HIGH DESERT PETS by High Desert Media Group

2015

AN ISSUE OF

picture

purr-fect

SENIO SMAR R TS Help y o long an ur pet live d stron g

Get the best photo of your pet

Welcome home

Tips on raising puppies, kittens

DENTAL HEALTH

Vetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; No. 1 concern for total pet wellness

Weighty issues

Keeping pets active and in shape

2 | Wednesday, October 28, 2015

bits&bites

Pet trends and spends

2015

| Pets

EDITORIAL Steve Hunt shunt@vvdailypress.com ADVERTISING Angie Callahan acallahan@vvdailypress.com CIRCULATION Todd Bradshaw tbradshaw@vvdailypress.com Pets is created annually by GateHouse Media LLC, Daily Press parent company, and is distributed with various GateHouse papers across the country. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in the publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the management of the publication.

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

mericans love their pets, and spending on animals is growing. MarketResearch.com recently published a SlideShare focusing on the latest statistics and facts that are changing the pet products and services market in 2015. Some of the trends: • Pet food sales are expected to reach $33 billion by 2018. •Pet owners will spend over $11,000 per pet during its lifetime. • There are also many stats on consumer behavior with their pets: 32 percent of PIXABAY.COM

dog owners take their pets with them if they are going away for two or more nights. On average for all pets, 25 percent are bought as Christmas gifts.

More treats, please! Pet treats are the gravy of the petfood market. According to a January 2015 Packaged Facts pet owner survey, 75 percent of dog owners buy regular dog treats, and nearly a quarter buy pet treats with special nutritional formulation. According to Simmons National Consumer Survey data from Experian Marketing Services, cat-treat purchasing rates notched up from 40 percent in 2006 to 53 percent in 2013.

What we’re spending on At the 2015 Global Pet Expo in March, the American Pet Products Association announced the latest

industry spending numbers: 2014 was a banner year for the pet industry, with overall spending exceeding $58 billion. Pet services like grooming, boarding, training, day care and spa days saw the highest level of growth last year. Pet owners spent the most on food, $22.26 billion, followed by supplies and over-the-counter medications, $13.75 billion, and veterinarian services, $15.04 billion.

Pets need homes While some pets enjoy doggie day care and spa days, DoSomething.org shines a light on pet homelessness. Only one out of every 10 dogs born will find a permanent home. Homeless animals outnumber homeless people five to one. Each year, about 2.7 million dogs and cats are killed because shelters are too full and there aren’t enough adoptive homes.

3 Wednesday, October 28, 2015 |

photography

Picture

Pets |

purr-fect Expert tips on taking beautiful pet photos

PIXABAY.COM AND CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

rying to capture your pet’s personality on camera? It’s harder than it looks. Getting pets to cooperate during a photo session requires skill, patience and a great eye. Bill Parsons and Natalia Martinez are the creative powerhouses behind The Photo Lab, which specializes in pet photography. They’re supported by their pack: dogs Corbin and Willow, and cats Leeloo and RT. They offer some tips for readers to try at home.

Comfort equals cooperation “The most important thing in our line of work is to make sure your pet feels safe and comfortable. Sometimes something pointed at their face, such as a camera or even a phone, can make them feel uncomfortable and cause them to look away,” said Martinez. “A camera lens looks like a giant, black, unblinking eye, and that can be scary or threatening to dogs especially.” Offering treats can help get pets interested in posing for a photo. “Not every pet is food-motivated, but most are. If they are not, then maybe it is a toy or praise that

helps them. Use what works to reward them for what you want them to do,” said Parsons. “Also keep in mind they have shorter attention spans than us. So if they stop cooperating, have a good break and come back to it. Maybe the next day, even.”

