Volume 6 •Issue 4
Winter/Holiday 2015
A Dog’s Nose is
A mazing,
But a Dog’s Heart is a
Miracle
Lessons Dogs Teach Us Spotlighting Long-Term Adoption
Holiday Gift Guide
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“Eeney” and “Morey” are seeking a forever home. They are available through Operation Paws for Homes, Inc. (OPH). (details pg. 46)
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Winter/H
oliday 20
Volume 6
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Issue 4
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Volume
6 •Issue
4
contents
A Dog’s
A mazing,
Miracle ’s Heart is a
Lesson s Dogs Teach Us Spotlig ht Adoptio ing Long-Term n
departments Weekend Getaway:
18
Fitness & Training:
22
Training:
30
Rounding up Rover
Nose is
But a Dog
Winter/Holiday 2015
10
15
Holiday Gift Gu ide
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“Een
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ey” and “Morey seeking ” are a forever available home. The through Operation y are Homes, Inc. (OP Paws for H). (detail s pg. 46 )
A Virginia Mountains Holiday
On the Cover… “Eeney” and “Morey” are available for adoption through Operation Paws for Homes, Inc. (OPH) (See Page 46 for details)
The Zen of Dog Training Pt: 5
Photo by Michael Garth Photography
Six Lessons Dogs Teach Us
My Dog is Lost! My Heart is Broken! And Now I’ve Been Scammed!
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Ask A Neurovet
38
Giving Back:
40
Ask Dr Katy:
42
Metro Mutt:
44
Health:
46
Seeking A Forever Home
features 8
Expanding the Region’s Holistic Care Options
12
Re-imagining the Standards of Pet Hospice and Palliative Care
24
Holiday Gift Guide
36
The Value of a Cardiologist’s Echocardiogram
with Dr. Lauren Talarico
Vets Saving Pets
with Dr. Katy Nelson
potlighting Long-term S Adoption Center Residents
Fido or Hank? What is Your Dog Really Telling You?
Pick of the LItter
special feature 14
A Dog’s Nose is Amazing, but a Dog’s Heart is a Miracle
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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{ contributors }
contributors Kimberly Artley
Katy Nelson, DVM
Kimberly Artley is Founder of PackFit: Body and Mind for Human and Canine. PackFit is dedicated to helping humans+ their faithful canine companions achieve stellar health and wellness through various integrated modalities. Creating our best version of self and becoming the leader our dogs need us to be.
Krisi Erwin, DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVPP Dr. Erwin, a life-long Loudoun County native, owns a house call practice called Wholistic Paws Veterinary Services that focuses on offering in-home acupuncture, rehabilitation, pet hospice, and euthanasia for her clients. Dr. Erwin is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist and a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist.
Dr. Katy Nelson is a veterinarian and the host of “The Pet Show with Dr. Katy” on Washington DC’s News Channel 8 - the show airs at 11am on Saturday mornings. An ardent advocate for pet rescue, Dr. Nelson works with numerous local and national rescue organizations to promote pet adoption. Dr. Nelson is known as “Dr. Pawz” on Washington DC’s All News Radio Station WTOP live on air every two weeks. You can also catch her on her online radio show called “Pawsitive Talk with Dr. Katy” on the all positive radio network HealthyLife.Net. Dr. Nelson is a Certified Veterinary Journalist (CVJ), accredited by the American Society of Veterinary Journalists (ASVJ). Catch her every Friday morning on News Channel 8’s “Let’s Talk Live,” and you can even find her reporting on animal health topics every week on WJLA ABC7 News. A prolific writer, you can follow her on The Pet Show’s blog www.wjla.com/blogs/the-pet-show and find back episodes of The Pet Show there, as well.
Laura S. Jones Laura Semonche Jones is an attorney and freelance writer and editor. She lives with her husband, two adored pit bull mixes and two tolerant cats in Charlottesville. Fallout Shelter, one of the stories in Breaking and Entering, her debut collection of short stories, was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Jones is also working on her first novel, and yes, there is a dog in it. More information and samples of her work are at www.laurasjones.com
Laurie Luck, M.A., KPA CTP, CNWI Dog lover and professional trainer, Laurie knows the joy that dogs bring to our lives. Smart Dog University specializes in dog-friendly, positive training. From pups to dogs, Laurie makes training fun for both ends of the leash!
Nancy Plemens Mayes, APR Nancy Plemens Mayes, APR is a communications consultant with nearly 25 years experience working with nonprofit healthcare organizations, associations and small businesses. She shares her home with a lively Great Dane and a tolerant cat.
Dr. Schmitt, board certified veterinary cardiologist, strives to promote open communication between CVCA, the primary care veterinarian, and clients (“the triad of care”) as well as emotional and financial considerations when developing an optimal treatment plan for each case.
Lauren R. Talarico, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology/Neurosurgery) Dr. Talarico is a board certified neurosurgeon at VCA SouthPaws in Fairfax, VA. She graduated with honors from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, completed an internship at the University of Georgia and neurosurgical residency at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals. Dr. Talarico conducts research projects involving Chiari-like malformations through the pediatric neurosurgery team at Children’s National Hospital in DC. She has also been published in several veterinary journals and textbooks. Dr. Talarico specializes in brain and spinal surgery, reconstruction procedures and treatment of medical neurologic diseases.
Ginger Warder
Joe Miench Joe is a Behavior and Training Associate at the Washington Humane Society. He has been with WHS since June of 2013 and has performed over 1,400 behavior evaluations, in addition to playgroups and the Hidden Gems program. He began working in animal welfare and canine behavior in 2006 and owes his career to his dog Shea, who he adopted that same year and worked with her on aggression rehabilitation, solidifying his drive to work with rescue dogs.
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Kacie Schmitt, DVM, Diplomate, ACVIM (Cardiology)
Ginger Warder, the author of Fido’s Virginia and Fido’s Florida, is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers, specializing in luxury travel and travel with pets. Her current canine research assistants are her German Shepherd, Tipsy, and her Daschund, Max.
Anne Wills Anne Wills is the founder of Dogs Finding Dogs, K9 Search & Rescue for Missing Pets, a 501c3 Non-profit organization. In addition, Anne is a Professional Dog Trainer and Private Investigator, as well as the owner of Dogs Finding Drugs, K9 Narcotic & Firearms Detection. She is also an HLN and Fox News Consultant.
The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
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{ department }
Publisher/Editor in Chief Pamela Wahl Director of Operations Gene Wahl
{ publishers note }
a note
from our publisher “Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.” ― – Agnes Sligh Turnbull
Art Director Kim Dow, Kalico Design Graphic Designers Jen Tyler, Jillian Winkler, Kalico Design
Welcome to our Winter/Holiday edition! This edition is, as always, full of informative articles from our team of highly-regarded pet industry professionals, of which we are beyond grateful and honored to include their exclusive articles that they have so graciously written specific to our publication.
Social Media Cami O’Connell Kristin Carlson Senior Editor Kimberly Holmes Photographer Michael Garth Photography Copy Editor Matt Neufeld Advertising Director Pamela Wahl Production Coordinator Diane Weller Web Site Manager Jen Tyler, Kalico Design Business Manager Cathy Wahl Contributing Writers: Kimberly Artley Krisi Erwin, DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVPP Laura S. Jones Laurie Luck, KPA-CTP, CNWI Nancy Plemens Mayes, APR Joe Miench Katy Nelson, DVM Kacie Schmitt, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM (Cardiology) Lauren Talarico, DVM, DACVIM Ginger Warder Anne Wills The Virginia-Maryland-washington, DC Dog Magazine 200 West Main Street Middletown, MD 21769 Tel: (301) 514-2804 Fax: (301) 694-9799 www.thevamddcdog.com bark@vamddog.com ©2015 No part of this publication may be reproduced without expressed written permission of the publisher. No part may be transmitted in any form by any means, including electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Publisher accepts no liability for solicited or unsolicited materials that are damaged or lost. Views expressed by editorial contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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Our Special Feature article is an amazing story about Anne Wills, Founder of Dogs Finding Dogs, a search and rescue organization that has successfully located lost animals reuniting them with their owners. Anne’s story is testament of just how valuable a dog’s senses can be. During this time of giving, we would like to remind everyone of the necessary needs of rescue and shelter organizations that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no matter what. If everyone would simply provide an item or monetary donation to these organizations that are often forgotten about during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, your donation (as simple as a case of paper towels) would go a long way in assisting these wonderful facilities to continue the work that they do on behalf of the animals. Many of these organizations include a “wish list” on their websites. Please take a moment and search the rescues/shelters in your area to help fulfill their needs. And, finally, this it would not be our Winter/Holiday edition without the inclusion of our “Pick of the Litter” Holiday Gift Guide. This year’s Guide includes a variety of all sorts of fabulous items for not only your beloved canine, but, for the canineanimal lover as well! We are extremely grateful for our readers, advertisers, and of course our writers this holiday season. Happy Holidays! Pam Wahl Owner/Publisher
The Virginia–Maryland Dog
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THE ULTIMATE WAY TO KEEP YOUR DOG SEEN & SAFE AFTER DARK. 100% WATERPROOF ExTREMELY DURAbLE GERMAN-MADE qUALITY 2 YEAR WARRANTY k-9 search & rescue approved
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There are tales to tell and tails that tell . . .
The Endless Path Love. Seeking it. Finding it. And sometimes losing it. Isn’t that what so much of life is really about? While there is adventure, laughter, and tears along The Endless Path, in the end, it is about love and all the amazing things that it can accomplish. -Laurie Duperier
www.theendlesspath.com Available on Amazon and Bookstores everywhere
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Expanding the Region’s Holistic Care Options By Nancy Plemens Mayes
Wallace, a 15-year-old Beagle, is benefitting from both Eastern and Western veterinary medicine here in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., region. While being treated for lung cancer with chemotherapy at an area specialty hospital, he is also receiving acupuncture for a leg ailment at the new Veterinary Holistic Center.
