Pet Companion Magazine, Fall 2013

Fall 2013

Complimentary Please Take A Copy!

The Local Magazine for Pet Lovers

What’s Inside:

What’s In Those Shots?

Travel Tips From Table Scraps to Dog Chow The History of Processed Foods

SPOTLIGHT On Local Pet-friendly Events

Green Cat Litter Alternatives Can a Dog Have a

Stroke?

Hairballs Happen

What a Cat Owner Should Know PLUS: Savings on Business Services & Products ... and MORE!

We’ve opened a 3rd store in the desert!

Published quarterly.

Fall (Sep-Nov.); Winter (Dec-Feb.); Spring (Mar.May); Summer (June-Aug.)

Publisher: Miriam Wiegel

mwiegel@DesertPetCompanion.com

Editor: Geoff Winstead

editor@DesertPetCompanion.com

Advertising Sales: Dick Stein

sales@desertpetcompanion.com

Printer: Publication Printers Corp. www.publicationprinters.com

Distribution:

Please visit our website or call the editorial office for a list of locations where the magazine is available.

• Precision Grooming Onsite

-Including scissor cuts and cats!

• 4 baths for $40!!

Call for details.

• Expanded Nutrition Offerings

77920 Country Club Dr. Palm Desert, CA (next to Gold’s Gym) Monday-Saturday 9:30am-5:30pm

760

345-8494

Cover Photo: James Wilk’s Lily & Lola at the Westin Resort, grooming by The Pet Spaw.

Cover photograph by Karen Buxbaum, see ad page 23.

FOLLOW US ON Editorial photos © fotolia.com unless otherwise noted.

Desert Pet Companion (DPC) and its publisher assume no responsibility for changes, omissions or errors contained in this publication. Advertising in Desert Pet Companion does not indicate an endorsement by Desert Pet Companion or its publisher. DPC assumes no responsibility for opinions of contributors nor do the opinions expressed by contributors necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the publisher. DPC is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photos, which must be accompanied by return postage and envelope. No part of Desert Pet Companion may be reprinted or copied without express, written permission. ©2013 www.DesertPetCompanion.com Desert Pet Companion is published by Desert Pet Companion Editorial Office: 760-835-0369

Desert Pet Companion, P.O. Box 378 Palm Springs, CA 92262

For Advertising Information call: 760-835-0369

A

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What’s In Those

“Shots?”

by Lillian Roberts, DVM Country Club Animal Clinic

W

e are very fortunate to live in a time when vaccinations are so normal and routine that their necessity is actually being questioned by some.

Only a few generations ago, humans and dogs alike lived in constant risk of developing potentially devastating diseases.

Remember polio, small pox, diphtheria?

Not to mention chicken pox and mumps, which today’s children no longer have to experience. Instead, a simple vaccine tricks the immune system into thinking we’ve already had those diseases, 4 Desert Pet Companion

and our bodies will attack the real virus without you ever knowing it was there.

How does this work? The answer is both extremely complicated and also fairly simple. Think of the immune system as an army, and a pathogen (virus, etc. – something that causes disease) as a foreign enemy. When the army detects an invader, it sends a scouting force to check it out, evaluate it and determine the threat level. It then develops an appropriate defensive strategy and goes after the enemy to defeat it and eliminate

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Fall 2013

Independently owned since 1996

Dr. Lillian Roberts

Independently owned by Dr. Lillian Roberts, Country Club Animal Clinic sets the pace for exceptional care and service to our patients and their people.

Dr. Scott Papas

Conveniently located in the center of the Coachella Valley, we are easy to reach from Indio, Bermuda Dunes, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City and Thousand Palms.

36869 Cook St. Suite 103, Palm Desert, CA 92211 760-776-7555 www.countryclubdvm.com

the threat. All this takes time. In some cases, the enemy might be too fast or too powerful and the army winds up being defeated.

But if the army already knows how the enemy thinks and what its weapons are, it can be ready to attack on short notice. The enemy might be wiped out before it ever sets foot on shore.

Vaccines work the same way. The inoculum consists of a virus, or sometimes a bacteria or toxin, which has been deactivated, or “attenuated.” This means it was altered so as not to cause disease, but still triggers the immune system to mount a defense. In a way it is like military war games, which train soldiers about enemy behavior. This inactivated pathogen “trains” the body to recognize the pathogen involved, and is ready to fight quickly.

The first commonly-used vaccine in dogs was against Canine Distemper Virus and was introduced in 1950. Prior to that, distemper killed many dogs and rendered many more chronically ill, with seizures or chorea, a severe neurological disease. The original vaccine was not terribly effective by modern standards, with the effects lasting around 9 months.

Therefore, it was recommended that dogs be vaccinated at least once a year, and that was the standard for vaccines that followed.

Over the next couple of decades, vaccines were developed against other common viral diseases of dogs and cats. All came with the now-traditional one-year booster recommendation after an initial series of two or more primary doses.

The protocol worked, and was seldom questioned.

In 1979, the first 3-year vaccine for rabies was introduced for both dogs and cats. It quickly gained widespread acceptance in the US. Because rabies can be spread to humans through contact with infected dogs (in fact, worldwide, dogs are the most common source of rabies in humans), and because rabies 6 Desert Pet Companion

is uniformly fatal, most, if not all, states now require that dogs be vaccinated on schedule. This is not because the states care about dogs, it’s to protect humans.

In the US, rabies is now very rare in dogs and humans; when it is contracted, it’s almost always through contact with wild animals.

In cats and kittens, panleukopenia (so-called “Feline Distemper,” but not really related to distemper virus of dogs), along with a host of viruses that caused severe upper respiratory disease, were combined into a very effective vaccine that extended the lives of pet cats to such an extent that cat overpopulation became a problem.

Cats can also be infected with rabies, but are harder to regulate. Many states have no requirement that cats receive a rabies vaccine. This is not because cats can’t get the disease, or pass it to humans – they certainly can! It’s because the states can’t figure out how to enforce a law against cat owners.

In the late 1970s, a severe and highly contagious, usually-fatal gastrointestinal swept through the world, leaving thousands of dogs dead. That disease was parvo, and marked one of the first times in the history of the world that a new disease emerged, was identified, and vaccines developed within a few short years. Today, we still see cases of parvo in puppies, but thankfully vaccination is the norm and the disease is easy to prevent. Most cases are in non-vaccinated puppies.

In the 1980s, Feline Leukemia Virus became a preventable disease when an effective vaccine was introduced.

However, many believe the near-simultaneous introduction of reliable blood tests for the disease was equally responsible for the dramatic downturn in this deadly, widespread retrovirus of cats.

So the decades passed, and veterinarians who remembered distemper, and remembered when parvo was new, and had cried with cat owners whose

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Fall 2013

cats fell one by one to leukemia virus, or who lost whole litters to panleukopenia, continued to recommend annual vaccination against these diseases, because it was the best way we knew to prevent these scourges from returning.

All of these diseases are still out there.

All of them still infect pets in the Coachella Valley. But most are now so uncommon that many pet owners have no idea why their pets need “shots.” The viruses mentioned here, with a few others, constitute the so-called “core vaccine” protocols recommended today.

Typical “core” vaccine protocol today:

Puppies:

Starting at age 6-8 weeks: “DA2P” = Distemper, Parvo, and Hepatitis (Adenovirus 1&2); repeat every 3 weeks until age 15 weeks or more. Booster every 3 years.

Rabies at 4 months, one year later, then every 3 years. (This is required by law.)

Kittens:

Starting at age 6-8 weeks: “FVRCP” – Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. Repeat every 3 weeks until 14 weeks or older.

Rabies at 4 months, one year later, then depending on lifestyle and owner preference.

As you might imagine, over the past 60-plus years, vaccine technology has improved significantly. So have laboratory tests, and our ability to treat these terrible diseases when they occur. Still, prevention remains far better than treatment.

We also know that unvaccinated pets of all ages are vulnerable to these infections.

We know what puppies and kittens need to optimize their protection. What is less clear is just how often adult pets need to receive boosters.

We will talk about this, and about “non-core” vaccines, in the next issue.

Dr. Lillian Roberts, DVM, is the owner of Country Club Animal Clinic which is located at 36869 Cook Street, in Palm Desert. 760-776-7555 www.countryclubdvm.com.

Fall 2013

Pet Travel‌

Will You Fly the Friendly Skies or Get Your Kicks on Route 66?

N

othing worries a pet lover more than making sure they arrive safe and sound at their destination with their furry friends. We also care about how our pets will be treated, travel conditions and if their very lives may be in danger due to unsafe conditions. Many pet owners have refused to travel because of the horror stories they have viewed on nightly news shows, and may have heard from family, friends or neighbors.

For this reason alone, when considering traveling with your pet, you will want to keep some very important elements in mind.

Thank you Westin

Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa for inviting DPC to use your resort as a background for our cover and this article. Thank you also to Cold Nose Warm Heart and Pet Oasis for loaning us the products for this travel article and cover photograph. Susan Lanci (red bow) and Auburn (pink) collars (on the cover); Snoozer; Petote bag; Leopard blanket; Cloud Star, Sojo Good Dog, Bedtime Bones treats; and Thundershirt are courtesy of Cold Nose Warm Heart. Pet Gear Travel bag; Solvit Travel organizer; and Ware Pop-up kennel are courtesy of Pet Oasis.

8 Desert Pet Companion

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Fall 2013

by James Wilk, Benefit Together Photograph by Karen Buxbaum

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Be prepared to ask questions, questions, and more questions. So, what does it take to travel safely with your beloved furry friend?

10 Tips for Safe Pet Travel and a Sound Mind for the Owners who Love Them

It may be critical for your pet’s wellbeing to keep these important factors in mind when planning a trip with your pet.

1

Book your reservations for yourself and your pet or pets, well ahead of time. Many airlines restrict pet travel, the number of pets that can travel, or have very stringent rules that you must abide by. These include the weight of your animal, breed, location of destination, etc.… Some animals may be allowed to travel with you in the passenger section while other animals may be required to fly in the luggage

Sherpa™ Guaranteed on Board® program outlines all of the steps you will need to take before traveling with your pet so you can be sure that your pet and its carrier are compliant with the airline rules and regulations.

Visit www.flygob.com for information.

compartment. Some airlines have been known to keep traveling pets in very unfavorable conditions. When at all possible, ask your friends, family and even your social networks if they have any experience with pet travel on any specific airlines. This vital information

Special Offer for Desert Pet Companion readers Use PROMO CODE: DESERT and Receive 20% off online orders Fall 2013

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Desert Pet Companion 11

Travel Gear

HomeAway™ Travel Kit by Solvit comes with a 1-liter Water Bottle, a 10-cup Food Storage Bag, and two collapsible Travel Bowls in a handy Organizer bag and has room for additional supplies. www.solvitproducts.com

The Indoor Turf Dog Potty Traveler from PoochPad is ideal for both home and away use. It includes a detachable, washable PoochPad under a grass mat.

Available in three sizes. Compact, fold up design allows for easy transportation to hotels, boats, RV’s and cabins. www.poochpad.com

Snoozer Large Lookout is a comfortable way for smaller pets to enjoy traveling in your car. It is designed for pets up to 30 pounds. Made with a lamb’s wool interior and comes with a storage compartment underneath.

Includes connection straps to work with a seat belt. www.snoozerpetproducts.com

WESTIN PETS

At The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa we love our pets.

We are happy to provide a Westin Heavenly Pet kit upon your arrival that includes: · Westin Heavenly Pet Bed · Eating Dishes & Mat · Specialty Dog Menu Stay where the experience is unforgettable.

We welcome you and your pets!

©2013 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. SPG, Preferred Guest, Westin and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.

12 Desert Pet Companion

For More Information Or To Make A Reservation, Please Visit http://www.westinmissionhills.com/ Palm-Springs-Resort-Features Or Call 1.877.253.0041

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Fall 2013

can make the difference in a happy flight or one that ends devastatingly.

Also, remember to be very wary of pet travel services that are offering what seems like phenomenal discounts.

Many countries also have specific rules and regulations about allowing pets and may quarantine them if those restrictions aren’t met. I’m sure a lot of you feel like I do about my pet — there is no dollar amount that can be put on them. So make sure any super discounted offers are investigated thoroughly.