you have enough contrast between your pet and the environment you are placing him in.” Watch out for odd trees or branches behind your subject that will appear on film to be growing from his or her head. – Negative space is a lovely thing. Your subject does not need to be in the center Compose the shot or be the largest thing in your A few things to remember photograph in order to steal include: the focus. “I love negative – Watch where you crop, space, and a lot of our Martinez said. Cropwork has the subject ping off toes, tails, tops off to one side of the of heads or other odd frame. Ideally, angle A camera lens looks areas will take away your pet’s body and like a giant, black, from your composiattention towards unblinking eye, and tion. Avoid cropping at the negative space that can be scary or joints, but feel free to instead of lookget creative with your ing away from it,” threatening to dogs point of view. Abstract Martinez said. especially.” angles can be very cool – Lighting is key. “To — Natalia Martinez and different. be a keen photographer, – Mind your background. “If you have to learn how to see you have a busy background, such light and know how it will interas dappled light streaming through the trees act with your subjects. Photographing in on a bright sunny day and you have a black harsh sunlight in the middle of the day will dog, it will be very hard to make him stand only give you harsh colors and contrast and out from the background,” Martinez said. a very squinty-eyed subject. Shade is lovely “Wide apertures can help in separating your light to work in, and if it is hot out, your dogs subject from the background, but make sure will appreciate it,” she said.

Shooting at “magic hour” (one to two hours before or after sunrise or sunset) will give a photo beautiful light. Don’t be afraid of cloudy skies or overcast, foggy days. “The sky often acts as a giant soft box and it gives even, beautiful light for your subject. It looks lovely on human skin, too. If you are shooting indoors, window light is my favorite,” Martinez said.

Getting close Close-ups can be difficult, Parsons said: “Many animals inherently don’t look you in the eye because it can be taken as threatening. So for close-ups, use a long lens/focal range, or spend some time helping the pet get used to the camera. Also utilize macro settings or lenses for super-close-up detail and with small animals.”

In the action “Pets in motion require, first and foremost, patience as well as trial and error,” Parsons said. “A good practice is, plan your shot before you take it and be ready when the pet reaches the spot in the motion you would like them to be. Take a lot of pictures — some will come out, others will be outtakes. Make sure you are focused, and if possible try to use a high ISO and/or shutter speed.”

4 | Wednesday, October 28, 2015

dentalhealth

The whole

Dental health top issue for cats, dogs

| Pets

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

f your pet’s breath smells sour, your sweet pooch or kitty-cat may be experiencing poor dental health, a serious issue that’s much more troublesome than bad breath. Periodontal disease is extremely common with dogs and cats, most of whom have evidence of a tooth, mouth or gum issue by the age of 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental College. Signs of poor dental health include bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face and mouth, and depression. “Periodontal disease is the No. 1 health issue

in dogs and cats,” said veterinarian Amy Stone, service chief of the Primary Care and Dentistry Service at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Small Animal Hospital. “Periodontal disease, commonly called gum disease, is the most common oral disease in dogs and cats. Most experts agree that two-thirds to three-fourths of all adult dogs and cats have some level of periodontal disease,” said Curt R. Coffman, chairman of the American Veterinary Dental College Public Relations Committee. “If untreated, it can progress causing pain, infection and tooth loss. Dogs and cats also suffer from broken or worn teeth, and cats commonly have a condition called tooth resorption.”

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When to see the vet If teeth appear dirty, stained or discolored, and the gums are red or inflamed, pets should see the vet, Coffman said. “Your pet’s dental health should be evaluated at each physical exam,” Stone said. “Your

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 |

Because it’s the way pets interact with their entire world, dental health is essential. “Dental health is very important, and a comfortable, healthy mouth is vital to a pet being able to chew and eat a proper diet,” Coffman said. “Dental infection can also lead to infection elsewhere in the body.” Most pets simply do not receive proper, regular mouth care. “They also tend to break their teeth and injure the soft tissues of their mouth catching balls and playing,” said Stone, who is also working on an alternate track residency in veterinary dentistry. Owners should learn to brush their pets’ teeth with toothpaste and monitor their pets’ mouths, teeth and gums for any pain or bleeding, Stone said. Flavored toothpastes formulated for animals are available to make the job easier. Although daily toothbrushing is advised for dogs and cats, only 2 percent of dog owners follow through. In addition, 65 percent of dogs with stage one periodontal disease often go untreated.

