Okanagan Pet Health Magazine Pet 2015

pet

Okanagan

2015

Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine’s

Your Aging FELINE FRIEND

HEALTH MAGAZINE

Pet Health Insurance

P. 21

P. 15

Balancing

Your Pets’ pH P. 11

The Benefits of Feeding Your Dog Raw Food P. 12

Grieving the Loss of a Pet P. 20

Beyond Dog Breath

Complimentary

P. 23

Pet-Friendly Resort Supports Health P.24

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contents

Pets Volume 2 Issue 1

NATURAL HEALTH 8 Caring for Your Dog’s Ear Infections A holistic approach to dealing with those pesky infections.

10 Under the Knife or Brace for Life A leg brace may be a safer alternative to surgery for your dog.

11 Balancing Your Pet’s pH An aspect to health that is just as important to pets as it is to humans.

NUTRITION 12 The Benefits of Feeding Your Dog Raw Food A look at how dogs’ diets have changed over the years.

WELLNESS 14 Beyond Sit and Stay: The Real Basics of Dog Training Step up and be the pack leader your dog needs you to be.

15 Your Aging Feline Friend Signs to watch for in your older cat.

17 The Prescription to Good Health How your family may benefit from having a pet around the house.

18 Unconditional Love Your dog could make a difference by becoming a therapy dog with the St. John Ambulance therapy dog program.

20 Grieving the Loss of a Pet A look at the grieving process for you, your children, and other pets. www.ohwmagazine.com

Your Aging Feline Friend Pg. 13

21 Pet Health Insurance: Affordable and a Potential Lifesaver Why insuring your pet is a smart choice.

23 Beyond Dog Breath Caring for your pets’ teeth is an important part of their regular health routine.

24 Pet-Friendly Resort Supports Health Enjoy a game of golf with your dog at Predator Ridge this summer.

25 Going to the Dogs: UBC Okanagan’s B.A.R.K. Program Helps Students Transition to University Life How dogs are helping students cope with stress and loneliness while they are away at university.

NON-PROFIT GROUPS 26 AlleyCATS Allliance A Penticton-based non-profit does their part to help feral and ophaned cats throughout the Okanagan.

28 Finding the Perfect Pet for You and Your Family at the Shuswap SPCA A day in the life of an animal at the SPCA, and the process involved in adoption.

29 Saving Grace Dog Rescue Find out what this local non-profit group is doing, and how you can help.

IN EVERY ISSUE: 5

Contributors

6

Your Questions Answered

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Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 3

From the OHW Team

OHW Magazine

Okanagan’s Own Health & Wellness Magazine

PUBLISHER LMR PUBLISHING Leanne Christie info@ohwmagazine.com EDITOR Dianne Fowlie editor@ohwmagazine.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Jessica Hamilton jessica@ohwmagazine.com ADVERTISING SALES Megan Vadnais 250.309.1736 megan@ohwmagazine.com Leanne Christie 250.503.7472 info@ohwmagazine.com OHW Magazine published four times a year.

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Publication Agreement #42490022 Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine is owned and operated by LMR Publishing.

Return undeliverable to LMR Publishing, 5816 Tern Place, Vernon, BC V1H 1R2.

Phone: 250.503.7472 Email: info@ohwmagazine.com Website: www.ohwmagazine.com Subscription: For your free copy send your mailing address to info@ ohwmagazine.com or visit the website at www.ohwmagazine.com Printed by: Print Advantage, Richmond, BC Cover: Sam, a young Border Collie, enjoys the sunshine. Border Collies are specifically bred for intelligence and obedience. They are typically extremely energenic, acrobatic, smart and athletic, making them a great competitor in dog sports.

Leanne Christie Owner/Publisher Advertising Sales

Dianne Fowlie Editor

W

elcome to our second annual Okanagan Pet special issue!

After the overwhelming positive response to our inaugural issue in 2014, we couldn’t wait to return with more informative, inspiring, and entertaining articles focusing on our beloved non-human friends.

Under the categories of Your Questions Answered, Natural Health, Nutrition, Wellness, and Non-Profit Groups, we’re thrilled to once again learn from the local experts who have generously shared their knowledge and expertise. As with our first issue, topics are wide-ranging and thoughtprovoking, and we’re confident that our readers will come away with more than a few valuable nuggets and even some “lightbulb” moments!

We look at the use of essential oils to treat ear infections naturally; you can also gain a better understanding of the importance of dental hygiene for dogs and cats. And if you’re considering surgery to address your dog’s mobility issues, you may want to consider the possibility of non-surgical alternatives.

Love your dog but not sure who’s the boss? Learn how to step up and be the pack leader your canine needs you to be – you’ll both be happier for it! Cat lovers can also tap into some great information dealing with signs of illness in their aging feline friend –

Jessica Hamilton Production Manager

Megan Vadnais Distribution Advertising Sales

good to know even before Fluffy gets to that stage of life.

This issue is not just about pet health. Most people would agree on the benefits of having a pet (or two, or more!) around, but perhaps it’s hard to pinpoint what those benefits may be. We have several articles to help you out, covering increased general wellbeing for families as well as the various (and perhaps surprising) contributions of therapy dogs in our communities.

We are fortunate that non-profit animal welfare groups abound here in the Okanagan. We take a look at three of them: AlleyCAT Alliance, the Shuswap branch of the SPCA, and Saving Grace Dog Rescue Society.

For the most part, non-profit groups operate on limited budgets and rely on donations and fundraising to provide dedicated service to animals in need.

If you’re moved by their stories, be sure to support them in whatever way you can.

Speaking of support, please remember to make note of and support our article contributors as well as our advertisers, all of whom make this magazine possible.

Enjoy the read, and as always we encourage your comments, questions and suggestions! n

Stay Connected with OHW Magazine

4 Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine

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Contributors Lori Bamber writes special features about lifestyle, health, personal finance and business for the Globe and Mail. Formerly Chatelaine Magazine’s Money Expert, her articles have also appeared in Alberta Venture and BCBusiness magazines. She loves almost all four-legged creatures but has a particular weakness for softeyed labradoodles.

Michelle Bell, originally from Australia, began training in the food industry as well as hospitality management. Michelle’s love for animals has been with her from a young age. She studied to be an Animal Nutritionist from Sydney University and graduated in 1988, as well as recently doing an upgrading with her previous career with a pet supply company.

Dr. John-Tyler Binfet is an applied developmental psychologist in the Faculty of Education at UBC Okanagan. His research examines the social and emotional wellbeing of students and he regularly works in collaboration with School Districts No. 23 and 67 and the Central Okanagan Foundation.

Dr. Binfet is the director of the B.A.R.K. Dog Therapy program which brings together over 40 dogs, community volunteers, and countless stressed and homesick university students. Dr. Binfet may be reached at johntyler.binfet@ubc.ca.

Moira Drosdovech, DVM, graduated from veterinary college in 1987, worked in Vancouver and then in 1990 moved to Kelowna, where she purchased a vet practice.

In 1997, her practice philosophy took a holistic turn. She sold the Rutland Pet Hospital in 1998 and took a professional course in Veterinary Homeopathy. In 2000, Dr. Drosdovech started Pawsitive Veterinary Care, a practice focused on holistic care, which she is passionate about. For details on her holistic approach, visit www.pawsitivevetcare.com.

Carole Fawcett is a Master Practitioner of Counselling Psychology, and Clinical Hypnotherapist. She is also an Associate Member of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association and the Professional Writers Association of Canada. Carole enjoys writing, reading, kayaking and going for walks with Chloe. Phone/text: 250-550-0316, or visit www.amindfulconnection.com.

Kimberly Gillis began loving animals from a very young age. Throughout the years, she has always been called to help re-home pets which she would with great care. She decided to embrace her passion by founding a dog rescue. This pursuit commenced July 1, 2014 with the usual hurdles.

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Shelly Hand, originally from Alberta, has been in the Shuswap for two years.

After a year working in a doctor’s office in Sicamous, she saw the ad for the Branch Manager position at the SPCA. She has been in the position for only a year, but has seen wonderful things happen, and met incredible people. Shelly has her own dogs that she competes with in agility and obedience. She worked in Alberta for six years at a veterinary clinic as an animal health assistant.

Shelly Korobanik, certified Personal Trainer and Professional Dog Trainer, is the owner of Pooch Partners®, a business that combines her passion for fitness and love of dogs to promote outdoor activities for people with their pooch. In addition to many classes and programs, Pooch Partners® hosts an annual Doggie Duathlon, Trail Hiking series, and Raise the Woof comedy show to raise funds for local animal charities.

For details, visit www.poochpartners.ca or email bark@poochpartners.ca.

Cindy Levington and her husband Phil own Suede Hills Organic Farms. They created pHil’s Happy Pet Supplement for their pet friends. Their passion is to help people and pets Get Alkaline and Get Well! For more information visit their website www.suedehills.com, or call their toll free number 1-877-682-1188.

Tara Miller, MC, has been a journalist/ writer for 15 years and writes lifestyle and mental health articles. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with a psychotherapy practice in Kelowna and West Kelowna and spends her free time with her two kids and her Doberman, Gus.

Britt Mills, DVM, graduated from Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. She has also completed the Veterinary Acupuncture Course, the Canadian Animal Chiropractic Certification Program, as well as other programs in craniosacraltherapy, applied kinesiology, prolotherapy and Tui-Na. Dr. Mills has the ability to combine traditional and alternative medicine to provide the highest level of care possible for her patients. She can be reached at Mills Veterinary Services in Armstrong, at 250-546-8860 or online at www.millsvet.com.

Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 5

Contributors

Local experts answer our readers’ questions...

Dr. Moshe Oz, DVM owns and operates Rose Valley Veterinary Hospital in West Kelowna. Dr. Oz has deep love and affection for animals. It was his childhood dream to become a veterinarian, a dream that he fulfilled when he graduated with honours from KUVM in 2006.

Q

How do I take better photos of my pet?

W Nicole Wilks, from Winnipeg, has lived in the Okanagan for over ten years. She enjoys hiking, yoga, spending time with her daughter and her dogs. Passionate about animal welfare, Nicole is active in the dog rescue community.

hen I tell people that I am a pet photographer, very often I get a response like, “I wish I had photos taken of old so-and-so before he passed—he was so special.” The Internet is awash with cell phone snaps of people’s pets—we are photographing them more than ever and though the best intentions are there, not every snapshot captures the true essence of your pet. I always suggest having professional portraits taken of your furry friends, but if you don’t have the means to hire a professional pet photographer and want to give it a try yourself, here are six tips that may help you get some shots you’ll treasure forever.