Our mission is to help keep pets healthy by providing healthy pet food & treat choices

2

Check Out Our Freezers

Make certain you have contacted the airline to complete the necessary paperwork and for any specific instructions.

3

Take time to research the pet policies at all of the various airlines and your intended destinations. Some cities and townships have very specific rules about animals and about specific breeds.

4

6

Prepare a list of veterinarians or emergency pet clinics at your

Fall 2013

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Portraits Four Paws

Portraits

oving All Animals Biggi, knew Founder, Lindi that the the killing only animals of perfectly health way to stop was y home brainchild to find them less a home became Shelter SOS – Senio . Her –a rs Offeri combines unique program ng senior citizen which animals.

Lindi realiz s with home with the less ed that most the peopl many senior amount of time were e citizen beauty of this progr s in our Valley the . “The seniors am is that have so many much love time on their hands and to give. will give them someOur SOS progr so they have one to love, am when love,” said the time availa ble allow seniorBiggi. The progr to share that am aims citizens based on to each senior to foster a dog a one week or cat ’s notice, the availability. With can be re-hom foster have a comm ed should a ed dog or cat foster Most senioritment or plann ing senior living center ed trip.

Kathy Wade allow reside s won’t nts to have but will pets allow a successful short one full time, animal run at “No placement. to two week To fund Kill.” adoptable A Animals’ this program, cat or dog foster can have time. Canad Lovin an long time for Newman, supporter, g All ian citizen a brief period winters of s who Patty in shows thatstepped forwa rd. can foster the beautiful deser spend their significant pet companion Research as commitmen well, knowing t climate ship provi the Chair health benefits, that their des t person and as So, now is temporary. of Wellness a great idea that Loving All Foundationthe Community Anim sugge that , Newm als sted can truly do you has an go save program. her foundation program? about implementi lives, how fund this “It is the Community mission resident Enter Kathy Wadeng such a of Welln the and to suppo ess Foun septuagena animal advoc , a Segovia rt dation ate. As promote local organizatio rian, Kathy a citizens. wellness ns that knows senior To make Certainly, in our comm Kathy has this unities.

Program Loving All Anim been talkin program a reality who’ll listen fits als’ SOS g about , said Newm that mission how impo . “I love anima it to anyone perfe ctly,” this progr an. The initia ls and I rtant they friends know l fundi am came are. I tell to get a Wellness from Comm ng for all my dog,” that’s just Foundation Animals the messa said Wade. And, , and Lovinunity For those is ge she’s g All from 1800P currently await friends who tell spreading. don’t have ing suppl Kathy they Foundation etMeds, Nutro ies they only time, she now and tells them supporting . If you’re intere Petco need to two. By commit that sted in the SOS to a providing Loving Program, All Anim care for supplies week or the als at (760) contact schedule, dog, along with to feed and 834-7004.

Loving seniors All Anima are enjoy a flexible pet owne ls is a 501(c) ing tempo rship and www.DesertPetComPanion .Com summer 2013 based non-p hopefully (3) rary the Visit loving rofit animal welfar Palm Desert have anoth shelters will e organ allanim er tool to ization. info@loving als.org, begin a summer or send

toni decker,

n our Summer issue, on pages 58/59, the photos were incorrectly credited. Toni Decker, Four L Paws Portraits, should have been credited for these shots. Our apologies are extended to Toni for incorrectly identifying SOS Offering Shelter) the photographs. (Seniors Is Really a Lifesaver To contact Toni Decker e-mail fourpawsportraits@gmail.com

Photo courtesy

I

Four Paws

Vet your pet. Make sure that your pet is up-to-date on all vaccinations and is given a clean bill of health by your veterinarian. You may need an actual health certificate to board public flights or other forms of mass transportation. Without it, your pet may not be allowed to travel.

Correction

toni decker,

5

FREE DELIVERY NURSE CONSULT AVAILABLE

Article by Tracey Essex 58 Desert Pet ComPanion

Photo courtesy

Prepare your pet for travel. If your pet is not accustomed to being crated, you will want to begin giving him or her some time in a travel crate prior to the trip. During this time you should also test your pet to see how they handle their crate being covered by a thick or dark blanket. Some animals are much calmer when they are in a darkened area. Also, remember that if your pets are small enough, they can be tucked under the seat, just as you do with your luggage during travel.

2013

www.D

call (760)

esert

PetComPani

on.Com

allanim als.org, or 834-70 00.

Desert

emails to

Pet ComPani

on

59

Desert Pet Companion 13

destination. This will help you in case of an emergency.

7

Just as you do for yourself, make sure you have all necessary paperwork for your pet when you arrive at the boarding gate.

Kim’s Pet Sitting Service Licensed, Bonded & Insured Serving West Coachella Valley Since 2001

8

Ensure your pet’s information is securely and clearly labeled on your luggage and their travel crate.

9

Pack for yourself and your furry friend, in advance, to make sure your checklist is complete.

10

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14 Desert Pet Companion

Arrive early on the departure date and make sure you have extra time to make it through security, luggage check-in and pet check-in.

Make sure your pet gets one last opportunity to use the bathroom before they are packed off into their crates for hours during long flights. Most airports are equipped with pet relief areas. Contact your airport for specific locations.

For those who travel with service animals or emotional support animals, travel may be considerably easier if you qualify. This may be the “best” way to travel. In order for an individual to travel with a service or emotional support animal they both have to be pre-qualified. Take the time to go through the test available at www. freeMyPaws.com to see if you qualify.

Surprisingly, many individuals will qualify to have their pet certified as a service or emotional support pet. Most airlines offer preferred treatment such as not restricting pets to be in a kennel, priority boarding, and many times the airlines waive all pet related charges.

Airlines Serving Palm Springs International Airport • ALASKA AIRLINES, www.alaskaair.com • ALLEGIANT,

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Fall 2013

Travel Gear

Kurgo has a very high quality line of car safety products from their Kurgo Auto Zip Line -Leash/Zip Line Combo to the Direct to Seat belt Tether and Enhanced Strength Tru-Fit Smart Harness with Steel Nesting Buckles (left to right). The harness works with either the zipline or the seat belt tether and helps keep pets secure when riding in the car. visit www.kurgo.com for a list of pet retailers.

PoochPads are absorbent pads made with Microfine fibers and odor inhibiting technology ideal for puppies, incontinent dogs, and dogs that are “home-alone” throughout the work day.

Use on floors, beds, cages, or any accidentprone area. Quickly absorbs liquid without soaking through. Reusable and guaranteed for 300 washes. (Please see ad, page 11)

For reservations or information call (760) 398-9900

Luxury Boarding Doggie Daycamp Grooming & Bathing Pet Boutique Pet Taxi Services

Boarding

Both our Suites and Cabanas include a half day of play for dogs who meet our social play criteria. We also offer a full day of play option. For dogs who prefer their own space, both boarding accommodations include 6 trips to our outdoor yards throughout the day. We also offer one-on-one play sessions that can be customized to the needs of your pet…from playing ball or a long walk, to diving into our full-sized swimming pool or cuddle sessions in their room … …our loving staff is always at your service.

Doggie Daycamp

For social dogs*, there’s nothing better than a day of play with your favorite four-legged friends. At The Grand Paw, dogs of similar size, temperament and interests are organized into playgroups under the constant supervision of our certified pet care staff. Each playgroup has access to climate controlled indoor play rooms as well as large, outdoor play yards for their enjoyment throughout the day.

For those that like to swim, we offer a full-sized swimming pool for their year-round enjoyment. And best of all, we offer daycamp 7 days a week (excluding major holidays).

* All dogs participating in the social program must meet The Grand Paw social play criteria.

51750 Jackson Street Indio, CA 92236 Fall 2013

www.thegrandpaw.com

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 15

www.allegiantair.com • AMERICAN AIRLINES, www.aa.com • DELTA AIR LINES, www.delta.com • FRONTIER AIRLINES, www.flyfrontier.com • SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES, www.suncountry.com • UNITED AIRLINES, www.united.com • US AIRWAYS, www.usairways.com • VIRGIN AMERICA, www.virginamerica.com • WESTJET, www.westjet.com

When Traveling with Your Pet May Not Be the Best Idea

Not all animals are psychologically prepared for a fast train trip, an airborne launch into the atmosphere or an extended boat ride. While many of us know our furry friends to be our true companions, we also know

that leaving them behind may be the most humane treatment one can offer.

Finding a reputable kennel or pet service may be the only answer to a difficult question. Take the time to research and visit those in your local area. Signing up for a discounted health/pet service can also be a wise investment. Benefit Together (www.benefittogether.com) offers significant savings at over 4,000 veterinarians throughout the United States. Using their kennel discount just one time can cover the cost of membership for an entire year, not to mention all the additional benefits that are also included.

Four Wheel Drive

When all possibilities are exhausted, the trusty old car may be the best option.

You will likely be slowed down by potty breaks and water time, but a road trip with your pet might be the most memorable part of your vacation.

About the Cover Dogs: Lily and Lola, better known as “The Benefit Together Girls & Mascots” travel WELL and often.

This Double Delightful Duo are seen at tradeshows across the country promoting Benefit Together’s health and wellness business, where members save from 20% to 50% on a dozen offerings, which include receiving a 25% discount on veterinarian services - all for less than $20/month for the entire household. To find out more, please see ad on page 34.

16 Desert Pet Companion

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Fall 2013

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Desert Pet Companion 17

Training for Car Safety

by Lori Wainio-Carman, Dream Dogs

M

ost of us are hawks when it comes to human safety in the car but guilty of a laxer attitude where dogs are concerned.

The dog hanging out the window, the trusty pooch on the back seat, the small dog in the lap—all can be tough to resist. However, statistics say we should.

According to the American Automobile Association, drivers who take their eyes off the road for just two seconds double their risk of becoming involved in an accident.

And an unrestrained dog in a car may leap across seats, start barking at something outside, or do many other distracting things. The safest option is to always keep your dog in the back seat/area restrained with either a seat belt attached to a wellfitting harness (never a collar) or a securely fastened crate—and be sure to check that your safety restraint has been crash-tested in the U.S., Canada, or Europe.

Systematic acclimatization: Before restraining your dog in the car, take time to acclimatize your dog to the equipment.

First, reward your dog for touching his 18 Desert Pet Companion

nose to the harness. When he’s happily doing that, reward him for wearing it loosely. Next, reward him for wearing it with the buckles clipped. Then, strap the harness to the tether while your car is stationary, engine off. Build tolerance this way, treating generously at each step, and you’ll soon have a dog that loves to ride the safe way. The same step-by-step method will get your dog used to the crate.

Manners around the car. Another thing that boosts dog and human safety is great manners when getting into and out of the car. Spend some time training your dog to jump in and out on cue rather than impulse, and to sit nicely beside you after exiting, until released. (Need help getting your dog to love safety equipment or training car manners? Let us know.)

Lori Wainio-Carman, VSPDT, professional dog trainer and owner of Dream Dogs has been successfully training for over 20 years. 760-8997272 www.dreamdogs.com, www.Positively.com

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Fall 2013

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45090 GOLF CENTER PARKWAY, UNIT B, INDIO, CALIFORNIA

SPOT LIGHT

A Visit to

Dream Dogs

by Geoff Winstead, editor, DPC

R

ecently, I had the opportunity to drop by the new facility for Dream Dogs in Indio. My timing was a little off, because I just missed being able to observe one of the morning classes, so the last of the dog/owner pairs was just leaving as I came in.

Nevertheless, my main goal was to (a) find the place, which is located in a small industrial park on Golf Cart Drive just off of the I-10 and less than a mile from Highway 111, and (b) stop in and meet owner Lori Carman to see what Dream Dogs is all about. Upon entering, the first thing that strikes the eye is the front area, which includes the front desk and a large floor space with chairs that are used for obedience classes. That space flows into a much larger rubber floored area that Lori calls the Agility Field, where there are devices, such as teeter totters, balancing beams, hoops, jumping fences and large tubes that are set up for agility and trick training. All of the equipment is AKC certified standard devices that meet competition specifications. In addition to training classes, this area is also used 20 Desert Pet Companion

by professional teams for their practice sessions. There is enough space in this building to hold a class in one area and work privately with a dog and its owner in another without being disturbed.