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For the D.C. region, Wallace’s example illustrates how this relatively new paradigm of care is being embraced more and more by pet owners and veterinarians, thanks to the efforts of Jordan Kocen, DVM. Kocen operated his holistic-only practice from VCA SouthPaws in Fairfax, Va., since 1995, but he has now opened the Veterinary Holistic Center in North Springfield. The 5,000-squarefoot space is home to ten holistic practitioners, offering acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic care, therapeutic massage, and physical therapy and rehabilitation. Six
The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
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area trainers are also expanding their reach and services by offering classes at VHC. “Over the past 20 years, I’ve seen a growing acceptance of holistic options by traditional veterinarians as their clients seek alternative therapies,” Kocen explains. “Pet owners come to us from a variety of perspectives and situations. Some clients have had positive experiences personally with holistic care, others are searching for a more ‘natural’ way to heal their dogs and cats, and others are looking for hope and see holistic care as their last option.” At VHC, all of these reasons are the underpinning of why Kocen launched the practice as a standalone center. “Our goal was to expand the availability of holistic veterinary medicine to more people in the region,” he says. “To do that effectively, we needed more space to provide more services.” Amy Haywood Dorr, a local licensed veterinary technician, says she embraced holistic treatments for her dog Monty after running out of conventional medicine options. She brought Monty to see Kocen after he was diagnosed with two inoperable lung tumors. He was given six months to live. Fifteen months later, “he’s still with us,” she says.
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For more information: Veterinary Holistic Center (VHC) 7950 Woodruff Court, Suite 1 Springfield, VA 22151 info@vhcnova.com www.vhcnova.com
She brought Monty to see Kocen after he was diagnosed with two inoperable lung tumors. He was given six months to live. Fifteen months later, “he’s still with us,” she says. “Monty gets acupuncture for his arthritis and Chinese herbs and homeopathic remedies for the masses. “ Dorr says. “Dr. Kocen has guided us through every complication.” As with most successful businesses, relationships are the key to success. Kocen and his associates have established long-term relationships with their clients--seeing multiple generations of pets--and with area veterinarians.
Pictured Left: Oscar, owned by Liz Korcak, has been under the care of Jordan Kocen, DVM for eight years. Dr. Kocen treats Oscar’s periodic neck and back pain from intervertebral disease with acupuncture and occasionally, frequent specific laser therapy Photo Courtesy of: Laura Mann for VHC
“We--the client, the regular vet, and VHC--are all working to achieve the same result,” says Kocen. “We all want a healthy, happy pet with a comfortable, high quality of life. When we work together, the odds of making that happen are stronger.”
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{ weekend getaway}
A Virginia Mountains Holiday
City Dogs And Country Dogs Love To Stay, Play And Shop In The Pet-Friendly Blue Ridge Mountain Towns In Southwestern Virginia.
By Ginger Warder Above Pictured L to R: Molly, Stella & Salvage Dawgs canine TV star, Sally, are often at the Black Dog Salvage warehouse in Grandin to greet both two-legged and four-legged customers Photo Courtesy of: Black Dog Salvage/Anna Bowser Photography
Think you can only visit Virginia’s mountains in the summer or fall? Well, think again. For the first time in its 50-year history, the Peaks of Otter Lodge is now pet friendly and stays open on weekends throughout the winter, while the Roanoke Valley, offering several pet-friendly hotel options, is a great base for exploring the Blue Ridge. Country dogs will work up an appetite on long mountain walks in the crisp winter air and sophisticated city dogs will love shopping for unique, local gifts at Black Dog Salvage or visiting nearby wineries like Chateau Morrisette.
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The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
{ weekend getaway}
Play
Roanoke’s iconic star on Mill Mountain, originally a Christmas decoration, earned the city the nickname “Star City of the South”. The mountain trails are perfect for a little holiday R & R and the live Star Cam lets you share the experience with friends and family around the world. In fact, you may run into the city’s mayor, David Bowers, who loves to walk the trails with his dog, Catcher. Pet rescue activist and longtime Roanoke resident, Trixie Averill, says her dogs love Roanoke’s River Greenway. “If there’s one thing I love to do more than any other, it’s walking with my Westies on the Roanoke River Greenway. The “kidz” love it because there are lots of interesting smells, grass to roll in and friendly people who often stop to give them a scratch on the head.” For an easy day trip, pack the pooch and head to the hills for a visit and tasting at Chateau Morrisette Winery. Dogs are welcome in the tasting room, and if you’re looking for gifts for fellow dog lovers or for your furry family, the gift shop has several unique items featuring the winery’s signature Black Labrador Retrievers.
treat yourself and your pup to a sweet shopping break at Viva La Cupcake, a bakery that offers special “pupcakes” as well as a variety of customflavored cupcakes for humans. Further up the Blue Ridge Parkway, the small towns of Bedford and Buchanan are great off-the-beaten path shopping destinations. You’ll love the retro feel of Buchanan, known for its many antique shops, and Bedford’s Goose Creek Studio features some stunning local artwork and pottery that you won’t find anywhere else.
Shop
Stay
The Virginia Mountains region also offers exceptional shopping from artisanal food products and local wine to antiques and art. Check out Roanoke’s outdoor markets and head to the charming suburb of Grandin, home of several pet-loving businesses including Black Dog Salvage. Known for its DIY Network show, Salvage Dawgs, Black Dog Salvage honors its canine mascot and television co-star, Sally, with a line of pet merchandise including dog collars, leashes and toys—all Sallyapproved of course—and the huge architectural warehouse features all manor of salvaged house parts and collectibles. Walk down the street and
Pictured Left: The Peaks of Otter Lodge Courtesy of: Peaks of Otter Lodge/Delaware North Pictured Right: Viva la Cupcake in Roanoke’s Grandin neighborhood Courtesy of: VisitRoanokeVA.com
The mountain trails are perfect for a little holiday R & R and the live Star Cam lets you share the experience with friends and family around the world. One of IHG’s many pet-friendly properties, the Holiday Inn Valley View in Roanoke will surprise you with its many amenities, including an indoor swimming pool, and the Sheraton Roanoke Hotel & Conference Center is a great location for large canines—the hotel welcomes dogs of up to 80 pounds with no additional fees—and offers amenities including food and water bowls and “Sweet Sleeper” pet beds. If your pooch loves the outdoors, head up the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Peaks of Otter Lodge, now offering pet-centric rooms in Building #3 that feature laminate floors and easy access to the grounds.
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
If You Go: visitvamountains.com visitroanokeva.com blackdogsalvage.com vivalacupcakes.com goosecreekstudio.com thedogs.com peaksofotter.com
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Artist rendering of Wholistic Paws Veterinary Services Companioning Center
Re-imagining the Standards of Pet Hospice and Palliative Care By Krisi Erwin, DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVPP
Wouldn’t it be great if there were one place in our community where pet parents could seek out education about holistic care for their beloved fur kids? Embark on fun training sessions that would help to their pets to be stronger, prevent injury, or help them recover from surgery
Images Courtesy of: Wholistic Paws Veterinary Services
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down the road? Have a diverse team of individuals well versed in pain management, acupuncture, rehabilitation, massage therapy, and herbal medicine that can help provide loving, compassionate care? That this team will keep it first and foremost in their minds to keep your family veterinarian informed about recommendations and care suggestions? That the team will go above and beyond to help an ailing pet and their family through the ups and downs that come with hospice care and saying goodbye? That grieving families could have a safe environment for rituals such as pet memorial services? That after care such as cremation could be done in an environmentally conscientious way?
At Wholistic Paws Veterinary Services, the staff members are looking forward to building a new model of veterinary practice in Loudoun County, Va., that can hopefully benefit many by offering companionship for pet owners and their pets. At the Companioning Center, staff members look forward to bringing together up-to-date conventional medicine with complementary therapies to help promote an environment of healing and comfort care. Staff members are excited to be sharing their plans for the center with pet owners, and they look forward to announcing their talented team in the future. By combining the old and new, eastern and western, staff members hope to provide the most complete care they can in pain management, holistic medicine, hospice, and end of life transitions.
The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
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A physical location will also allow the staff to provide an innovative and ecologically responsible waterbased cremation option called Aquamation, or Alkaline Hydrolysis. Aquamation is a gentle process that produces no harmful greenhouse gases, consumes 1/20 the amount of energy a traditional flame cremation consumes, and has 1/10 the carbon footprint of traditional flame cremation. Staff members look forward to extending their care for pets and ensuring that they are treated with respect and dignity.
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For more information:
At the Companioning Center, staff members also plan to extend their services beyond the physical care of pets to help their pet owners through the tumultuous events that can happen when caring for an aging or chronically ill pet. The Companioning Center will be home to pet loss support services such as support groups and care-for-the-caregiver resources such as lectures and seminars. Space will also be available for pet memorial services for families who need it.
Artist rendering of Wholisitc Paws Veterinary Services Companioning Center Layout Plan
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Wholistic Paws Veterinary Services P.O. Box 713 Hamilton, VA 20159 (571) 438-0339 wecare@wholisticpawsvet.com www.wholisticpawsvet.com
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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Anne Wills, Dr. Enser Cole & Heidi
A Dog’s Nose is
Amazing,
Miracle
But a Dog’s Heart is a
By Laura S. Jones Anne Wills, founder of Dogs Finding Dogs, and her German Shepherd Heidi have always been close. Photos Courtesy of Anne Wills
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They are a tracking team—working together to find lost pets, lost people, and illegal drugs—and have happily shared their lives for nine years. Heidi’s nose is a work of art (she has received commendations from the state of Maryland and the County of Anne Arundel), and she is trained to use it well. When the team is working and Heidi picks up a scent, she alerts Anne to the presence of the scent. This “alerting” behavior turned very strange earlier this year, though, as Anne explains:
The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
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“Back in February, Heidi started barricading me, literally, on the couch. She wouldn’t let me up. She would push herself up against my legs and then paw my arms, leaving deep scratches. And you know that big eyed look dogs get when they are scared? She had that, and she was also panting and drooling. She seemed panic stricken and this happened every day, every time I sat down. Initially I thought I spilled gravy on my shirt or something.” Anne wanted to make light of the situation, but, after a few days when it was clear this behavior was not caused by something transient like gravy or bad weather, Anne took Heidi to the vet. “They ran blood tests and did a thorough exam and found nothing wrong.” The behavior continued though, and with a new twist. “She started to shove her nose into my chest and would breathe deeply. And it wasn’t just Anne and Heidi who were suffering from Heidi’s distressed state. Heidi and Anne’s other dog, Gretel, with whom Heidi normally got along, would get into skirmishes because Heidi wouldn’t allow Gretel near Anne. “Then it dawned on me that maybe I should go to the doctor.” Anne thought maybe it was a blood pressure issue—she has had problems with that before—that Heidi was picking up on. It was a few weeks before she could get the appointment, and when she saw her primary care physician, he could find nothing wrong. At first. “What brought you in,” he said, after running the standard tests. When Anne finally told him the whole story about Heidi’s strange behavior, he said, “Ah, let’s get picture of that area to be safe.” The doctor called the next morning and said she had cancer. “You have to get this taken care of,” he said. “Now.” A surgical biopsy revealed an enlarged lymph node —the size of an egg—at the exact spot Heidi had been sniffing.” The surgeon who did the biopsy marveled at the findings and said to Anne that “you better thank that dog.” Anne had no symptoms at all, even though she had been a smoker. Lung cancer is rarely detected without symptoms, and when a patient has symptoms, it is usually too late to for lifesaving treatment. After the lymph node was removed, Heidi calmed down. She still stayed closer than usual, Anne remembers, but the panicked behavior ceased.
