner ear infections. The nerves that control balance (vestibular nerve) and the facial muscles (facial nerve) run through the inner ear.

Infections of the inner ear can irritate these nerves and lead to disorientation, balance deficits, head tilt and facial asymmetry. With proper treatment of the inner ear infection, your pup’s vestibular signs should resolve within several weeks.

Dear Dr. T, I have a Border Collie, Penelope that seizures every few weeks. A couple of hours before the actual seizure, she becomes excessively “clingy” to my family members. After the seizure, Penelope is typically very wobbly and sleeps for several hours. These behaviors are repeatable and occur before and after each seizure. Can you explain what is happening?

— Rebecca C, Washington, DC

Do you have questions for the Neurovet?

You can follow Dr. Lauren Talarico on Twitter @neurovet3 or contact her through her blog at www.theneurovet.com

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The Virginia–Maryland Dog

{

Good news!

PAWiER® is Back!

Dear Rebecca & Penelope, Seizures are one of the most common neurologic problems seen in dogs. Seizures originate from the part of the brain known as the cerebral cortex, or the outside of the brain. In humans and many dogs, there are 3 recognizable phase of seizure activity: pre-ictal, ictal, and post-ictal phases. The typical pre-ictal phase can include increased attention seeking from owners or other animals in the house, frantic behavior, excessive hiding and the development of a wobbly gait. The ictal phase is the seizure itself where dogs will lose consciousness, experience whole body convulsions, foaming at the mouth and often urinate or defecate uncontrollably. The post-ictal phase occurs after the seizure and is characterized by a wobbly or ataxic gait, disorientation, excessive hunger, sleep, occasionally temporary blindness and unprovoked aggression. The post-ictal phase can last several hours to days (upwards of a week). The behaviors Penelope is exhibiting prior to and after her seizures are the pre-ictal and postictal phases, respectively. It is important to ensure that your dog is on an appropriate anti-convulsant medication regime to help best control her seizures and help prevent life threatening consequences.

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Dear Dr. T, My family recently adopted a Chihuahua from the shelter named Zoe. Whenever we touch the top of her head, we feel a soft spot. What could this be and should we worry? She seems like a happy, energetic dog aside from this one small problem.

— Janice M, Great Falls, VA

Dear Janice & Zoe, Congratulations on adopting a dog! I am sure Zoe will bring you joy and happiness for many years to come! To answer your question, Chihuahua’s and other small breed dogs are often born with soft spots on their head, otherwise known as open fontanelles. During normal canine development, the thin plates of bone that make up the skull fuse at very specific times during puppyhood. It is very common in Chihuahua’s for these plates to incompletely fuse, leading to the formation of a soft spot or open fontanelle. I strongly recommend avoiding excessive touching of this area and having Zoe evaluated by a veterinarian if she begins to display abnormal behavior, seizures, compulsively circling to one side.

Empowering people to transform the lives of pets™

www.naturesvariety.com WInter/Holiday 2014 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com

35

{ feature }

Saying Goodbye to Zimmer

By Julie Buzby, DVM Photos Courtesy Chris Mokan

Zimmer, a senior Lab and quintessential gentleman, became my patient in 2011, as he was suffering from chronic neck pain. Unable to control himself, he lept off a small wall to chase a squirrel—and he returned limping and painful. Dogs with a cervical disc injury will turn their whole bodies or just shift their eyes to look at something, unwilling to move their neck. Favoring a front leg can also be associated with a neck problem, because the bulging disc can compress the nerve roots traveling to a forelimb. This is referred to as a root signature. Zimmer had all the classic symptoms.

His vet prescribed anti-inflammatories, pain medication, and muscle relaxants. Zimmer improved quickly, but he never returned to 100 percent. I became part of Zimmer’s health care team when his owner sought out spinal manipulation and acupuncture as an adjunct to his treatment. Zimmer responded very well and soon transitioned to maintenance appointments every few months.

The last time I saw Zimmer was in my driveway.

Taking advantage of the perfect weather, I pulled two chairs from the garage and a blanket for Zimm.