Shooting tips 1. Get Low: Bring yourself and your camera down to your pet’s level. This makes it easier to capture their facial expressions. If you use a DSLR camera, make sure you have a transparent or UV filter on your lens; it’s going to get covered with nose prints and licks! Kneepads are also quite helpful when shooting like this.

2. Talk: Don’t call your pet’s name. If you do this, they are likely to run towards you, creating a tricky shooting situation, and more nose prints on your lens! Instead, ask a lot of questions and have a conversation—use words that they recognize, but won’t summon them. Try words like ball, supper, walk, treat, or baby. Whichever words you use with your pet on a daily basis will likely get a head tilt or at least perked ears!

December van den Berg, President of AlleyCATS Alliance, and Territory Manager with Petsecure Pet Health Insurance, has a passion for rescuing cats, and officially started AlleyCATS Alliance in 2012. She currently resides in Penticton with a houseful of dogs and cats, as well as her husband, Paul, and step-children, Marysa and Josh.

Do you have an idea for a story?

Are you a health professional who’s interested in contributing to Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine?

If so contact us at info@ohwmagazine.com 6 Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine

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Your Questions Answered 3. Flash and Sun: If you’re out in the midday sun with your pet (I hope you have water with you!), throw your camera into Program (P) mode and pop up your on-camera flash (on a point-and-shoot, turn your flash mode to ON). You have to use Program or Manual mode and force your flash on because in Auto modes in bright sunlight, your camera will assume that you don’t need it. The truth is, using a flash in daylight will fill in the harsh shadows on your pet’s face caused by the sun and is especially helpful on dark-coated pets. You may find the light to be too harsh; in this case, a small diffuser for your flash will be extremely helpful (pssst, this is a great technique for people, too!).

4. Reward: This one is obvious. Use nutritious treats and lots of praise and scratches to reward good behaviour when photographing your pet, just like any other learned activity. This can also be applied to dogs that are fearful of flash. Use the camera to create a flash pop, and then give them a treat. Flash, treat, flash, treat. Be sure to use lots of praise and scratches. This will cause them to associate flash with good things, instead of bad things like thunder and lightning, and make it easier to get great shots.

5. Action: Photographing pets in action is very difficult, but worth the effort if you nail it. There are many different ways of doing it, depending on the final image you are shooting for. The simplest way would be to throw your camera into Sport mode and let it do the thinking. Or, you could try using Shutter Speed Priority (Tv) mode by setting it to at least 1/250sec and an appropriate ISO speed. You will, depending on the lighting situation and the capabilities of your Autofocus system and lens, achieve frozen action shots and don’t forget to set your drive mode to high speed continuous if you can! Play around with it, your pet will love the attention!

6. Details: A unique way of capturing your pet’s personality is to concentrate on your favourite parts. Get a closeup of a wet nose or curly tail.

A shot of just two front paws in the grass. Maybe your pet has a distinct coat pattern. Sometimes an image can be distinctly your baby without even showing their face.

My best advice: Get creative! Pets can be very willing portrait subjects because you are giving them attention, exercise, and treats! Just be patient. Your pet doesn’t understand what you are trying to do and it can become frustrating if you’re not careful. Make it fun, keep it light, and you’ll both have a great time that will result in awesome shots of your best friend that you can treasure forever!

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Gear suggestions Shooting pet portraits is like shooting any other portrait; you want your shots to be sharp and flattering.

For DSLR Users: Although you can use your everyday kit lens, a good portrait lens will make a huge difference in the quality and clarity of your shots. You can get into a sharp, bright lens inexpensively by going with a 50mm f/1.8. If it’s fun and funky shots you’re going for, then you may want to try getting in close with a wide-angle lens. Again, the wide end (usually around 18mm) on your kit lens will do in a pinch, but if you want to get creative with high quality, have a look at the Tokina 1116mm f/2.8, which sells in Canon and Nikon mounts. Getting great action shots will require more of an investment with a 70200mm lens. This will allow you to bring the action closer and focus quickly and smoothly.

For Point and Shoot Users: All point and shoot cameras these days have great zoom and sport and portrait modes built right in. If you are in the market for a new one, look for one with a “bright” lens and manual override options so you can have more control over your photographs.

One last suggestion: print your photos! Having them hidden away or trapped on a computer defeats the purpose of great photographs. Put them on display! n Caitlyn Chapman is a certified professional photographer based in Kelowna specializing in sassy pet and people portraiture, as well as fashion photography. Caitlyn is known for her ‘PhoDography’: taking a chic approach to photographing dogs (and other pets) in the studio and turning them into works of art for her clients’ homes.

Currently working out of a beautiful new studio in the cultural district, she is available for PhoDography sessions as well as portraiture and boudoir sessions, and special “girls’ night out” parties are available, including hair and makeup with an in-house pro! Caitlyn can be reached through her website at www.caitlynchapman.com.

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Natural Health

Those big floppy ears of mine – so cute, yet so in need of attention.

Caring for Your Dog’s Ear Infections

By Nicole Wilks

I

t’s a beautiful day as I sit on the deck with my three-year-old chocolate lab, Tucker. He basks in the Okanagan sunshine, soaking up some vitamin D. I’ve had my boy since he was eight weeks old. He was the runt of the litter (although at his current 120 pounds you would never know it) and has been relatively healthy so far, other than the odd ear infection and a losing battle eating a bee last year. I have been very fortunate that his care has been really more preventative and maintenance.

Anyone out there with labs, or any breed of dog (pure or mix) with big ol’ floppy ears likely has had their pet

experience an ear infection at least once in their lifetime. Especially water dogs – get Tucker in the lake and good luck getting him out! He dunks his head around like he’s snorkeling, tail wagging while he swims, crying and barking for someone, anyone, to throw his ball. Those floppy ears seem to lock in moisture, which makes an ideal environment for a buildup of wax. Summer becomes a time of ear infection warfare in our house.

Smelly and certainly uncomfortable, if not painful for the animal, those ear infections can be stubborn.

Enter essential oils. To combat this I make sure to clean Tucker’s

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ears regularly with a lavender oil blend to help prevent the onset of infections. Now before you panic and stop reading, hear me out. There are thousands of testimonials on the benefits of using essential oils for a wide range of ailments – physical and emotional, not only on humans but also on horses, dogs, and cats. Just search online for “essential oils for pets” and you will see for yourself what I am talking about! Essential oils offer a wonderfully natural home remedy alternative to not only clean the ears, but also treat them should an ear infection pop up.

Cleaning the ears is quite easy. You www.ohwmagazine.com

Natural Health

only require therapeutic grade lavender oil, a carrier oil (I recommend a V-6 mixing oil which is pure grade vegetable oil), cotton swabs, and cotton pads. To make the cleaning solution it only takes about three to five drops of lavender oil mixed with about a teaspoon of V-6 oil to make enough for about two or three cleanings depending on the size and severity of the dirty ears.

Simply place several drops of the lavender/V-6 blend on the cotton swab or cotton pad and wipe in and around the ear. You will see the surface dirt and wax transfer to the cotton. Make sure that you never insert the cotton swab (or anything else for that matter) too far down into the ear canal as this will not only hurt your pet, but can damage their ear.

For stubborn ears, as Tucker’s can sometimes be, I place a few drops of the oil blend directly into the ear canal and then rub or massage the ears. Tucker usually shakes quite a bit after this as the oil blend helps to break up the wax buildup in the canal and work its way out so I can get at it with my cotton pad. A warning to the queasy folks out there, this may be a smelly process the first few times, especially with an ear infection coming on, but eventually with regular cleaning, this smelliness should go away.

As an added bonus, lavender oil has a calming effect (on both animals and humans) and can be used dabbed on a cotton ball placed outside of the crate of a highly anxious and/or stressed animal to help calm them. At the end of the day you can put drops of lavender oil in your bath or on your pillow case to help you unwind. After all, animal ear cleaning can be quite the event!

There are some important things to remember when you are choosing your oils: • Always seek therapeutic grade high quality essential oils as they are non-toxic to the body, easy to use and perfect for home remedies. NEVER use a synthetic, perfume quality, aromatherapy grade or lesser grade oil. Spend the money and get a good quality oil. It will pay for itself in the long run. Your health and your pet’s health depend on it. www.ohwmagazine.com

• Ensure you have diluted the essential oil with a carrier oil appropriately based on the size of your animal.

ALWAYS use a high quality vegetable-based oil as your carrier oil.

• Never apply the oils directly to the skin or fur. There are exceptions to this rule but until you are comfortable with using the oils this is the safest route to go.

• Research your oil or speak to your distributor for specific information on the oil you are using.

• High quality therapeutic grade oils are potent. Handle carefully and store out of sunlight, in dark glass containers.

• You can mix oils to create your own blends, or purchase pre-made blends. Young Living has a wonderful Animal Scents kit that takes the guesswork out of what oils to blend and provides you with a wellrounded kit of pre-blended oils that will treat a wide variety of ailments. n Disclaimer – This article contain herein is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 9

Natural Health

Under the Knife or

Brace for Life

How to decide on surgical or non-surgical treatments for your dog.

By Britt Mills, DVM

S

ometimes decisions are easy even if the situation isn’t. If your dog is in an accident and fractures a leg or needs stitches, it’s really not much of a decision to have it surgically repaired. Other decisions can be a bit more difficult. If your dog develops a hind limb lameness that worsens with exercise and your vet diagnoses a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament you can be faced with a potentially very expensive surgery and a lot of questions: Are there any non-surgical options? Is there any help I can give my dog with rehabilitation? Is there anything I can give him in the way of food or supplements that will help? In any of these cases, it is really important to carefully gather information and make a decision with your personal situation in mind.

You will usually be given two basic choices: surgery (which includes extended confinement) or extended confinement alone. Recommendations will vary depending on the size and age of your dog and the estimation of the extent of the tear, activity level of the dog and the presence or absence of arthritis. In general, dogs less than 40 pounds recover well without surgery. It may be difficult to justify surgery on an older dog and in some cases surgery is simply not within the budget. Resting a dog for 8-10 weeks after surgery can be a big challenge.

