Volume 3 •Issue 2
Summer 2012
Inside the Afghan Stray Animal League My Dog Has Lost His Voice A New Meaning to Military Deployment
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Holistic Health 101
“Honey”
available for adoption at the Middleburg Humane Foundation (see page 46 for details)
Summer
Volume 3
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Issue 2
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Volume 3 •Is
sue 2
contents
2012
Summer 2012 Inside Stray A the Afghan nimal Le ague My Dog Ha
departments
“Honey
21
On the Cover…
Brampton Bed & Breakfast Inn
22
Weekend Getaway:
“Honey” is seeking his forever home.She is available through the Middleburg Humane Foundation. Additional information regarding “Honey” may be found on Page 46
The Inn at Meander Plantation
Health:
27
Nutrition:
28
Alternative Therapy:
30
Legal:
32
”
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available the Mid for adoptio dleburg n at Humane Foundation (see pag e 46
Weekend Getaway:
25
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s Lost H is Voice A New Meaning Military Deploym to ent Holistic Health 101
for details)
Photo by: Fuzzypants Photography – Carina Thornton
Digestive Health for the Modern Dog
Treating Kidney Problems Naturally
features 8
One Thing Leads to Another…
11
My Dog Has Lost His Voice
12
Dramatic Rescues Born From Love in a Land Still Learning to Love its Dogs
18
A New Meaning to Military Deployments
Holistic Health 101
To Chain, or Not to Chain
Training: DANGER: Do Not Leave Your Dog in a Parked Car During Hot Weather
34
Training:
36
Safety:
35
Featured Business
A Matter of Life and Death: Knowing Animal First Aid and CPR Can Save a Pet’s Life
38
A Labor of Love for Labrador Retrievers
32
Cranial Cruciate Ligaments: A Real “Pain in the Knee”
GIVE: A Life-Saving Command
45
Calendar of Events
46
Seeking a Forever Home
Read for Rescues
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
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{ contributors }
contributors Pat Lacy, Dog Obedience Instructor
Hillary Collyer, Esquire Hillary Collyer is a Virginia lawyer whose practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation. She received her law degree from the George Washington University Law School and is licensed to practice before the Virginia Supreme Court, the D.C. Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Hillary works at a law firm in Old Town Alexandria where her fourteen year old Shih Tzu-Mix “Lady” accompanies her to work each day.
Pam Constable Pam Constable is a lifelong animal lover from Arlington, Va. She is a writer and journalist who has worked in Afghanistan and many other countries where animals suffer from conflict and hardship. In 2004, she established The Afghan Stray Animal League, a U.S. non-profit that supports a veterinary shelter and rescue program in Afghanistan. For more information, visit www. afghanstrayanimals.org or kabulcritters@gmail.com
Krisi Erwin, DVM, CVA, CCRT 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.
Kelly L. Gellasch, DVM, DACVS, DAAPM Kelly is a native of Royal Oak, Michigan. She relocated to Frederick in 2010 to start Crossroads Animal Referral & Emergency. Dr. Gellasch received her DVM at Michigan State University; she then traveled to the other MSU, Mississippi State University for an internship in small animal medicine and surgery. Back up north at the University of Wisconsin Dr. Gellasch did her surgical training. She received her board certification in surgery and a few years later received credentialing in pain management. She practiced for eight years in Ohio at a multispecialty clinic.
William Given William Given has owned, exhibited, and bred purebred dogs for more than 25 years. He has competed in conformation, obedience, and rally. William is an AKC licensed judge for Junior Showmanship. He also has a background in disaster management and emergency preparedness for pet animals and livestock.
Amber Haldis Amber graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with an English Degree in 2008. A long time animal-lover, she’s even created Facebook profiles for her beloved pets, Riven and Snickers. Her hobbies include various visits to local and distant museum exhibits and Creative Writing. Currently, she works at a dance boutique in historic downtown Frederick, MD, where she also blogs about store news.