When I asked why this particular location and type of facility, Lori was quick to emphasize that an indoor space is not susceptible to weather conditions and can be used at any time of the day without any outside distractions, so a dog’s attention is focused during classes.

In addition, she points out that this location is close to home and her kids’ schools, making it the ideal spot for her.

After my quick tour, Lori introduced me to two of her trainers, Jennette and Shawn. Lori’s husband, Anthony, is also a trainer but was not on-site during my visit. There is no lack of experience among the staff here. They are not your run-of-the-mill “trainers” that you encounter in the big box stores, whose only real experience is a 6-week class in the basics. No, the staff at Dream Dogs has chosen dog behavior as their life work and have earned several degrees, educational credentials and

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Fall 2013

certifications. Each specialize in certain areas and all of them are quick to point out that they are a relatively unique operation that does not use force or restraints to teach and/or train your animals. Jennette, who has over 20 years’ experience as a Veterinary Technician, is the resident puppy expert who can teach early life skills and get that baby off to a good start. She also teaches obedience training for classes or on an individual basis. Shawn’s experience can fill up another page. She, too, was a Veterinary Tech, and is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior. Shawn teaches basic and intermediate obedience, trick classes and behavior modification. She also teaches private one-on-one lessons.

“People are always quick to punish a dog for bad behavior, but rarely praise and reward their dogs for the good things they do,” says Lori. “We focus on rewarding good behavior. It’s like all animals, humans included… once you realize that you get something positive out of doing things right, you’re less likely to do bad things when you don’t get recognition or attention for bad behavior.” This type of training follows the philosophy of Victoria Stillwell, who is the author of several positive reinforcement books and who’s show, “It’s Me or the Dog,” can be seen on the Animal Planet network.

Dream Dogs is the only facility in the area to be endorsed by the Victoria Stillwell organization. Because of Lori’s more than 20 years’ worth of experience and educational background, having graduated from Moorpark College’s Exotic Animal Training and Management Center, along with training experience at both the Cincinnati Zoo and our own Living Desert, she was chosen by Victoria, herself, to become part of her organization and represent her training techniques.

Dream Dogs offers a variety of Fall 2013

training and behavior classes, starting with puppies all the way up to their “Silver Paws” group for senior dogs.

Old dogs can most certainly learn new tricks! “Dog Park 101” is also a very popular evening class, which teaches what comes down to “proper etiquette” while out in public, particularly when among other dogs. Other classes include Agility Training (running an obstacle course) and “Tricks.”

I was very impressed by the facility, but more importantly, by everyone who I met at Dream Dogs. If you think you and your dog or puppy would benefit from learning new things, if you have a “problem child” who needs a little push in the right direction, or you’ve got a smart dog who would benefit from learning new tricks or going “extreme” by learning to cruise the agility course, do you and your dog a favor by checking the crew and facility at Dream Dogs out. There are so many other services—classes, private in-home personal behavior modification training, trainer certified and recommended toys, and even huge over-sized paintings by local artist, Dan Wainio, on the walls— that it is way too much tell about here.

For more information and a complete listing of class types, class schedules, free tips on how to fix some problems yourself, massage therapy, their own newsletter and more, visit the Dream Dogs website at www.dreamdogs.com.

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 21

Green Cat Litter

Alternatives

A Brief History

In 1947, cat litter boxes were filled with a mixture of ashes and sawdust -just imagine that being tracked through your house! In a town in Michigan, a man named Edward Lowe was working in his father’s company, which sold industrial absorbents like sawdust and fuller’s earth (a superabsorbent form of aluminum silicate that resembles clay). A friend of Lowe asked for some sand to use in her cat’s litter box. Lowe suggested that she try some of his clay instead.

The neighbor swore by the new cat litter box filler. It was more absorbent than the ash and sawdust mixture, and less messy. Ed thought the kitty litter would be a hit with other cat owners so he packaged the clay in brown paper sacks and convinced a local pet store to 22 Desert Pet Companion

carry the “Kitty Litter.” Customers came back asking for more and didn’t mind paying for the product to the surprise of the store owner. Soon, Ed took the product on the road visiting cat shows and selling his Kitty Litter Brand from the back of his car. Cat owners loved the absorbency and odor control of the product. Fast-forward to 1964: Lowe created Tidy Cat®, which was sold in grocery stores instead of pet stores only. Lowe’s company, Edward Lowe Industries, continued to innovate until it was sold in 1990.

Cat Litter Today

Clay litters are an inexpensive solution for cat waste. However, most clay-based litter currently available is made from attapulgite/montmorillonite or bentonite, which is a product

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acquired from strip-mining. Most clay litters take years to biodegrade and are not environmentally friendly. However, the use of clumping clay cat litters allows for the “clumped” portions of the litter to be thrown away and as such smaller portions of the litter will need to be thrown out. Many companies offer “clumping” versions of clay cat litter.

There are a number of environmentally friendly cat litter products that are now available.

Swheat Scoop Natural Wheat Litter Created in 1994, Swheat Scoop Litter is a unique litter made from naturally processed wheat. Through a patented process, its natural wheat enzymes work to eliminate, rather than mask, litter box odors. This same process enables wheat starches to form firm clumps

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when exposed to moisture, making cleanups easy. It is clay free, chemical free and biodegradable. The non-food grade wheat is sourced from North and South Dakota, and Minnesota. Because it is clay free, Swheat Scoop is perfectly safe for kittens and is recommended by veterinarians.

Swheat Scoop does an excellent job in controlling odors. As long as the litter box is scooped every day, Swheat Scoop does not need to be changed as frequently as clay litter, making it last longer than clay alternatives. It is low dust and doesn’t seem to track as much as clay litter.

Swheat Scoop is available in several different formulas. The Original Formula has been improved to clump faster, and firmer and is great for regular use cat boxes. Multi-Cat is made for high traffic litter boxes, and the LightlyScented Formula has an Aspen scent.

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

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CritterZone Air Naturalizer

Fresh World Paper Cat Litter

Vitakraft introduced Fresh World Cat Litter in October, 2012. It is a biodegradable litter made of 100% recycled paper. It doesn’t contain added colors or fragrances. The litter is high absorbency (three times more absorbent than clay litter, according to the manufacturer) and has a soft, fluffy crumble texture. Baking soda and zeolite are added for great odor control. A six-pound bag equals as many fills as 23 pounds of normal clay litter.

Vitakraft also sells a Pellet formula. Both litters are made in the USA.

The CritterZone Air Naturalizer isn’t an ozone generator or an ionizer. It reactivates indoor air by creating active ingredients that give the air the ability to clean itself, just like outdoor air does. CritterZone is tiny—about the size of a box of tea—yet provides up to 800 square feet of indoor air with the natural charge it needs to virtually eliminate odors, allergens, dust and bacteria. Available online www.critterzoneusa.com

The mission of the Coachella Valley Women’s Business Center is to counsel, teach, encourage, and inspire women business owners at every stage of development and expansion.

www.cvwbc.org 760.345.9200 24 Desert Pet Companion

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World’s Best Cat Litter Created in 1996 by Kent Nutrition Group, Inc., World’s Best Cat Litter™ (WBCL) is made from U.S.-sourced whole-kernel corn. The four formulas of WBCL use a patented process that uses corn granules which contain thousands of tiny pores to trap odors.

Several varieties of the cat litter are available including a Forest Scent that uses natural wood fibers from re-purposed tree shavings. A lavender scented litter is also available. The litters are biodegradable and available locally. www.worldsbestcatlitter.com

Feline Pine Cat Litter

Church & Dwight Co., Inc. began making Feline Pine Cat Litter in 1992. Feline Pine is made from kilndried Southern Yellow Pine shavings reclaimed from lumber production.

The naturally absorbent and odorneutralizing shavings are kiln-dried to create the litter. The company notes, “No new trees are cut to make Feline Pine products. The lumber yards we use are ‘Stewards of the Land,’ meaning they plant more trees than they harvest, honoring a responsibility to protect wildlife habitats and ecology.” The litter is available at local grocery stores. www.felinepine.com.

ZERO ODOR

®

We’re crazy about our pets. They add so much joy to our lives. But they leave behind odors that are hard to eliminate.

The answer? Zero Odor. When you spray Zero Odor into the air or on a surface, it bonds with the odor molecules and turns them into non-odor molecules. Once Zero Odor touches a pet odor, its patented formula causes an irreversible reaction and the odor will never return. From accidents on furniture and carpets to litter boxes and pet odor in your car, Zero Odor will permanently eliminate any odor it touches.

Air Freshening Products

Even when you use the best cat litter products and clean your cat’s litter box daily, cat boxes can occasionally have an offensive smell.

Products like ZeroOdor help rid the air of the telltale aroma of cats in the house.

Another product, the CritterZone Air Naturalizer isn’t an air purifier, it instead reactivates indoor air, leaving rooms pet-odor free. (See sidebar on page 24).

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Available at Bed Bath and Beyond and other stores.

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

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From Table Scraps to Dog Chow

The History of Processed Pet Foods

by Christine Stossel

B

efore the invention of commercial dog food, there was a long stretch of history when dogs and other pets were eating “human” foods—either scavenged from human garbage or, for the luckier ones, prepared for them by their owners. By the 1800’s in Europe, many people had begun carefully creating meals for their beloved pets.

The process of making home-prepared dog food appeared rather involved— recipes show some common ingredients used were ox trotters, vegetables, potatoes, oatmeal, horse meat and even sheep heads, all boiled into a stew. Back then, the same effort went into feeding the family pet as feeding the family!

In the late 1850s, a young electrician from Cincinnati named James Spratt sailed to London to sell lightning rods.

He observed the ship’s crew members throwing leftover “ship’s biscuits” onto the dock, where they were devoured by hordes of waiting dogs. “Ship’s biscuits,” also called hard tack, were the standard fare for sailors for centuries.

26 Desert Pet Companion

Flour, water, and salt were mixed into a stiff dough, baked, and left to harden and dry. The biscuits were easily stored and had an extremely long shelf life, which was important in the days before refrigeration. Watching the dogs munch on those biscuits gave Spratt an idea.

He realized he could make cheap, easy-to-serve biscuits and sell them to the growing number of dog owners. His recipe was a baked mixture of wheat, beet root, and vegetables bound together with beef blood. When Spratt’s Patent Meal Fibrine Dog Cakes came on the market in 1860, they were an immediate hit in England. In 1870, he took the business to New York and began the American pet food industry.

These biscuits, which had started out as food for human consumption, had been advertised to dog owners in England at least as far back as 1792.

What Spratt did before anyone else was to patent his particular recipe for the dog biscuit in 1861 and use the patent as a successful marketing tool. His company,

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profitable for many decades, ultimately gave us today’s popular Milk Bone biscuits.

After World War I, Ken-L-Ration introduced canned horse meat for dogs and, in the 1930s, Gaines Food introduced canned cat food and dry meat-meal dog food. During World War II, all metal was rationed, so canned pet food wasn’t available; production shifted to mostly dry foods. By 1946, dry pet food represented 85% of the market. At that time, there were two kinds of dry food: (1) biscuits, or crumbled biscuits known as kibble, and (2) pellets, whose ingredients had to be hand mixed.

After World War II, the economy was booming and most pet owners could afford the luxury of processed pet food.

In the 1950s and 60s, many companies added pet foods lines to their “human lines” of products. Companies such as General Foods, Quaker Oats,

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Campbell’s Soups, Mars, Lipton, Post, Carnation and Nabisco saw pet foods as a profitable way to market their otherwise unusable by-products.

The next big innovation came in the 1950s, when Purina experimented with the extrusion process to make dry dog food. The ingredients were cooked together in a liquid form, pushed through a mechanical extruder that puffed up the food with air, and then it was baked. The end product was larger and lighter kibble than that of previous methods—this also gave Purina’s food the appeal of getting “more for your money.”