In my practice, we use custom braces on many of these cases with very good results. The dog is fitted with a cast that is used as a template for a custom-made brace that supports the leg and allows him to exercise. Cast fitting is

done on the unsedated dog standing in a normal position.

The benefits are that the dog has it for life, it is cheaper than surgery and it provides a more rapid return to strength.

Most dogs tolerate the brace very well and don’t limp while in the brace. Since many dogs that rupture one cruciate will rupture the other within a few years, fitting a brace to the sound leg can prevent another tear.

Nutritional support can be very helpful to speed healing and reduce arthritis whether or not your dog has had surgery. I recommend omega 3 fatty acids, avocado soy unsaponifiables, and Cartrophen to reduce arthritis development. A balanced whole food, grain-free diet high in antioxidants can help with healing. Prolotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, and physiotherapy can all help maintain normal mobility. The major goal in your treatment decision is the restoration of mobility and the prevention of both pain and osteoarthritis.

In general, large breed, young dogs will have a clear benefit from surgery but if your dog is smaller breed or aging, you may want to explore non-surgical options.

Although it is important to discuss surgical options with your veterinarian, you may want to discuss options for nonsurgical interventions with a veterinarian experienced in non-surgical management. I have found that a combination of braces to stabilize the joint, and acupuncture and spinal manipulation as well as physiotherapy can promote a very successful non-surgical outcome. n

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Nutrition

Balancing Your Pet’s pH Organic and alkalizing food, is it important for our pets too?

By Cindy Levington

A

bsolutely, yes! More and more we hear about pets with people-like health issues: arthritis, bowel issues, cancer, digestive issues, eyesight problems, joint issues, and general aches and pains. In our years of experience, we have found that the pH level of the body, be it yours or your pet’s, is critical. Sounds a bit dramatic, doesn’t it? Nonetheless, it is true.

To keep it simple, the cells of your body and that of your pet require a proper pH, which means that the cells are able to oxygenate and hydrate properly, thus empowering the cells to do their job and ultimately keep us and our pets well. We encourage folks to check the pH of their urine, usually the third pee of the day. For people, the pH should be 7.4 or more. For dogs generally the pH is the same, 7.4. If you are truly interested, it is simple to find out your pet’s pH, just dab a pH test strip where the dog has just urinated. The strip changes colour immediately, and you just match it to the chart that comes with the test strips. For our feline friends, their pH should be more acidic, around 5.5.

No matter what kind of living creature you are, two legged or four legged, you require quality nutrition in order to keep your cells functioning at their peak.

We are not getting the quality nutrition from our food that we did 50 years ago. Needless to say, if we aren’t getting the quality we should from our grocery store shelves, then what our pets are getting is no better. Their food is usually made from the leftover by-products of “human-type food,” or worse. Going organic is a step in the right direction. Nutrient-dense, plantwww.ohwmagazine.com

based foods are assimilated well by most everyone. Even the fussiest of eaters have been won over by nutrient-dense plant foods. The plant kingdom is absolutely amazing and delivers a plethora of tools for human and pet bodies to use to stay well.

We have found that mature alfalfa leaf, which is actually part of the legume family, has a root system that travels down to depths of 100 feet to mine the virgin nutrition that other

plants can’t even get to! That means an alfalfa plant allowed to grow in super mineral-rich soil will be full of the vitamins and minerals, digestive enzymes and amino acids that make for a highly nutritious food for people and pets. The other amazing thing about mature alfalfa leaf is that it has more protein than beef! Just think about it, beef cattle do not eat beef

cattle, they eat alfalfa and grass.

They have big bones, muscles, and teeth. Actually many of the largest mammals on earth are plant eaters: gorillas, horses, elephants, etc.

Olive leaf is another amazing plant; it has been well known for centuries in the Middle East and Europe to have healing qualities. Olive leaf, particularly a northern variety containing the highest Oleuropein, has been known to kill viruses, bacteria, fungus, and yeast! Olive leaf has more antioxidants than green tea without creating an acidic residue in the body. It is also known to be a great immune booster. All this with positive benefits, minus the negative side effects. We have had testimonies of dogs with no fur growing lovely new fur, pets with cancer and other diseases living well, years beyond the diagnosis. Animals that had arthritis are pain free, digestive disorders are resolved, and even dogs known to eat their own poop have been cured simply by getting this alfalfa and olive leaf blend into their diet. You see, once the pet’s body gets the real nutrition it is looking for, it does not seek it out elsewhere, like eating its own poop. Consuming a high quality organic supplement makes all the difference.

We feed the six mouser cats on our farm a dry food, but have found that when we add the nutrient-dense organic alfalfa/olive leaf supplement, they thrive, and they love it.

Health and happiness to you and your loving pet always! As with people, so with our pet friends, you are what you eat! n

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Nutrition

The Benefits of Feeding Your Dog Raw Food

In recent years it has been thought that raw food is bad for your dogs, but is it the healthy choice after all?

By Michelle Bell hy should you feed raw food to your dogs? Dogs are pack animals; they eat as a survival instinct action. The individual dog had to share food with the rest of the pack, so the canine digestive system had to digest large amounts of food as meals could be few and far between.

The canine stomach can digest a great deal of food in a short period.

This enables the animal to eat enough to sustain itself for as long as possible.

As the pancreas of the dog doesn’t contain as many active enzymes as the human pancreas to help the stomach

W

acid break down food, the dog needs to source these active enzymes from the food it eats.

Carnivores have also evolved to absorb almost all of the water content from prey items. This allows a carnivore to be hydrated for long periods without needing a water source.

Dogs do not have the digestive system to cope with grains, which are one of the biggest sources of allergies in dogs. Grains make up the majority of dog food company food sources. Many people find that when they switch their dog to a grain-free diet, the allergies disappear. Bacteria are everywhere,

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but dogs have an amazing immune system specifically designed to eat all manner of bacteria. A healthy, raw-fed dog manages those bacteria without a problem.

E. coli and salmonella are found on raw chicken, but they are found everywhere. The only recorded cases I have seen recorded of dogs dying from E. coli or salmonella were from commercial dog foods, such as dried kibble foods, for which many companies have had recalls where the products had to be taken off the shelves and returned.

It is very important to remember to www.ohwmagazine.com

Nutrition

wash your hands thoroughly after feeding your dog raw food, and even after cutting up meat for your own meals.

Our digestive systems are not quite as robust as our dogs’, so we must protect ourselves.

Choose the best supplied raw whole foods, not highly processed foods. Switching to a balanced raw food diet will be enough to help many pets with skin problems, even though it might take up to 60 days to see complete resolution of symptoms. This is not a miracle cure, just a natural, healthy way of life for your dog.

Feeding your dog chicken necks, turkey necks, or the tips of the chicken wings works as a natural dental floss as well as encouraging your dog to chew and grind with their incisors, which promotes good oral health for your dog.

Marrow stew is another great additive to your dog’s daily diet. Quick and easy, fill a slow cooker with marrow bones, add a little water and cook on low overnight. Chill next day, pull the marrow out of the bones and discard the bones.

Blend stock and marrow and put into containers. Serve with their meals, just a tablespoon once a week. This will help promote a healthy diet as well.

Canines have eaten raw for a whole lot longer than they’ve eaten cooked foods. It’s difficult for us to understand, in the face of this one fact, how anyone, much less thousands of veterinarians, could deny that raw food diets are healthy for dogs.

But people are quick to forget history, especially events that occurred more than 50 years ago. Before the commercial pet food industry, people fed dogs raw meaty bones and other food scraps. By the late 1960s dog owners could enjoy the convenience of feeding their pets dry or canned food, though many still gave raw bones and other household scraps. Suddenly the world converted to commercial foods when they noticed that veterinarians were suggesting commercially made diets for dogs. A raw diet is easier for the dog to digest. Many people have found that once they have put their pets on a raw diet, their allergies disappear and their coat and bowel habits improve.

We all have to evaluate what is actually better for our pets’ longevity as well as their health requirements. Raw food has many benefits. We all need to do what is right for www.ohwmagazine.com

our pets in the long run, and what they really require is a natural diet without grains, wheat, soy, or corn.

If we can just improve their diets as much as we have improved our diets there would be a vast improvement in all animals’ health.

My dogs eat both: raw for three days, and cooked for four days out of the week.

Hopefully this information helps you make an informed and healthy choice for your animal. n

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Wellness

Beyond Sit and Stay: The Real Basics of Dog Training Tips for taking the lead with your dog’s training.

By Tara Miller

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ne of the first things people investigate when they get a dog, whether as a puppy or older rescue, is obedience training. Very quickly what new owners discover is the wide array of trainers and methods available to them. The industry has evolved dramatically in the past few decades including new methods of training to match new understandings in dog behaviour. This new and competitive era yields a confusing buffet of training options and professional dog trainers to choose from.

Though the industry of dog ownership has changed, dogs themselves have not changed. The evolution of training has really stemmed from the changes in society and family dynamics.

Dogs have become humanized with the modern way of dog ownership. Families have become less cohesive, less structured and in a wide variety of living arrangements.

An abundance of bylaws that restrict our inclusion of our dogs into our daily life and the rising cost of pet ownership means dogs are often left home for extended periods of time and sometimes lacking the stability they thrive in from their pack. Dogs are often displaced or seen as disposable, giving rise to the need for rescues and re-homing. The rise of anxiety and behavioural issues in response to the changing environments we are bringing our dogs into creates the need for more methods to rebalance the dog and its pack.

Reuniting the pack, creating bonding with structure and training basics with calm leadership, are the foundational skills that can be found in training programs.

Take the Lead.

Help create active harmony within the family pack, focusing on mental stimulation, exercise, and bonding from puppy stages to adulthood. As pack animals, dogs are happiest when they know their order in the pack and recognize their owner as leaders. The success in training also comes with training the owners to be the best leaders for their dog.

Many common dog behaviour or aggression issues stem from a dysregulated pack environment. When there is a strong leader in the pack, dogs are naturally submissive.

When there isn’t, dogs can become stressed and start exhibiting behaviours of fear, aggression, nervousness, and instability.

Train Early and Often. Beyond “Sit.” Training reinforces that leadership role, building confidence in the owner as well as the dog. Puppies can start classes as early as 10 weeks old with a class that ideally contains a blend of indoor and outdoor training experiences with focus on bonding, physical and mental stimulation with the basics of obedience. Early socialization and boundary setting is important for a well rounded, well balanced dog.