Deva Khalsa, V.M.D. Dr. Deva Khalsa V.M.D. practices with a blend of sophisticated holistic techniques designed to best enhance the natural strengths of her patients. Aside from her impressive career and dedication to teaching, Dr. Khalsa has authored, ‘Dr. Khalsa’s Natural Dog’, a book best described as a ‘holistic bible’ for dog owners and has designed a comprehensive preventive supplement for Deserving Pets.
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Pat Lacy founded Dog Lovers Obedience School in 1976 in Richmond, Virginia. Pat’s many accomplishments include over 55 years of dog obedience training, teaching a two-year college course for dog obedience instructors, as well as founding Therapy Dogs and Associates in 1984. Pat’s specialty is working with families including children three and up.
Tom Lacy, Dog Obedience Instructor Tom along with his wife Pat are the owners of Dog Lovers Obedience School located in Richmond, Virginia. Tom joined efforts with his wife Pat Lacy in 1983. Tom trained his first dog 25 years ago. He is an instructor, as well as a writer and counselor.
Darleen Rudnick, BSW, MHN Nutritional Pet Consultant Darleen Rudnick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, and a Master’s Degree in Holistic Nutrition. She counsels pet owners worldwide and supports animals with a complete holistic approach. As a nutritionist, her focus is nutrition and building programs for pets suffering from all ailments and offers natural supplements and herbal remedies.
Jesse Sokolow, Intern Jesse Sokolow grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. He recently graduated from Wake Forest University in North Carolina, where he played for the men’s soccer team and made it to two consecutive Final Four appearances.
Anne Stoneham, DVM, DACVECC Dr. Stoneham is an emergency and critical care specialist at VCA Veterinary Referral Associates in Gaithersburg, MD where she is Director of the Emergency Department. Dr. Stoneham completed her veterinary training at three different institutions: veterinary school at Cornell University in NY, internship at the Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital in Oregon, and residency at Tufts University in Massachusetts. Dr. Stoneham’s interests include emergency surgery, acute kidney failure, sepsis and hypoadrenocorticism among others.
Shannon Venegas Shannon Venegas is a freelance writer from Mukwonago, Wisconsin where she lives with her husband, daughter, two horses, dog and cat. Shannon graduated from Mount Mary College with a degree in writing and is returning in the fall to start her graduate studies. She also owns a small horse and farm-care company with her husband Mario and enjoys riding her horses, reading, biking and eating good food!
Merrill Crist-Warchal Merrill Crist-Warchal is the owner of PetStructor(SM), a company dedicated to pets and those entrusted with their care and well-being. In addition to teaching pet CPR, first aid and care, Merrill is an animal Reiki Practitioner, a canine massage therapist, and an animal medical intuitive.
The Virginia–Maryland Dog
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{ department }
Publisher/Editor in Chief Pamela Wahl
{ publishers note }
a note
from our publisher
Director of Operations Gene Wahl Art Director Kalico Design, Kim Dow Senior Editor Kimberly Holmes Photographer Fuzzypants Photography, Carina Thornton Copy Editor Matt Neufeld Advertising Director Pamela Wahl Production Coordinator Diane Weller Web Site Design/Manager Kalico Design, Kim Dow Business Manager Cathy Wahl Contributing Writers: Hilliary Collyer, Esquire Pam Constable Merrill Crist-Warchal Krisi Erwin, DVM, CVA, CCRT Kelly Gellasch, DVM, DACVS, DAAPM William Given Amber Haldis Deva Khalsa, VMD Pat Lacy, Dog Obedience Trainer Tom Lacy, Dog Obedience Trainer Darleen Rudnick, BSW, MHN, Nutritional Pet Consultant Jesse Sokolow, Intern Anne Stoneham, DVM, DACVECC Shannon Venegas The Virginia-Maryland Dog Magazine 1 College Avenue Frederick, MD 21701 Tel: (301) 514-2804 Fax: (301) 576-5079 www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com bark@thevirginia-marylanddog.com Copyright 2012 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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Summer is approaching, and many people are planning vacations, day trips, weekend trips—and, hopefully, some trips to one of the many upcoming family-oriented nonprofit and pet rescue events that are scheduled throughout the Maryland and Virginia areas. Many of the non-profit rescue organizations who sponsor these events rely heavily on them to fund the continuing costs associated with supplying food, shelter and medical care for the thousands of animals housed at these facilities. The rescue events are fun for you—and for dogs, too! So please consider squeezing