Convenience and value were the biggest marketing points with these new extruded pet foods then, just as they are today. For the process to work, the pet food must contain large amounts of starch. Nutrients lost during the double cooking process at high temperatures are added back in after

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 27

We provide veterinary services for every stage in your pet’s life, from her first shots to a lifetime of preventive care to keep her happy and healthy.

• Primary & Advanced Care • Preventive Care • Alternative Medicine Cats • Dogs Exotics • Pocket Pets Rabbits • Reptiles

We Now Offer: Pet Boarding & Grooming 78-267 Highway 111, La Quinta (The Building In Front of Vons)

www.vcahospitals.com/all-creatures-ca 28 Desert Pet Companion

cooking to maintain a proper nutritional balance. Fats and flavorings are sprayed on the end product to make them palatable.

With its new use of the extrusion process, Purina’s Dog Chow became a huge hit. Dogs loved it, it digested well, and it quickly became the number one dog food in the nation. It remains the top-selling dog food today.

In 1964, the Pet Food Institute, a lobbying group for the now-gigantic pet food industry, began a campaign to get people to stop feeding their dogs anything but packaged dog food.

They funded “reports” that appeared in magazines, detailing the benefits of processed dog food, and even produced a radio spot about “the dangers of table scraps.” The dog food industry was spending an incredible $50 million a year on advertising. Commercials centered around the “beef wars,” with competing companies all claiming to have the most pure beef.

In the 1960s and 1970s, factors such as the increased number of breeds and rising crime rates made dog ownership skyrocket. By 1975, more than 1,500 dog foods were available on the market.

Today, more than 1,600 square miles of soybeans, 2,100 square miles of corn, and 1.7 million tons of meat and poultry products are made into pet food every year. There are more than 65 million dogs in the U.S., and pet food is an $11 billion industry … and it’s growing every day.

There is, however, a new trend, which is bringing back the idea of “home made” style foods, whether it is actually made by the pet owner from recipes found online, or is sold by smaller, independent retailers who only deal with small-batch suppliers that use whole, natural ingredients, do not use starchy, artificial fillers and don’t outsource from other countries. It seems that everything old is, indeed, new again.

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

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Which Pet Nutrition Advice Can You Trust?

by Christine Stossel

H

igh-protein, low calorie, supplements added or grain-free?

Wet in the can or dry from a bag? How about frozen, freeze-dried, made fresh at home, or raw? What’s the best food for your pet, and how are you supposed to know who to turn to for nutritional advice? With so many products on the market and so many different schools of thought on what’s best for your pet, most of us need an “expert” to help guide our pet food choices. But who’s the real expert, anyway?

Until recently, even veterinarians haven’t had conclusive guidelines that were used widely throughout the industry. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) published a report entitled, AAHA (American 30 Desert Pet Companion

Animal Hospital Association) Nutritional Assessment Guidelines for Dogs and Cats (Baldwin et al., 2010 Journal of the AAHA, 46:285-296) that reveals that until their report was issued in summer 2010, no documented dietary guidelines existed for pets (specifically dogs and cats). The AAHA drafted the 2010 document because “good nutrition enhances pets’ quality and quantity of life, and is integral to optimal animal care.” The guidelines “give veterinarians and their staff a no-cost, quick way to obtain crucial nutrition information for pets. Using this information, veterinarians are better able to help pet owners make better decisions about their pets’ nutrition and overall health,” says the report.

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How about pet store owners giving nutrition advice? Is the information they tell you about the brands they sell based upon clinically proven facts, empirical studies or are their opinions based upon anecdotal evidence put forth by pet food manufacturers and distributors? Without a degree in animal nutrition, what makes a pet store owner’s advice more sound than your local vet?

And then there are the companies who manufacture and market fresh, refrigerated pet food, who will tell you that pet food made with highquality fresh meats and vegetables that are naturally rich in amino acids and nutrients and no preservatives means better nutrition for your pet.

In dry kibble, the ingredients are extruded under high pressure and heat and then dried. Canned pet foods tend to have higher levels of meat, but the canning process, high temperatures and pressure for extended periods of time destroy much of amino acids and nutrients that were once available in the meat. Therefore, both kibble and canned have to have nutrients added back in to compensate for the lost nutrition.

But keep in mind that fresh food needs to be carefully stored because it contains no preservatives, and the risk of salmonella or other bacteria being present is much higher than with processed pet food. So, with fancy fresh or special raw pet food, are we paying more but still possibly risking our pet’s health?

There are varied points of view on what’s best to feed your pet, so when it comes right down to it, you as the pet owner will have to rely on your own judgment and decide what’s best for your pet. Here are a few things to keep in mind: • First, learn all you can. Become informed about your pet’s breed, about interpreting pet food labels, and basic pet feeding guidelines. Find out Fall 2013

Pet Food Review Resource: dogfoodadvisor.com

The Dog Food Advisor’s unbiased dog food reviews and dog food ratings are searchable by brand or star rating. Find the best dry, canned or raw food for your dog.

a baseline for the number of calories your pet should be receiving (including food and treats). Then ask yourself, do you want to feed your pet a fresh, raw or other specialized diet? Are you prepared for the extra expense, work, and storage concerns?

• Second, consult with your pet’s veterinarian but also hang onto your own common sense, no matter what advice you get from him or her. The truth is, most veterinarians endorse specific pet food brands because they truly believe in those products. They become very familiar with the top pet food makers in veterinary school, they see billions of dollars in research that companies like Purina have funded, and they know the results. As scientists, veterinarians believe in clinical studies and can be trusted to base their decisions on evidence-based results.

• Third, talk to your local independent pet store owner. They scrutinize the products they sell in their store. Many have years of experience in the industry and know where foods are manufactured and sourced, know which companies have had pet food recalls, and see which products are used by other pet owners with good results.

As the pet owner, you need to use what you know about your own pet and do what you believe is best. With a good veterinarian, some careful label reading and a little knowledge of your pet’s needs, you can make an informed decision on your own.

DPC will continue this series on pet nutrition in our next issue.

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 31

Can a Dog Have a Stroke?

Observations on Vestibular Disease in Dogs

by Robert B. Reed, DVM, MSES, MPA

D

o dogs get strokes? It’s not something you would routinely ask.

But if your older dog suddenly looks confused, can’t keep his head straight, starts vomiting, and falls whenever he tries to walk, then the question might come to mind.

Dogs do, in fact, get strokes, but these symptoms probably have another cause. They all arise from a sudden loss of equilibrium. Affected dogs literally can’t tell up from down. Their heads tilt because they can’t orient with gravity, and when they walk, they circle or fall in the same direction of the tilt.

Their confusion is understandable, and the odd look in their eyes is often accentuated by rapid, involuntary eye movements. They vomit from motion sickness.

We refer to such symptoms as vestibular, and the syndrome they signal is called vestibular disease. The term “vestibular” comes from an anatomical feature of the skull, known as the vestibule. The vestibule is a small cavity that houses the inner ear and contains structures (the vestibular apparatus) that help the brain control equilibrium via the vestibular nerve.

Vestibular disease can be central or peripheral. The classification depends on 32 Desert Pet Companion

where the problem originates, or where the causative lesion lies. A lesion is simply a focus of abnormal or damaged tissue. When discussing nerve pathways, if a lesion occurs within the brain, we refer to it as “central.” If it occurs outside the brain we call it “peripheral.” Since the vestibule is located outside the brain, lesions found in the vestibular apparatus are classified as peripheral.

In dogs, vestibular disease is usually peripheral, and although we sometimes identify middle ear infections as an underlying cause, most peripheral lesions develop spontaneously. We don’t know a reason, except that they seem to occur in older dogs. Fortunately, even though the symptoms are dramatic, they tend to resolve by themselves. Treatment

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• Free blood screening with spay or neuter performed between 9/1/2013 to 12/31/13– worth $90!

• We routinely perform pre-operative blood screening to ensure that your pet is sufficiently healthy to undergo surgery under anesthesia. The surgeon will discuss with you any results outside of the norm prior to any surgical procedure.

• While under anesthesia, we will trim your pet’s nails at no charge.

• During an anesthetic, surgical procedure, it’s a perfect time to have us implant a HomeAgain® Microchip.

• Your pet’s vital signs are closely monitored before, during and after surgery by our experienced staff members.

• Pain management is administered pre and post-surgery in order to minimize your pet’s discomfort.

for nausea can help a patient feel better, but no specific therapy beyond nursing care seems to speed the recovery. Most are significantly improved within three days, but some cases require as much as two weeks, and even after recovery a few patients carry a slight head tilt.

A careful exam by your veterinarian can usually determine if vestibular disease is caused by a central, rather than a peripheral lesion. Central disease, although less common, is potentially more significant. Remember, a lesion is an area of altered tissue. In the brain it could have several possible causes, including inflammation, infection, trauma, bleeding, tumors, or infarction.

Infarction is damage that results from loss of blood supply, and is the one cause in dogs that we might associate with stroke. Regardless of the cause, if a brain lesion occurs anywhere along the vestibular nerve pathway, extending into the cerebellum, it might lead to

vestibular symptoms.

Understanding the implications of central vestibular disease requires identification of the causative lesion, and advanced technology, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is usually needed to find it. MRI can be inconvenient and costly, but without knowing the underlying cause, determining an appropriate therapy or predicting the outcome can prove challenging. Evaluation by a specialist in veterinary neurology might be appropriate, but decisions on the best approach to take should develop through discussion with your veterinarian in the context of your pet’s overall health.

Robert Reed, DVM, MPA, MSES is the Medical Director at VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital located at 71-075 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA. 1-760-346-6103. Visit www.vcahospitals.com/rancho-mirage

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Fall 2013

Photo provided by Linda Hogg

A Therapy Dog’s Tail!

by Linda Hogg

H

i everyone! Linda and Chou Chou here again! We have been very busy this summer working inside air conditioned hospitals and assisted living facilities.

For this issue, I would like to feature our AAT (Animal Assisted Therapy) volunteer, Ann Leiboh, and her beautiful black Labrador, Harley. As you can see from the photo, Harley is a happy dog, staying cool in the summer months! Ann and Harley have a couple of recent AAT experiences that I’d like to share with you: While visiting a grade school, Harley and Anne passed two little girls who looked at Harley, longingly. One said, “We can’t touch your beautiful dog because he is for blind people.” Ann stopped and took the time to explain to the children the difference between a service dog and a therapy dog. After that, they gave Harley some love and were very excited to know that he was there to visit all of the kids.

This is what volunteers are supposed to do.

Educate. But sometimes, great things happen when you least expect it...

During a recent visit to a special education class, Harley not only made the kids happy, he made the teachers even happier and excited by what happened because of his being there.

Many of the children in this class are limited in their communication skills and some aren’t even able to speak. After spending some time interacting with the kids, Ann and Harley were saying their “goodbyes” and were just about on their way out the door. Suddenly, one boy started waiving goodbye to Harley and shouted out, “Dog!” The teachers were startled by this and said, “Did you hear that?! Not only did he waive, but he also said ‘dog!’ It’s a breakthrough!”

Ann is one of our longest members in the

Fall 2013

AAT dog pool. Thanks to dog owners like Anne we are able to keep our Therapy Dogs reaching out to the community. Fantastic job, Harley and Anne! Keep up the good work!

The emotions we stir up and the smiles we bring to the kids and people we visit make all of our efforts worthwhile. What these dogs and owners do is amazing. Just last week I realized that Chou Chou has really taken an interest in the seriously ill patients in the hospital.

She will actually touch the patient’s nose with her nose and stare into their eyes, demanding acknowledgment. Eventually, the patient understands Chou Chou’s demand! At that point my dog immediately nestles her head into the patient’s neck as if to say, “It’s okay.”

The experiences we encounter with our dogs are, perhaps, impossible to fully describe!

Each visit is entirely different. Sometimes, tears stream down the patient’s eyes. Other times, laughter and smiles take over both of us.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about some of these magical moments that all of our AAT volunteers experience. They will be forever imprinted in our memories and our hearts.

Our AAT dogs are very special angels. I invite you and your angel to take the training necessary and join our team. Samaritans, SPCA is seeking new volunteers and their dogs to join our Animal Assisted Therapy Program. Dogs will be CGC certified through our program. We visit hospitals, nursing homes, special needs facilities, Juvenile Hall, and work extensively with special needs students in the classroom. For more information, call Sherri at 760-343-5317.