For every new dog you adopt into your family, you want to establish that bond with training with the same elements in place.

Behaviour is conditioned through repetition and reward.

As you repeat and reward behaviour you accomplish multiple outcomes with your dog. Just as we work for reward (e.g. our paycheque), dogs learn through the work and reward system. Treats or kibble is your dog’s currency, as is praise.

Don’t forget to play! Games like hide and seek with your puppy or new dog have purposeful play that helps keep your dog focused on you and the other pack members while reinforcing obedience basics in a way that is fun for the whole family.

Keep Going.

Often after the puppy classes are completed, the learning stops. It is important for your dog to have continuing education, just as it is for your trainer to have theirs. While the fundamentals of sit and stay are important basics in training, these aren’t skills that they need in their natural

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Wellness environment. The true measure of good training with a purpose can really be seen if your dog can sit, stay, come, and do tricks around a dozen other dogs or 60 people or in new environments.

This is one of the reasons that behaviour and adventure classes are held in a variety of environments. Often location changes weekly, is a variety of in and outdoors, includes pet-friendly businesses and off-leash games. Dogs are trained in real life environments so that the commands we teach them are followed anywhere.

Continuing to reinforce the foundational training already received, regular training gives you the opportunity to learn new ways to work with your dog’s evolving behaviours. The benefits of continuing education for you and your dog exist as well in the continued physical and mental stimulation and ability for them to maintain good manners in unfamiliar environments with multiple distractions.

If at First You Don’t Succeed… Try Something New. Dog behaviour is not a one size fits all approach, and many dog owners accept undesirable behaviours in their dogs if one method hasn’t worked. With the increased knowledge of dog behaviours and a multitude of training methods to choose from, a good trainer can offer more than one solution to your dog’s favourite mischief.

One essential skill is in off-leash work and recall. Many dogs are restricted to on-leash activities only because they get distracted and run off to either chase, play, or challenge another dog.

For dogs where this is a challenge due to temperament or breed disposition, it may be recommend that the owners train on how to use a remote collar.

This hands-free method of training, with professional guidance, can be effective at a handful of behaviours that your dog might exhibit as soon as you are out of arm’s length.

Be flexible and perseverant. Clicker training, feeding methods/timing/ restriction, and other evolving modalities extracted from the wealth of knowledge shared by trainers around the world mean that, with a little patience, most undesirable behaviours can be eliminated. n www.ohwmagazine.com

Your Aging Feline Friend What is your elderly cat hiding from you?

By Moira Drosdovech, DVM

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nfortunately, just as we two-legged creatures age, so do our fourlegged furry feline friends. We wish they wouldn’t and it is true that most cats seem to age very gracefully, not really appearing to be old until quite suddenly and well into their teens. But age they do and one thing that has become apparent to me over the past 28 years of practising veterinary medicine on small animals is that cats can hide their health issues from their parents rather well, almost covertly as a matter of fact.

In this article I hope to give you information on how long cats usually live in my experience, what is normal aging and what is not, what signs to look for that indicate things are not well, what kinds of supplements work, even what to feed your aging cat. Armed with this information, you can better assess your cats and bring them in to the veterinarian when the signals are there that all is not well.

Routinely I see cats living to their late teens and even early 20s. About four months ago, I put to sleep a 26-year-old cat. Wow! That was a bit unusual. If they are strictly indoor, cats seem to live longer as they aren’t exposed to all of the hazards that the outdoors offers such as being hit by a car, attacked by a dog, stolen by a coyote, owl or eagle, poisoned, etc. The average age for cats is 12-15. Cats allowed outdoors have an average age of four, unhappily.

So let’s say we have a cat, whether indoor or outdoor, that has avoided all of the pitfalls of accident or injury and is now about 9-10 years old. Around this point, I tell my cat owners that cats should basically eat the same, drink the same, weigh the same and be able to jump and move the same from month to month. If anything changes in those departments with your cat, an alert should go off in your mind.

Changes in weight may be difficult to discern, but you can sure tell if their appetite or thirst has increased or decreased. Cats that normally don’t ask Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 15

Wellness for water may be seen drinking from anything they can find. A cat on a dry food diet should not drink more than 0.5 to 0.75 cups of water daily. Drinking over a cup a day is cause for concern and could be a sign of kidney disease or diabetes for starters. Cats on a moist food diet, whether canned or raw, may only drink 1-2 tablespoons. of water and that is normal for these descendants of desert-dwelling species.

Lower appetite can be a sign of many chronic health issues, but commonly would be found with dental disease, advanced kidney disease, cancers, and liver problems to name a few. What about when your feline can’t feast enough? Every two minutes asking you for food! That may be either diabetes, more common in the 8-to-10-year-old cats, or possibly hyperthyroidism, a common problem in cats well into their teens, sometimes earlier. Veterinarians prefer seeing cats with changes in their usual patterns early on in the process, so don’t delay.

The point is, any change in appetite, thirst, weight, or mobility should be reason for a visit to the vet. Cats need an annual visit just like you and me.

Of particular importance is a weigh-in and a dental check, the latter of which can show what that stealthy little feline has been hiding from you! Dental disease is very prevalent in cats and, my, they do suffer with it quietly. We routinely see cats with horrible teeth and gums that may or may not still be eating, but are in a great deal of pain and discomfort on a daily basis. If you haven’t checked your cat’s teeth lately, now is a good time.

Older cats may suffer quietly with dental disease. It is important to check your cat’s teeth regularly, any irregularities should be discussed with your veterinarian.

Supplements are not always the easiest thing to give to a feisty feline, but there are some that are relatively simple and others that are downright crazy easy. One that we have been using extensively of late in cats with chronic kidney disease is injections of Glutathione, the master antioxidant produced by mammals by the liver which declines with age. It really has made quite a difference in the patients we have been using it on and can be administered at home by owners. I have no helpful studies on this product to show you, only experience, but it has proven an invaluable tool.

Also commonly recommended by me for all older pets is Rejeneril, an

antioxidant energy supplement that doesn’t taste bad and an average cat only needs two drops daily. How easy is that?

What if your cat isn’t jumping up on the bed anymore? Quite likely they have some issues with their spine. I have seen numerous cats go back to jumping after some chiropractic treatments and some laser thrown in for good measure. Wonderful results.

The type and severity of the condition your cat is diagnosed with will determine what other treatments are applied, but homeopathy, herbs, vitamins, laser, chiropractic, and joint supplements are all on the short list of things that can be used. If you want your cat to once again be a spring chicken, then get them in for a checkup and some geriatric care.

Point of Interest: A group of cats is referred to as a “clowder” or a “glaring.” n *Individual articles are based upon opinions of the respective author and are not intended to replace a one-to-one relationship with a qualified pet health care professional nor as medical advice.

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Wellness

The Prescription to Good Health

The health benefits of having a pet.

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805 Kal Lake Rd. Vernon, BC V1T 6V4

Dr. Herbert Mehl Dr. Susan Young

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Dr. David Lemiski Dr. Miles Latwat

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Treating pets as family since 1964

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day activities while seizure dogs help warn of oncoming seizures and other therapy dogs assist people dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxietyrelated illnesses.

In addition to therapy dogs, therapy horses have proven to be beneficial for calming and soothing children with autism and Asperger’s. The rhythmic motion of riding a horse can help an autistic child to focus on the movement which is slow, deliberate, and relaxing. In addition to developing improved motor skills, tactile senses are stimulated, which can help draw a child out, stimulate development of their verbal communication skills, as well as interest in investigating other physical objects. It may begin with

VET

By Shelly Korobanik ave you ever sat in a quiet room and just watched fish swimming in an aquarium? Or relaxed on the sofa with a purring cat sleeping on your chest, or pet your pooch’s head resting on your lap? What about listening to singing birds or going out horseback riding? All of these experiences can provide an incredible sense of serenity and calmness—something we all can use a little more of in today’s crazy world! Whether it’s reducing one’s anxiety, blood pressure or heart rate by creating an environment of calmness, or dogs that can detect types of illness, there is no denying the health benefits of interacting with an animal.

There has been relatively little research done in this area; however, you don’t have to be a scientist to realize the immediate stress reduction that occurs when you have had a hard day at work, or an argument with a spouse or friend, and return home to be welcomed by your tail-wagging pooch—you can’t help but smile! In addition to being a friendly companion to come home to, dogs have been known to be good for one’s health in a number of areas.

They can be trained to detect various kinds of cancers, serve as an alert to low blood sugar levels in diabetics, and can warn those with allergies of any allergens in an area.

The rate of eczema has been shown to be lower among children who lived with a family dog, and other studies have found that people with a dog in their life walked almost double the amount of time per week than those without a dog.

Research has shown reduced blood pressure and heart rates when one spends time with therapy animals, and has found that dogs can encourage mobility, interpersonal contact and socialization, thereby reducing feelings of loneliness, especially among the elderly or those with physical disabilities. It is not surprising that residential homes for the aged often have a resident dog, cat and/or birds, and that hospice and hospital facilities have adopted therapy dog or cat programs for their patients. Studies have found reduced pain ratings and improvements in mood and comfort levels, when patients are with a therapy animal, and preliminary findings show reduced stress and better moods are experienced by health care professionals within as little as five minutes of interaction with a therapy animal.

The use of specially trained therapy dogs is widespread; seeing eye dogs assist the blind navigate their day-to-

P: 250.542.9707 F: 250.542.1772 www.vernonvetclinic.com

N ARY CL

Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 5:30 pm l Sat 8:00 am - 1:00 pm For After Hours Service Phone 250.542.9707

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Wellness making eye contact with the animal first, then with other people. This new-found self-confidence can increase a child’s desire to learn additional skills away from the riding ring, and improve their overall mood to a more positive one.

I am not a scientist, researcher, physician, or psychiatrist, but I know from my own life the benefits I have experienced, and observed others experience through relationships with animals. As a child I recall sharing my sandwiches and conversation with our family dog on the doorstep.

Whether I was sad or mad, after talking with our dog I always had a smile on my face and felt better! I also remember the valuable life lessons learned from my pet goldfish named Bubbles as a youngster.

Bubbles taught me the importance of being dependable and responsible—if I didn’t feed him and change his water, no one else would! When Bubbles passed away, I learned how to cope with loss, and yes, there was a funeral with a matchbox casket.