The Doctor’s Point of View Anne’s oncologist, Dr. Enser Cole, Chief of Medical Oncology at Saint Agnes Cancer Institute in Baltimore, is an animal lover himself. The proud owner of a Maine Coon cat named Gula, he was sympathetic to the human animal bond. Still, “this is not the way we usually detect lung cancer. I am not against it at all, but it is unusual,” he said, chuckling. “I have heard of research on this in the past, but I have never actually seen a patient [whose cancer was detected by her dog]. Anne is a special person, and so is Heidi. It is a magical story.” In fact, Dr. Cole remembered that Heidi’s talent at tracking got in the way after Anne’s surgical biopsy in March. “Heidi kept getting upset when Anne came into the room. Anne eventually figured out that Heidi was detecting the narcotics she was taking to relieve the post-surgical pain.” While Dr. Cole doesn’t advise using dogs instead of cat scans to detect cancer, he does say “pay attention if your dog seems concerned. We know in medicine that when men come to the hospital, it is often because their wife or significant other is the push. The same thing occurs with women, too. Hopefully we know to pay attention to those who are significant in our lives, who really notice us, who care about us.” And for many people, dogs are our most significant others, he acknowledges. “This is quite special for me,” Dr. Cole adds, “because my research interest is in early detection and lung cancer screening. Most patients are diagnosed too late for us to help. Anne will benefit from Heidi’s early detection.” Even if your dog didn’t detect your cancer, Dr. Cole says, share a photo of him or her with your doctor. “It gives me a more vivid picture of my patient and it helps to build the doctor/patient bond and build trust.”
Recent Scientific Studies The science supporting dogs’ ability to detect cancer is not spectacular to many doctors and scientists, but it can seem pretty impressive to lay people. Reports of dogs detecting cancer are often anecdotal, though, and it is hard to conduct a study that meets the criteria required by medical journals of published papers. Often the studies are too small, or inadequately blinded, or marred in some other way. There was a small study in 2006 in which pet dogs were trained to identify compounds in the breath and urine of lung and breast cancer patients. But this year gave us an interesting
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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in on the biological or chemical factor(s) that are at play. Our ability to use dogs in a clinical setting to detect cancer is limited,” he added. “Therefore, we need to determine what biomarkers are being picked up here.”
Research in Progress at Auburn University and UC Davis
Anne Wills, Dr. Enser Cole & Heidi
preview into how more research may be conducted and how the power of dogs’ amazing noses may be harnessed to help those not lucky enough to live with a dog like Heidi. According to a study presented at the 2015 annual meeting of the American Urological Association in Orlando, a pair of German Shepherds were able to detect prostate cancer in urine with 98 percent accuracy. Researchers in Italy enrolled 902 participants and divided them into two main groups: 362 men with prostate cancer, and a control group made up of 540 men and women in generally good health or affected by other types of cancer or non-tumor related diseases. All participants provided urine samples. Two 3-year old, female German Shepherds named Zoe and Liu were trained for about five months using positive reinforcement training during which the dogs learn to distinguish certain distinctive scents. (Both Zoe and Liu had previously worked as explosive-detection dogs.) “This study gives us a standardized method of diagnosis that is reproducible, low cost and non-invasive,” said lead author Dr. Gianluigi Taverna. Dr. Parsons, a surgeon at the University of California-San Diego’s Cancer Center, considers the findings “provocative.” However, he told Reuters Health, “The results need to be validated in different patient populations and using different dogs. If the results can be replicated, then we need to zero
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Canine Performance Sciences (CPS) is the successor of a research effort that began in 1990 at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University. Presently, CPS makes advancements “through research that protects and serves national and local communities by countering threats — specifically explosive, narcotic, biological, and ecological threats — through man’s best defense, detection canines.” In one of their research initiatives explained on the CPS website, Craig Angle (co-director of CPS) and Dr. Thomas Passler, an associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, are investigating the ability of dogs to detect viral infections. “We have successfully trained two dogs to detect a virus in cattle and to discriminate that virus from other cattle viruses,” says Dr. Passler. Dogs could be used in the future as a mobile pathogen detection system to detect pathogens on the front lines in humans, animals and plants,” Angle hopes. The CPS has also teamed with the University of Arkansas Medical School to evaluate the ability of dogs to detect thyroid cancer. Apparently, a large number of patients present with thyroid pathologies and ultimately surgically remove their thyroid glands only to find out that it was not necessary. “We are currently working with surgeons and scientists at the University of Arkansas to utilize the dog as a non-invasive sampling method for thyroid cancer detection,” Angle said. Several thousand miles away, the University of California at Davis Medical Center “employs” two puppies, Alfie the labradoodle and Charlie the German Shepherd, (both chosen for their excellent noses and their drive and motivation) as canine cancer detectors- in-training. They hope to have them in use by 2018, and are working in partnership with Dina Zaphiris of the In Situ Foundation. Dog detection may not be perfect, nor can it be done on a large scale, but it is an inexpensive, safe, non-invasive way to screen for cancer, especially early on. According to Peter Belafsky, professor and physician at UC Davis, pups like Charlie and Alfie “could save countless lives.”
The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
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The Future
BASIC SCREENING FOR LUNG CANCER Dr. Cole wants people not lucky enough to have a cancer sniffing dog to be aware of basic screening protocol. Essentially, patients who are 55-74 years old and have smoked for 30 pack years (a pack a day for 30 years, or 2 packs a day for 15 years) are at high risk and should visit their primary care physician for a referral to get screened.
The necessary next step, some argue, is to know exactly what the dogs are smelling, as Dr. Parsons noted, then make a machine. But before dogs got involved, scientists didn’t even know cancer cells had an odor. In a 2014 article for Slate.com, Brain Palmer sums up: “[These] dog studies suggest that tumors leach volatile organic compounds in detectable concentrations, and that these emissions differ from those of noncancerous cells.. [A] small core of well-trained animals [could] help us figure out what, exactly, the chemical signals are. Machines—man’s other best friend—can take it from there.”
What Anne wants other dog owners (and potential cancer patients) to know in the meantime is this: “Pay attention to your dog. The psychology of dogs is that they watch. They know your moods. They key in on things we miss because that is how they communicate. If your dog is acting weird, ask yourself why. Take the time to know your dog. Watch what they do. Dogs are very smart and have a lot to say if we learn their language.” Throughout the summer, and after her biopsy, Anne received radiation and chemotherapy which shrunk the tumor. Surgery was contemplated, but in the end, Anne and her doctors decided against it and will pursue further non-invasive treatment.
{
The best part is that Anne has a future now, and it is because Heidi cared enough to be concerned about what she smelled. “If I hadn’t paid attention to Heidi, I would be making funeral arrangements,” she says.
DID YOU KNOW: While this article focused on Anne and Heidi and cancer detection dogs, there are other kinds of assistance dogs, and they are trained differently. Cancer sniffing dogs are trained for the smell, assistance dogs are trained to the person, for triggers. (As for guide dogs for the blind, references to them arguably date as far back as the mid-16th century.) Diabetic Assistance Dogs are a common type of medical assistance dog who can use their noses to assist individuals with diabetes by detecting fluctuating blood sugar levels and alerting their handlers to these changes, preventing hypoglycemic comas and helping diabetic individuals to better regulate blood sugar levels. One of the more famous of these types of assistance dogs is Roxie, a four year old Australian Shepherd who has completed two Tough Mudders (10 mile obstacle races) with her owner, Desiree Rincon. The pair will be featured in Runners World. Sergeant Rincon developed diabetes after surgery and radiation for cancer and suffers from diabetic seizures. Roxie, who came from Pets for Vets, alerts her when they are coming on so she can take action.
{
Dogs will get us there. Just like they have gotten us everywhere else.
“If I hadn’t paid attention to Heidi, I would be making funeral arrangements.”
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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{ fitness & training }
The Zen of Dog Training: Part 5 Walk Like a Boss By Kimberly Artley Walking the dog. One of the most common and challenging aspects of the human-canine dynamic, and one of the most crucial. Photo Courtesy of: Kimberly Artley
This one simple activity is where much is being communicated, established and reinforced. Are we leading or being led? Are we giving into bratty, pushy behavior by ignoring, rolling our eyes and allowing, or are we addressing and following through on our expectations of polite, respectful behavior? Are we establishing and consistently reinforcing rules, boundaries and parameters? Are we feeling nervous, anxious, frustrated, and stressed, or calm, confident, and grounded? Is our leash-holding arm
bent with constant tension and are we “bracing ourselves for the inevitable”, or is it long and relaxed by our side? Is the dog on a retractable or a leash with way too much slack, or a short but loose one? The “walking the dog” ritual embodies and represents more than we realize. It indicates how we feel about leading and guiding (and whether or not we can be trusted to do so), how we feel moving in and through various situations and scenarios we encounter, where we fall in the pack hierarchy and dynamic, and more.
What goes on inside the door sets the tone for what will go down outside the door.
Kimberly Artley & Friends
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The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
{ fitness & training }
Dogs who have humans they trust, respect, and feel confident in following simply don’t act out of line or feel the need to protect. They know their human has whatever may come their way. When no one is leading and guiding with some sense of confidence and control, there’s a void in the pack dynamic, giving many dogs reason to step in. Nailing The Walk has far more to do with us than our canine companions. Is your walk anything but enjoyable? Here are some helpful tips to turn your dog walk from an absolute nightmare into a total dream:
The Walk begins before we step outside the door. What goes on inside the door sets the tone for what will go down outside the door. In other words, teach and expect calm behavior during the “leading up to the walk” ritual, then reward with moving into the outside world. All too often, we’re rewarding frantic, over-excited, unbalanced states of mind with getting leashed up and out for the walk; which, in turn, reinforces that state of mind and behavior.
Pick a side. For many, having a dog walk on the left side is most comfortable, but do what works best for you. Keep in mind, we’re supposed to be on a walk with our dog. Not being walked by our dog or vice versa. This is a shared and mutually beneficial activity, and one of the best ways to bond.