veterinarian can make recommendations as Dental health is very to how important, and a often your comfortable, healthy dog or mouth is vital to a pet cat may being able to chew and need eat a proper diet.” to have treatment — Curt R. Coffman for any disease present.” Chews and treats can help with oral hygiene, but many of these products have little research to back the manufacturers’ claims of improved oral hygiene, Coffman said. “The Veterinary Oral Health Council (vhoc.org) offers unbiased reviews of some oral heath care products,” he said. Products approved by this organization “are going to be safe (nontoxic and not likely to break their teeth) and the most effective ones on the market,” Stone said. “The most important thing that people should know is that they should be asking their veterinarians about their pets’ teeth.”

Pets |

Care tips

KATHERINE JOHNSON/FLICKR

6 | Wednesday, October 28, 2015

newpets

Welcome

| Pets

HOME What to expect when bringing home a puppy or kitten

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

elcoming a new pet into your home is the beginning of a wonderful journey. To get things off to a smooth and easy start, you’re going to have to make some adjustments to be sure your pet is comfortable at home, too. “When you get a dog, a puppy, you’re basically taking in a new baby,” said Mary Ellen Walsh, canine behaviorist and founder of The Grateful Dog (thinklikeyourdog.com). “Life for a puppy is all about exploration. Everything goes into their mouths. They want to chew on everything.” If you don’t want your table legs, area rugs and baseboards gnawed on and destroyed, “you’ve got to be sure your pet has everything it needs to feel at home, too,” Walsh said. She offers the following tips to allow man and beast to live together comfortably.

intelligence.” So roll up the area rug in the dining room as well as smaller rugs in the kitchen, bath and other areas and put them away until the kitten or puppy is fully trained. If your home is decorated with wallto-wall carpeting, be sure to vacuum regularly, Walsh said. If it’s an option, use carpet tiles, which can be replaced if soiled. Hardwood and nonporous flooring such as bamboo, concrete and tile are better options because they’re easier to clean. “Think of your pets when you think of your flooring. Pets spend a lot of time on the floor,” Walsh said.

Crate training

Puppies also spend a vast amount of time napping, so provide a comfortable place for them to rest. “Get a crate. There are times in the day when a puppy needs to nap,” Walsh said. The crate should be located near the door where you’ll be taking him out. Be sure to keep collars, House training leashes and a pair of slip-on shoes One of the most common pet probnearby so you can make a quick exit lems is kittens and puppies when needed. Since puppies are doing their business unpredictable, Walsh recomwhere they’re not mends crating the pet when supposed to. To you’re too busy to watch that end, “if you it. have carpets, “I say, ‘One eye on pick them up, what you’re doing “When you get a dog, a roll them up and one eye on the puppy, you’re basically and put them puppy,’” Walsh said. away,” Walsh “The puppy should taking in a new baby.” said. “Pupbe in the crate if you — Ellen Walsh pies will pee on can’t see it, because the what’s absorbent. moment you walk out Owners complain, of the room, it’s bound to but I see that as a sign of start chewing things up.”

7 Wednesday, October 28, 2015 | Pets | PIXABAY.COM

tips • Cats and dogs are curious creatures, so for their safety, be sure that all electrical cords and wires are out of reach, Walsh said. “Dogs have taken tremendous shocks — even died” from chewing on plugged-in cords, she said. Also, be sure to stash away anything you don’t want your pets to get into, such as a bowl of cocktail nuts on an end table or a charging smartphone. • Pets get into things, so the convenient kitchen garbage can that opens with the touch of your foot might have to go. Same goes for the kitchen towel hanging around the handle of your refrigerator. “Dogs will show off their higher intelligence,” Walsh said. “So take a good look around your home, especially at their level, and check for things they can get into.”