Throughout my life I have been privileged to benefit from the soothing benefits from a purring cat, the positive energy that a choir of birds provides at the start of every day, the serenity and freedom that can be experienced during a horseback ride, and the sheer joy of exercising in the great outdoors with my dogs. During my three month home recovery from a brain aneurysm, my elderly collie was by my side and was my incentive to get out and active as my recovery progressed. As my parents aged and their health deteriorated, they always smiled when they pet the dog and I knew in the moment they were happy and content regardless of everything else life had thrown at them.

Animals can help us to develop selfconfidence and coping skills, something we all need to get through whatever life has to throw at us. They can provide a serenity and calmness to the pressures of our daily lives and unforeseen events that nothing else can compare to. They can encourage interaction with others, improve social skills, motivate one to exercise, and reduce stress and anxiety—all of which plays a role in being mentally and physically healthy throughout one’s lifetime.

My prescription for a happy and healthy life will always include animals. Whether it’s a bird, cat, dog, horse, ant farm, fish or potbellied pig, never underestimate the amazing benefits that interacting with these creatures can have on our health, from childhood through to our senior years. n

Unconditional Love How you and your dog can make a difference in the lives of others by joining the St. John Ambulance therapy dog program.

Dog handler Nicole Gough with Duke, a Ridgeback, visiting Lamton House.

By Carole Fawcett, MPCP, MTC, CHt

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anny and Gail are a team of unconditional love in action.

Gail has post-traumatic stress disorder and Danny is her PTSD service dog who assists her in many ways. He is her loving motivational companion and provides emotional support.

“Danny is often the catalyst to start conversations with others and I love it when this happens, because then I can educate people about the importance of a dog who provides emotional support” says Gail.

Gail is the first person in BC to have a certified PTSD dog and she says it has made a positive difference in her life. “It has made things happen that wouldn’t necessarily have happened without him, and he is part of my medical treatment.” Her first PTSD dog was Sadie, and they worked together beginning in 2008, but Sadie has since retired and lives a happy life with another family.

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Gail’s dog Danny is allowed to go into all public places, and carries his certification with him at all times when he is working.

Danny is a service dog, trained to be aware of Gail’s emotional needs and she loves him very much.

The difference between service dogs and therapy dogs is that a therapy dog does not share the same public access rights as service dogs. Therapy dogs usually work for a handler who does not have a disability.

In early hunter-gatherer societies it was thought that animals might have supernatural powers or spirits to assist with healing. But it wasn’t until 18th century England that animal assisted therapy was first used to help those with mental illness.

The founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, was one of the first to recognize the therapeutic value of animals. www.ohwmagazine.com

Wellness Sigmund Freud also used his dog, Jofi in the early days of psychoanalysis and he found it helped his clients to relax and open up more easily.

It was Dr Boris Levinson who accidentally discovered pet therapy with children. He left his dog alone in his therapy room with a child and when he returned, he found the child talking to the dog in a way that she had resisted doing with Dr. Levinson.

Jo-Ann Johnston is the therapy dog unit facilitator for St. John Ambulance in Vernon. When she started with the program in 1999, there were five dogs and handlers and now there are 45-50 dog handlers in Vernon, Armstrong, Enderby, Revelstoke, and Oyama.

Jo-Ann’s work was acknowledged when she was given the Queen’s Jubilee Medal at Government House in Victoria in 2012.

St. John Ambulance therapy dogs and their handlers visit a variety of facilities to bring love and caring to others.

They visit hospitals, hospice houses, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, schools, and many other places boosting morale and helping to relax those they visit. They frequently sense where their unconditional love is required and intuitively head to the person who needs it most. They naturally provide a calm, upbeat energy to those they meet.

To become a member of this wonderful group you can apply to St. John Ambulance by calling your local branch. The first step is to attend an orientation and fill out an application, and then you will be asked to attend an evaluation with your dog, to assess the temperament of the dog in a variety of situations.

Once you and your dog have met these requirements, you become a St. John Ambulance therapy dog volunteer.

Your local facilitator will put you in touch with a facility and may attend with you for a couple of visits. Some facilities may require that you attend their orientation.

In both Canada and the United States, there are several prisons that operate programs that give inmates the opportunity to help to rehabilitate dogs that were abandoned, for the specific purpose of working with people with disabilities. It empowers all three groups. Inmates learn a new skill as well as learning to treat animals with love and kindness, receiving unconditional love in return.

Service dogs are lovingly trained and provided with positive kind attention and the person with a disability benefits by having a well-trained nonjudgmental, reliable companion to assist them in their daily lives.

One of the prison facilities that utilize dogs in British Columbia is the Burnaby Corrections Centre for Women.

They offer a business program for up to 14 women where they learn how to operate a 10-run boarding, grooming, and training facility. It helps the inmates build their self-esteem, restores their hope, provides them with a skill, plus they experience the unconditional love of an animal.

There is no doubt that animals play an important www.ohwmagazine.com

psychological role in our lives. I believe that dogs, like humans, feel good when they can help someone to feel better. Therapy dogs can help to lower blood pressure, relieve anxiety and encourage communication. It can be magical to watch them work their mojo.

It is not only dogs who make such a powerful contribution.

Horses (riding for the disabled), cats, birds, and many other animals have also played significant roles in our lives.

I have taken my dog Chloe to work at my counselling practice and have witnessed her change the clients’ ability to share more openly. Like a lot of therapy dogs, she exudes love and acceptance and is a very gentle little soul.

If you have a dog you believe would be suitable to work as a therapy dog, consider joining the St. John Ambulance dog therapy program. It will make a difference in someone’s life, including yours. n Resources: • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal-assisted_therapy • http://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/prison-pet-partnershipprogram/273 • Jo-Ann Johnston, SSStJ, Therapy Dog Unit Facilitator 250-542-6369 (H) • http://servicedog.ca/programs/therapy-dogs

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Wellness

Grieving the Loss of a Pet Understanding the emotions associated with loss will better prepare you to manage your grief and help others, including surviving pets, who are sharing the loss.

By Dianne Fowlie (adapted with permission from information provided by Lindsey Veterinary Hospital)

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fter your animal has died or been lost, it is natural and normal to feel grief and sorrow. There are many signs of grief, but not everyone experiences them in the same order. You may experience denial, anger, guilt, depression, acceptance, and resolution.

Your first reaction may be denial that the animal has died.

Often, the more sudden the death, the more difficult the loss is to accept. Anger and guilt often follow denial. Anger can be directed toward people you normally love and respect, including your family and your veterinarian. You may feel guilt or blame others for not recognizing the illness earlier, for not doing something sooner, for not being able to afford other types of treatment, or for being careless and allowing the animal to be injured. Depression is the period when you usually feel the greatest sense of loss and when special assistance may be helpful. If you or a family member cannot resolve feelings of grief and sorrow, you may want to talk to someone who is trained to understand the grieving process. Contact the C.A.R.E. Pet Loss Helpline (1-877-394-2273), Iams Pet Loss Support Center (1-888332-7738) or a counsellor in your area. Eventually, you will come to terms with your feelings and begin to resolve and accept your animal’s death.

Whether the loss is animal or human, grieving is a personal process. If you understand that your reactions are normal, you will be better prepared to cope with your own feelings and to help others face theirs. Well-meaning family and friends may not realize how important your animal was to you or comprehend the intensity of your grief. Comments they make may seem cruel and uncaring. Be honest with yourself and others about how you feel.

It is important for your children to see and experience your grieving process. Being truthful with your children will also aid in healing (depending on your child’s age, of course). If your pet was, or is going to be, euthanized, avoid

using phrases such as “put to sleep,” “is very sick,” or “is going away.” These can be difficult concepts for children to understand. “We are helping Fluffy to die because we love her very much and do not want her to suffer” is a more truthful and less ambiguous statement.

Help children to understand that death is part of the life cycle for all creatures. Share memories with them of good times you all spent with your pet. Ask your children how they would like to memorialize their animal friend.

For a list of helpful books for adults and children, visit http://lindseyvet.com/pet-information/pet-loss/grief.html.

THE GRIEVING PET Pets exhibit behaviour that indicates they also grieve the loss of a loved one, be it human or another animal.

Noticeable symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite, anxiety or a change in temperament. A very active, playful pet may suddenly become quiet and withdrawn. He may sit by the door or in the window, expecting the loved one to come home.

To help a pet through the grieving process, try to keep her regular routine as normal as possible. Giving attention during any behaviour will help to reinforce it, so be sure you are not reinforcing a behaviour that you don’t like. Give attention when your dog is engaging in behaviours that you do like, such as resting quietly or watching the birds.

If the loss is another pet, you may wonder about getting a replacement as soon as possible so the survivor won’t be lonely. This is a personal choice but there are a few things to consider. If introduced too soon, the grieving pet may not adapt easily to a newcomer in the household. Give your pet time for the emotional wounds to heal.

When you and your pet are ready for an addition to the family, it may be best to bring a kitten or puppy home rather than an adult pet. Although not true of every animal, some

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Wellness will be more accepting of a young companion.

WHEN IT’S TIME Euthanasia literally means an “easy and painless death.” Pet owners who must make this difficult decision often feel anxiety and guilt, but when a pet has little hope of recovery, the question “When is it time?” becomes important.

Quality of life greatly influences the decision concerning euthanasia.

Certainly, quality of life is a personal judgment; you know your pet better than anyone else. And while your veterinarian can guide you with objective information and even provide a personal perspective of a disease condition, the final decision rests with you. The following points may help you gauge your pet’s quality of life: • Pets with chronic or incurable diseases that are given proper medication and care should be able to eat, drink and sleep comfortably without shortness of breath.

• Your pet should act interested in what’s going on around him, be able to perform mild exercise and have control of his urine and bowel movements (unless the principal disease affects one of these organ systems).

• Even your ill pet should appear comfortable and free of moderate to severe pain. Of course, one should expect the natural ups and downs that attend most chronic disease conditions. You need to determine what balance is acceptable.

• If your pet is taking medication for a disease condition, sometimes the medicine, not the disease, makes a pet appear more ill; adjusting the dose or changing the medicine can have a positive effect.

Of course, some diseases are very difficult, expensive or time-consuming to treat. Discuss the overall situation with your veterinarian rather than allowing your pet to suffer without proper medical care.

Pet loss by natural causes, trauma or euthanasia is always difficult.