Until next time!

LINDA & CHOU CHOU

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 35

The Benefits of Spaying or Neutering

by Valerie Masi, Best Paw Forward

M

ost of us are aware of the thousands of lives we save each year by neutering and spaying our dogs. However, do we understand the behavioral benefits to neutering and spaying?

I receive calls all of the time regarding behavior problems that turn out to be equated to an unaltered dog. The biggest behavior problems that exist from unaltered males are: aggression -- fighting with other male dogs roaming urine marking mounting hyperactivity destructive tendencies Testosterone drives these behaviors. As the dog reaches sexual maturity, more testosterone is produced. This stimulates behaviors needed to increase the dog’s chances for reproducing. Removing a dog’s testes removes the main source of 36 Desert Pet Companion

testosterone. The longer the testosterone is being produced in the dog, unwanted behaviors become learned behaviors. So, if you wait until after the dog matures to neuter it, it becomes much more difficult to change these now ingrained behaviors that have become habits over time. Once you neuter your older male, it is recommended that you seek out a trainer to help you get rid of the bad habits.

Research shows it is best to have your males neutered from 4 to 8 months of age, before they become sexual mature. Some breeds of dogs that are neutered before 5 months have extended bone growth and can increase the chance of hip dysplasia in predisposed breeds. Talk to your veterinarian about what is best for your dog’s particular breed.

Unaltered males are responsible for over 90% of reported bites, with 60% of those who are bitten being children.

Studies have found that after dogs are neutered, aggression towards other dogs of the same sex is reduced by 60 percent and aggression towards people was reduced by 50 to 90 percent. These studies also show that up to 90% of all other behavior problems are rectified.

Female dogs that have not been spayed show more behavior problems when they go into season and their hormone levels rise. They can become destructive in order to get out and find a male to breed with. They, too, may exhibit same sex aggression and irritability.

This can cause an otherwise friendly dog to snap at their owners or other family pets. Lethargy and discomfort may also be

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present and some females will also display urine marking.

Studies also show that altered dogs make better pets. They have better focus, bond better with their owners, are less destructive and aggressive, more social and less likely to roam or stray away from home. The chance of illnesses, such as mammary and testicular cancers, also lessens.

Spaying & neutering your dog and/or cat is good for you, your pet, and your community!

Valerie Masi, owner of Best Paw Forward can be reached at 760-885-9450 or bestpawforwarddogtraining.com.

Cats Too! N

eutering a male cat is just as important as neutering a male dog. Neutered cats are less likely to roam, fight or mark territory by spraying urine. Neutering before six months old (prior to puberty), usually keeps male cats from developng the large head (shields) or the thick skin of an intact cat.

Female cats benefit from spaying for many of the same reasons. Spaying reduces the influence of sex hormones on your cat’s behavior and roaming, marking and meowing for a mate lessen.

Equally important is the overpopulation of cats created by allowing unaltered cats to roam. An unspayed female cat can have up to five litters a year, although 4-5 litters is the norm. Each of those litters average 4-6 kittens. If a cat reproduces freely for 7 years, she can conservatively give birth to as many as 350 kittens (30 kittens a year x 7 years = 210 kittens). If only 25% of those kitten reproduce freely (53 cats) over the course of 7 years, that is another 77,910 cats (53 cats x 210 kittens x 7 years) which need homes.

Spaying and neutering cats is an easy solution to helping your cat and your community.

Best Paw Forward One-on-One Training Through Boarding Or At Your Home

Over 25 Years Training Experience

Also offering • Puppy & Adult Classes Group Training • Basic & Advanced Obedience Classes.

Visit us online for • Consultations class schedules.

• K-9 Good Citizen Test • Behavior & Aggression Problem Solving Obedience Classes also held at The Pet Oasis, Bermuda Dunes.

Valerie Masi, Certified Trainer & Behaviorist

www.bestpawforwarddogtraining.com Fall 2013

760-885-9450

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 37

PHOTO Courtesy OF Loving All Animals

“There’s No Place Like a Home” Loving All Animals’ 5th annual Super Pet Adoption Festival

C

alling all animal lovers! You won’t want to miss Loving All Animals’ spectacular 5th annual Super Pet Adoption Festival. This Wizard of Oz themed event, aptly called “There’s No Place Like A Home,” promises to be bigger and more exciting than ever.

On November 23rd and 24th, Whitewater Park in Rancho Mirage will be fully transformed into a set from The Wizard of Oz. The park will open at 10am and gates will close at 4pm both Saturday and Sunday. Over 30 different 38 Desert Pet Companion

animal welfare organizations, from County shelters to breed specific rescue organizations, will participate to find families for animals seeking new homes. Thousands of attendees enjoy introducing their beloved pets to potential new furry family members and support our quest for a “No Kill Community.” Many petless people can find their perfect companion and bring home a wealth of information to help them understand the commitment and rewards of adopting a rescue animal.

Lindi Biggi, President and Founder of Loving

All Animals, often says, “If people knew better they would do better.”

This event is not only fun, it’s a chance for our community to learn how we, together, can create a “No Kill Community.”

Whether you adopt from our local shelters that are forced to euthanize, or from a no-kill shelter or rescue group, either way supports the cause.

After last year’s Adoption Fair, the most moving part of the day was when everyone was packing up and all the no-kill organizations found their trucks empty from finding homes for the animals

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

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PHOTO Courtesy OF Loving All Animals © Gregg Felsen

November 23rd and 24th, 10 am - 4 pm Whitewater Park in Rancho Mirage they brought.

There’s no better place to meet all different types of animals, talk to the experts, trainers, behaviorists, and find the perfect new member for your family. All potential adoptees will receive a free health check. Dr. Lillian Roberts from Country Club Animal Clinic and Dr. Kunz from VCA Palm Springs will be available to insert microchips as well as provide preadoption exams for dogs and cats. In addition, new pet owners will receive a wonderful gift bag.

The festival also gives pet owners the opportuFall 2013

nity to meet most of the animal-related businesses in the Valley. So when it’s time to find a great treat or dog toy, pet sitter or a fabulous boarding facility, you know where the best fit for your needs can be found.

This year’s event will include festivities for everyone, adopting or not, with the return of local favorites like the musical talent of the John Stanley King and the Boy’s and Girl’s Club’s jazz and show band, Heatwave, plus many more. The list of fabulous musicians, vendors, and welfare groups continues www.DesertPetCompanion.com

to grow every day. We ask that our animal loving community keep checking our website, www.lovingallanimals.org and our Facebook page as the list grows and the schedule gets posted or to find out about Sponsorship and Volunteer opportunities.

RR Broadcasting will schedule live broadcasts from the fairgrounds on Saturday. Some of the Valley’s best known local media celebrities have been scheduled to emcee both days. Those personalities include Valerie Kattz, Victor Cruz, Steve Kelly, Katie Markim, Jenifer Daniels, Bianca Desert Pet Companion 39

PHOTO Courtesy OF Loving All Animals © Gregg Felsen

Rae, Patrick Evans, Samantha Cortese, and Laura Yanez.

New to this year’s

As DPC was going to press, the list of Animal Organizations attending the 2013 Adoption Festival was still being compiled.

Please visit our Facebook site or website for coverage of the Adoption Festival. A list of Organizations will be available along with links and contact numbers.

40 Desert Pet Companion

program, we are excited to announce that Father Lincoln of Sacred Heart will be holding a

“Blessing of the Animals” on Sunday at 1pm. There will also be extreme makeover exhibitions on the grooming stage, and the basketball courts will be transformed into an agility course, complete with service dog demonstrations, and trainer’s tips. “Each year this event attracts more and more people. We keep adding attractions, entertainers, and contests to make it more fun. If the costumes and décor don’t get you into the mood to have fun with the theme, perhaps a visit to the petting zoo or a ride in the draft horsedrawn buggy will get you to fantasize about a new

Here’s a list of some of the local rescue organizations: Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter www.palmspringsanimalfriends.org Save-A-Pet - A No-Kill Animal Shelter & Clinic www.saveapetonline.org Humane Society of the Desert www.orphanpet.com Tender Loving Critters (TLC) www.tlcanimalrescue.com Animal Samaritans SPCA www.animalsamaritans.org Pretty Good Cat www.prettygoodcat.com K.A.S.E. (Keeping Animals Safe Everyday) www.kaseanimalcharity.org Yucaipa Animal Placement Society www.yaps.org The Furry Angel Foundation thefurryangelfoundation.org The Pet Rescue Center, Inc. www.petrescue.biz www.DesertPetCompanion.com

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PHOTO Courtesy OF Loving All Animals © Gregg Felsen

family member or to spoil the one you already have at home.

Everyone is welcome.

There is a suggested donation at the gate of $5 per person, 12 and over and $20 for families larger than four. The first 500 people each day will receive a free raffle ticket to be eligible to win great prizes with their donation. “Our goal will be 500 animals finding homes in our fifth year, but it is our hope that all animal lovers support this worthy cause whether they want to adopt or just enjoy the entertainment, get something to drink and eat or just shop. It’s more than a

Super Pet Adoption Event, it’s a party and a celebration of companion animals,” commented Lindi

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Biggi. So come on down to this pet friendly festival and have an amazing time helping us save lives.

Desert Pet Companion 41

Hairballs Happen: What a cat owner should know

Reviewed by Rebecca Diaz, DVM, The Cat Clinic

I

f you’re a cat owner, the noise of a hairball being coughed up is a familiar sound. For first-time cat owners or surprised guests, watching and listening to a cat expel a hairball can be alarming.

However, the arching of the back with the accompanying hacking and gagging is a normal process for a cat to rid itself of fur accumulated in its stomach.

A cat’s tongue has tiny barbs, called papillae, which face backward toward the throat. These barbs are meant to help scrape meat from bones as well as help loosen dirt, hair and debris from a cat’s fur. While the barbs serve an important function, they also make it difficult for a cat to “spit” anything out of its mouth.

As a result, the loosened fur caught on their tongue ends up getting swallowed.

Fastidious cats groom themselves several times a day. The loosened hair is swallowed and passes through the digestive system. Some hair will remain in a cat’s stomach or small intestine. As the hairs accumulate, over time they can form a trichobezoar (hairball). When the hairball becomes irritating enough, it is forced up through the narrow passage of the esophagus, resulting in a tubeshaped, mucous-covered narrow mass of fur. Unfortunately, kitties only want to get rid of the hairball. They don’t care where they leave them.

Blockage Symptoms Need Veterinary Care Although hairballs are normal,

Unique Cat Grooming Products: PetLinks System (www.petlinkssystems.com) has several innovative self-grooming products for cats. The DPC office cat enjoyed rubbing up against the Beauty Bow that we received as a product test. Look for an indepth review on these products on our website in October.

Groom Tube

Beauty Bow 42 Desert Pet Companion

Brush Buddy

Brush Buddy Scratcher

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

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excessive hairballs can be a symptom of a health issue. If your cat shows the following symptoms, it could indicate that your cat has a blockage caused by a hairball. Blockages can be life-threatening and need veterinary care. frequent gagging, hacking, retching and/or vomiting without producing a hairball loss of appetite diarrhea lethargy constipation

Hairball Remedies

Sorry, you cannot completely eliminate hairballs. Older cats tend to have more hairballs, in part because they do a better job grooming themselves. To help reduce hairballs: daily brushing minimizes the amount of loose hair on your cat (as a bonus, this also helps stimulate circulation and keeps skin and fur healthier, plus, they like it) have your cat professionally groomed about every six months

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If your cat seems to have excess hairball production, your veterinarian may prescribe a specialized “hairball formula” cat food which is higher in fiber and essential vitamins and minerals to improve your cat’s coat health and help hair be eliminated through the digestive tract. There are also supplements, laxatives and other remedies a veterinarian might suggest as a temporary solution. However, brushing your cat daily to keep excess loose fur from being licked off and swallowed is the simplest preventative measure and cannot be stressed enough.

Some cats groom themselves compulsively because they are bored. Providing a cat with mentally challenging toys can help prevent boredom related grooming.