Choose the best leash and collar combo, or “toolset”, to suit your needs. Every dog is different, as is every human. If your dog isn’t walking like an absolute dream beside you, there are some helpful tools that can come in for the assist. Just remember, as with any tool, educate and train yourself on how to appropriately and properly fit and use before working Fido on it.
Keep a long, relaxed arm with a short, loose leash. Tightness conveys tension. Tension is usually a byproduct of anxiety, fear, nervousness, frustration, and stress. We say more than we know to a dog through the leash. It’s a direct line of communication.
When we focus more on how we want things to go as opposed to how we don’t want or what we fear may come to pass, the odds are in our favor for a most productive outcome. Lift your shoulders up and press them back.
Our body language speaks volumes. By lifting our shoulders and pressing them back we’re no longer shrinking in our space. We’re owning it. Try doing this right now and feel the difference it makes.
Breathe long, hard and deep.
Breath is our barometer, and indicates how we’re feeling each second. It’s also a natural reset button for our internal nervous system. If out on a walk and a hairy situation is encountered, just breathe long, hard and deep, and keep confidently move your way through it.
Continue moving forward.
In sticky scenarios, many people will put their dog in a “Sit”, cover their eyes, dance around in front of them to block their view, and other choice—and quite entertaining—moves. Putting a reactionary dog in a stationary position with an oncoming trigger only causes them to hyper-fixate on said trigger and intensify their reaction. Keep things fluid and moving, leading your dog through the situation calmly and confidently.
Envision what you want instead of what you don’t want or fear. What we continue to expect, will surely come to pass. When we focus more on how we want things to go as opposed to how we don’t want or what we fear may come to pass, the odds are in our favor for a most productive outcome. Exercise is one of the most important aspects of a dog's health, as well as our own. In Nature, wild canines roam for miles and miles each day. This is a natural instinct they have and a need that must be fulfilled by us on a daily basis. Most dogs need more than a leash walk. It’s important to match the duration and intensity of our daily exercise with our dog's individual energy level. If short on time and there’s a high-energy dog in need of release, increase the intensity of the activity if having to cut back on duration (time). The vast majority of canine behavioral issues are related to one or more of their instinctual needs not being met, fulfilled and provided by us. A lack of daily exercise and ineffective communication being two of the biggest culprits. A backyard and a trip to the dog park is not substitution for a daily, structured walk. This issue will be explored further in Part 6 of this series. All in all, when it comes to knocking several cans with one stone, The Walk delivers. Remember, practice makes awesome.
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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locations, purpose – saving lives. www.bvns.net
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4
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{ training }
Six Lessons Dogs Teach Us By Laurie Luck, Pet owners who are fortunate to live KPA-CTP, CNWI with a dog know that dogs have much to teach their owners. Dogs are fabulous teachers—if owners take the time to pay attention to them and their lessons. Here are six lessons that people can learn from dogs:
1 Actions speak louder than words.
Dogs are superb observers of behavior. Not a word is spoken, yet a dog immediately knows when their owner is preparing for a walk. Dogs have mastered the art of observation, and they very quickly catch onto habits and patterns that their owners may not even be aware about. People have said that their dogs know them better than their own spouses! That is not surprising, considering that dogs’ observation skills are superior to humans.
2 Dogs are far more than their history.
Some dogs have horrible backgrounds. Abuse, neglect, and mistreatment color their past. Dogs live in the now, though: most dogs are able to overcome their past and are able to thrive in a new, loving and nurturing environment. A rescued dog is a dog. Don’t label him as rescued, as that allows his past to define him. He’s your dog, period. Allowing the dog to break free from his past by unlocking him from his past is the best way to honor a dog.
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The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
{ training }
3 Less is more.
6 Puzzles are fun!
4
Dogs have mastered the art of observation, and they very quickly catch onto habits and patterns that their owners may not even be aware about.
Dog owners tend to prove their love by (over) feeding the dog. More than half of all the dogs in the United States are overweight, according to a May, 2014, survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Carrying excess weight puts a dog at a disadvantage: heart and skin problems can worsen arthritis complications, lead to Type 2 diabetes, aggravate heart problems and it can shorten a dog’s life. Dogs who are at an ideal weight have fewer health problems and live longer.
A little goes a long way. When giving a dog a treat or a snack, make the treat as small as possible. Cutting or breaking treats into tiny, pea-sized pieces is a quick and easy way to cut down on calories while extending the budget. If one box of full-size treats lasts a month, cutting those treats into thirds (or even smaller!), will not only make the box last longer, but it can also lead to weight loss for the dog.
5 Cherish individuality.
Dogs are like snowflakes--no two dogs are alike. It’s inevitable that an owner will compare their previous dog to their current dog. While it’s okay to compare dogs superficially (Fluffy’s coat is so much shinier!), going any deeper and comparing the perfect dog from the past with the dog the owner has now is a slippery slope. Enjoy every dog on his (or her) individual merits, not on how they compare to the dog of the past.
Dogs depend on their owners for everything: when they can go outside, mealtimes, walks, health care…everything! Life can get pretty boring for a dog. Make life fun by setting up puzzles: feed the dog his dinner by putting food into food-stuffable toys. The dog gets to exercise his brain while figuring out how to get each little morsel out of the toy. Food stuffable toys serve two purposes: food and entertainment!
Thankfully, the more time spent with dogs, the more they will teach their owners. The learning goes both ways, of course: owners teach dogs essential skills like polite manners and the dogs, in turn, teach owners some valuable life lessons. Together, dogs and their people make a terrific team. Enjoy the time spent together and the lessons shared.
{
For more information: Laurie Luck, KPA-CTP, CNWI Smart Dog University 240.394.1112 www.SmartDogUniversity.com
{
WORLD OF PETS EXPO FREE ING PARK
& Educational Experience
16 th Feb 0 2 4 Jan
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Indoors & 15th Heated THE Event for the Pet Lover A Shoppers Paradise for Pet Products & Services tate C Hampton Roads S d n la y r onvention Ma FREE Seminars by National Experts ds Center airgroun MD F H ® a m p to DockDogs Competition - VA n , , VA Timonium Amazing Performing House Cats - MD ACFA Cat Show - MD The Birdwhisperer, Parade of Breeds Well socialized pets welcome. Cat Agility - VA Please see our web site for more information. Johnny Peers Muttville Comix Shelters and Rescues with Adoptable Pets 410-374-5964 • 800-882-9894 FUN Contests and Door Prizes www.worldofpets.org • info@worldofpets.org
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CLIP FOR $1.00 OFF - Purchase of 1 admission ticket. Limit 1 coupon per person. WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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Pick of The Litter
2015 Holiday
Gift Guide
24
The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
{ holiday gift guide }
holiday gift guide 4Legs4Pets
Pet.Art Portraiture Pets can appreciate comfort and style with a 4Legs4Pets bed. USA-Made, indooroutdoor in 7 sizes. Promote your favorite sports team or coordinate your pet’s living space from our nearly 200 color combinations. Great for obedience & sporting dog training as well as for home, travel, daycare & more.
Art Landerman brings his unique blend of creativity and talent to each artistic portrait giving it a one-of-a-kind completion. Be sure to take the time to view the gallery pages on his website.
www.4Legs4Pets.net | 1-800-224-8268
www.artlanderman.com | 410-461-7926
Bike Tow Leash
Chateau Morrisette Winery eorgia Tech Engineer and G service dog trainer developed for amazing stable, fun rides, the 1-Running-Dog Bike Tow Leash® is the only American Pet Association, approved safe dog-cycling attachment for bikes, trikes, mobility scooters even wheel chairs. For dog-people ages 10 to 80+, dogs 10 to 185 pounds! Made in USA.
Holiday Wine Sale…Bring Home the Dogs! Black Friday-December 31, all our delicious wines are on sale, 20% Off bottles, 30% off cases. Wine makes a great gift and we ship to over 30 states. Order online, by phone or visit us on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Floyd, Virginia.
www.BikeTowLeash.com | 857-BIKE-DOG
www.thedogs.com | 540-593-2865
Caring Hands Animal Hospital
Chloe Cole Pet Couture CHATEAU MORRISETTE WINE
!
Chloe Cole Pet Couture is
ive your pet the gift of health! Our G hospitals are staffed with compassionate team members who treat each patient like family. We offer an open and transparent environment so you can trust that you are a part of your pet’s care each step of the way. 7 locations across Northern Virginia and Maryland.
www.caringhandsvet.com
THEDOGS.COM / 540.593.28 a luxury online pet boutique
with organic birthday cakes, vegan coconut treats, training treats, dog apparel, designer collars and more. Holiday Winesection Sale…Bring H Our cat couture has Dogs! Black Friday-Decem modern cat furniture, interacour delicious wines are tive cat toys and designer cat on s Off bottles, cases. W collars. Visit Pet30% Bathoff & Spa section for groommakes a designer great gift and we ingstates. products Order online, by 30
visit us on the Blue Ridge Pa Floyd, Virginia. www.chloecole.com | 209-815-9663 WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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{ holiday gift guide }
holiday gift guide Crate Covers & More
Doggy Goo So chic, the Parisian is an artful display of vintage French postage stamp postcard, greeting cards and Eiffel Tower. Get yours today and receive 10% discount through December 31, 2015.
No Allergy Itch Collar this Holiday ! Finally, No Itch Collar/No Masking of Symptoms with Pharma! I’m Fighting my Itchy, Paw Chewing, Gunky Ear EnviroAllergies with a DVM Dermatologist Formulated GOO-Licious Peanut Butter Treat, which builds Immune Tolerance to 15 Major Enviro Allergy Sources. Thanks to DoggyGOO.com!
Use promo code: “Christmas”
www.cratecoversandmore.com
www.DoggyGOO.com | 855-246-2426
The Endless Path
Fluff & Tuff
Love. Seeking it. Finding it. And sometimes losing it. Isn’t that what so much of life is really about? While there is adventure, laughter, and tears along The Endless Path, in the end, it is about love and all the amazing things that it can accomplish.
luff & Tuff dog toys feaF ture classic designs, ultraplush outer fabric and durable mesh liner for a unique combination of quality, appearance and durability. Not just another plush toy – there’s a difference you will notice and your dog will love! Find your local independent Fluff & Tuff retailer on our website.