• As any pet owner will attest to, mistakes will happen, so invest in washable fabrics for beds and slipcovers. “Everything should be easy to clean,” said Walsh, who is a big fan of OxyClean. •If you have the finances to remodel, there are plenty of pet-friendly upgrades such as built-in niches (rather than crates), homemade window seats to allow pets to see outside, dog-feeding stations tucked away under countertops and convenient pull-out feeding drawers. Walsh’s favorite upgrade is a custom bathing area. “Some people are doing whole rooms with a bath at waist level with a platform. The dog steps up on the platform and into the bath. The area is streamlined with all necessary bath products and towels,” Walsh said. Or, consider a walk-in shower or even an outdoor shower for cleaning your pet.

8 | Wednesday, October 28, 2015 | Pets

HOUNDS

still handsome in baggy suits sizes. Sherri McGuire of Rips & Tears Horse Blanket Repairs in Hesperia may not have “Get LOST!” stickers on her vehicles, upport your local bloodbut she has been a bloodhound lover and hound: Get LOST!” breeder for almost a decade, and she That’s the directive on understands the fascination with the breed a popular sticker adorning very well. the bumpers of bloodSeveral years ago her foundation sire, hound-loving drivers all over the country. McGuire’s Elliott Ness, was the cover dog When it comes to owning and loving for High Desert Pets. You can read more at animals, life takes some surprising turns. www.mcguiresbloodhounds.com. If you love dogs, you want them all to be Discovering Elliott was the end of a one happy and healthy. If you breed dogs, you journey and the beginning of another — should be a responsible owner who will Sherri and her daughter Selena drove to place puppies in new homes with care and New York State to visit family and decided always consider them part of your extended to take a scenic detour through the southfamily. ern states in search of a bloodhound puppy. And while your life may take some unexThey found puppies advertised in the pected detours, the bottom line is that the local papers and Pennysavers, stopping joys of loving animals come in packages every 50 miles or so to of all get leads on By Kathy Young

Special Sections Photos courtesy of Sherri McGuire

‘S

es a certificate and Sherri McGuire receiv r ne ow d an er nals. ed bre Owen with the Bloodhound Natio (mantrailing) trial at MT the ng sti pa for ribbon

litters of puppies. Try as they might, they could not find “The Puppy” that Sherri wanted as the foundation of a breeding program she envisioned. They arrived home with no puppy. That very day Sherri looked at the Daily Press and in the classified ads was a litter of bloodhounds born in … Hesperia. One look at the litter and Sherri knew she had found her puppy, a female she named Ellie Mae. Several years later, Sherri located a male in Apple Valley and bred Ellie Mae to him. From that litter she kept the biggest male with the longest ears and named him McGuire's Elliott Ness. (Sherri also has Elliott’s full sister from the next litter. “Missy” is a pet but resembles her brother in color and weight).

McGuire’s Elliott Ne ss with handler Selen a McGuire-Fowler at his SelectDog win at the 2014 Bloodho und Nationals.

“female Elliott.” She possesses his substance, his gorgeous head and overall correctness that made her sire a standout in the ring. In addition, the McGuire bloodhounds are showing skill in a sporting event called mantrailing. (There is a second event, mantracking, where the dog is sent out to find a particular person). In mantrailing, the dog must demonstrate scent discrimination and correctly identify a specific person in a field setting. There are three divisions: Mantrail; Mantrail Intermediate; and Mantrail Excellent. At a recent Bloodhound Nationals, there were 13 entrants in mantrailing.

ailin MT (mantr received his so d al re b e H e. ir d u B Goo cond McG uire’s Jonah nals, the se io at N d This is McG n hou at the Blood certificate . so o d to bloodhound

McGuire’s One Mo re For The Road, ak a “Owen,” continues his sire’s winn ing ways. His nicely “knuckled” feet are desired by bree ders.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 |

McGuire’s Wyatt Earp loves to show. Here he participates in Mantrailing.