He preferred the cold concrete and lay panting as his owner Chris and I chatted. She declared that he was thriving, having rehabbed through two cruciate ligament injuries following his neck problem. My exam supported her claim—no major concerns.

Three weeks later Chris emailed me because Zimmer was having trouble walking up stairs. She was out of town, but relayed the report from her pet sitter. Chris asked about trying NSAIDS (non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs), which she kept on hand and used periodically for his arthritic knees. I ap-

proved without hesitation, and we agreed to keep in close touch.

Zimmer was back to his old self the next day. Like people, senior dogs can have good days and bad days, and it appeared that he had rebounded and would not look back. Instead, it was the calm before the storm. Though Zimmer continued to appear normal, when Chris returned home a couple days later, Zimmer stopped eating anything other than treats. Since an upset tummy is one of the most common side effects of NSAIDs, we considered the medication as the possible culprit and discontinued it. Chris made an appointment with Zimmer’s regular vet, who examined him the next morning.

Zimmer didn’t have a fever and his exam was unremarkable, except for swelling of his right front leg.

He was prescribed pain medication and an appetite stimulant. Just to be thorough, blood work was sent to an outside lab.

Don’t be afraid to ask about referral to a specialty hospital, where your dog will have access to multiple specialists, advanced diagnostic testing, and round-the-clock care

36

The Virginia–Maryland Dog

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Zimmer’s decreased appetite continued to be a red flag. It gnawed at me as Chris e-mailed updates

{ feature }

throughout the day. Chris agreed with my concern and took Zimmer for a re-check the next day. Again, no fever and an unremarkable physical exam, but Chris listened to her mother’s intuition and drove Zimmer to our nearest veterinary referral center later that day. It was a Friday afternoon and she wanted to be proactive in his care.

Surprisingly, in light of his lungs sounding clear on his third-opinion exam, Zimmer was diagnosed with pneumonia, based on radiographs, and a difficult-todetect heart murmur on the right side of his chest, which is an unusual presentation. Everything about Zimmer’s condition was unusual. The emergency doctor recorded a “complicated and atypical assortment of signs that is not easily explainable…and likely will not be easily treatable either.”

Zimmer was presumptively diagnosed with infective endocarditis (IE), a serious condition which can cause acute heart failure. Infective endocarditis (IE) occurs most commonly in large-breed dogs. Typically, these dogs have a fever. An echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) that identifies a heart valve lesion, and blood cultures that identify the underlying organism, confirm this diagnosis. His lame right leg was a significant clue. These dogs can have a thromboembolus (blood clot) form in the heart, break off, and travel down the right subclavian artery to the right front leg—where it lodges, causing swelling, pain, and lameness.

Multiple medications were pumped into Zimmer’s IV. Chris knew her only option was to leave him at the hospital for treatment. Always the stoic patient, he was much sicker than he appeared. At 3 a.m., Chris was awakened with chilling news. Zimmer was in respiratory distress and humane euthanasia was the gift he needed most. He had waited for her to come home from vacation. And he waited for her to drive back to the referral center.

What can dog owners learn from Zimmer? Here are some lessons, from Zimmer’s case: 1. Loss of appetite is a significant clinical sign in dogs.

2. If your dog is ill, having access to bloodwork results immediately may be life-saving, versus waiting for results to come back from the lab. Most practices can run in-house bloodwork.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask about referral to a specialty hospital, where your dog will have access to multiple specialists, advanced diagnostic testing, and round-the-clock care. Generally, these facilities offer emergency services that accept walk-in patients.

4. Pet owners should trust their instincts.

Owners know their dogs better than anyone.

5. A dog can be very sick but still have a normal temperature. Also, certain drugs, such as NSAIDs, can mask a fever.

Even though Zimmer was struggling, his eyes brightened when he saw his family walk into the ICU. Chris later wrote, “I’m so glad I saw that. He knew we’d come back to be with him. I even imagine as the medicine helped him leave us that he could hear us tell him how much we loved him and what a good boy he was. He had a wonderful life. I just wanted to be selfish and have it continue a while longer.”

Zimmer’s story is told here so that, in a sense, his life may continue and hopefully help another dog.