-Laurie Duperier Available on Amazon and Bookstores everywhere
www.theendlesspath.com
www.fluffandtuff.com
Foxden Equine
Frannies Get a new lease on life for your dog: give them HyCel® Canine! Consisting of three joint restoring ingredients-Celadrin, Hyluronic Acid, and MagnesiumHycel® Canine is an advanced joint formula designed to help restore joint health and mobility in dogs. For more information on HyCel® Canine, visit our website.
foxdenequine.com/Products/Hycel-Canine
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At Frannie’s, we have a selection of gentle harnesses and cozy coats to pamper your pooch. Our high quality, machine-washable products are made of natural materials right in the USA. Current harness sizes available are XXS-XL (approx 2-21 lbs). Current coat sizes available are XS-Large (approx 5-18 lbs). For help selecting your Frannie’s, please give us a call or send us an email.
www.franniesshop.com | 415-336-0625
The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
{ holiday gift guide }
PoopPac
Pure Mutt, Inc.
YIPPEE!
Yippee! An End to Carrying Smelly Waste Bags! The PoopPac Dog Walker’s Case, designed to carry used dog waste bags and dispense fresh bags, ensuring you will never be without a bag when you need one, or stuck carrying a bag of waste. Imagine Hands Free and Odor Free; Hooray!
Pure Mutt, Inc. creates apparel and accessories for Mutts and Mutt lovers. Show you are proud of your rescued mixed-breed canine companion. Help promote one-of-a-kind shelter dogs and adoption. Percentage donated to animal shelters.
www.pooppac.com | 805-364-0260
www.puremuttinc.com 954-576-1695
Purple Pebble
Ramp 4 Paws urple Pebble Cuddle Mat P -The Perfect Gift for your fur babies!!! Ultra Durable yet luxuriously soft, Hypoallergenic, Easy Care – 100% Machine Wash/Quick Dry, moisture-wicking, stain-resistant, easy on joints, Made in USA! Available in sizes XS – XXXL + carrier, SUV and Kitty sizes too! Personalization Now Available!
The award-winning Ramp4Paws dog ramp helps dogs safely enter and exit vehicles. Its patented rollout, roll-up design offers convenience and uses minimal storage space. Two lightweight models are made with pride in the USA.
www.purplepebble.com | 201-444-7439
www.Ramp4Paws.com
So Well
Stella & Chewy’s Great for all four legged friends and their owners, our Salt Lights gently purify the air creating a healthy, clean and beautiful environment. Safe and natural, these one of a kind ambient lights will be a great conversation piece. Starting at only $20.
www.sowellmade.com | 866-497-0274
Stella & Chewy’s believes pets are happier and healthier when they’re fed the same raw ingredients they would find in the wild. That’s why our Carnivore Crunch treats for dogs are freeze-dried to lock in nutrition and taste, and are less than 3 calories per morsel.
www.StellaAndChewys.com
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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{ holiday gift guide }
holiday gift guide GoFer
Humane Domain Learn to become a dog trainer/animal trainer and behavior counselor. We are accepting 3 more applications for our spring class. Work with dogs, cats, horses, alpaca, parrots and more for a very well rounded experience.
The GoFer promotes safer car rides for dog and owner by vastly reducing driver distraction while allowing the pet to move freely while still maintaining gentle restraint. he GoFer is a patented, Made In T The USA device that works with the safety belt shoulder restraint found in modern passenger vehicle.
www.goferrides.com | 855-goferrides
www.humanedomain.net | 410-549-1135
Naturally Tearfree Canine
Pacific Urns
Naturally Tearfree Canine is an all-natural herbal supplement that you sprinkle on your pet’s food and in return it removes the tear, muzzle, and body licking stains. No additives, antibiotics, or fillers have been added, only pure natural herbs. Let your pup be white and tear free again.
When only the very best will do for your little buddy. Sterling silver cremation pendants starting at only $198.00 CAN. Each pendant comes with matching sterling silver chain, display box, and cleaning cloth to keep your pendant looking it’s best. Visit our site for the best selection and pricing.
www.naturallytearfreecanine.com 720-297-6920
pacificurns.com | 1-800-832-1195
Wiki Wags
Woodrow Wear, LLC Let’s ‘bring harmony back into the home’ this holiday season with Wiki Wags Disposable Male Dog Wraps. The No Worry diaper wrap for your fella’ allows you to enjoy the family without the mess. Order Now!
www.wikiwags.com | 888-945-4924
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Woodrow Wear’s Power Paws are an indoor/outdoor solution for traction, fashion mobility, medical needs, allergies, and snow/heat. They are sensible, sock-based, and made of cotton and elastic for comfort and fit. Power Paws are available in multiple durability levels, many colors, and in 13 sizes across 2 distinct foot shapes.
www.woodrowwear.com | 877-737-3545
The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
{ holiday gift guide }
Glowdoggie™ LED collars For those that want to keep their furry loved ones seen & safe on dark winter mornings and nights, the German-engineered Glowdoggie™ LED collar provides the ultimate, high-quality solution. It’s 100% waterproof, extremely durable and guaranteed for two years.
Kelp Products of Florida Give the gift of health! 100% All Natural Organic ChelatedVitamins & Minerals Our Norwegian Kelp Vegetarian Blend contains over 13 vitamins, 60 trace & chelated minerals and 20 key amino acids. Helps reduce stress, dry skin & allergies, reduce shedding & improve coat and more! Use code: VAMDDCDOG for $1 off your order!
www.glowdoggie.com
www.kelpproductsofflorida.com | 1-800-932-7089
The VA-MD-Washington DC Dog
Madra Mór Canine Spa Treatments
Volume 6•Issue 3
Fall 2015
Dr. Katy Nelson —
Veterinarian, Animal Advocate, TV Host & Mom
Pets Get High Blood Pressure, Too Retired – But Not Out for the Count
{
“Hannah,” “Sheba,”
& “Pepper” are available for adoption through Virginia German Shepherd Rescue (VGSR)
Humane Foundation (details on Page 46)
}
Don’t know what type of gift to get your dog-loving friend or family member? Why not a gift that will last all year long? Purchase a subscription to The VirginiaMaryland-Washington DC Dog for a discounted rate of $15.00 available through December 30th! Contact us by email or phone and mention code VAMDDC15 for your subscription.
bark@vamddcdog.com | 301-514-2804
Honoring Nature At Bathtime, Cleanse, Protect, Rejuvenate with Madra Mór luxurious mud treatments! The Ultimate Canine Spa Experience Absorbs/Detox The Undesirables (Smells, Impurities) While Adsorbing Nourishment With A Stimulating Massage Application For Optimum Skin Wellness. Healthy Skin Equals A Beautiful Coat!
www.madramormud.com | 561-670-2934
Play With Us! Connect
with us on Facebook or Twitter!
Facebook.com: The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog @ thevirginiadog
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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{ rounding up rover }
My Dog is Lost! My Heart is Broken! And Now I’ve Been Scammed! By Anne Wills
Tragically, there are people and companies posing that they are schooled in finding missing pets, but who are actually scammers—offering services for finding your pet! They also try to get to your reward. They are the lowest of humanity by preying off of your fears! They will gain your trust and interject themselves into your search. They have a hidden agenda— getting your money! Dogs Finding Dogs (DFD), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of highly trained search and rescue dogs and handlers with more than 4000 pets returned, DFD has seen it all. DFD is not trying to dissuade pet owners from having honest volunteers involved in pet searches. DFD want to warn about scams that they have seen that have caused people to never find their pet or worse, have their pet killed!
Uncertified/Untrained SAR Dogs and Handlers Some people may only know what they watch on television when it comes to using a Search and Rescue (SAR) dog. Some television commercials appear to imply that a SAR dog is the magical tool that immediately finds its target. This is not true. A pet is a moving target. Finding a missing pet takes time. Scammers know all of this. They will charge pet owners for mileage and expenses, plus a huge hourly rate, usually $150.00 per hour, or higher than that. Scammers can charge pet owners for an elaborate walk to hike up the bill. The scammers usually leave with the advice of putting up flyers. or your dog has been picked up. For a one-day visit, dog owners can expect to pay $600 to $1,500, or more if there is outof-state travel involved. For pet owners to insure that they are working with a legitimate SAR team, people should research them thoroughly. Pet owners should contact their local ASPCA and Animal Control. If these officials don’t
30
know the team, then this is a warning that the company could be a scam. Pet owners should ask to see the SAR team’s certification card. Pet owners should then have the card e-mailed to them. Research the agency that certified the team. Be careful about the certification card. There are companies out there that sell invalid identification cards for service dogs with a registration number. For example, teams with Dogs Finding Dogs are certified yearly with the National Tactical Police Dog Association. What breed of dog is going to be used in the search? Some people are trying to pass off little poodles, mixed small breeds and breeds that are not known for hunting as search dogs. A German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, a larger-breed hound, or a dog along these types of breeds, is what pet owners should utilize in a search. Pet owners should be skeptical about any SAR dog team that demands cash only. This is not a team that is working for a legitimate company. This is someone out there who is trying to make quick money. With cash-only transactions, pet owners have no record if there is a problem that needs legal attention. Lastly, pet owners should make sure that they see formal company literature, that there is a legal contract to sign, and that a receipt is issued. If pet owners do not get all of these, then turn and run.
The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
{
{
{ rounding up rover }
For pet owners to insure that they are working with a legitimate SAR team, people should research them thoroughly.
Fake Telephone Amber Alert Calling Findtoto.com and LostMyDoggie.com are recommended. There is a pet alert out there that does not make the calls or they call days later which defeats the purpose of quick action. It uses the Find Toto name in its Google ad to trick you to their site. They bait you by offering a template for a flyer and emailing it to local vets and shelters. When you try to call them back for a refund you can’t reach anyone.
We Guarantee to Find Your Pet in 3 Days or Money Back This is an obnoxious foreign sounding man who gets your information off of Craigslist and Facebook. He offers for X dollars a guarantee of getting numerous people on the ground immediately. They will find your pet in 3 days or your money back. Do not fall for this! This organization has been exposed nationally on the news across the country. Their calls have been traced back out of the country to Brazil. Sue, with her missing Dachshund experienced this. “Lost pet finder gets your phone number from Craigslist then calls to offer their services. Claims they are a non profit but are not 501c3. When you refuse, they continued to call at least 10 times a day no matter how many times I told them to take me off their list or threatened them. Finally had to block the 10 different phone numbers they called from.”
