ANIMAL WELLNESS
JUNE/JULY 2017
For a long, healthy life!
WELLNESS DOGS IN
NATURAL WAYS TO CALM
ANXIOUS DOGS
HOT CARS
CUSHING’S DISEASE Why an integrative
HOW TO READ
Steps you can take to save a life
LAB TEST
RESULTS
approach works best ANIMAL WELLNESS MAGAZINE
TAKE YOUR
NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR
7
ALLERGIES TIPS FOR
STRESS-FREE GROOMING
POTTY
REMINDERS What to do when adults forget
Rusty
DOG TO
WORK
Canine etiquette and safety tips
HE HAD A HORRIFIC START TO LIFE, BUT HE HAS BLOSSOMED INTO A FRIENDLY STAR WITH AN INSPIRING MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD.
JUNE/JULY 2017 Display until July 12, 2017 VOLUME 19 ISSUE 3
$6.95 USA/Canada
VOLUME 19 ISSUE 3
AnimalWellnessMagazine.com
BONUS INSIDE!
Contents June/July 2017
Features
18 CAN DOGS LEARN BY JUST WATCHING AND LISTENING?
Studies show that dogs are a lot smarter than we might think, and that they can learn words just by observing and listening to human interactions.
22 DOGS IN HOT CARS
Despite publicity about the dangers of leaving dogs in vehicles during hot weather, people still do it. Know how to help if you spot a dog locked in a hot car this summer.
26 WHAT DOES YOUR DOG DO WHEN YOU’RE OUT?
Research has revealed some interesting info about what dogs spend their time doing when their owners aren’t at home.
28 COMMON LAB TESTS
FOR PETS – PART 1
Lab tests are an important part of your dog or cat’s routine checkups. We take a close-up look at some common tests, and what they can tell you about your best friend’s health.
32 HOW TCVM EASES
SEPARATION ANXIETY IN DOGS
Separation anxiety can manifest in many ways -- from non-stop barking to destructive behavior. Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine offers some effective natural solutions
36 NAET HELPS RESOLVE
ALLERGIES IN YOUR PET
Nambudiprad’s Allergy Elimination Technique combines modalities such as acupuncture and kinesiology to get to the root of allergies in dogs and cats.
40 NATURAL HELP FOR
THE ANXIOUS DOG
Anxiety can impact your dog’s quality of life and result in troublesome behaviors. There are many ways to naturally ease your dog’s fears and help him feel calmer.
42 RUSTY RODAS Kindness lifted Rusty Rodas out of a life of
fear and abuse. When he and his “mom” started paying that kindness forward, their mission went viral and garnered the lovable golden nearly a hundred thousand fans.
4
Animal Wellness
42 46 ROAD TRIPS WITH THE RAW-FED DOG
76 7 TIPS FOR SAFE, STRESSFREE DOG GROOMING
Planning to hit the road with your raw-fed dog this summer? Here are some tips and suggestions for packing and storing his food so it stays fresh.
Bathing, brushing and trimming your dog between grooming appointments is a great way to keep his coat in tiptop shape. Check out these tips to keep him looking and feeling good.
48 DOES YOUR DOG HAVE CUSHING’S DISEASE?
80 TAKING YOUR DOG TO WORK?
An integrative treatment plan – including alternative therapies such as diet, herbs and acupuncture -- can effectively treat Cushing’s in many dogs.
58 WHEN DOGS “FORGET”
THEIR HOUSETRAINING
Even the best-behaved dogs may sometimes start messing in the house. Find out what can cause housetraining regression, and how to address the problem.
62 REACTIVE VS. AGGRESSIVE DOGS
It’s important to understand the difference between reactivity and aggression, and to prevent a reactive dog from crossing the threshold into anger and hostility.
70 ACUPRESSURE IN ANIMAL SHELTERS
How acupressure-massage can play a role in easing anxiety, fear and confusion in shelter dogs and cats.
7 suggestions for safety and etiquette in the dogfriendly workplace.
90 WHEN CATS POOP OUTSIDE THE BOX
The “other” litterbox problem – causes and solutions.
92 CAT TREES AND CONDOS
If you’re looking for a way to keep Kitty active and engaged, one of today’s increasingly-imaginative cat trees or condos might be just the ticket.