a little bit of time in your busy summer schedules for one of these upcoming events. And while we’re on the subject of non-profit and rescue organizations, our cover once again features a wonderful dog in search of a loving forever home. Her name is Honey, and she is available through the Middleburg Humane Foundation. There is more information about Honey, and many other animals available from the Foundation, on Page 46 of this issue. If you are looking for a companion animal, please consider this fine organization—they house not only dogs, but horses, cats, chickens, rabbits and even a pig or two! If you sense a pattern here, with the Spring issue cover and the cover of this issue, you are correct. We have decided to devote our cover to dogs in need of adoption. Future covers may include senior dogs, special-needs dogs, and other types of dogs. We hope to include dogs with varied histories, ages, sizes and limitations, because, of course, they all deserve the love, care and compassion that humans can provide for them. So please take a look at our cover models, along with their bios provided in their respective issues, and consider adoption. As for an update on our Spring cover feature dog, Baxter—I am happy to report that Baxter has indeed found his forever home! The current issue of the magazine, as always, is full of educational, informative and enjoyable articles provided by a host of outstanding and reputable experts in their respective fields. This issue, we are extremely honored to include a special feature article provided by veteran journalist Pam Constable, who is the founder of the Afghan Stray Animal League. Her article takes you inside the walls of her animal rescue operation—which is located in war-torn Afghanistan. We at The Virginia-Maryland Dog wish you a happy, healthy and fun-filled summer! Pamela Wahl, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
The Virginia–Maryland Dog
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One Thing Leads to Another How one dog’s case of swallowing a non-edible object led to the discovery of another aliment It was a busy Saturday in the emergency
By Anne Stoneham, DVM, DACVECC
department at VCA Veterinary Referral Associates. That always happens in the spring when the weather warms up. I can understand the reason for some of the cases: dogs and cats hit by cars because they were out on these beautiful days, animals who can’t tolerate the heat, the wounded warriors who have spent time at the dog park. But there is also an upswing in patients who have illnesses completely unrelated to the nice weather. Beau was one of the latter. She (yes, she is a girl with a boy’s name) was a 5-year-old Bull Terrier, the breed made famous by the Budweiser commercial mascot from the 1980s, Spuds MacKenzie (who was also a girl, by the way). She was one of two dogs who came in that day for vomiting because they had something non-edible stuck in their intestines. She was apparently trying to disprove the theory that a piece of thick rubber was not digestible. Poor Beau had been vomiting episodically for a week. She had been to her regular veterinarian a few times throughout the past week, but X-rays of her abdomen had not revealed anything out of the ordinary. She had been treated with fluids and medications which made her feel better, but only temporarily. Our radiologist performed an abdominal ultrasound and identified an object obstructing the small intestine. One point before I continue: in cases like this, X-rays often reveal the problem, but if they don’t, an ultrasound (as long as it’s performed by someone who really knows what they are doing) will find things that can’t be seen by an X-ray. So the emergency surgeon was called in and found this strange, thick 1-inch, irregularly-shaped piece of rubber that had a nipple in the middle. We doctors and nurses played our usual game of “guesswhat-that-thing-that-just-came-out-of-the-dog-is” and the best answer (I think) was: that part of a basket ball where you pump it up. Dogs will eat anything, won’t they? Post-operatively, Beau did well and on Monday, she went home. She was back on Wednesday. She wouldn’t eat anything, she had a fever and her poor belly was horribly painful. All this was worrisome, but when I listened
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The Virginia–Maryland Dog