If you have specific questions about euthanasia or you would like more information about pet loss support groups, please contact your veterinarian. n

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Pet Health Insurance: Affordable and a Potential Lifesaver When health issues surface, experience the peace of mind that comes from knowing your pet friend is covered.

Yubu as a kitten investigating a black lab.

By December van den Berg

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ubu and I have been best pals since 2005 when I was the lucky foster mum who got to raise him up after he was found all alone in a pile of dirt, mere days old. I bottle fed him and it quickly became apparent to me that Yubu was not your average kitten. He was extraordinary. I was mad about him. Thus began a decade-long love affair of the most cuddly kind.

Two years ago I’d never even heard the words “pet health insurance,” much less considered purchasing it, but after becoming a Territory Manager for Petsecure in 2013, I quickly became a huge advocate. The reason is simple: Every day I get to see how having pet insurance actually saves pets’ lives.

It was shortly after I began my new career that I signed Yubu up for pet insurance. Boy, was I ever glad I did, when only about four months later I noticed he started exhibiting some pretty strange symptoms. He was losing hair at an alarming rate, and walking very strangely as if his back legs weren’t working properly anymore. My sweet boy was diagnosed with diabetes! Even though I felt sad for him, I felt strangely excited knowing it would be covered!

All in all, the testing process, recheck appointments, glucose tests and adjustments would probably have put me about $1,500 in debt, but my 80 percent coverage meant that I only ended up paying about $200 to $300, and that really helped. I’m happy to say Yubu recovered completely from his Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 21

Wellness weak leg syndrome. He’s healthy and hairy and well, and I expect to enjoy his company in my life for many more years.

I’m sure you’ve heard the stories, and there are many, about people who wished they’d had pet health insurance. How they were planning to get it for their large breed dog but they procrastinated a little too long, and the next thing they knew their pet was experiencing major health concerns.

They had to shell out thousands of dollars to their vet, or worse, they couldn’t afford the vet bills and couldn’t save their beloved friend. These tragedies are all too common, and are great testaments to the awesome power of pet health insurance. But they are avoidable.

I personally prefer the stories about the ones who had insurance, the ones whose lives were saved, and at little expense and minimal stress to their owners. These dogs and cats are the reason I am so excited about promoting pet health insurance as a key part of responsible pet ownership, and why I am so thrilled to have it for my own sweet boy.

Pet health insurance originated in Europe and was brought into Canada over 25 years ago. Currently there are areas of Europe where more than HALF of all owned animals have pet health insurance. I’ve been told by more than one European Canadian that when you acquire a pet in the UK, the automatic next step is to get insurance. It’s just what you do. In Canada the number of insured pets is still only around 2 percent, but it is growing steadily year over year as people begin to tune in to its value, and as we humans as a whole begin to place more value on the precious lives of our furry friends.

You may still be of the mindset that pet health insurance is costly and unaffordable, but this simply is not true. You can sign up to have excellent, basic coverage with a low deductible option and still experience the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are all taken care of.

Some of the most commonly claimed conditions are ear infections, skin allergies, and lumps and bumps. I almost have to laugh when I read that list because I am one of those people who was planning to get insurance for my lemon-dog Cyrus, a 5-year-old

Yubu now healthy and well after suffering weak leg syndrome brought on by diabetes.

Luckily insurance covered some of the costs

purebred Siberian Husky. I never did sign him up and now he suffers most of the conditions I just listed. I, in turn, suffer from chronic Empty Wallet-itis.

And remember, insurance is not just for dogs, another common misconception.

A blocked urethra in a male cat is extremely common and treatment can

Cyrus, a Siberian Husky, suffers from many ailments but is uninsured thus causing high vet bills

22 Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine

quickly add up to hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

I could go on all day about the many fascinating details of pet health insurance, but here are a few key points to get you started: 1. Get your pet signed up while they are still young: Pre-existing conditions are any conditions that occur prior to getting your pet insured (and applicable waiting periods). No companies will cover pre-existing conditions so as a rule, sooner is better.

2. Do your homework: Read the fine print and the policy wordings.

Fancy bells and whistles are meaningless if there isn’t a quality product and service to back them up.

3. Knowledge is power: Get a feel for their customer service. Make sure there are real, knowledgeable, animal-loving people at the other end of the line. They should be there to help.

4. Go online for a free quote: You may be pleasantly surprised to find there are affordable, flexible options to fit your budget. Pet health insurance should enhance your life, not add strain to it.

For more information about Petsecure and pet health insurance call 1-800268-1169 or visit http://go.petsecure. com/okhw www.ohwmagazine.com

Wellness

Beyond Dog Breath

Not just an oral health concern, dental disease can lead to other, potentially life-threatening, conditions.

By Moshe Oz, DVM

D

ental hygiene is one of, if not THE most important aspect of veterinary preventative medicine.

Oral hygiene has both medical and cosmetic significance. Being aware and proactive about your pet’s oral hygiene can positively influence your pet’s health and longevity.

We humans brush our teeth at least twice a day in order to keep them healthy. Dogs and cats have teeth just like we do, and the same conditions that lead to our tooth and gum problems also occur in our pet’s mouth. Oral hygiene has perhaps been the most neglected aspect of pet health care.

Research shows that 90 percent of pets over two years of age have significant mouth disease, and 50 percent of them require immediate attention. Small breed dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers, Toy Poodles, etc. are more prone to tartar buildup. Dental disease in pets goes beyond bad breath. Your pet can also be affected by serious oral health threats that can have an impact on more than just its mouth.

When a dog eats, food, saliva, and bacteria will stick to its teeth.

This combination of food, saliva and bacteria is called plaque. The bacteria in plaque produce toxins, which cause inflammation and breakdown of the gums and tissue surrounding the teeth.

Inflammation of the gum around the teeth is called gingivitis. When plaque stays on the teeth for long enough, it will harden and turn into tartar also known as calculus. Tartar allows more bacteria and debris to accumulate, which makes inflammation of the gums worse.

If this process goes unchecked, the supporting structures of the tooth degenerate. This process is known as periodontal disease. The gums become separated from the tooth (periodontal pockets) a condition, which might lead to tooth abscess (formation of a pocket of pus around the tooth’s root) and eventually to loss of the tooth. Dental diseases cause pain and discomfort, bad breath, and bleeding from the gums.

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The dental disease significance goes way beyond the oral health. A pet with an advanced oral disease is at risk of developing multiple medical problems because of shifting of the bacteria from the mouth to various internal organs through the bloodstream. Severe dental disease can lead to life-threatening conditions. The main target organs at

Top: Pre dental cleaning Bottom: Post dental cleaning

risk are the lungs, heart, kidney, and joint infections.

So what can you do to maintain good oral health of your pet? The best way to prevent tartar accumulation and gingivitis is daily brushing. You can use a baby toothbrush but I personally find that the easiest is to use a pet oriented toothbrush that you can wear on your finger. You should always use pet toothpaste, not human toothpastes,

salt, or baking soda. Toothpaste’s foaming action is irritating and all of these substances can cause illness in your pet if swallowed.

Pets that are getting fed by canned food are more prone for developing dental diseases.

In general, feeding your pet a commercial dry food is better when it comes to dental health and delaying dental plaque formation. Furthermore, certain premium pet food companies make special dental diet foods. These diets come in the form of kibbles. The way the kibbles are made preserves the teeth, and the dental plaque formation is much slower. I recommend these dental diets, as a primary maintenance diet, for any healthy pets that do not require any other special diet for a different medical issue.

Many people still believe in giving their dog cow’s bones to chew on.

The concept that chewing on the bone cleans the teeth may be true; however, the risk of tooth fractures is not worth the potential benefit.

The best way to treat gingivitis and plaque accumulation is with a professional veterinary cleaning. This procedure requires general anesthesia.

While your pet is under anesthesia, the teeth are cleaned and polished in the same manner that a human dentist cleans and polishes people’s teeth.

The teeth are cleaned both above and below the gum line. In some cases, where there is an abscess or severe infection under or around the tooth root, a tooth may need to be extracted.

Most dogs do very well after having teeth pulled. A great many of them can even continue to eat dry food after losing a large number of teeth.

Providing your pet with good oral care is extremely important to its health. Unfortunately some pets are reluctant to cooperate so it can can be very challenging. An annual oral exam is recommended. Your veterinarian will assess the teeth condition and will consult you about specific ways to improve your own pet’s oral hygiene. n

Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 23

Wellness

Pet-friendly Resort Supports Health

Looking for an easier way to improve your health, reduce chronic disease risk and extend your life expectancy? Try golfing with your dog at Predator Ridge Resort this summer.

By Lori Bamber

I

n Being Mortal, physician Atul Gawande tells the remarkable story of a nursing home that reduced drug costs (compared to those of similar facilities) by 38 percent over a period of two years. Deaths fell by 15 percent.

How was this miracle achieved? With some help from staff, 80 disabled residents in this care facility in Upstate New York began caring for two dogs, four cats and about 100 parakeets.

Throughout life, pets have a profound effect on our health. Children with a dog in their home develop fewer allergies. Pet owners of all ages report higher levels of wellbeing, including greater self-esteem and conscientiousness. Petting a dog or cat reduces heart rate and blood pressure, potentially reducing cardiovascular disease risk, and dog owners are much more likely to get the recommended amount of daily exercise, which significantly lowers the risk of heart disease, many types of cancer and Type 2 diabetes.

But pets haven’t always been welcome outside the

home, so owning a pet could limit vacation, travel and leisure options.

It’s a common conundrum, especially for active families and retirees who love their dogs.

As pets play an increasingly important role in our lives, however, many organizations are responding with more welcoming environments.

Higher-end hotels often welcome pets, and Predator Ridge Resort in Vernon has gone a step further, consulting with pet expert Craig Pollack to

24 Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine

fully integrate pets into the resort’s unparalleled lifestyle.

“There are more households in Canada with pets than there are households with children,” says Pollack, founder and CEO of Release the Hounds, a corporate pet benefit company. “I find that to be a very telling statistic in terms of their importance in our lives and within the family.”

Predator Ridge has always welcomed pets within its residential communities, but in recently adopting its “pet friendly” designation, the resort is both responding to and celebrating the role of pets in the lives of its guests and residents, says Pollack.