94 INTERACTIVE PLAY IS THE CAT’S MEOW
Regular play helps keep your cat fit, but because felines prefer toys that move, you need to make her playtime interactive.
94
54
32
Columns
12 Yakkity yak 54 Rewind
65 Business profile –
18
Vets Plus, Inc.
66 Warm & fuzzy 73 Business profile –
doTERRA Essential Oils
74 To the rescue 82 Book reviews 88 Tail end 96 FW book reviews
Departments 8
Editorial
52
Animal Wellness resource guide
60
Product picks
69
The scoop
84
Social media
86
Events calendar
Tips, pet photos, and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine
86
Classifieds
Crafts, laughs, and more! AnimalWellness
87
Marketplace
97 Cat chat 98 Purrfect end
Social media Tips, contests and more! AnimalWellnessMagazine News, events, and tips! @ AW_magazine
June/July 2017
5
Dogs in hot cars By Emily Watson
Despite
WIDESPREAD publicity about the
dangers of leaving dogs in vehicles during HOT weather, people
still do it. Know how to help if you spot a dog locked in a HOT
CAR
this summer. 22
Animal Wellness
Few things are more upsetting than seeing a dog locked in a car on a hot day, especially if he’s in obvious distress. Although animal organizations work to educate people about the dangers of leaving pets in vehicles during hot weather, not everyone is getting the message. In this article, we’ll look at what you can do to save the life of a dog shut in a hot car.
IS IT LEGAL TO BREAK INTO A CAR TO SAVE A DOG? Most of us wouldn’t think twice about smashing a window if we saw a dog suffering inside a locked car. It seems a small price to pay to save his life. But unfortunately, very few regions in North America legally permit citizens to break into vehicles to save animals. That being said, it’s also illegal to place a dog in a distressing situation. During hot weather, whether sunny or cloudy, the temperature inside a closed vehicle will rise to extreme levels within minutes; and because dogs don’t perspire like we do, they can rapidly develop heat stroke and
even die. And despite what some people think, parking in the shade or leaving the windows open a crack doesn’t help. “Even on a day when it’s 70°F outside, the temperature inside a car with all the windows closed can hit 90°F in just ten minutes,” says Natalia Lima of the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF). Let’s take a closer look at the current rules and regulations surrounding this issue.
AMERICAN LAWS “[Many] states do not have ‘hot car’ laws (laws that prohibit leaving unattended animals in vehicles),” states the ALDF website. “In total, 25 states currently have some form of a ‘hot car’ law on the books.” These legislations vary widely, however, and aren’t specific about the length of time or at what temperature a dog can be legally left in
a car. And they don’t grant legal permission for citizens to break and enter a vehicle to save an animal, regardless of whether or not he’s in distress, so it’s important to call 911. “Most states allow a public safety officer to break into the car and rescue an animal if his life is threatened,” says Natalia. Some states, such as California and Florida, do have “Good Samaritan” hot car laws (or proposed laws) that make exceptions under certain conditions, allowing citizens to take action provided they dial 911 first and use only as much force as necessary to get into the vehicle.
Help educate others • ALDF offers a sunshade for your car that bears the message: “Warning: don’t leave dogs in hot cars.” Available at aldf.org/hotcars. • Visit nohotpets.ca to sign the pledge and help raise awareness about the dangers of leaving pets in hot cars. Use the hashtag #NoHotPets on social media to encourage others to join the movement. • Visit humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/pets/hot_car_flyer.pdf for a printable information flyer.
If you do opt to break into the vehicle yourself, the consequences depend on the situation and people involved, as well as your locale. “Most states limit penalties to misdemeanors or civil fines/infractions,” says the ALDF website. In some cases, the owner of the vehicle will drop charges out of gratitude, or for fear of public shaming, so rescuers often find themselves with limited (if any) fines to pay. In other cases, however, you may end up being sued, so don’t just assume you won’t get into trouble for breaking into a car. Continued on page 24.
Signs of
HEATSTROKE in dogs
• Exaggerated panting • Drooling • Wobbly or uncoordinated movement • Staring or glazed expression • Muscle tremors or convulsions • Red tongue and lips • Vomiting
June/July 2017
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