Five bloodhounds passed the class. Two of the five were sired by Elliott. Sherri and Selena show the children and grands. The McGuire dogs are garnering a lot of attention outside the ring from noted breeders and judges who comment positively on various aspects of the McGuire breeding program, particularly the “knuckled up” feet. Sire of several litters of McGuire bloodhounds is M&M’s Price of Freedom, a GCH CH black and tan bloodhound bred by Michael & Molly Nye of North Carolina and owned by the Randy and Anne Greenlee of Stockton. “Morgan” was in the Top Twenty Bloodhounds for the year when he was just one year old, achieved multiple group placements and was ranked one of the Top Ten Bloodhounds in the United States for 2014. As we said at the beginning, life’s journey sometimes takes us on interesting detours. And as we wrote in 2012 when telling Sherri’s story for the first time, sometimes what we’re looking for is practically in our own backyard. For more information on the American Bloodhound Club, visit www.bloodhounds. org. For additional details on tracking and trailing, visit www.bloodhoundrraining. com. The American Kennel Club’s website is www.akc.org.

Pets |

Elliott had that beautiful head and as he grew, his presence turned heads in the show ring. A woman named Lyn Sherman saw Elliott and urged Sherri to start showing him. His first show outing was March 2010 at the two-day Apple Valley Kennel Club show. The second day he was Best of Breed. At the next two shows he was Best of Winners. Sherri took dog handling classes in Phelan and gained the skills and confidence to show him at larger shows. Long story short, Elliott earned his Championship and Grand Champion status, received an invitation to the KCK Eukanuba Championships and qualified for Westminster. Sherri took him to New York City and had a wonderful time — Elliott traveled like a seasoned campaigner and while he showed well, he did not make it to the main competition. Another California bloodhound, GCH Quiet Creek’s Kiss And Tell (aka “Kiss”) was the winningest bloodhound that year, and she represented the Bloodhounds in the Group competition. Elliott’s career as the foundation for the McGuire Bloodhounds has been exciting. His children and “the grands” are showing throughout the country — as owner-handler and under professional handling — and a daughter, “Annie Mae,” is a Grand Champion. Sherri calls her a

10 | Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Flying F Ranch updates

| Pets

Rocket, Annie Rose and Lotti are all doing just fine By Kathy Young Special Sections Photos by John Buchanan, Flying F Ranch

n the final edition of High Desert Pets edition 2014, we featured two horses owned by a man who wears many hats — John Buchanan of Flying F Ranch in Lucerne Valley. John definitely has a gift for rehabbing animals that, without his skilled and very devoted intervention, would not make it otherwise. He takes on cases that most people walk away from, and most of the time he is successful in his efforts. One of John’s many hats include horse hauling — emergency or otherwise. Colicky horses, foaling mares, equines otherwise not thriving — he hauls them all. Often he takes horses to Apple Valley Equine Hospital and Chino Hills. He offers boarding and

his sassy side. Rocket shows

layup facilities at his ranch. In that aspect of his life, John has gotten to know area veterinarians like Apple Valley Equine Hospital's Dr. Ron Lenhert, who has become the "go-to guy" when John isn't sure what to do for his charges. He also assists with foaling mares, handles lay-up cases and was one of several volunteers who evacuated horses during this summer’s wildfires, particularly the Summit Fire in Big Bear. John doesn’t run a horse rescue — he makes that very clear — but he works with White Rock Horse Rescue in Yucca Valley, the United Pegasus Foundation and other groups such as True Innocents Equine Rescue as well as Animal Control. He does take in the occasional “remarkable case” and does what he can to help the injured or neglected animals. Two of those

Annie Rose.