See the sidebar on page 44 for some fun cat toys which encourage play.

Dr. Rebecca Diaz, DVM is the owner of The Cat Clinic, a feline-only veterinary clinic located at 67870 Vista Chino, Cathedral City.

760-325-3400, www.catcitycat.com

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 43

Interactive Toys for

Cats

Keeping cats mentally challenged and active is easy when you provide fun, safe toys

Petlinks System Mystery Motion Cat Toy is a motorized toy that replicates the movement of a mouse under a nylon cover. The mouse randomly changes direction keeping your cat guessing. It has several speed selections and is powered by 3 AA batteries. www.petlinkssystem.com

Sunny Seat Window Mounted Cat Bed attaches to a window with industrial strength suction cups and holds up to 50 lounds. Made

by Oster AnimalCare. www.osteranimalcare.com

Although not interactive unless you are active with your cat, the SturdiPet™ Walking Vest with 5 foot leash for cats (and small dogs) is easy to put on your pet, secure, snag-free and “snap” adjustable. The vests are available in small or medium. The vest weighs less than 2 ounces and is very soft and comfortable. www.sturdiproducts.com

Supercat Catnip Cave and Catnip Crumples - SuperCat™ Microencapsulated toys from Quaker Pet Group. The patented catnip delivery system is infused into paper bags and small crumple-able papers. 100% safe and nontoxic. www.supercatproducts.com 44 Desert Pet Companion

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

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Local Professional Groomers

Happy Feet Makes for Healthy Dogs

By Joanne Chretin, Uptown Dog Grooming

A

dog’s toenails need regular maintenance. Just like humans, we all need to have regular pedicures in order to maintain good foot health.

Overgrown nails can break easily, which can be very painful for the dog. Longterm overgrowth can cause difficulty with walking, pain and soreness, and can eventually contribute to deformed bone structure of the paws as well as the development of arthritis. Some breeds, like Shih-Tzus, Lhasa Apsos and Pugs, have toenails that curl into the pads when they are allowed to grow too long.

A common problem that arises is that the nail beds grow out along with the toenail so that the nail can’t be cut short enough. Dogs that need regular haircuts will have their toenails clipped each time they visit their groomer. If you bathe your dog at home, you can still schedule a toenail-clipping appointment with your local groomer. However, if you’d like to try it yourself, here are some helpful suggestions.

Nail Trimming Overview

Trimming a dog or cat’s nails can be a difficult grooming procedure for pet owners who haven’t had experience with nail trimming. A pet’s toenail includes a soft, spongy, sensitive area called the “quick” which contains nerves and blood vessels and will bleed if the nail is cut too short. The pet’s quick is very tender and can be difficult to see if it has black nails. Animals with clear or opaque nails are a little easier as you can see the quick area through the nail.

If the quick is inadvertently cut, it can cause the pet pain and may result in an infection. An experienced groomer, or your veterinarian, can easily trim your pet’s nails and will most likely be glad to show you how to trim your pet’s nails correctly.

Nail Trimming Tools

Select your nail trimmer. Use large, scissor-type dog trimmers on any dog over 14 pounds because the larger

A “Pawsh” Experience for Your Best Friend Joanne Chretin, owner 73290 El Paseo, Suite 4 Palm Desert, CA 92260

760-779-9900

Doodle Bug www.uptowndoggrooming.com Joanne@uptowndoggrooming.com Fall 2013

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 45

Kwik Stop® Styptic Powder

Local Professional Groomers & Supplies

Containing Benzocaine to help block pain, Miracle Care™ Kwik Stop® Styptic Powder for Cats is finely ground and quickly and effectively controls minor bleeding caused by clipping nails and minor superficial cuts.

Visit the website to find retailers: www.miraclecorp.com.

trimmers make it easier to get a clean cut on the nail. Guillotine-type nail trimmers work best on small dogs because you can get a better hold on the tiny nails for accurate clipping.

After cutting, you might want to smooth the nails with a sanding tool, but be careful not to burn the quick. The friction that’s created can make the nail very hot in a short time.

If you decide to try to trim your pet’s nails, you may want to watch a YouTube or online video (some examples are: for dogs— http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ ClientED/dog_claws.aspx; for cats— http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/ pet-owners/trimming-cat-claws/full-

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Tues-Sat: By Appointment, Sun & Mon: Closed Although groomings are by appointment only, we warmly invite you to visit the salon anytime!

67-555 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Suite C-109 Cathedral City, CA 92234

(760) 285-6263 ShearArtPetSalon.com

Full Service Professional Bathing & Grooming

Dogs • Cats Rabbits • Birds All Breeds Large and Small

Become a “Preferred Customer” and receive a 10% discount on every visit just ask us how.

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760-346-6103

71-075 Highway 111 Rancho Mirage

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video, www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/cat_ claws.aspx) which show holding techniques as well as desensitization steps to make you and your pet more comfortable.

Watch your dog or cat for signs of distress and stop if your pet acts fearful or aggressive. Make sure you know where each toe’s quick is before you Oster Gentle start trimming. Have some styptic powder, corn starch, or flour handy Paws nail just in case you accidentally cut into the quick. Dip the bleeding nail trimmer into the product and then apply Oster’s nail trimmer slight pressure to the area to stop the grinds away nails using a course stone, bleeding. Bleeding should stop within or sanding bands. The safety guard a few minutes, if not, call your vet. helps keeps fur from winding around However you choose to maintain the wheel. It has two speeds for your pet’s nails, he or she will certainly grinding. Gentle Paws is cordless appreciate having comfy feet to run around and uses four AA batteries. Use on. with caution and trim slowly Joanne Chretrin, iowner of Uptown Dog Grooming, 73290 El Paseo, Ste. 4, Palm Desert and can be reached at 760-779-9900, www.uptowndoggrooming.com

so that you don’t accidentally nick the quick.

d ” e

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Now Offering Studio Pe t Photography Have Your Pet Groomed and Photographed All on the Same Day! Prices Starting at $25.00

73911 Hwy. 111, Palm Desert

Entrance off Portola in back parking lot

Fall 2013

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Desert Pet Companion 47

If You Give A Pet A Cookie

It’s Equal to a ...

Hamburger?!

by Emily Downing, Village Park Animal Hospital

ou are making a nice, Treat Translator healthy salad with just A small cookie or piece of cheese may seem like a small treat, a couple of cubes of chedbut it is comparable to a whole meal for a cat or dog. Hill’s dar cheese and you notice a Pet Nutrition provides this comparison chart as a visual way to shows a caloric comparison of “people” treat given to a pet hopeful pair of eyes regardand how it would compare to a human diet. ing your activities. Such a Snack Human Equivalent good dog (or cat) you have. (as fed to a 20 lb. dog) (for an average size woman ) It isn’t begging; just watchOne ing. And so you put a cube of little cheese in you pet’s bowl as cookie a surprise treat. Or, perhaps, 1 oz. you are getting ready to cheddar cheese sample a tasty, raisin-free oatmeal cookie and that 1 hot dog same, well-behaved pet (not incuding enters your mind. Hmm ... a the bun) plain oatmeal cookie would Snack Human Equivalent be such a fun treat to share. (as fed to a 10 lb. cat) (for an average size woman ) Human “treats” are One packed with calories. What potato chip might seem like a small treat to a 120 pound human is 1 oz. actually the equivalent of a cheddar meal for our pets. Hill’s Pet cheese Nutrition and Feeding Treat Translator has a chart that 1 cup whole shows the human equivalent milk of human snacks to a pet (see (many cats are lactose chart). intolerant) Most of us give our pets

= = = = = =

48 Desert Pet Companion

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

© Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., www.hillspet.com/weight-management/human-food-translator.html

Y

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a people “goodie,” and as long as it is an occasional, rather than a regular occurrence, it isn’t too problematic. Being conscious of the amount of extra calories we are feeding to our pets is very important to their health.

Pet obesity is an epidemic in the U.S. According to a 2012 survey taken by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), 52.5% of U.S. dogs are overweight or obese – that’s approximately 36.7 million dogs. APOP also reported that 58.3% of U.S. cats are overweight (43.2 million).

There are many high quality, low calorie treats available for even the finickiest pet. Here are a couple of easy tips to remember if you give your pet a snack: treats shouldn’t take up more that 10% of a pet’s daily diet look at the calories (k/cal) of the treat, not the size of the treat and subtract that amount from your pet’s normal daily food intake

if the treat package doesn’t list the caloric content, look for the suggested portion size and remember to subtract an equivalent amount from its meal have your pet burn some calories to earn some calories -- play an active game with your pet before giving it a treat if you really want to share your food with your dog, look for healthy snacks like green beans or carrots Village Park Animal Hospital’s Dr. Kathryn Carlson suggests, “Look for treats that are 10 calories or less.” She recommends Iam’s Restricted Calorie Biscuits (10 calories) or Old Mother Hubbard Soft & Chewy (5 calories).

Both are sold at her hospital as well as in many of the local pet stores.

A fit dog or cat has a better chance of being healthy. The next time you want to give your pet a “treat,” consider taking it for a walk or playing a game of fetch.

Village Park Animal Hospital and AquaPaws is located at 51-230 Eisenhower Dr. in La Quinta. www.villageparkanimalhospital.com

New Facility Open September 2013

• Full-service, Small Animal Veterinary Hospital • Provides Comprehensive Medical, Surgical and Dental Care • Preventative Care • Nutrition Consultations • Boarding • Grooming • Physical Therapy with Underwater Treadmill

51-230 Eisenhower Dr., La Quinta NEW HOSPITAL HOURS

M-F: 8am-8pm Sat: 8am-6pm

760-564-3833

AquaPaws facility is available for physical therapy and rehabilitation Grooming, Pet Supplies and more!

www.VillageParkAnimalHospital.com Fall 2013

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 49

Are You and Your Dog Tough Enough? or 28 years, the Palm Springs Tram Road Challenge 6K Run and Walk has been asking the question, “Are You Tough Enough?” This was in reference to the tough climb up the Tram Road, which climbs 2000 vertical feet in 3.7 miles to the finish line at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway base station.

In the past few years, the event has really grown, with nearly 1500 runners last year. Amazingly, so has the number of runners and walkers participating with their dogs. It is a great way to spend the morning with your best pet friend while doing something great for both you and your dog.

“Fitness is so important for both people and pets to help increase the quality and longevity of their lives,” says long-time runner and event director, Greg Klein. “My wife and our 9-year-old son have run the Tram Road Challenge the past few years and have always taken our dog along for the fun.”

In addition to the health benefits of participating, the event is also a part of the National Make A Difference Day, sponsored locally by the Desert Sun. It is a national day of doing something

Local Dog Parks

Please call first to confirm hours and regulations.

• Cahuilla Hills Park Off-leash Area Edgehill Dr, Palm Desert, (760) 767-5341 • Freedom Park 77-400 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert • Fritz Burns Park Corner of Calle Sinaloa (Ave. 52) and Avenida Bermudas near the tennis courts, La Quinta • Joe Mann Dog Park 77-820 California Drive, Palm Desert 888-636-7387 • Mulligan Dog Park Located on Van Buren Street Indio (760) 391-4175 50 Desert Pet Companion

good for your community and hopes to raise $100,000 for the United Way. All participants get a medal, cooked breakfast, and a cool shirt that answers the original question with, “Yes, I Am Tough Enough” … and so is my dog!

• Palm Desert Civic Center Dog Park 73-510 Fred Waring, Palm Desert (San Pablo Avenue next to the Skateboard Park/Civic Center Park) 888-636-7387 • Palm Springs Dog Park 222 Civic Drive N., Palm Springs 888-636-7387 • Pioneer Park 45-130 Seeley Drive (Seeley Drive & Miles Avenue behind Homewood Suites), La Quinta

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

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Photo Courtesy of Klein Clark Sports

F

United Way of the Desert

What Makes For a Great “Paws & Hearts” Animal Assisted Therapy Dog?

by Richard Waxman, Executive Director

O

ver the thirteen years that “Paws & Hearts” has been in existence, I have written a few articles in our newsletters about the kind of dogs that make good therapy dogs. For those of you just becoming familiar with our organization, I’ll talk about the kind of dogs I look for when considering a dog during a temperament test.