to her heart, I became even more concerned. She had a heart murmur. If I had heard that on Saturday, this still would have been a problem, but not quite to this degree. And this had not been there on Saturday (or Sunday or Monday). This was brand new. A heart murmur is produced when the blood isn’t flowing smoothly in one direction. It’s kind of like the sound of water in a washing machine, and we hear it when the valves inside the heart aren’t working right. It can mean that the valves are degenerating, that a part of the heart near the valve is too narrow, or that the heart muscle is too thick or too thin. But a brand new murmur usually means that there is an infection on the valves of the heart (endocarditis). The cardiologist performed an echocardiogram and confirmed our fears. I submitted samples of blood for culture and started treating her with intravenous antibiotics, fluids and a constant infusion of pain medications. I spoke with Beau’s very worried owners and told them what we had found so far. We talked about the fact that Beau had a very good chance of getting better, but that the infection had damaged her heart and that she would always be on medications for it, even after the infection cleared. They were just happy to hear that she was probably going to get better. There were still a couple of things that bothered me. First, what was the source of infection for the endocarditis? The bacteria on her valves had to originate somewhere else and travel through the blood stream before landing on and damaging her heart. The radiologist did another abdominal ultrasound. The only abnormalities he found were a small amount of fluid surrounding the organs and inflammation next to the same part of intestine where the piece of rubber was removed. Neither of these findings were abnormal in the post-operative patient. He obtained a sample of the fluid for me and I looked at it under the microscope. It was full of inflammatory cells but I didn’t see any bacteria. Once again, this was not unusual in a post-operative patient. I measured the sugar level in the abdominal fluid and compared it to the sugar level in her blood. This can often tell me if there is an infection in the abdomen, but this time the numbers indicated that there was not. All of the other typical origins of infection (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, joint infection, infected teeth) all checked out as normal.
The second question was why was Beau so wildly painful? By this point--four days after surgery--she should not have been experiencing this amount of pain. If she was human, perhaps it would not be abnormal. But dogs have a much higher pain threshold and by four days post-op, they are so happy, they are trying to do far more than they should. But not Beau. She was standing stiffly in her cage; unable to lie down and trying to bite if anyone so much as gently brushed against her belly. The pain medications I had her on should have had her practically passed out in blissful narcotic haze. I was still concerned about the changes we saw in her abdomen on the ultrasound and the type of fluid that was in her abdomen. As I said before, this can be normal in a patient that just had abdominal surgery, but if Beau had not previously had surgery, I would have sent her straight to the operating room based on those findings. The radiologist offered to look one more time with the ultrasound. This time he found something new. There was now a pocket of fluid in the inflamed area next to Beau’s intestinal surgery site. It had not been there previously and shouldn’t have developed. The intestine was probably leaking. During the first three to five days after intestinal surgery, there is a risk of surgical site breakdown. The risk is higher in certain situations, such as when the obstructing object has been in the intestines for a prolonged period (as had been the case for Beau). Finally! We had found an answer to both of the above questions: this was the source of Beau’s infection and her pain.
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I made yet another phone call to a set of very worried parents. I told them what we had found, and that Beau needed to have another surgery to find the source of leakage and close it. Unfortunately, because of her new heart condition, anesthesia could be risky for her. Through tears of concern, they told me that since this was her only option, they were on board with the plan. At surgery, we found that her intestinal incision was leaking. Fortunately, the intestine looked healthy otherwise and the surgeon was able to close the defect. Beau recovered well and I was happy to be able to call her mom and dad and let them know that surgery had been a success. Beau was wagging her tail at us by the following morning and no longer tried to bite when we touched her. She started eating the day after surgery and she went home again on the following Monday with a week’s worth of pain medication and two month’s worth of antibiotics. She started cardiac medications a few days after going home and is scheduled to see the cardiologist again in two months. I have spoken with her owners several times since, and they are thrilled to report that Beau is being a normal post-operative dog. She is trying to do way more than she should.