One of the many canine beneficiaries of this evolution, Bonnie, stars in an online video about Predator Ridge’s new golf program, which allows golfers to bring their dog along after 4 p.m. on Sundays. A cocker spaniel/ poodle cross, Bonnie came to the resort as a puppy 10 years ago. While she once loved walks on the resort’s 12 kilometres of groomed trails, www.ohwmagazine.com

Wellness she now prefers the golf cart, says Marilyn Scott, one of her two human companions. “It’s her very favourite thing these days. I don’t blame her – I feel that way myself sometimes.”

With two golf courses, there is always a course available to people who prefer to golf on their own. But being able to golf with their dog is a wonderful treat for those who prefer to enjoy their best friend’s company whenever possible.

Nearly half of Predator resort residents have dogs, and their presence has always contributed to the friendly, welcoming atmosphere of the community, says Claire Radford, a 15-year resident and the resort’s property specialist. When newcomers arrive, it’s not uncommon for them to be known first by their dog’s name.

“You’ll hear someone say, ‘I talked to the new couple today – you know, Daisy’s family,’” she says, laughing.

Predator Ridge residents take great pride in the resort’s immaculate landscaping and beautifully cared for neighbourhoods, so dog stations with clean-up bags and garbage bins are conveniently located throughout the

community. For those who want more social time with their dog, group dog walks start out each Sunday at 1:30 p.m. from the resort’s new dog park. In partnership with a homeowner group, the resort recently opened the park for owners and resort guests, with a 45,000-square-foot fenced-in area for small dogs and 65,000-square-foot fenced-in area for big dogs. (Small dogs are welcome in the big dog area, of course.)

“There’s something very special about Predator,” says Scott. “Not only is it beautiful, but there’s an amazing community here. Walking the dog, which should take 10 minutes, takes an hour because everyone stops to

chat. People are more likely to strike up a conversation with you. They stop and pet the dog, and a conversation ensues from there.”

Dogs are also welcome on the terraces of the Commonage Market and Pallino’s. “We can sit there and she can sit with us, which is so like Europe,” says Scott.

Not all Predator Ridge residents who love dogs are able to have their own, because of travel schedules, so Bonnie has a long list of potential volunteer dog sitters, she adds. “They all want to have her as a visitor. I think Predator has made it as easy as they could possibly make it to be a pet owner here.” n

Golf burns calories, extends life expectancy Golf is also proven to have considerable health benefits. Research conducted for the Rose Center for Health and Sports Sciences in Denver, Colorado found that on an average nine-hole course, golfers riding in a golf cart burn about 411 calories.

Even more remarkably, research by Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet found the death rate among golfers is 40 percent lower than that of non-golfers of the same sex, age and socioeconomic status. The study, which included 300,000 golfers, found that regular golfing extended life expectancy by about five years.

Going to the Dogs

UBC Okanagan’s B.A.R.K. program helps students transition to university life

By Dr. John-Tyler Binfet

A

s a community volunteer in California, I knew first-hand the benefits of pet therapy.

Volunteering with my rescued dog Frances in a facility for young adults with brain injuries, I saw how therapy dogs could melt barriers, bridge connections, and bring smiles to the faces of young people. When I began my new position as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Education at UBCO, Frances helped me realize the benefits that university students, many away from home for the first time, received when given an opportunity to connect with dogs.

As I settled into my new job, I got into the habit of taking a mid-morning break that gave Frances and me a chance to www.ohwmagazine.com

stretch our legs as we trekked across campus to get a coffee. On these trips across campus, we would be besieged by students who would, for the most part, ignore me and begin immediately cuddling and interacting with Frances.

They’d eventually look up and tell the same story – as much as they missed their parents, siblings, family, and friends, it was their pets they missed most. Some of these stories were told through tears and their homesickness struck a chord in me as I was adjusting to life in Kelowna, to a new job, and to a new community. I knew that Frances helped me with those changes and I began to think of how animals might help these students.

So was born B.A.R.K. (Building

Academic Retention through K9’s), a program with a mission to reduce stress and homesickness in students and foster connections on campus.

Preparations are now underway for year four of the program, but last year B.A.R.K. saw over 2,500 students participate in pet therapy events – over

Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 25

Wellness 25 percent of the entire UBCO student body! Funded by Dr. Ian Cull (Academic Vice President, Students office) and supported

by Dr. Susan Crichton’s Innovative Learning Centre, B.A.R.K. brings together community volunteers and their therapy dogs, stressed and homesick students, and a crew of student volunteers. Last year, B.A.R.K. volunteers performed over 850 hours of service to the community. There is even a waiting list for students wanting to volunteer for the program, but maybe this is simply a reflection of how many students want one of the coveted black B.A.R.K. tee-shirts – the slogan on the back is: “Where sniffing butts is allowed!”

Dog therapy programs have sprung up across many Canadian campuses but what we do in B.A.R.K. is a little different – we’re a mixture of research and community service. On the research side, I oversee interventions aimed at reducing first-year students’ stress and homesickness, which has the potential to reduce drop-out rates. On the community side, we run both a drop-in program, where the university community can stop in to our lab and visit with up to 15 dogs and their handlers, and a campus outreach program called BARK2GO!, where we have dogs stationed throughout the campus for students unable to get to our lab.

B.A.R.K. is also different from other pet therapy programs on Canadian campuses in that we assess and train our own community volunteer handlers and dogs. Many programs rely on outside agencies to provide dogs and handlers, but we want to ensure that we have a match between all our stakeholders – students, dogs, and handlers – so specifically trained volunteer handlers and dogs play an especially important role as they interact with potentially upset or disconnected students.

A third distinction differentiating B.A.R.K. from many of the other campus pet therapy programs is that we offer access to dogs throughout the fall and winter semesters and not only during exam schedules. We do this to proactively reduce stress and build connections among students, some of whom might have an otherwise difficult time meeting new people and developing friendships. This approach provides support to students throughout the term so that they are well-positioned to tackle the challenges of their coursework and their final exams.

Although student volunteers are invaluable to the success of B.A.R.K., so too are the community volunteer dog handlers, many of whom are retired seniors from Vernon to West Kelowna who report how invigorating it is to connect to young people.

That might well be the biggest benefit of B.A.R.K. – it’s become a community, which is so much more than the sum of its parts, giving participants a greater connection to the university and the Okanagan as a whole. So the next time you hear someone say something is going to the dogs, maybe you’ll tell them that just might be a very good thing. More information on B.A.R.K. can be found at www.barkubc.ca or via our Facebook page (BARK UBCO). n

AlleyCATS Alliance Five Penticton women with a passion for cats are making a difference in the Okanagan.

By December van den Berg ave you ever had a litter of kittens born inside your floor and had to saw into your venting system to get them out? Have you ever had to enlist the help of a bona fide hazmat team to enter a dilapidated, asbestosfilled building in order to rescue a litter of kittens trapped inside the walls? Have you ever accidentally caught a very large (and angry) raccoon in your live cat trap and had to find a way to release it without getting your hand ripped off?

Do you often reach into your purse looking for a mint and instead, pull out a random cat toy or a tin of wet food that you didn’t know was there?

These are just a few of the occupational hazards associated with being a professional cat rescuer and enthusiast (fanatic), and five women from Penticton know all about it.

H

Pictured here is Uno, the very first client of AlleyCATS Alliance, rescued in July of 2012.

On July 10, 2012 these five cat-loving businesswomen, with lengthy and diverse histories in animal rescue, met for dinner to “discuss the possibilities” of starting a new group.

The next day a week-old orphaned kitten named Uno showed up on their doorstep and AlleyCATS Alliance was born. By October of that year they had hosted their first fundraiser, opened a bank account, acquired charity status, and well, the rest is history!

26 Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine

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Non-Profit Groups

Volunteers from Total Restoration don full hazmat gear to enter a dilapidated structure full of asbestos in order to rescue a litter of kittens trapped in the roof.

Phoenix was found after escaping from a leg-hold trap. His leg had to be amputated.

The mandate of AlleyCATS Alliance is to provide rescue, rehabilitation, medical care, and adoption to feral and orphaned cats and kittens throughout the Okanagan, and if you take a look at what they’ve been up to in the past three years, that pretty much sums it up. In their first calendar year they affected over 100 cats. In their second, more than 250. Already this year which is only half over, they have affected almost 300 cats, and there does not seem to be an end in sight.

Where do the cats come from? Due to rising costs of vet care, more and more people are unable to afford the cost of spaying and neutering their cats. The cats are allowed to roam outside, and sometimes they run away and begin the cycle of procreation. Colonies are formed, and they can grow exponentially at an alarming rate if not controlled.

What does it mean to be affected by AlleyCATS Alliance?

Because there is no shelter to speak of, all rescued cats and kittens are sent out to a network of foster homes where they are nurtured, rehabilitated, and raised up. Once old enough, they are sent to the vet where they are thoroughly examined, spayed and neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, and tattooed. Then off they go to one of the adoption centers located in Kelowna and Penticton, and every one of them eventually finds a loving, “furever” home to call their own.

What about the wild ones? In many cases, the cats deemed feral, which means wild or undomesticated, will become a part of a TNR mission. TNR or “Trap Neuter Release” is a widely accepted practice wherein colonies of feral cats are trapped, spayed and neutered, and returned back to the areas from which they came. When that isn’t possible, suitable barn homes are often found. It is always insured that caretakers are in place to continue to feed the colony and provide adequate shelter.

AlleyCATS Alliance President December van den Berg often jokes, “There are two seasons to a cat rescuer’s life.

Kitten Season… and February.” But she’s not kidding. With spring arriving earlier each year, and warmer weather lasting into the so-called winter months, Kitten Season sometimes goes on well past Christmas. AlleyCATS Alliance relies entirely on private donations and grants, as the demand for their services continues to grow.

But the directors will agree their greatest resource is their volunteers. Good help is hard to find, and it would seem AlleyCATS is growing in quality and strength as dedicated www.ohwmagazine.com

Sparrow, the one-eyed mom cat, needed surgery to repair her eye.

Director Sue slings books at the annual ‘Massive Yard Sale’ which netted $4800 in 2015.

and incredible people step forward to help do their part to save the kitties. From volunteering at the annual Massive Spring Yard Sale, taxiing cats to and from vet appointments, fostering, going on cat-trapping missions in the dark, to administrative tasks… there are endless jobs to be filled, and the work never ends. Anyone who wishes to volunteer should visit the website and fill out an application form.