First and foremost, I understand that each and every one of us believes our dog is the cutest, the smartest, the most friendly and the best behaved in the universe. However, not all of them have the personalities for this type of work. When a potential volunteer calls the office, I spend a lot of time asking all kinds of questions about the personality and characteristics of the canine in question. I never ever ask how cute the dog is. Cute is not what makes for a good therapy dog. It is the personality, the warmth, and compassion that your dog has, plus his or her ability to share these traits with total strangers; those folks we visit who are residing in long-term care facilities, are undergoing cancer treatments, are in the hospital, or having to deal with memory issues. Sometimes, a wet nose, a kiss, and a paw on the lap make a world of difference to these folks!

So let me give you a few tips about 52 Desert Pet Companion

© PHOTO COURTESY PAWS & HEARTS

what makes for a really good therapy dog. At the top of the list: Is your dog outgoing with everyone? And by this I mean, total strangers. It isn’t about being comfortable with the same friends who visit, and the neighbors in your community; it is about greeting total strangers as if they were old friends.

A dog who hesitates or backs up is most definitely not a candidate. Keep in mind, when you and your dog are visiting a patient in his or her room in the facility, there is no ‘warm-up’ time.

Your dog has to immediately make a friendly overture to the patient/resident to bring a smile to their face. If your dog should hesitate or back-up, the patient will say, “Your dog doesn’t like me,” and you never want to hear that.

Does your dog let you take away the chew toy he or she is playing with, without as much as a growl or a snarl?

If your dog raises his upper lip and snarls as you attempt to take his toy away, he needs to be broken of this bad habit immediately, as this behavior is not acceptable.

Does your dog like to be the center of attention? A lot of our Canine Ambassadors work the activity rooms at the long-term care facilities we visit.

Kinsey, one of our longest-running volunteers, visits Windsor Court every

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

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week and is an from me, has no SAVE THE DATE incredible dog hesitation when For the “Paws & Hearts” 13th Annual Dog Walk-Fundraiser with the patients/ I squeeze his or residents. Kinsey her paws, gives a knows just exactkiss on command, ly who to give a and makes me kiss to and whose feel that I am the lap to place his best thing he or paw in. Kinsey is she has seen since a real pro! a T-bone steak, The Canine then we have a Ambassador potential Canine candidates must Ambassador! be a minimum And for the of one-year old, human, you need current in their to have the ability vaccinations and to listen to the be spayed or patients you will neutered. The eventually visit. dogs do not These visits are require any prior for the patients to formal obedience talk and to have Date: Saturday, November 30th, 2013 training; someone listen to Date: Saturday, December 6, 2008 however, they them, while your Time: Registration begins at 9am. Walk at 10am Time: Registration begins at 9am. Walk at 10am must take simple dog does all the Place: The Westin Mission Hills Resort commands, be socializing!

ForWestin information please call: (760) 836-1406 Place: The Mission Hills Resort incredibly wellIf you www.pawsandhearts.org mannered, and think you work well with their handler. During and your canine are ready to make the temperament test, I’m always a commitment and volunteer with looking at the bond between human and us, please give us a call at (760) 836canine. I observe the team as if I were a 1406. Our website is listed above, and patient greeting them for the first time. if you wish to email your questions, Do you and your dog make a good we’re at pawsandhearts@aol.com. The first impression? Do you work well warmth and good feelings you get back with each other? These are things to from the folks you visit is absolutely consider. And if you would, take a few indescribable! When a frail patient says, minutes and go to our website, www.

“You made my day,” you know you and pawsandhearts.org, to check out our your dog have done something special! training video. You will get to see Lucky Be sure to read the follow-up and Scruffy visiting patients. This is article in DPC’s Winter issue in which what you will be doing on your weekly I describe the rewards you and your visits. (If you have a large breed dog, it canine will get from this type of most likely won’t be up on the bed!) volunteer work!

The dogs must pass a temperament We hope to hear from some great test prior to being assigned to a facility. potential 2-legged and 4-legged Bring in a dog that is very confident in volunteers! his own coat. If a dog makes a bee-line Paws & Hearts is located in Palm for me, a total stranger, wants to check Desert at 74-854 Velie Way, Ste. 7, 92260 me out, play tug of war, chisel cookies www.pawsandhearts.org.

Fall 2013

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Desert Pet Companion 53

Be a Good Samaritan to a Stray!

By Janet McAfee

I

f you love animals, it tugs at your heart when you see one lost, on the run, panting, hungry, and desperate.

Most of us have found a stray cat or dog at one time or another. Maybe a stray cat showed up at your front door seeking food and water. You might have acquired a dog as a pet that was the neighborhood stray.

What can a good samaritan do to help a stray animal? Carefully assess the situation. Is the dog or cat you found matted, thin, and dirty? Does he have a collar, and does that collar have tags that could lead to an owner? If you find a dog or cat in a remote location in bad physical shape and without identification, it is likely the animal is abandoned. If you find a healthy looking animal running through a residential neighborhood, well fed, wearing a collar, the odds are more likely he is someone’s escaped pet.

Here are some things you can do to help reunite a stray animal with its owner: Check for tags that may identify the owner.

Walk the animal around the neighborhood where you found him. Knock on a few doors. He may live right down the street!

Take the animal to a nearby vet to scan for a microchip. This free service and can lead to the owner.

Post a sign outside your house about the found animal. The owner could be searching in your neighborhood.

Take a good photo and make flyers. Find someone with computer skills to help, or use boilerplates on www.bestfriends.org 54 Desert Pet Companion

or www.petbond.com.

Post flyers on community bulletin boards at dog parks, Petco, supermarkets, etc. Distribute flyers at your church, school, gym, workplace, and clubhouse.

Post a free ad in the Desert Sun in the “Lost Pet” section. Omit one identifying detail to ensure you have the right owner.

Email KMIR Channel 6 at news@KMIR6. com and include a photo, description and location where the animal was found.

Check with local animal shelters to see if an animal of that description was reported missing.

Contact public shelters and post a flyer on their “found animal” bulletin board.

When you have diligently tried to find the owner to no avail, here are some things you can do find the animal a new home*: Foster the animal, or find someone who can.

Contact private “no kill” shelters and animal welfare organizations. (They are usually full, and these nonprofits rely on donations to operate, but they might have room or resources for fostering the stray so it never hurts to check.)

If you have a pure breed animal, Google breed specific rescue organizations.

Get the animal groomed. A well groomed dog attracts more adopters.

Post adoption flyers with a cute name and creative description. Promote the animal with a great photo and biography through social media, Facebook, internet and Twitter. Post the animal on Petfinder.

Call everyone in your phone book. Someone may know someone who wants to adopt.

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Fall 2013

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Take the dog or cat along to events you are attending that are “pet friendly.” *NOTE: Stray animals need to be evaluated by a veterinarian and also evaluated for behavioral issues prior to exposing them to other pets. Your veterinarian may give you a discount if you are assisting a stray.

If unforeseen circumstances render you unable to keep your own pet, the above suggestions can help you find it a new home.

If you plan to find the pet a home yourself, don’t be afraid to ask prospective adopters questions such as where they will keep the animal and what veterinarian they use. Consider getting the animal spayed or neutered before placing it. Then charge a nominal adoption fee to reimburse yourself. This helps control the pet overpopulation problem and reduce the number of strays in our community.

Keep Your Pets from Getting Lost

O

ccasionally, a pet slips out of a backyard, sneaks out through an open door, slips off a leash and the next thing you know, you’re posting Lost Pet signs. There are a few products available to help you locate your lost pet.

Microchip

This is not a new technology, but it is a life-saving one. The grain of rice sized chip is inserted under the skin of your pet. When a pet is found by a shelter or animal control, the pet is scanned to see if there is a microchip which will identify the owner. There are several pet microchip companies (HomeAgain, PetLink, for example) and most veterinarians can microchip your pet. The procedure is quick, fairly inexpensive and as long as you keep the records up to date by registering the chip, a good way to make sure your pet will be able to be reunited with your family. The downside of a microchip is that the chip is not visible and therefore it cannot be scanned by an individual.

PetHub

This is a new product which uses QR code and Tag code technology.

The pet tag comes with a NFC/RFID chip, QR code, unique URL and a toll 56 Desert Pet Companion

free hotline.

If a person happens to find your lost pet wandering around, they can scan the PetHub tag with their phone. You receive an e-mail the moment your pet’s tag has been scanned. PetHub services also include GPS mapping, an online pet profile, 24-hour call center, and shelter alert system. The downside to this product is that the pet has to be found wearing its collar (and tag).

Finding Rover

This smartphone app uses facial recognition technology to find lost dogs. If you find a dog, snap a photo of its face and submit it to Finding Rover, they see if the dog matches any of the dogs in their database. You can register your pet and if your dog is lost, you contact Finding Rover. They search for matches.

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Fall 2013

Boxes of Abandoned Pets Appearing in Thousand Palms

by Tom Snyder, Animal Samaritans

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amaritans’ shelter attendant Margie Orei spied a 1-1/2 foot by 1-1/2 foot cardboard box outside the front door of AnSams’ no-kill animal shelter and instinctively knew what was inside. The box was sealed shut with packing tape.

Someone had punched small, crude holes in the sides, presumably for air, but then taped over them. Only a small slit at the top of the box remained unsealed. Inside, three dehydrated, lethargic kittens struggled for life, crammed together with their own feces and urine, and a fourth dead sibling that succumbed to the heat and lack of air.

Later, on the same day, Animal Samaritans’ Adoptions Alliance Rescue Coordinator, Michelle Bergeron, was at Riverside County Animal Shelter (aka the pound) looking at animals to rescue, when she saw a box of six abandoned puppies.

That marked the third box of abandoned newborns she had encountered this month.

Some people actually believe they are helping animals by boxing them up and dropping them off at an animal shelter, like swaddling a human baby and leaving him or her on the doorstep of a church or monastery. Someone inside will help, right?

But boxing up animals in our desert heat can be lethal, even at night, especially for nursing newborns. And for the animals that survive, dehydration and oxygen Fall 2013

deprivation can cause life-long health problems, including brain damage.

Finding unwanted newborns is a true dilemma. What should you do if you discover a half-dozen puppies whelping and wriggling beneath your porch, for example?

In California, abandoning dogs and cats—even outside of a no-kill shelter—is a misdemeanor crime. So once you take them in, you should know what to do with them.

If you encounter stray kittens or puppies, Animal Samaritans recommends you take the following steps: Move the infants to a cool, safe location. If you have personal pets, keep them separated, as the infants may carry diseases and parasites.

Attempt to hydrate the animals by providing water in a shallow dish or cup for them. They may or may not drink it.

Do not use a deep bowl that a feeble kitten or puppy could drown in.

For overheated puppies and kittens, dab their paws with rubbing alcohol to help cool their body temperatures.

If possible, trap the mother so that she can continue to nurse her young after you have rescued her babies. In many cases, however, feral dogs and cats will abandon their young if threatened or their hiding place is discovered.

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Decide whether or not you can bottle feed the kittens or puppies until they can eat solid food on their own, which normally occurs between 5 and 6 weeks of age. A kitten or puppy who can feed itself is much more likely to survive life in a public shelter. Most public animal shelters do not have the staff or budgets to bottle feed infant kittens and puppies. Private animal shelters have a limited number of staff and volunteers to care for and bottle feed infants, and often these resources are already in use—especially during kitten and puppy season, which is heaviest April through September. Also, by law, Animal Samaritans is required to send stray dogs and cats to a public animal shelter to ensure they do not take ownership of an animal that a pet owner may be looking for. With newborn kittens and puppies, the situation becomes murky; however, there is the potential that a pet owner wants to keep all of his pet’s puppies or kittens, and legally he or she owns them.

Contact your local public animal

shelter for their business hours before taking a stray animal (or litter of animals) to them. For residents of Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indian Wells, Indio, Coachella, and unincorporated cities of Riverside County, call Riverside County Animal Services at 760-343-3644 or visit their website, www.rcdas.org. For residents of Palm Springs, contact the Palm Springs Animal Shelter at 760-416-5718.