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My Dog Has Lost His Voice Laryngeal Paralysis is a condition in which the cartilages in the throat (arytenoid) do not open during inspiration. The nerve that supplies the muscle covering the cartilages stops working, and when an animal takes a breath in, the cartilage closes, due to negative pressure, instead of being pulled open by the muscle. This can cause an obstruction in the upper airway when a dog is trying to breathe, especially when they are excited. The harder they breathe, the more distressed they become. This
up should be done (blood work, neurologic examination and abdominal ultrasound, if indicated). Surgery is the treatment of choice to help decrease respiratory distress. An arytenoid lateralization (tie back) is the most common procedure. A small incision is made on the side of the dog’s neck to perform the procedure. This holds open one side of the cartilage to prevent them from completely closing during breathing. This procedure is best performed by a specialist in surgery (ACVS diplomate), due to the delicate anatomy of the throat. Aspiration pneumonia can be a complication from this procedure; however, it is not common.
By Kelly L. Gellasch, DVM, DACVS, DAAPM
problem can be congenital or acquired, and the underlying cause is still unknown. Older dogs may have other neurologic changes such as weakness in the back legs. This obstruction causes acute respiratory distress, cyanosis (blue mucous membranes) and fainting. Most patients come in to a veterinary office on an emergency basis because the subtle signs have gone unnoticed until they are in crisis. The dogs suffer from severe respiratory distress, or they have collapsed after a lot of activity or during a period of excessive heat. Dogs usually have a history of decreased exercise, and their loud breathing sometimes sounds like a roaring lion. This is called inspiratory stridor. Owners may also notice that their dog sounds hoarse when they bark, and owners say the pets have “lost their voice.� Owners may notice gagging or coughing after eating or drinking. These signs have a slow onset, and the disease affects males more frequently than females. Many animals develop signs in the spring, when the weather gets warm and they become more active.
The risk of a respiratory crisis in an untreated dog is greater than the potential post-surgical complications. Dogs, after having this surgery, should wear a harness to prevent any further trauma to their neck when walking. Elevating food and water may help prevent aspiration pneumonia. Animals have immediate relief after surgery. Dogs may still cough after eating or drinking and they will never get their voice back. However, the surgery does improve their quality of life.
An examination of the larynx under heavy sedation by an experienced veterinarian is the best way to diagnose the condition. The arytenoid cartilages are observed during the breathing cycle. If the cartilages close when the animal inspires, this is indicative of laryngeal paralysis. The airway should also be evaluated for other problems such as a mass or a foreign body. Radiographs (x-rays) of the chest and neck should be done to make sure no heart or lung disease is found, or obvious masses seen. Most of these dogs are older and a complete geriatric work-
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
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Dramatic
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Photo by Fuzzypants Photography
Pam and adopter Martha Langelan with “Dosty.” Dosty was one of the first dogs rescued by Pam on a cold winter night in Kabul nearly a decade ago.
The Virginia–Maryland Dog
{ special feature }
Rescues Born from Love,
in a Land Still Learning to Love its Dogs A shadow, a flicker of gray fur in the dark, leads to a wondrous dog sanctuary program in Afghanistan… The sun had barely set, but already the temperature in Kabul had dropped to freezing. It was winter, and I was taking food to a mother dog and two pups who had made their home in a drainage ditch near my office. Every night, the mother came bounding out to greet me, then rushed back to the pups and waited excitedly to eat. It was a ritual that gave meaning and purpose to my time on a work assignment in a war-torn foreign land where most people, struggling to survive and hardened by years of conflict, had little compassion for a family of hungry dogs in the street. But that evening, as I approached the ditch, there was no eager flurry of motion, no sound at all. I peered inside and my heart sank. The family was gone. I called and whistled and waited, then reluctantly left. Every night I returned, hoping somehow that the dogs would reappear. I kept imagining them poisoned or run over, slowly dying in another frozen ditch. Each time my hopes faded further, but something made me keep returning to the spot. One night, more than a month later, I was passing by the block in a car when I glimpsed something moving in the shadows. It looked like one of the pups, older but much thinner. She was matted and filthy, and alone. I jumped out and whistled, and she began creeping toward me. She was almost too weak to stand, but her tail thumped once or twice. Flooded with relief, I scooped her up in my arms and thought: Now what do I do?
