Animal wellness
Animalwellness For a long, healthy life!
busting
Myths
Living pawsitive!
The
about holistic healthcare
Now
HEAR This Health issues that affect floppy ears
summer 5activities
Top
for you and your dog
Joint effort
a guide to joint support nutrients
Home Alone
Keep him safe and comfortable when you’re away
Exotic proteins
spice up her diet with something different
feline
Hip, cool and healthy!
WELLNESS
Friends MAKING
Cool
HOW ACUPRESSURE CAN MAKE FELINE INTRODUCTIONS EASIER
CATS
PROTECT HIM FROM
dehydration AND heat stroke
CAT
Chat
THIS SUMMER
Reflexology FOR FELINES
Traveling WITH
KITTY?
TIPS TO KEEP HER STRESS-FREE
June/July june/july Display Display until until May July 28, 25, 2012 2012
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VOLUME 14 ISSUE 3
AnimalWellnessMagazine.com
feline wellness
65
Contents June / July 2012
features
16 16 Let’s talk fencing
26
Don’t have time to walk the dog? An enclosed backyard is the next best thing. Choose the right fence for your companion – and make sure it keeps him safe and contained.
18 5 myths about holistic care
Want your companion treated holistically, but think it’s too hard to find a vet, or that it’s going to be too timeconsuming or costly? Think again. This article busts the most common myths about alternative veterinary care.
22 Call to action Actress Elaine Hendrix is one of the driving forces behind an animal welfare organization that truly puts its money where its mouth is.
The sun’s shining, the water’s warm, and you and your dog want to make the most of the great outdoors. Check out our tips for making these favorite summer activities safe and fun.
48 Novel and nutritious
Whether you’re away for a day or a week, make sure your dog is free of separation anxiety, and will be safe and comfortable in the house without you.
Since the devastating pet food recalls of 2007, exotic proteins and other unique culinary ingredients have been finding their way into canine diets. Spice up your dog’s dinner with these tasty health-packed recipes.
29 Meeting of minds
53 Paws up!
26 Home alone
How a chance encounter led to the development of a homeopathic that helps treat cancer and other chronic diseases in animals.
32 Joint effort
A handy guide to the most common joint support nutrients and how they’ll help your dog.
36 Wet behind the ears Who can resist floppy dog ears? They’re soft, velvety and lovely to stroke. But they’re also prone to infection. Learn what to watch for and how to prevent and treat potential problems.
4
40 Top 5 summer getaways
animal wellness
Finding a way to dress her rescue dog’s injured leg inspired this animal-loving entrepreneur to design a line of innovative bandage products for dogs and cats.
54 Considering hospice?
It requires commitment in time and energy, but those who choose hospice care for their terminally ill animals find it a transforming and rewarding experience.
58 Dog at large
What should you do when you find a lost or stray dog? Taking the right steps will ensure he ends up in the right hands.
68 Making friends
Introducing a new cat to your feline household can rub everyone’s fur the wrong way. Acupressure helps ease the tension between your kitties.
70 Cool cats
Stifling summer weather can be as hazardous to kitties as is to people and dogs. Learn how to protect your feline friend from dehydration and heat stroke.
72 Reflexology for cats
This healing modality isn’t just for people. It can also do wonders for your feline companion.
74 Hitting the road?
Most cats don’t like travel, but if you take the right approach, you can minimize the stress, ensure the trip goes smoothly – and maybe even get your kitty to enjoy it.
86 No more seizures When Leo’s life was taken over by epilepsy, and the veterinarian could do no more, I didn’t know where to turn. Then I discovered that a simple dietary change could restore his well being.
36 Columns 12
Yakkity yak
45
Warm & fuzzy
67
Cat chat
78
What’s your breed?