Take the stray kittens or puppies to your local animal shelter. Local public shelters will not charge you a fee to turn in a stray animal or litter of animals—this is different than surrendering a personal pet.

Go inside and talk to a staff member. Again, if the animals are weaned, their odds of becoming adopted and having a life as someone’s pet dramatically increase!

Tom Snyder is the Director of Marketing and PR at Animal Samaritans, SPCA. For more information visit www.animalsamaritans.org Phone: 760.601.3756

13th annual

Walk for the Animals & Pet Expo SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 8AM-2PM

Raise money for Animals in need!

Palm Springs Pavilion at Sunrise Park!  One Mile Dog Walk Through the Park  Pet Vaccinations & Microchipping  Kid’s Fun Zone & Raffle Drawing  Food & Beverage Vendors  Pet Product Vendors & Animal Experts  Frisbee & Agility Dogs  Dog & Puppy Adoptions  Police K9 Demo & Military Dog Salute!

FORM YOUR WALK TEAM TODAY!

go to: AnSamsWalkfortheAnimals.org 58 Desert Pet Companion

www.DesertPetCompanion.com

Fall 2013

What Is Clicker Training?

By Shawn Kay, Mind Body Dog

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licker training is gaining popularity in the dog training world. A Clicker is a small, plastic device which makes a “Click” sound when pressed. Clickers can be used to train many types of animals -- from horses, to elephants, to chickens, even tigers. The sound is a marker signal which tells the animal when it has performed the correct behavior. A marker signal can also be a word such as “Yes” or a whistle (as

60 Desert Pet Companion

used by trainers at Sea World). Even the flash of a pen light is often used to train deaf dogs. As long as it is used correctly and consistently, a marker signal can be used to teach any animal, any behavior it is physically and mentally capable of doing.

Why does it work?

Dogs don’t speak English and humans don’t speak dog. This lack

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Fall 2013

of communication makes it difficult to explain to our dogs what we want and often leaves both parties feeling confused and frustrated. Many owners find themselves constantly correcting their dog’s unwanted behaviors by yelling “No” or “Stop it” or by jerking the leash, none of which is fun for the dog or the owner. Clicker training creates a clear language between trainer and dog and when paired with positive reinforcement, makes it a fun, safe and effective form of training.

How does it work?

The first step is to teach your dog that every time it hears the “click” sound, it gets something it likes. Owners are often encouraged to use food rewards, especially in class settings, because they are easy to dispense quickly and most dogs love treats. Once your dog understands that the sound always equals a reward, you can use the clicker to mark (identify for the dog) the exact moment he performs the correct behavior. It’s like a game show contestant who, after giving her answer, hears the buzzer and knows she’s won a prize. For example, when teaching your dog to sit, you would click the instant his rump hits the floor.

Now you have a powerful form of communication. By using the clicker, you have a clear way to say to your dog, “That’s it! That is the behavior I wanted and you’ve won a prize.”

With repetition, the dog learns which behaviors get reinforced and which don’t. Behaviors that are reinforced increase in frequency and those that aren’t, decrease in frequency.

Training is all about motivation.

Animals (and people) can either be motivated to perform behaviors through positive reinforcement or be motivated not to perform behaviors in order to avoid physical or mental intimidation (punishment). The latter method is not kind, nor fun, and can damage the Fall 2013

relationship between you and your dog.

Some owners think that positive training requires using treats forever. This is false. Once your dog has reliably learned the behavior, you can gradually wean off treats and replace them with praise and other types of rewards such as toys and games.

Clicker training is a form of positive reinforcement training which follows the scientifically proven principles of animal behavior and learning. Using clear, consistent, communication to reward your dog’s good behavior makes training fun, produces reliable results and builds a strong relationship based on leadership and trust.

For more information on Clicker Training, visit www.clickertraining.com Shawn Kay, KPACTP, is a Certified Dog Trainer and owner of Mind Body Dog which offers private in-home training, adoption couseling and group classes held at Dream Dogs in Indio.

503-679-8501 www.mindbodydog.com.

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The Grand Paw 51750 Jackson St., Vista Santa Rosa, 760-398-9900 www.TheGrandPaw.com, Please see ad on p 15.

Local Businesses Grooming Bath & Brush 4771 E. Palm Canyon Dr. Ste. A, Palm Springs, 760-202-4494, Please see ad on p 46.

The Pet Spaw 73-911 Hwy 111, Palm Desert, 760-346-3461, Please see ad on p 47.

Shear Art Pet Salon 67-555 E. Palm Canyon Dr. Ste. C-109, Cathedral City, 760-285-6263, www.ShearArtPetSalon.com Please see ad on p 46.

Uptown Dog Grooming 73290 El Paseo Suite 4, Palm Desert, 760-779-9900, www.uptowndoggrooming.com Please see ad on p 45.

Services Animal Acupuncture Comprehensive Alternative Medicine for Pets 760-766-6223, info@awellnessexperienceforpets.net Benefit Together, 800-381-0071, www.benefittogether.com/healthdiscounts/pet Please see ad on p 34.

Pet Clubs Kennel Club of Palm Springs KCPS meets the third Wednesday of each month except July, August or December at the Palm Springs Police Dept. Library at 7:30PM. Interested visitors are welcome. Contact iggylil@earthlink.net to confirm meeting or for information.

Pet Products PetHub, Save 25% on online purchases using discount code “DPCDISCOUNT”. www.pethub.com Please see ad on p 55.

Pooch Pad Products, Save 20% on online purchases using discount code “DESERT”. www.poochpad.com Please see ad on p 11.

Zero Odor, Permanently eliminates any odor it touches. www.ZeroOdorPet.com Please see ad on p 25.

Pet Resorts & Boarding Furrst and Furrmost Pooch Palace 68100 Louisan Rd., Desert Hot Springs, 760-409-9226, www.furrstandfurrmost.com

The Canine Spa 68766 Perez Rd., Cathedral City, 760-328-0876, www.thecaninespa.com, Please see ad on p 17.

Pet Sitters, & Pet Waste Removal Service Exotic Birds Unlimited 44827 San Pablo Ave., Palm Desert, 760-779-5205, www.exoticbirdsunlimited.com Guardian Pet and Home Care www.guardianpetandhomecare.com, 760-238-1612, Please see ad on p 17.

Got Dooky?

866-229-9289, www.gotdooky.com, Got Dooky is the Desert’s premier service for residential and commercial pet waste removal. Serving the entire desert since 2007. Please see ad on p 17.

Kim’s Pet Sitting Service 1-855-729-7487, Bonded, licensed and insured. Please see ad on p 14.

LuckyDogsbyJanusRN Janus Davis, 310-987-5352, LuckyDogsbyJanusRN.com Please see ad on p 17.

Precious-N-Purrfect Pampered Pets Melinda Law, 760-202-8939, www.preciousnpurrfect.com, Please see ad on p 14.

The Pet Nanny Jackie or Krista, 760-202-8554, Please see ad on p 14.

Photography Karen Buxbaum Photography 760-625-5552, www.KarenBuxbaumPhotography.com Please see ad p 23.

Pet Portraits by Zallen 760-895-0121, www.zallenart.com, Please see on ad p 24.

Stacy Jacob Photography, 949-887-3656, www.StacyJacobPhotography.com, Please see on p 41.

Resorts & Hotels The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa, 877-253-0041, www.westinmissionhills.com Please see on p 12.

Add your photo to our Facebook group and keep up with local pet-friendly events. www.facebook.com/desertpetcompanion 62 Desert Pet Companion

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Fall 2013

Retail & Pet Stores Ambrosia Pet Deli 73131 Country Club Dr. C3, Palm Desert 760-568-1177, www.ambrosiapetdeliofca.com Our mission is to keep pets healthy and to live long by providing the healthiest and safest dog and cat food we can find.

Please see ad on p 13.

Bones-n-Scones 577 E. Sunny Dunes Rd., Palm Springs, 760-864-1133 73-910 Highway 111, Palm Desert, 760-340-BONE www.bonesnscones.com Yes, we’ll answer any questions about your pet’s diet! Raw, dehydrated, grain-free & fresh foods, also an on-site bakery offering treats & specialty cakes. Ask about FREE delivery! Please see ad on p 7 & 9.

Cold Nose Warm Heart 189 S. Palm Canyon, Palm Springs, 760-327-7747 73-399 El Paseo, Palm Desert, 760-340-0900 77-920 Country Club Dr., Palm Desert, 760-345-8494 www.coldnosewarmheart.com, Cold Nose Warm Heart is an upscale pet boutique in the heart of Palm Springs Village.

Please see ad on p 2/3.

Cosmopawlitan Cafe 73-200 El Paseo #3B, Palm Desert, 760-341-7297 www.cosmopawlitancafe.com Offering a unique selection of quality, upscale merchandise for dogs, cats and pet lovers. Browse the boutique for that perfect something or just relax in the lounge while your pup munches on his favorite treat! Please see ad on p 27.

Pet Oasis 42-220 Washington St., Bermuda Dunes (next to Home Goods), 760-345-3199, 72877 Dinah Shore Dr. (across from Clark’s Nutrition) 760-324-0980. Our selection of healthy nutritional products will amaze you. Our experience is second to none and you will find all your pet’s needs in one place! Please see ad on p 10.

Training Best Paw Forward, Valerie Masi 760-885-9450, www.BestPawForwardDogTraining.com Offering individual consultation, custom training and behavior modification to fit the dog and owner. Group training classes also available. Please see ad on p 37.

Dream Dogs, Lori Wainio-Carman 45090 Golf Center Parkway Unit B, Indio, 760-8997272, www.dreamdogs.com, Dream Dogs uses positive training techniques to build proper relationships between dog and owner to achieve maximum results. Group, in-residence,and private training available. Please see ad on p 19.

Mind Body Dog, Shawn Kay 503-679-8501, www.mindbodydog.com, Karen Pryor Academy Certified Dog Trainer offering in-hometraining, adoption counseling and group classes. Please see ad on p 61.

Veterinarians Animal Hospital of Desert 760-568-5151, www.animalhospitalofdesert.com 44350 Monterey Avenue, Palm Desert Country Club Animal Clinic 36869 Cook St., Palm Desert, 760-776-7555 www.countryclubdvm.com, Country Club Animal Clinic provides exceptional care and service to pets and their people.“Your pet’s health is our business!” Please see ad on page 5.

The Cat Clinic 67870 Vista Chino, Cathedral City, 760-325-3400 www.catcitycat.com, Dr. Rebecca Diaz is dedicated to keeping your cats and kittens happy and healthy with topquality care in a stress-free environment created specifically for the special needs of our feline companions. Please see ad on page 43.

Palm Springs Animal Hospital 4771 E. Palm Canyon Rd., Ste. E, Palm Springs, 760324-0450, www.palmspringsanimalhospital.com Veterinarian on the Run Mobile veterinarian, 760-898-2627 www.vetontherun.com VCA - All Creatures Animal Hospital 78-267 Hwy. 111, La Quinta, 760-564-1154 www.vcahospitals.com/all-creatures Please see ad on p 28.

VCA - Desert Animal Hospital 4299 E. Ramon Rd., Palm Springs, 760-778-9999 www.vcahospitals.com/desert VCA - Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital 71-075 Hwy. 111, Rancho Mirage, 760-346-6103 www.vcahospitals.com/rancho-mirage Providing you—and your pet—with the highest quality of care and attention. Please see ads on p 33 & 46.

VCA - Valley Animal Medical Center 46920 Jefferson St., Indio, 760-609-0498 www.vcavalleyemergency.com 24/7 General and Emergency practice. Please see ad on back cover.

Village Park Animal Hospital 51-230 Eisenhower Dr. La Quinta 760-564-3833 www.VillageParkAnimalHospital.com Village Park Animal Hospital is a full-service, small animal veterinary hospital providing comprehensive medical, surgical and dental care for the life of your pet.

Please see ad on p 49.

We’ve moved the Calendar Section to our Facebook & website. Visit us online and see photos from the events. Stop by our booth at the Tram Run, AnSam Walkathon, Loving All Aninal’s Adoption Festival, Paws & Hearts Walkathon and Santa Paws Run. See you there!

Fall 2013

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