Facebook Lost and Found Pages Every county and state has lost and found pages that you can post on. Be leery of those that are not named Lost and Found pets of XXX County or State. We have found one page that boasts matching up pets and will make free color flyers for you. How can they afford to make hundreds of free color flyers for you or for all the lost pets? The hidden agenda is to get into
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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{ rounding up rover }
{
{
An anonymous tipster called us and told us where my dog was hidden. It took the police raiding the house to get my dog back!”
your search and go after your reward money. An uncertified tracker is being used which adds legitimacy to their knowledge of finding pets. The tracker demands cash only. Mike fell victim to this. “I was scammed! I was called clear out of the blue offering free color flyers. They sent out a tracker who demanded me to go to the ATM and get $250 cash. When I asked for a receipt I was told no. When I asked for a brochure I was told they had none. I was even told they were with another legit tracking company which was a lie. I was so desperate to find my dog that I fell for it! I was told that my dog was right there. It was not! It was picked up and taken to a shelter in less than 10 minutes from where I lost it! I was offering a $1000.00 reward.” states Mike.
I’ve Found Your Dog in Another State This scam involves calling you off of your social media postings and stating they have found your dog but took it to another state with them. They say for XX dollars they will ship it back to you! Just hang up the phone.
Holding a Dog for Hostage Money This is extortion. Some low life people will steal your dog and call you asking for the reward money or they will demand a higher reward. If this happens, call Dogs Finding Dogs immediately. Sixty percent of all of our dog cases wind up stolen. We work with the police. It’s advised to NOT specify a dollar amount for your reward when posting on social media or on flyers. Keep the phone numbers so they can be reversed. Never meet anyone with the reward money without having the police there with you!
{
For more information: Anne Wills Dogs Finding Dogs 410.908.6374 www.dogsfindingdogs.com
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{
Jessica had a stolen Yorkie. “I posted up a $1500.00 reward. The man who had my dog found him running down the street. A police officer saw him stop his truck and pick up my dog. He hid my dog at his girlfriend’s house and called me demanding $2500.00. When I refused he said he will hold the dog until the reward goes up. An anonymous tipster called us and told us where my dog was hidden. It took the police raiding the house to get my dog back!”
Protective Advice Do your homework. This is your furry child that is missing! Unfortunately there are those out there who will try anything to make a quick buck, no matter how despicable! Try to think rationally through all the turmoil you are going through. It’s only through good decisions and employing legitimate agencies and honest volunteers that your odds of finding your pet will be at their peak for a safe return. If you feel you have questions about something that you want to try, please give Dogs Finding Dogs a call at (410) 908-6374. We can help advise you.
The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
DFDogs_Ad_qtrpage_DFDogs_Ad_qtrpage 1/27/2014 3:36 PM Page 1
Professional hunt & field trial training Obedience Training Off-Leash Training In-Home Training Highlighted on... Anderson - Baltimore Sun
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{ ask a neurovet }
Ask A Neurovet Dr. Lauren Talarico
By Lauren R. Talarico, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology/Neurosurgery) Photo Courtesy Dr. Lauren Talarico
Dear Dr. T, My 8 year old pug, Poncho had his first seizure exactly one day after I administered topical flea and tick medication. I buy this medication from my veterinarian and have administered it (same brand and dose) since he was a puppy assuming it was safe. How could this cause my dog to start having seizures and should I stop using it? — Beth, Arlington, VA
Dear Beth, Good news! There has been no reported evidence that veterinary approved topical flea and tick medications cause seizure activity in dogs. Over the counter products that you can purchase online may not be as well regulated as the products you purchase from your veterinarian. It is possible that your pup had a bad reaction to the topical product, although unlikely since he has been receiving it for years. The more likely scenario is that Poncho seizure is due to something else such as epilepsy or other diseases of the brain. I recommend that Poncho be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible so we can try and determine the cause of his recent onset seizure activity.
Dear Dr. T, My 10 year old Golden Retriever, Molly recently started compulsively circling to the right. She refuses to turn to the left and spends the majority of her day just walking in circles. Is this a focal seizure? Could it be that Molly is losing sight in one of her eyes? — Robert, Bethesda MD
Do you have questions for the Neurovet? You can follow Dr. Lauren Talarico on Twitter @neurovet3 or contact her through her blog at www.theneurovet.com
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The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
{
䨀漀椀渀琀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀 昀漀爀 搀漀最猀Ⰰ 欀攀攀瀀 琀栀攀洀 愀挀琀椀瘀攀 琀栀椀猀 眀椀渀琀攀爀℀
Dear Robert and Molly, Compulsive circling to one side in a dog is most commonly associated with a problem in the brain, usually at the level of the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is the outside portion of the brain. Generally speaking, the right cerebral cortex controls the left side of the body and the left cerebral cortex the right. Dogs typically circle towards the side of the problem. In other words, if Molly’s lesion is on the right side of her brain, she will circle to the right. Molly is also likely ignoring sensory input coming in from the left side of her body. For example, she might be eating out of the right side of her food dish and leaving the food located on the left. Molly may also be dragging or scuffing her left paws and toenails on the ground. It is possible Molly may have a loss or decreased vision in her left eye, however this is not the reason she is circling, rather it is related to the underlying disease. Focal lesions within the cerebral cortex, such as brain tumors, strokes or inflammatory disease (encephalitis) can cause a dog to circle. Molly’s circling behavior is not a seizure, however she may start having seizures secondary to her underlying disease. I would definitely recommend that Molly be evaluated by a veterinary neurologist and that you consider an MRI of her brain to determine the underlying cause of her circling.
䌀愀氀氀 吀漀搀愀礀 昀漀爀 愀 䘀爀攀攀 匀愀洀瀀氀攀℀
⠀㔀㐀 ⤀ ㌀㌀㜀ⴀ㔀㐀㔀
Dear Dr. T, Lewis, my 5 year old Border Collie just tested positive for Lyme disease. He has been having 1-2 seizures per month since he was a puppy and my vet diagnosed him with epilepsy. Lewis has been well maintained on Phenobarbital twice a day. I am concerned that Lewis’ seizures were caused by Lyme disease all along! Can Lyme disease cause seizures in dogs? — Suzanne, Washington DC
Dear Suzanne and Lewis, Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacteria carried by Ixodes ticks. Contrary to popular belief, Lyme disease does not commonly cause seizures in dogs. In very severe cases of Lyme disease, seizures may be evident however this is more common in humans. If Lewis’ seizures were caused by Lyme, he would likely be showing other symptoms of Lyme disease such as swollen painful joints, lameness, severe joint and/ or back pain, fever, lethargy, decreased appetite and reluctance to move. Lewis is a young dog that is otherwise healthy aside from his seizure activity. Idiopathic epilepsy is the more likely diagnosis in his case, however I do recommend that you continue to monitor him every 6-12 months with routine bloodwork such as a Lyme ELISA or Western Blot test. If Lewis has been vaccinated for Lyme, his ELISA will be falsely positive, as this test cannot distinguish a dog’s vaccine antibody response from true tick exposure. I recommend Western Blot testing for all dogs vaccinated against Lyme disease.
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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{ feature }
The Value of a Cardiologist’s Echocardiogram By Kacie Schmitt, DMV, Diplomate ACVIM (Cardiology)
Sophie, an adorable female Newfoundland puppy, was seven months old when she was initially referred to CVCA for evaluation of a loud heart murmur discovered during her wellness visits. Before her referral, Sophie had two echocardiograms (ultrasound of the heart) performed by her primary care veterinarian. The images were sent to a telemedicine cardiology consultant to be interpreted. The cardiology consultant identified changes to the right side of the heart that might indicate a defect of the tricuspid and/or pulmonic valves. A more comprehensive evaluation by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist was recommended. This would allow for a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan based on a thorough cardiac physical examination and history along with advanced ultrasound imaging of Sophie’s heart. When Sophie arrived at CVCA, Sophie was a bright, energetic puppy. Her family reported that her breathing effort was increased with activity. On physical examination, a loud (grade 5 out of 6) heart murmur was identified. A complete echocardiogram, including color flow and spectral Doppler studies, was performed and Sophie was diagnosed with severe valvular pulmonic stenosis.
What is pulmonic stenosis? Pulmonic stenosis (PS) is one of the most commonly reported congenital heart defects in dogs, yet rarely reported in cats. It can occur in any breed, but is seen more frequently in Chihuahuas, Boxers, Labradors, Newfoundlands, West Highland White Terriers, with known patterns of inheritance in both Beagles and English Bulldogs. PS is a defect involving the pulmonic valve and/or the surrounding structures of the right ventricle and pulmonary artery. The pulmonic valve normally opens during contraction of the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart), allowing blood to be pumped from the right ventricle to the lungs. PS is a narrowing of this region (stenosis). This results in the right ventricle having to work harder and can cause hypertrophy (excessive heart muscle thickening.) The most common form of the defect involves thickened, immobile pulmonic valve leaflets, however, some forms of this disease are more complicated. The symptoms related to PS and the prognosis depends on the severity of the defect. Patients with
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mild PS usually live normal lives without the need for medications and are at a low risk of symptoms. Patients with moderate to severe PS may experience exercise intolerance, shortness of breath, fainting, fatal arrhythmias (rare), and congestive heart failure.
What is the recommended treatment for pulmonic stenosis? For patients with moderate to severe PS, the treatment of choice is often balloon valvuloplasty. This is a minimally invasive catheterization procedure by which a balloon is guided by fluoroscopy (video x-ray) across the area of stenosis. The specialized balloon is inflated under pressure, resulting in a dilation of the abnormal valve, leading to improved blood flow. In patients with severe disease, this often alleviates symptoms, improves quality of life and prolongs survival. Medications may also help to decrease the incidence of an irregular heart rhythm and may also aid in cases where congestive heart failure is present.
What happened to Sophie? A medication called atenolol was prescribed to help to control the heart rate, which can relieve some of the obstruction of blood flow in times of excitement and exercise. Additionally, a balloon valvuloplasty was recommended to Sophie’s family. One month after diagnosis, Sophie returned to CVCA for the balloon valvuloplasty procedure. Sophie did great under anesthesia and the proce-
The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
{ feature }
{
Prompt referral to a cardiologist will provide the best possible outcome for pet owners and their pets.
dure was a success. Sophie’s pulmonic stenosis was reduced from severe to mild. A year after her surgery, Sophie continues to feel great at home. She is very active and remains asymptomatic for her heart defect. Her recheck echocardiogram showed very stable and mild PS. Doctors couldn’t be more pleased with Sophie’s progress and response to treatment.