“remarkable cases,” B. T. Rocket and Annie Rose, have made their mark on the Flying F Ranch. Rocket, an older Quarter Horse, came to John’s attention after a call came from Animal Control to transport a horse that belonged to some people “in trouble.” The gelding was somewhere on the body scale between 0 and 1, but John “made haste slowly” with the horse he first named “Bones” packed into his horse trailer, He headed to Apple Valley Equine Hospital and Dr. Lenhert gave John a diet that would provide the gelding with the best chance to come back from the brink. It took B. T. 17 days before he could get up on his own — John rigged straps on the bucket of his tractor to support the gelding because he was too weak to stand. Today Rocket is a fixture at the ranch, giving rides to neighbor kids,

working as a therapeutic riding horse for severely disabled children, and giving John a bit of a challenge when he gets in the saddle. John says Rocket has had a lot of training because he “knows everything.” Rocket adjusts to his rider and is very good with children. John’s wife Natalie teaches severely disabled first and second graders in Mojave, Calif., and John is taking Rocket to her school so the children can meet and ride him. A second successful project is Annie Rose. She was thought to be a maybe two or three months of age but was actually well past weaning age. She is now just over three years old and is thriving under John’s care. Her temperament is perfect for a younger rider. John said she is going to be a “tank,” and she is incredibly smart.

This is Lotti today.

A closeup of Lotti’s leg injury.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 |

A closeup of Lotti’s hip wound.

“If you can get her to me, I’ll see what I can do.”

Pets |

She isn’t old enough to start under saddle, but she has been tacked up and handled from the beginning. Calling her “a neat little horse,” John said she will be his grandson Henry’s horse when he grows up (Henry is nearly two years of age). She and Henry will be quite the team when he is old enough to ride. The third horse, Lotti, is the latest of John’s rescue projects. Lotti came to John’s attention when she was found in a ditch in the Coachella area with severe wounds including missing skin. The local rescue could not handle such injuries but John had his hands full at his ranch so he said, “If you can get her to me, I’ll see what I can do.” One thing led to another and right after the New Year, the rescue contacted him again — Lotti was still at their facility and still in need of help. His schedule had eased up a bit, so he drove down and got her. She had two large open wounds. One was on the point of her hip, the other near her

— John Buchanan

hock. He contacted Dr. Lenhert who gave him tips on wound care — wounds with no skin to cover them are notoriously difficult to treat — and while Lotti did not like the frequent scrubbing necessary to care for the wounds, after awhile she began to require less and less intervention. She received some “creative bandaging,” too, because the wounds were in spots where stitches were not possible. She will always have scars, of course, but she came through the ordeal in good order. John survived, too — “It was time-consuming and frustrating,” he admits — and he said Lotti is going to be a challenge to train for her next career. “She’s big and a bit pushy,” John said, adding that he calls her "a work in progress." The Buchanans are expecting their second grandchild, a daughter, and John “can’t wait” to get her involved in chores like her older brother Henry, who has turned into a very dedicated little ranch hand. “Henry feeds the dogs and chickens and pretty much oversees the place,” John said. He is enjoying the job of spoiling the grandchildren. Caring for the lost and the least, whether it’s people or animals that cannot care for themselves, is a noble calling. John Buchanan at the Flying F Ranch has made it his life’s work to be a good steward. As we wrote in 2014, the Buchanans’ “desire to do something for those that cannot care for themselves teaches a very important lesson to us all.” n For more photos of Rocket, Annie Rose and Lotti, see Page 15

e first Rose when sh This is Annie nc chanan ra h. came to the Bu

ner, ts her future ow Annie Rose mee s granddad. Henry, with hi

This is Lotti on the day she arrived at the Flying F Ranch.

Rocket and He nry like to dine together.