81
Book reviews
84
Communication
90
Passages
96
Tail end
40 Departments 8
70
Editorial
34
Product picks
61
Animal Wellness resource guide
76
The scoop
88
Classifieds
92
Animal Wellness Marketplace
97
Events calendar
animal wellness
5
Let’s talk fencing
Don’t have time to walk the dog? An enclosed backyard is the next best thing. Choose the right fence for your companion – and make sure it keeps him safe and contained.
by Anabelle Lee Macri
O
ne day, I was driving home from work when I suddenly noticed a small dog not far from a high traffic road. The pink collar told me she was someone’s beloved companion. Fortunately, the dog headed back into her yard, and that’s when I saw the hole in the fence. I pulled over, went to the door of the house, and alerted the people who lived there that they needed to check their backyard and block their dog’s escape route. When you don’t have time to walk your dog, it’s a good idea to have an enclosed outdoor space for him to get some fresh air and exercise. A fenced in backyard is the ideal alternative to daily walks when you’re too busy to take your canine to the park or woods. But there’s a lot more to it than just letting your dog out the back door and then forgetting about him. You want to provide a fun outlet for him, but you also want to make sure your fence is going to keep him in and protect him from outside hazards. • There are a variety of fence types to choose from. Many neighborhoods have homeowner covenants that stipulate the type of fence you can have in the backyard, so you’ll need to find out what your local options are. Chain link and board privacy fences are among the most popular for keeping dogs contained. Stone walls are probably the ultimate, but they aren’t an option for most people because of the high cost. • The fence also needs to be high enough that your dog can’t jump or scramble over it – between 5’ and 6’ is ideal, depending upon the breed of dog you have. Many dogs can jump much higher than their actual height, especially if there
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animal wellness
is something they are trying to get to on the other side. Check local regulations pertaining to fencing heights. • I f your existing fence isn’t high enough, consider a product that will extend its height and discourage escape. For example, the Dog-Proofer from Purrfect Fence (purrfectfence.com) features sturdy containment arms that fasten to the top of almost any fence, effectively foiling the dog’s attempts to clamber over the top.
Bury small-holed fencing 12” into the ground to help prevent your dog from digging out – and other animals from digging in. • Dogs love to check out what’s happening outside their yard, so if you have a wood fence consider installing an insert or two. Pet Peek (877-901-0991 or www.petpeek.info) offers a safe, easy to install option. • Be sure to walk the perimeter of your yard on a regular basis. Check the fence and gate carefully for any loose areas, holes or gaps as well as splintered wood and exposed nail heads. • Your gate should lock from the inside of the yard. In my opinion, this is a good deterrent for thieves or trespassers. Make sure the gate is shut and locked any time that your dog is outside. Use strong, high quality locks and hardware. • Check that there isn’t anything near the fence that your dog could use for leverage. This could include stacked building
materials, picnic tables, children’s play equipment, or even brush piles. • The same applies to agility equipment. Make sure it’s far enough away from the fence that your dog can’t use it to escape the yard. For this reason, veterinarian Dr. Ava Talmage recommends the tunnel as the best option for outside obstacle course activity.
Check the fence and gate carefully for any loose areas, holes or gaps and fix damage promptly. • Some dogs will try to dig their way under a fence. Dr. Talmage suggests burying small-holed fencing 12” into the ground to help prevent your dog from digging out – and other animals from digging in. If it is not possible to bury the fencing, she advises running a strand of wire along the bottom of the existing fence to help deter digging. • Obviously, burying your gate or running wire underneath it isn’t an option. Paving or patio stones installed under the gate will help discourage digging. • Some dogs will find a way through, over or under your fence despite your best efforts to contain them. Dr. Talmage
Board fencing can keep your dog contained and provide privacy but consider adding a lookout like the one above from Pet Peek.
suggests boundary training, which uses a reward system to keep the dog in the yard. A professional trainer who uses positive methods can help you with this. • Many people install invisible fencing to keep their dogs confined, but using even mild electric shocks to control a dog’s movements is frowned upon by positive trainers and can lead to both physical and behavioral problems. A high, sturdy fence and gate for your backyard means your canine companion will have a safe place to play and run when you can’t otherwise give him the exercise time needed. That translates to more fun and fitness for him, and less guilt for you!
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