The AlleyCATS Alliance board of directors is made up of president and co-founder December van den Berg, treasurer and co-founder Marielle Brule, director and cofounder Theresa Nolet, director Sue Beagle, and director Karen Hopkins.

“Of course, the real stars of AlleyCATS Alliance are the many, incredible kittens who touch our lives in inexplicable ways as they fill our homes with laughter, love, and litter.

There’s a reason why we do all of this, and it speaks for itself.” —December van den Berg For more information visit www.AlleycatsAlliance.org and like us on Facebook. n

Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 27

Non-Profit Groups

Find the Perfect Pet for Your Family at the Shuswap SPCA Thinking about adopting? The Shuswap SPCA shares a pets’ perspective of a day at the shelter, and the process involved in adopting.

By Shelly Hand

A

t the start of the day volunteers and staff clean my kennel and let me out on the floor to stretch if it is safe. They talk to me, pet me, and even sing to me while they give me fresh bedding, water, food, and litter. My caretaker then looks after my other friends in the room and cleans the scratch posts and floors to make sure everything is clean and free from disease.

Later in the morning I get visitors, volunteers who come in specifically to play with me and my friends. Sometimes they read to me, or play with me and my toys, blow bubbles, play bird songs for us, it is great fun. Sometimes they just hold and cuddle us as we look out the window together and listen to music. It is lunch time and the staff are busy getting ready for possible adopters to look at us! We need to be on our best behaviour so that maybe today one of us will be the one to go to their new home.

The staff come in with people and they talk about all the things me and my friends like and don’t like. What kind of food, litter, and toys we like, if we like to cuddle or just sit beside you. Because our caretakers take time to find out Did you know that it only takes a few minutes with a dog or cat to feel less anxious and stressed?

If you have a few hours once a week, purrfect!

Frank would love to hang out with you.

Call us about volunteering at the Shuswap SPCA.

5850 Auto Rd SE Salmon Arm, BC 250-832-7376

what makes us tick and how to give us a better life. They talk for a long time to potential homes. They want to make sure that we are matched to the perfect person or family and can spend out our lives there. This is really important to them.

Oh boy, we get some more time with volunteers who have come just to spend time with us, more fun! My dog friends get the same attention and fun time as we do, but they get to go out in the big back yards, play fetch, run around, go for a nice walk, and spend time with the volunteers. They also get to have play time with other dogs that they are friends with. The caretakers make sure they get the proper exercise and they have toys with food in them and puzzles.

They also get to work on being appropriate when adopters come to visit, not jumping, sitting and being as calm as possible. Ha ha! I have to laugh because sometimes they just can’t keep it together and get way too excited when visitors come, but at least they are trying.

Wow, it is closing time. It has been a long tiring day, the caretakers again are checking on us to make sure that we have what we need for the night until they arrive in the morning. A quick cuddle, pat, or kiss and it is lights out.

Goodnight to all my friends in the shelter!

The SPCA and You Each year the BC SPCA finds new homes for thousands of animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, hamsters, and more. All animals are spayed or neutered before going to their new homes. They get dewormed, vaccinated, microchipped; they also receive a free check-up and limited pet insurance.

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www.ohwmagazine.com

Non-Profit Groups How do you go about finding that perfect animal to bring into your home?

The BC SPCA animals are matched with guardians based on their general lifestyle. Knowing the characteristics of the animal you want, or think you may want, will help when making your decision about which animal to bring into your family. Some shelter animals have already had a difficult life and we try to make the best match so that they will never have to return to the shelter.

Adopting a pet from a shelter may seem rigorous but we want to ensure adopters understand the commitment they are embarking on. As cute as that little puppy or kitten might be it is also a commitment for the animal’s lifetime, so making the right match is critical.

Adoption Process Step 1: Complete the pre-adoption checklist to ensure you understand the impact an animal will have on your household. Better to find out now before you commit!

Step 2: Make the right match. This is probably the most important step in adopting an animal. Different animals will require different amounts of your time. The amount of activity you do, the amount of time you are home, and what to do when you go away are all factors to consider when choosing a pet. You need to provide a minimum of an hour a day of active play and walks for your dog or cat. The staff work closely with the animals daily and can help you to find the animal that is best suited for your lifestyle.

Step 3: View shelter animals. You can view most of the animals in our branches throughout BC online. This will give you an idea of the animals available. You can also visit the shelter to see the most wonderful animals looking for a second chance!

Step 4: Fill out a BC SPCA pet adoption application form. When you visit the shelter you will be asked to fill out a BC SPCA pet adoption application form. The information you provide to the animal counsellor helps them to match you with the right dog, cat, rabbit or other pet for your lifestyle and household.

Step 5: Bring home your new companion! It is important to try and make a smooth transition with your new companion in your home; the trained staff can help you with ideas and suggestions. n www.ohwmagazine.com

Saving Grace Dog Rescue Helping dogs in need in our community and beyond.

Rescue Dog Ash and one of her pups.

By Kimberly Gillis

S

aving Grace Dog Rescue was founded July 31, 2014. It evolved as a Facebook group initially to help dogs in need. Originally, Chihuahuas from high risk kill shelters in Los Angeles were brought into the rescue. The Chihuahuas ranged from 8 months to 10 years varying in size, temperament, and health.

Fosters were established who took the dogs into their own homes so that they could remain in a home-like atmosphere. Many were fearful after their experience at the shelters in Los Angeles. The shelters are not like the ones we have in Canada. Every foster was understanding and assisted to reorientate these rescue dogs back into a home environment to enable them to be adopted into a forever home.

As membership numbers increased, people began to volunteer to assist the rescue. With volunteers, Saving Grace was able to focus on local and BC dogs. Each dog, if not already, was spayed or neutered, given a tattoo, and provided up-to-date immunizations. Depending on the dog’s temperament and needs, we would hold every dog for a minimum of a two week period or longer.

We have always put the dog’s need first and did not place any rescue dog by first come, first serve basis.

Our funding originates through adoption fees and fundraising. Rescue dogs’ adoption fees generally vary from $300-$400 per dog. We do have some exceptions with age and health of a dog. Some dogs do come to us updated with shots or altered when surrendered; however, the adoption fees remain consistent as several dogs have required additional care of dental, wound management, moderate to severe illnesses and several vet visits to become healthy. We never have an excess of funds and when needed the rescue will fundraise for a dog that is in dire need of veterinary hospitalization care.

The rescue has not only accepted surrender dogs. We will help owners who are needing to re-home their dogs by networking, offering to help with a rehoming process so that an owner can have safe measures when placing their own dog or to see if there is something we can do to help an owner keep their dog. Each circumstance is unique and we do not judge owners. We are grateful they are aware their dog requires further needs or possibly a new home. The awareness that a dog may require something more than can be provided displays how one is putting the dog’s welfare first.

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Non-Profit Groups We became an incorporated non-profit society and a rescue dog, the dog comes back to the rescue. We developed our mission. Our mission is to assist all dogs also have a clause within the contract stating if we have when we are able through the efforts of many dedicated proof of neglect or abuse we are entitled to remove the board and team members, volunteers and the generosity dog and bring back into our care. This ensures a safety of the communities. Saving Grace helps to save the lives net for all our adopted dogs. The foster approval process of dogs and gives dogs a second chance at a full, happy is identical with the focus on foster care not adoption. If life. We developed a logo, business a foster chooses to adopt their foster cards, leaflets and a website. We then dog, we instil an adoption contract as applied and were issued a business we utilize the same application for a license followed by a bank account. foster or potential adopter. We provide Each step had its own unique red tape. guidelines, food, and all vet care while Saving Grace’s purposes are: to the dog is in foster care. provide a safe and caring environment We have endeavoured to continue to for dogs coming into the rescue integrate changes based on feedback, whether they are strays, found, or networking with other rescues, our surrendered by owners; to provide own experiences within the rescue veterinary care when needed for community, maturity of the rescue any rescue dog including up-to-date as we become an older society, and vaccinations, deworming, alteration, awareness. We are all volunteers and and health exams; to provide a homeare not infallible so we do appreciate like environment through volunteer feedback or voiced concerns as we do foster homes until a dog is adopted our utmost to provide whatever we can into a forever home; to provide a dog to meet the needs of each rescue dog.

Rescues Angel and Harley. their basics needs of food, water, and a We can be contacted at: safe environment; to fundraise through sgdogrescue@gmail.com or in the events, silent auctions, information public Facebook group Saving Grace sessions, donations of money, or other dog items; to screen Dog Rescue, or telephone 250-309-1350. We do our thoroughly all fosters and adopters prior to placing a rescue best to answer in an appropriate time frame as we are all dog; to promote, encourage, and teach others about our volunteers. You can locate us as well on our webpage at rescue and how we operate to ensure safety for all dogs. http://savinggracerescue.ca/. n We have had some amazing fundraising events in the past few months ranging from a garage sale, GoFundMe donations, bottle drives and donations, adoption events, a food drive, a silent auction, and Santa photos. We are currently planning and have upcoming fundraising events which will enable us to continue helping dogs and providing them with a second chance.

Numerous donations of food, collars, leashes, treats, kennels, toys, and other required items have come in from donors which we are so grateful for. We have even collected blankets and items for dogs that are in need and network with other agencies to assist where we can to help dogs in need get their basics of food and warmth of a blanket.

Our board, team, and fosters are all volunteers; we have no paid employees. Without our fosters we would not be able to help the dogs with a second chance at life. We are always accepting new foster applications and volunteers.

Volunteers assist in many facets of the rescue, not just as fosters. For example, volunteers have helped with transportation, donation pick up and drop off, fundraising, posting available dogs or our events, recruiting, community awareness, and networking. If you would like to volunteer please contact us.

Each potential adopter undergoes a thorough process of an adoption application, home check, adoption contract, and follow up. We provide for a one week sleepover period to ensure the dog is an appropriate fit with a family and Rosco. vice versa. If at any time an adopter is unable to keep 30 Pets ‘15 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine

www.ohwmagazine.com

Phil and Cindy created this blend for their own pets’ health, and do the pets ever love it!

Relief and healing from: arthritis, itching, shedding, foul smelling coat, bloating, bad breath, cloudy eyes, and more…

• organic human-grade • nutrient-rich • pH balancing • infection fighting • immune boosting pet health supplement

Recommended for both cats and dogs.

Happier, healthier pet & fewer trips to the vet!

Call toll free to order: 1-877-682-1188 www.suedehills.com