WInter/Holiday 2014 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com

37

{ rounding up rover }

Happy and Safe Dogs Make for Happy Howl-a-days!

By Anne Wills This holiday season, take a few precautions to keep your pets safe. Search dogs who are sent outside to search for missing and lost dogs would love to stay inside and be toasty warm too!

The holiday season is the worst time of year for pet loss and theft. Eight out of ten lost dog cases from November through March are due to winter-specific factors. Here are a few simple tips:

Holiday Season Theft

Starting in November, Dogs Finding Dogs, a dogtracking non-profit organization that tracks and finds lost pets, has an increase of 80 percent regarding missing dog cases being attributed to pet theft.

Dogs Finding Dogs is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of highly-trained handlers and dogs that can track and find a lost pet. When we take on a missing pet case, we stay with you until your pet is found.

We never turn down a plea for help! Our goal is to reunite you with your pet as soon as possible. We will advise you on what steps to take and when.

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The Virginia–Maryland Dog

Dogs Finding Dogs offers more than just tracking teams. We can be instrumental in reuniting you with your pet using a variety of methods. We have assisted more than 4000 pet owners in finding their lost pets since our inception in 2008.

Whether it’s the need to generate money for holiday presents or to give a gift of a cute dog, pet owners have to be extra vigilant in watching their pets. During the holiday season in 2013, Dogs Finding Dogs had 127 stolen dogs, of which 80 percent were reunited with their owners.

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{ rounding up rover }

The piling up of snow around the fences gives your pet an extra step up to jump over. Also, the weight of the snow and ice against the gates and fences causes them to bend, creating open spaces that your dog will try to squeeze through.

Do not let your pet outside unattended at any time.

Watch for strange cars in the neighborhood, or people who are walking in front of your home. These pet thieves are just waiting for an opportunity. When your pet goes outside, inspect your yard for food.

The thieves will feed your pet to make it friendly to a stranger. Make sure all gates are padlocked.

Beware of Holiday Festivities

When entertaining, confine your pet to a specific area. Inform each person who enters your home to always check their feet before opening an outside door. Dogs can get overly excited or stressed with visitors. This can cause them to want to run out of the doors of a home.

Carrying Packages To and From Cars

Make several small trips when carrying packages in or out of the house. Make sure that you have full view of your doorways. Put your pet in a confined area.

For a safe and joyous holiday season, take these few simple precautions for the safety of your pet.

Rover wants to enjoy them with you too! Our search dogs would love to kick back in front of the fireplace with a nice bone as well. It’s cold outside for the missing dogs and the search dogs.

Dogs Finding Dogs wants to wish each and every family a wonderful Howl-a-Day season!

Dogs on our team have helped aid the police in tracking persons in connection with a crime. They also have successfully tracked lost pets with full recovery of the animal. Some of our dogs have been honored by the Maryland State Governor with Governors Citations. See Our Dogs’ Profiles on our Meet Our Teams page and visit our In The News page for recent press coverage and events.

The faster you call us, the better the chance of recovering your pet. You will need to have a favorite toy, blanket or brush that we can use to pre-scent our dogs to ensure that we are tracking the correct scent path.

The Dogs Finding Dogs Rescue Team. Photo Courtesy Anne Wills

News Year Eve Fireworks

Every year on New Years Eve, there are fireworks.

Before you let your dog outside, double check that your gates are firmly closed. Block up all holes around the fence line. If you have anything smaller than a 6-foot fence, stay outside with your dog. One pow of a firework can send them over the fence!

Winter Storms

Winter storms create horrible opportunities for your pet to get loose. Blowing wind can cause front doors and gates to fly open, so make sure you have them securely locked. The piling up of snow around the fences gives your pet an extra step up to jump over. Also, the weight of the snow and ice against the gates and fences causes them to bend, creating open spaces that your dog will try to squeeze through.

WInter/Holiday 2014 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com

39

{ ask dr. katy }

?a?k Dr. Katy ?