12 | Wednesday, October 28, 2015

weightmanagement

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

| Pets

here’s an obesity epidemic in America and it’s affecting our pets. Fat cats and dumpy dogs are feeling the consequences of all that extra kibble and lack of activity, and worst of all, most pet owners don’t even recognize the problem. “The same thing that’s happening to us is happening to our pets. They live in the same environment,” said veterinarian Tony Buffington, a professor and feline behavior expert at Ohio State University’s Veterinary Medical Center. According to recent figures released by the Association of Pet Obesity and Prevention, 58 percent of cats and 53 percent of dogs are overweight. The study also showed that a whopping 90 to 95 percent of pet owners think their pets are normal weight. “About 15 or 20 years ago, pets’ weights began creeping up,” Buffington said. Those extra pounds mean pets aren’t able to move around as well. They’re not as active as they should be. The extra weight exacerbates problems they might already have, such as heart disease or difficulty breathing, Buffington said. Overweight pets “have become the new normal,” Buffington said: “Owners go to the dog park, look around and think, ‘My dog looks just like the other dogs. What’s the problem?’”

Ideal weight Knowing your pet’s ideal, healthy weight is not as easy as simply looking at a number on a scale, Buffington said.

OBESITY and pets Activity, smart eating can help pets keep weight off Instead, take a good look at your pet’s body and use the body condition score technique to make an assessment. A body condition score rates your

pet’s body shape from emaciated to obese. From above, look down at your pet, then take a look from the side. Ohio State University’s body condition score dictates that the ribs should be palpable without excess fat, followed by an indentation at the waist then a flaring out at the hip bones. “It’s difficult to weigh a pet on a scale, but you pet your pet all the time. If you can see the ribs, they’re too skinny. If you can’t really see the ribs but can easily feel them, that’s about just right. If you have to push your hands in to feel the ribs, they weigh too much,” Buffington said.

food,” Buffington said. Just like people, dogs would benefit enormously by getting about 30 minutes of exercise five times a week, he said. Dogs are easier to exercise. Take them for walks. Play fetch or tug-of-war. Give them social opportunities at the dog park, introduce them to a sport like canine freestyle or enroll them in specialized training. For cats, find out what their preferences are. What type of toys do they like: furry mice, feathered wands or laser pointers? Try to play with them 10 to 15 minutes a day, Buffington said. Buffington is a big fan of food puzzle toys, sturdy containers that hold food or treats and make pets figure out how to Exercise tips open or position the toy to get their food. Lastly, limit the treats. In addition to following the guidelines “If you’re regularly feeding your pet on pet food labels and limiting treats and treats between meals, it’s not a treat. people food, get your pet moving. It’s a snack,” Buffington said. All those “Animals in the wild spend about 80 percent of their (waking) time looking for calories add up to extra weight.

13 Wednesday, October 28, 2015 |

healthyaging

Pets |

AGING

gracefully Adapting to older pets’ health needs

PIXABAY.COM

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

our loving companion still greets you at the front door when you come home, he’s just not as quick as he used to be. Your pet is growing older. His needs are changing, and he depends on you to stay healthy and comfortable. “A pet becomes a senior in the last quarter of their predicted lifespan, so this has a bit of variability, as average life expectancies decrease the bigger the pet,” said veterinarian Jessica Vogelsang, who blogs at Pawcurious. Her new book, “All Dogs Go to Kevin” will be out in July. “A cat, for example, can be considered senior around 10 years of age, where a Great Dane might be considered a senior at around 5 years of age.”