{ Color flow and continuous wave Doppler interrogation of the abnormal pulmonic value in a dog with congenital valvular pulmonic stenosis. The colors indicate turbulent high velocity flow while the image on the right side quantifies the velocities of blood flow which in turn allows the doctors of CVCA to determine the severity of the disease and treatment plan
Why CVCA? Congenital cardiac disease can be challenging to diagnose and treat. Fortunately, with the ever-increasing sophistication of procedures and diagnostics in veterinary cardiology, minimally invasive procedures for the treatment of various congenital heart defects in dogs and cats have become available. The benefits of an in-person evaluation by a boardcertified veterinary cardiologist include a complete cardiac physical, review and interpretation of pertinent medical history, radiographs and lab work, along with highly trained performance and interpretation of the echocardiogram. These scans are done with some of the most advanced ultrasound equipment available in both human and veterinary medicine.
Photo Courtesy of: CVCA
CVCA
CHESAPEAKE VETERINARY CARDIOLOGY ASSOCIATES
CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets has provided veterinary cardiology since 1987. The company’s boardcertified veterinary cardiologists see more than 13,000 patients per year. For more information: www.cvcavets.com; Facebook: /CVCAVETS.
Additionally, clients are present during the echocardiogram to help them fully understand the disease process and the options and reasons for the treatment plan. CVCA doctors are committed to working with the primary care veterinarian of all of our mutual patients to ensure that the pet is managed with highest level of care and expertise. Prompt referral to a cardiologist will provide the best possible outcome for pet owners and their pets.
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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{ giving back }
Vets Saving Pets In early September, Debbie Gretz and Kim Cupples, two volunteers with Ruff Ranch Sanctuary, Photos Courtesy of: Ruff Ranch Sanctuary
a non-profit organization in Virginia that strives to bring together veterans and adoptable dogs, visited the Hampshire County shelter in West Virginia. The dedicated staff at the shelter is doing everything they can to help the dogs in their care and are working hard to find good homes. When Debbie and Kim saw little Morty, looking sad and furless, they knew they just could not leave him behind. They were determined to give him some much needed tender loving care, a good diet, and veterinary care—which is part of the mission of Ruff Ranch Sanctuary.
Ruff Ranch is working to create a sanctuary, staffed by military veterans, dedicated to transforming the lives of canines in jeopardy. Morty Before
Ruff Ranch has a unique, singular--and noble— purpose: “…to bring veterans and ‘harder to place’ dogs together in a program that will provide housing and employment for veterans and safe haven for challenged and aging canines,” according to the organization’s website. “Ruff Ranch Sanctuary is an innovative 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization based in Middletown, Virginia that exists to address the issue of the increasing homeless dog population and to transform the quality of life for their veteran caretakers,” organization officials explain at the group’s website. “Our organization’s projects, implemented by a well-trained staff, offer many opportunities to reduce the amount of veterans suffering from psychological issues through employment and contact with the dogs at our animal sanctuary. Supporting the development of mind, body, and
soul, Ruff Ranch Sanctuary provides a thorough foundation for future success for as many individuals and canines as possible.”
October 7 One month later, in October, Morty had settled in to his foster home and was enjoying life with his foster fur-siblings. He was getting regular medicated baths, some great food, and lots of long walks. He was sprouting new fur every day. He is a very gentle and happy boy who loves to snuggle and be with people. “We believe that veterans are the quiet heroes living among us,” Ruff Ranch officials say at their website. “It takes courage, commitment and sacrifice to serve your country. Our board member, Ron King, saw these sacrifices first hand while serving as a trauma medic in Vietnam in the 1960s. Veterans offer invaluable experience dealing with difficult and sometimes hostile groups. They are a group of people who have proven a willingness to endure suffering and sacrifice directly for the society they have served, and therefore have a vested interest in their society's future. Veterans are able to provide an understanding of the challenges faced by canines with both visible and invisible scars. “Our directors firmly believe that regular interaction with the dogs in our care can improve the lives of military veterans,” the organization continues. “Recent studies have shown that one in five veterans returning home from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This staggering statistic resulted in over 300,000 veterans living with mental health issues at the end of 2012. While there are several government outreach programs available to this demographic, the dire reality is that the social and economic costs of PTSD are extremely high and many individuals are still struggling with their mental
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The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
{ giving back }
health concerns. First-year treatments alone cost the federal government an average of $8,300 per person, or more than $2 billion in total. It is clear there is vital need for community organizations to begin targeting this demographic. In fact, veterans now account for 20 percent of suicides in the U.S., with the 24 and under age range taking their lives at four times the rate for other veteran age groups.”
November 11 It turns out that Morty has some food allergies, so with the proper diet, all of his fur is slowly growing back in. He is about 8 years old, weighs 22 pounds, and loves going for walks just as much as he likes hanging out on the sofa. He gets along with everybody and every dog! Morty needs his very own human to love! “Canine therapy has previously been used with a large success rate in the treatment of the aged and the terminally ill,” according to Ruff Ranch officials. “Animal Assisted Therapy has been successfully implemented in recent years into the daily life of those diagnosed with PTSD. Soldiers often bond with one another on the belief that no one but a fellow military member can understand what is seen and experienced by serving in combat. So when one of that small cadre suffers in a way that feels apart even from his/her companions, the sense of fear and anxiety can be overwhelming. Previous treatments for those soldiers suffering from PTSD have included counseling, medication, and partnering with other military veterans. Nevertheless, the healing process for PTSD has continued to be a long and lonely road. However, animal therapy programs have proven to reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, and promote exercise. “One way that animals are able to impact the soldier’s life is by demanding love, affection, and care,” Ruff Ranch says. “Animals require consistent attention. They are dependent upon their caregiver for their food, grooming, exercise, and overall well-being. For the soldier plagued by recurring thoughts of a traumatizing experience, it is helpful to have an animal in the home that requires the focus to be shifted away from self and towards the pet and their needs.” “Although most people are aware that there are more dogs being born than there are people willing to adopt them,” Ruff Ranch says, “the actual number of unwanted dogs is staggering,” and, according to Ruff Ranch’s research:
Morty After
1A n estimated 52 million dogs live with U.S. families. 2F or every human born, seven puppies are born. 3 O ne female dog and her offspring can produce 1,650 puppies in six years. 4M illions more are abandoned in rural and urban areas. 5A s many as 25 percent of dogs entering shelters each year are purebreds. 6A pproximately 61 percent of all dogs entering shelters are killed. 7 I t costs approximately $100 to capture, house, feed, and eventually kill each stray animal--a cost which taxpayers eventually pay.
Ruff Ranch Sanctuary’s mission is to focus on dogs like Morty, who have a particularly tough time in a kennel environment. Ruff Ranch is working to create a sanctuary, staffed by military veterans, dedicated to transforming the lives of canines in jeopardy. Bringing these two groups together will help both to have a better and fulfilled life, while providing employment, and in some cases, a home for the veterans—who also deserve gratitude, respect, love and care, much like their loving canine companions!
Matt Neufeld contributed to this Article.
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
For more information: Ruff Ranch Sanctuary 239.980.0940 PO Box 605, Middletown, VA 22645 ruffranchsanctuary.com Adoption questions: Linda Baker
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{ ask dr. katy }
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Dr. Katy
By Katy Nelson, DVM
Dear Dr. Katy:
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I want to be as proactive as I can when it comes to the health of my new rescue puppy. Can you provide your opinion as to how often I should obtain/request blood tests?
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Great question, Sarah, and it’s wonderful to see a new owner wanting to do the very best they can by their pet! There aren’t many blood tests required in the first year (other than pre-anesthetic panels prior to spay/neuter), but definitely keep on top of bringing in fecal samples for parasite testing as well as having him fully vaccinated. Start him on flea, tick and heartworm prevention when your veterinarian advises and keep him on it year round. Throughout his life, you’ll test annually for heartworm disease (because even though Heartworm prevention is HIGHLY effective, it’s not 100%). As he ages, you’ll want to start doing blood work to monitor his liver, kidneys, endocrine system, etc, and do regular urine and fecal samples as well. Developing a partnership for your pet’s health and longevity with YOUR vet can be the best way to stay on top of all of this. Best of luck!
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– Sarah G., Baltimore, MD
Dear Sarah,
Dear Dr. Katy: I am interested in implementing vitamins and supplements into my dog’s daily regimen such as Fish Oil for her coat, etc. What are your thoughts on vitamins and supplements for dogs? – Jenny T., Washington, DC
The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
{
Do you have questions for Dr. Katy?
You can follow her on Twitter @drkatynelson, on Facebook or send her an e-mail at bark@vamddog.com.
SAVING Dear Jenny, Full disclosure: I have my own line of supplements with Stop Aging Now, so I’m admittedly a fan. In all seriousness, pets on high quality balanced diets do not necessarily need vitamin supplementation, but most can benefit from an outside source of probiotics, fish oil and joint supplements, even if they’re totally healthy. Pets with cancer, joint disease, heart disease, skin disease and other chronic illnesses can truly benefit from supplementation, so have the conversation with your veterinarian about your pet’s specific needs, and see what she recommends. The great part about neutraceuticals is that when done correctly, there’s really only an upside as side effects are minimal.
Dear Dr. Katy:
SADIE and
SASHA
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The true story of two abandoned dogs who showed me the way home.
All sales benefit local animal welfare organizations!
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Buy at www.TidalPress.com, online booksellers and your local book store.
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Jessie, this is truly one of the hardest, yet most frequent, questions that I’m asked as a veterinarian. You’re right. It’s completely overwhelming when you walk into a pet store to purchase food, there are so many brands, types and feeding philosophies out there! My advice is first and foremost, talk with your veterinarian about your pet’s specific needs, and ask them if there are any types of food they would recommend for him. After that, do your research BEFORE you walk into the pet store. Check out DogFoodAdvisor.com and SlimDoggy.com for unbiased reviews and breakdowns of different types of foods. And finally, when you do find a food that you fits your budget and your pets’ needs, stick with it. Like the old saying goes, don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.
? ?
Dear Jessie,
Part memoir, part how-to, and part call to action, the story of Sadie and Sasha proves that damaged dogs can recover and heal, and in the process heal us. They won’t be perfect, but then again neither are we.
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–Jessie D., Ashburn, VA
Laura S. Jones
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With so many types and brands of food on the market these days I am a bit confused. I have read that meat should be the first product listed on the packaging, and of course the food should be free of byproducts and such. Could you please provide your opinion on this subject?