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By Katy Nelson, DVM

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Dear Dr. Katy:

My dog is a picky eater. I have tried just about every kind of dog food that you can imagine. I have consulted my Vet who has provided me with prescription food, ways to encourage her to eat all to no avail. As a result my house looks like a dog food store! What she eats one day, she won’t eat the next. I have tried raw, home-cooked meals, high-end foods, and nothing seems to consistently appeal to her. Any suggestions that you may have would be greatly appreciated.

– Tammy B., Hagerstown, MD

Dear Tammy,

This is such a vast and infuriating subject, for the pets, the veterinarians and especially the pet parents. It is far more often that this is less about the foods that you are offering, and more about the pet itself. My first thoughts tend to go to the pets’ teeth.

Are they in good condition? Is there a subtle dental issue causing chewing or swallowing problems?

What breed is your pet? Does she have a brachycephalic snout (think pug or boxer type nose) that may be cause olfactory (or again) dental issues? Have you tested her blood work and made sure there is no underlying endocrine issue, gastrointestinal problem, digestive issue, food allergies, etc. Have you done x-rays of her neck, chest and abdomen to rule out conformational problems preventing normal digestion? I would need more information

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to actually give you advice on this particular problem, so my advice would be to have a long talk with your veterinarian, perhaps even consider an internal medicine or a nutrition consultation to try and make sure that there are no health, dental or nutritional problems standing in your way.

Dear Dr. Katy: Carpet Soiling. I have a five year old mixed breed dog that I adopted a few months ago from a local rescue. I was told by the foster parents that the dog was potty trained. However, once I got her home that was not the case. She continues to use my living room rug as her personal toilet.

As a result I have not only replaced it a few times, but I have also taken it up in hopes that this behavior will stop. Unfortunately it has not. I have had her to the Vet in order to insure that she does not have any underlying medical issues. All tests come back negative. If you could provide me with a potential solution I would greatly appreciate it.

– Ashley T., Alexandria, VA

Dear Ashley,

My first step would be to ensure that your veterinarian knows the extent of the problems your pet is experiencing. They may want to explore the urinary issues a little further, considering bladder imaging (ultrasound and/or x-rays), urethral sphincter evalua-

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Do you have questions for Dr. Katy?

You can follow her on Twitter @drkatynelson, on Facebook or send her an e-mail at bark@vamddog.com.

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The Virginia–Maryland Dog

SAVING tion, and possibly a urine culture to rule out a underlying urinary tract infection. If this turns out negative, then my next call would be to a trainer to come out to your home for an in-home consultation. They will be able to give you tips on how to work with your particular dog in your particular home, better than any book or other sort of consultation. My thoughts are that if your pet is doing this, then they should be crated when you are unable to supervise, and after this is on the way to resolution, I would have a professional cleaning company come out and do an enzymatic treatment on your floors to break down the scent to the molecular level.

SADIE

Dear Dr. Katy: Dogs and Feelings. I have read countless articles some of which say that dogs have feelings such as jealousy, grief and so on, while other articles say that they do not. The reason that I ask is that one of our cats recently passed. Our dog was good friends with this cat. Ever since the Cat’s passing our dog seems to be less active and for lack of a better term – depressed. Could you please provide your thoughts on this subject?

and

SASHA The true story of two abandoned dogs who showed me the way home.

Laura S. Jones

– Derrick C., South Riding, VA

Dear Derrick,

Part memoir, part how-to, and part call to action, the story of Sadie and Sasha proves that damaged dogs can recover and heal, and in the process heal us.

They won’t be perfect, but then again neither are we.

Buy at www.TidalPress.com, online booksellers and your local book store.

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All sales benefit local animal welfare organizations!

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WInter/Holiday 2014 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com

?

? ?

Well, I certainly don’t know how to determine through any sort of scientific study if our pets truly show emotions, but after 38 years on this earth and 14 years in veterinary practice, I truly believe to the depths of my soul that they do. I had a Jack Russell Terrier for almost 15 years named Charlie, and he was often, let’s just say, “challenging” to deal with.