Almost half of pets are seniors About 45 percent of dog owners have a dog age 7 or older, while 46 percent of cat owners have a cat in that oldest age bracket, according to a 2015 Packaged Facts Pet Owner Survey. “As pets age, we see some of the same changes that we see in ourselves: a slowdown in metabolism, onset of arthritis, cognitive changes,” Vogelsang said. Older pets also can suffer from age-related conditions such as Type-2 diabetes, respiratory disorders, high blood

Free teeth brushing w/every groom purchase

pressure and cardiovascular disease, as well as other afflictions. Studies show older pets have a higher incidence of being overweight or obese. The Packaged Facts survey found that 52 percent of dogs and cats in the U.S. are obese. “Because pets can’t tell us how they are feeling and a lot of the changes are often very subtle, it becomes key to have biannual exams for senior pets so early signs of disease can be identified and treated early,” Vogelsang said. “This makes a huge difference in an aging pet’s quality of life. In addition, keeping senior pets at a healthy weight becomes vital as well, as it not only decreases the onset of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, it helps reduce the signs of joint disease.”

Tools to help Because we treat pets as a part of the family, aging pets are benefitting from myriad products on the market aimed at making their twilight years more comfortable. Pet owners are opening up their wallets for things like orthopedic mattresses, hind limb harnesses, steps and ramps. “Pet owners are becoming more interested in services for aging pets, but in order to take advantage of them they need to know that those options are available,” Vogelsang said. “I am very excited to see more veterinarians discussing senior care with clients. We are even beginning to see hospice and palliative care services for pets in the end-of-life stages that mirror the services we offer to people.”

14 | Wednesday, October 28, 2015

nutrition

| Pets

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

ust like it’s important for you, nutrition is essential for your pet’s overall health, well-being and life span. That’s why it’s essential to read and understand pet food labels. While they may be small and covered in tiny, hard-to-read print, pet food labels are the key to understanding just what you’re feeding your pet, said Mike Sagman, founder of Dog Food Advisor, a site devoted to evaluating dog food based on ingredients. Sagman became motivated to learn more about what’s exactly in pet food after he suspected a commercial pet food may have been responsible for the death of his “little shelter dog Penny.” He found out that the food had been the subject of a major 2007 recall. “You have a right to know what’s in the food you’re feeding your pets, and manufacturers have an obligation to tell you what’s in the food and where it comes from,” said Sagman.

What terms mean All the information found on pet food labels is available on the Internet, so there’s no excuse not to know what’s in that bag of kibble or can of wet food. While they’re easy to read, pet food labels may be hard to understand without doing a little research, Sagman said. To start with the basics, pet foods that are labeled “complete and balanced” must meet the nutritional standards established by the

read the

LABEL You have a right to know what’s in the food you’re feeding your pets, and manufacturers have an obligation to tell you what’s in the food and where it comes from.”

Association of American Feed Control Officials. The food can be aimed at either of two categories, adult or puppies/kittens and pregnant or nursing females. This is not government approval. “It’s a nutritional adequacy statement,” Sagman said. If a pet food is labeled “complete and balanced” it should meet your pet’s nutritional needs. Foods not labeled

“complete and balanced” can be used as supplements, meaning they have too much or too little nutritional value for your pet. “Think of each ingredient” listed on a label “as part of a continuum. Some are great, some not so much,” Sagman said. For example, artificial preservatives are used to preserve the shelf life of pet foods. While preservatives must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, some are more desirable than others. There are synthetic preservatives such as BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and ethoxyquin, which the government deems safe for pet food levels. Or, there are natural preservative like vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and extracts of various plants, which keep foods fresh but for shorter periods.

Mystery meat Think meat must be the No. 1 ingredient for your pet? You might be falling for a tricky label that splits ingredients, Sagman said. Pet food labels are required to list ingredients in order of their prominence in the food, but that doesn’t stop some manufacturers from using four cups of different varieties of rice so that a smidgen more meat lands it in the top spot. And, what about the meat? One of Sagman’s biggest concerns is generic terms. “Meat by-product” can mean many different things, most of which you will find very unsavory. Meat by-products are what’s left of a slaughtered animal after the edible parts have been removed — the waste parts like feet, backs, livers and lungs. Pet food standards are lower than human food standards, so roadkill or dead-on-arrival animals can be legally used for pet food, said Sagman. Instead, look for foods that have specific names like “chicken by-product.”

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| Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Pets