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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{ metro mutt mutt}}
Spotlighting Long-term Adoption Center Residents Hidden Gems Await a Forever Home By Joe Miench The Washington Humane Society’s (WHS) Hidden Gems program was created in 2013 as a way Behavior & Training to promote animals who have been at the society’s adoption centers for long periods of time— Associate longer than most of the animals in the center’s care. When an animal is entered into the program, they are assigned an individual behavior specialist to work on basic training, commands, and socialization, and as a bonus, the center’s adoptions team waives their adoption fee, which is an added incentive to interested adopters. In a spirit of fun and fantasy, program officials thought it would be interesting to have a current Hidden Gems participant relate her experiences: “I’m a Hidden Gem,” Crocket, a three-year-old Bullmastiff mix says. “What does that mean?” Crocket was added into the program because she still hasn’t found the perfect forever home. She has tested positive for heartworm and she is large in size—which is a common barrier to adoption for dogs in an urban environment, where many
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apartments and condo buildings have breed and weight restrictions. “Let’s look back through the history of the Hidden Gems program, exploring its past, present, and future. The program was created in February, 2013, to benefit the cats with the longest length of stay at our adoption center, and quickly expanded to dogs the following month. Since its inception, 272 cats, dogs, and now small animals have been designated as Hidden Gems.”
The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
}
}
{ metro mutt }
The Hidden Gem program allows animals that have been overlooked to be shown off and spotlighted.
“The average length of stay at our adoption centers for a Hidden Gem is seventy days, and the intention has been to shine a light on animals that have been overlooked for too long by potential adopters. A report is sent out bi-weekly to WHS staff to update the status of the program’s animals. To distinguish them from the rest of our adoptable animals, WHS began to promote them through social media channels and TV opportunities,” she said.
Crocket has really done her homework! “Their online profiles are updated to announce their Hidden Gem status and they get their own behavior volunteers to make sure they’re move-in ready,” she continues. “Adoption fees are also waived as a thank you to those who bring home a Hidden Gem. Plus, after they’re adopted, WHS adoption staff follows up with the animal’s new family to offer any guidance and support they may need.” But what does it mean to be a Hidden Gem? A waived adoption fee, personal volunteer attention, and your name in an email? There has to be more. When a pet owner meets a Hidden Gem, they know there is something different about them. Something special. “I don’t think I’ve ever interacted with someone that believed an animal that was with us for a little longer was a defect animal,” says Allison Bundock, the Georgia Avenue Adoption Center manager. “The program facilitates questions from adopters. People are curious as to what makes them a Hidden Gem. It has absolutely made a difference in the amount of animals that have been adopted.” These animals have resilience and confidence. As time passes, they don’t wilt; they grow. With every opportunity for a home that falls through, they don’t give up. They just work harder. For every time they are told they’re not good enough, they simply wait for the day when they can prove them wrong.
“We have a wonderful array of different personalities come through the program,” Crocket continues. “From Rocky, the most interesting cat in the world, to Smoke, the dog who’s wonderful with a joke and fun to poke. We’ve had Pomeroy, whose lack of paw-eye coordination is legendary and Zeus, who taught us the true meaning of home. To us, home means that you know your people will protect you from anything; from thunderstorms, from the garbage truck, and even from that dog on TV. When you go home, your people won’t mind if you’re missing a patch of fur or if your ears need Ivermectin. They love you regardless.”
The Hidden Gems program is also a great teaching tool for prospective adopters. “The program gives us the opportunity to explain the plight of homeless animals, such as potential look or size or breed bias, as well as breed-specific legislation, and illness, for which we take them off the adoption floor to give them the time and space to heal,” says Lauren Lipsey, the WHS director of rehoming. “We’re lucky to have the resources to do that. We also do not have time limits, giving these animals the opportunity to take as much time as they need to find the right home.” The Hidden Gem program allows animals that have been overlooked to be shown off and spotlighted. These animals have so much to offer if and when they are given the opportunity. There’s something great waiting for them--they just wait a little longer than most.
{
Do you have questions for the Washington Humane Society? Email ajohn@washingtonhumane.org and get a promt response!
WInter/Holiday 2015 | www.vamddcdog.com
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{ health }
Fido or Hank?
What is Your Dog Really Telling You? By Krisi Erwin, DVM CVA, CCRT, CVPP
The winter holiday season is also the season for cold weather, slippery sidewalks and snow. This time of year can be tough for senior pets, especially the Hanks out there. Hank stands for Hurting and Nobody Knows. Dogs can be sneaky about their pain. Some people assume that, while their pet is not going for walks, getting up on the furniture, or acting as playful, they are not in pain because they are not crying out. Most dogs are very quiet about how they feel, and vocalizing in pain would make them feel vulnerable. If a dog is crying or vocalizing from pain, it is likely close to a ten-out-of-ten on a pain scale. Thus, pet owners often have to conduct some sleuth work to tell if pets may indeed be in pain. Here are some signs to look for:
1. Decreased grooming 2. Pacing and restlessness 3. Increased sleeping 4. Soiling in the house 5. Difficulty getting on the furniture or in the car 6. Loss of appetite 7. Licking at affected parts of the body
8. Change in body posture when standing or laying 9. Decreased stamina during play or on walks 10. Increased panting 11. Growling or avoiding interaction 12. Flinching or reacting inapprpriately to touch 13. Crying and whining
Another method to think about recognizing pain in dogs is the presence or absence of behaviors. Some questions to ask are: Is the dog no longer meeting you at the door? Is the dog pacing more in the house? Is the dog sleeping more? If a pet owner notices these behavioral mannerisms, then that could mean next asking the veterinarian for help and advice to better understand the pet’s overall comfort level. Thankfully, today is an era of excellent nutritional options, supplements, pet rehabilitation, massage, laser therapy, acupuncture, and also conventional pain medications that can help pets to live comfortably and to give them a new leash on life!
{
For more information: Wholistic Paws Veterinary Services P.O. Box 713 Hamilton, VA 20159 571.438.0339 wecare@wholisticpaws.com www.wholisticpawsvet.com
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The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog
Frederick, Howard, Carroll & Montgomery Counties
Teach. Play. Love.
A little training goes a long way.
Small group training
Customized in-home training when you’re at work Personalized in-home training with you and your dog
Laurie Luck | Professional Dog Trainer laurie@smartdoguniversity.com
240.394.1112 | www.SmartDogUniversity.com
{ feature }
{ seeking a forever home }
Seeking A
Forever Home
“Eeny & Morey”
Photo by Michael Garth Photography
Eeney and Morey, are two little Australian Cattle Dog mix pups looking for their forever home. Saved from a high-kill rural shelter in North Carolina by Operation Paws for Homes, these puppies along with their mom and siblings are starting a fresh new life. They are fostered in Locust Grove, VA until they find their forever families. Breed/Mix: Australian Cattle-Mix Male/Female: Male and Female Approximate Weight: Approximately 12lbs Approximate Age: Young/Puppy Activeness: Playful Good w/Other Dogs: Yes Good w/Children: Yes Housebroken: In progress Medical Issues: None Feeding Issues: None Special Needs: None Vaccinations: Altered and up-to date on vaccinations and preventatives Microchipped: Yes Fun Facts: These little blonde bombshells are the full package – not too big, not to small and all around gorgeous. They love to snuggle with anyone – human or furlegged furkid. Eeney and Morey spend time playing outside, splashing in the pond and taking afternoon naps. They are alert and connected to everyone around them and eager for training.
Operation Paws for Homes, Inc (OPH):
Operation Paws For Homes www.ophrescue.org operationpawsforhomes@ophrescue.org
Operation Paws for Homes, Inc. (OPH) rescues dogs of all breeds and ages from high-kill shelters. Most of the dogs come from rural shelters in South and North Carolina. OPH also partners with shelters located in Virginia and Maryland. The organization provides pet adoption services to families located in Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and neighboring states. OPH does not operate a shelter or have a physical location. They rely on foster families who open their homes to give love and attention to each dog before finding a forever home. Through the foster care program, OPH is able to learn about each dog and their needs and provide their potential and future adopters with this information. OPH believes in responsible adoptions and strives to work with each adopter to find a good match for their home and lifestyle. Operation Paws for Homes, a 501(c)(3) organization, is 100% donor funded. They receive no funding from federal, state, or county governments. As a result, they rely on donations and adoption fees in order to save the dogs in need that join thier rescue organization.
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The The Virginia-Maryland-Washington Virginia-Maryland-Washington DCDC Dog Dog
CARE is a Four-Legged Word Emergency Services & Board Certified Specialists 24/7, 365 Days a Year + Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Therapy + Surgical Services + Underwater/Land Treadmill Therapy
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The best veterinary care around! Professional, experienced and compassionate; who could ask for anything more?? I love CARE! –B. SARA FINNEGAN
CARE Veterinary Center is the only vet hospital in Maryland to offer Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). SURGERY SPECIAL:
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B O DY + M I N D F O R H U M A N + C A N I N E
Subscribe Today! Volume 6•Issue 1
Spring 2015
Love & Honor d, Specially Traine Caring Dogs Serve Those Who Serve Teaching Your Dog to Give Up Stuff Why Our Best Friendsed ertifi Need a Board-C Vet Cardiologist Painful A Vet Tackles the Known Canine Aliment as “Dead Tail”
Holiday Gift Guide
her forever
home through WAAAG (details on Page 46)
}
Summer 2015
2
{
“Taylor” is seeking
Inside
Volume 6•Issue
Walking in a Winter Wonderland Demystifying Spinal Injuries in Dogs
The Mission Continues For Nick White Fit as a Fiddle Bath Time is Health Time
Walking in a Winter Wonderland Demystifying Spinal Injuries in Dogs Holiday Gift Guide Inside
{
“Hope”
HEALTH FITNESS
SELF-EMPO WERMENT LEADERSHIP
}
is seeking her forever home through The Middleburg Humane Foundation (details on Page
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vamddcdog.com 301.514.2804
COMMUNICATION STRUCTURE
your pet
is our priority
At Veterinary Surgical Centers, we are committed to providing world-class surgery and physical rehabilitation for pets and families facing injury, illness, and more. We work to ease the stress and fears of surgery and treatment by putting you and your furry family member at the center of all we do. Our board-certified surgeons and certified rehabilitation practitioners specialize in: • Orthopedic surgery
• Plastic and reconstructive surgery
• Soft tissue procedures
• Physical rehabilitation and pain management
• Minimally invasive surgery
• Conditioning and weight loss
Let’s work together to restore your pet’s health and quality of life. Contact us today for more information or to request an appointment. Vienna (703) 242-6000 / Vienna@VSCVets.com Leesburg (703) 771-2100 / Leesburg@VSCVets.com Winchester (540) 450-0177 / Winchester@VSCVets.com
www.VSCVets.com