He disliked most people that he met, he barely tolerated other dogs, but he loved me and he loved his kitty Linus. And I say “his” kitty, because from the moment Linus stepped into my home, he and Charlie-dog were inseparable. Unfortunately, Linus had a terrible heart condition and when he passed away after 6 years, Charlie was absolutely destroyed. For a month he barely ate, he would just lay and stare at Linus’ perch in the window. He’d curl up on Linus’ bed in the bedroom. He’d walk past where we kept Linus’ meds and food and would audibly sigh. He was depressed. He was heartsick. He was in mourning. He did come out of it, eventually, and your pup will, too. But just like people, I truly believe they have feelings and they feel the loss of those they care about. I’m sorry for your loss, as well. I hope you and your pup can find some comfort in each other.

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41

?

?

{ grooming }

Pet Shampoo 101

By Prince Lorenzo Borghese

Have you ever wondered why your Veterinarian suggests only bathing your dog only once a month? The answer is that many of the pet shampoos can actually do more harm than good as they strip the natural oils off a dog’s skin, which can result in excessive dryness, a brittle coat, a bad odor and even lead to irritation.

Besides the harsh surfactants (cheap foaming agents such as sodium laurel sulfate) which can remove a dog’s natural oils, and thus, cause severe skin dryness, many pet shampoos are pH balanced for people’s skin, not pet’s skin, further increasing the chances of irritation. Human skin has a pH of about 5.5 (acidic) while a dog’s pH ranges (depending on the breed) from 6.2-8 (alkaline).

What you need to look for when shopping for your pet’s shampoo is a natural, organic shampoo that does not contain harsh surfactants, is tearless, contains superior moisturizing ingredients such as honey (a natural humectant which attracts moisture to the skin) and is specifically pH balanced for a dog’s skin. You should also make sure the product is soap free (many soaps contain animal fats and potassium hydroxide which is the fluid that leaks out of batteries) and paraben free. If you use a pet shampoo that meets the above credentials, it is ok to wash your pet weekly (and even daily if necessary). What you will notice is that the dog’s skin will become healthier which will lead to a shiner glossier coat, less shedding and a happier itch-free pet.

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…many pet shampoos are pH balanced for people’s skin, not pet’s skin, further increasing the chances of irritation.

42

The Virginia–Maryland Dog

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{ seeking a forever home }

Seeking A

Forever Home

“Mack”

Mack is a Laborador/Great Dane mix. He came from a high-kill shelter in Coweta, GA. Black Dogs & Company, Inc. rescued Mack from the shelter prior to being euthanized.

Breed/Mix: Laborador/Great Dane Mix Male/Female: Neutered Male Approximate Weight: 70 lbs Approximate Age: 1-½ to 2 years of Age Activeness: Mack loves to play endlessly. However, he can

also be a couch potato when given the opportunity Good w/Other Dogs: Yes Good w/Children: Yes Housebroken: Yes Medical Issues: None Feeding Issues: None Special Needs: None Vaccinations: Up to date on vaccinations Microchipped: Yes Fun Facts: Mack is an endearing black dog. He loves to

snuggle and to play with toys. He does tend to

have a bit of “Maraduke” in him. He will need a little

training in order to teach him not to chew. He likes

cats, but can be a little challenging around them. He

needs some work on his recall, but responds to

basic commands.

Photo by Eleen Pons, Ellen Pons Photography

Black Dogs & Company Inc. (BDAC) Black Dogs & Company, Inc. (BDAC) is a local, non-profit, all volunteer-run rescue located in Harford County Maryland. All dogs rescued by BDAC are placed into loving foster homes until adoption. BDAC rescues black dogs and the Old English Sheepdog breed from high-kill shelters.

Black Dogs & Company Inc. www.blackdogsandcompanyrescue.org rescueblackdogs@yahoo.com

All vetting including spay/neuter, immunizations, and microchipping is completed prior to adoption. All dogs are evaluated prior to pulling them from the shelters. They are then placed in homes with other dogs, sometimes children and even cats. Many dogs recued by BDAC have medical issues and have not lived a good life. They are nursed back to health and placed in approved homes.

BDAC is always looking for foster homes as well as volunteers and adopters. Monetary donations as well as dog supplies are always welcome. Although the adoption fee by far does not cover the expenses incurred by BDAC, their efforts are more of a labor of love.

WInter/Holiday 2014 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com

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