That was almost ten years ago. Dosty, which means “buddy” or “pal” in one Afghan dialect, eventually grew up to be a lithe, elegant gazelle and a beloved American pet. Her days are spent romping and dancing and chasing squirrels up trees in her back yard in Chevy Chase, Md., where she is the endless delight of her adoptive parents, Martha Langelan and Bill Leogrande.
By Pam Constable
But back then, in the winter of 2003, there was no place in Kabul to take a needy, homeless street dog for treatment or care. After two decades of war and devastation, human hospitals in Afghanistan were barely functioning, flocks of sheep and goats were scrounging on garbage, and the only dogs considered worth feeding were those who could fight for sport, herd flocks or guard property. I was determined to save Dosty, but I had to scavenge and scheme and beg to do it. At the time, I had no place to keep a dog. First, I bribed a security guard to keep her on a blanket under his booth, promising to bring them both breakfast each morning. One day the guard vanished, but Dosty was there waiting for me on the blanket. Next I found her a new refuge with a flock of sheep kept by an eccentric but kind Afghan professor, who let me build her a little house in his field. It was so cold that her water dish froze overnight, and I had to kick the ice out each morning. There were no functioning veterinary clinics, and the only place I could obtain rabies vaccines was at a German facility that trained imported military shepherds to sniff out land mines. Western-style dog food was unheard of, so I fed Dosty on rice and milk and meat scraps, gradually fattening her up until she was healthy enough to travel home with me. After a series of long flights and logistical hurdles, we reached
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
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Washington, where some friends had agreed to keep her temporarily. Marty and Bill stopped by to visit them, and fell in love with her at first sight. Although Dosty’s story had a happy ending, she was only one of thousands of stray dogs and cats who roamed the streets of Kabul and the villages beyond, desperate for food, shelter, a kind word and a place to belong. Butchers sometimes threw them scraps, but more often they encountered indifference and cruelty. Small boys, instead of picking up and cuddling a lost puppy, were taught to throw stones at it. Many saw small animals as objects of torment. They tied them up with wire or ropes, burned and kicked them, and cut off their ears and tails, somehow imagining this would turn them into tough fighting dogs. These attitudes, I learned, were the combined legacy of insulated tribal culture, fear of disease, religious taboos, a generation of armed conflict, and a history of hardship and survival that made any vulnerable creature something to be shunned, not pitied. I tried to help as many animals as I could, and my driver and I began taking hamburgers to certain garbage dumps where hungry dogs and cats gathered each night, scavenging for scraps. Some of them ended up stashed in the back yard or corners of the office where I was working. But without a
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The Virginia–Maryland Dog
proper shelter or medicine or skills, there was little I could do for cats I found with crushed or gangrenous legs, for dogs suffering from chronic mange or dysentery, or for desperate mothers trying to raise litters in the gutter. So in 2004, I decided to take an ambitious and uncharted step. I rented a rundown, unoccupied house on the outskirts of the capital, had the roof and windows replaced and a new well dug. I had a carpenter build some wire pens in the yard and wooden cages inside, and I hired a local veterinarian from the German bomb-dog program. That October we opened Tigger House, named after a determined little cat I had once saved. It was simple facility, with no laboratory or X-ray, but it was a small oasis for needy animals in a harsh and dangerous place. Our first resident was Foxy, a dog my driver and I found being dragged along the street and beaten by her owner. I jumped out and bought her on the spot for $20, the only option I had. She immediately became our self-appointed watch dog, and to this day she lives in a booth just inside the front gate, barking furiously whenever the bell rings and running up to greet old friends. Over the next seven years, with help from generous individual friends and institutional partners like the Humane Society International, Tigger House evolved
Pam with some of the adopters and their rescued dogs. L to R: Martha Dickey and “Mocha,” Pam Constable, Corrine Ritsick and “Shep,” Azadeh Chegini and “Almira,” and Jeff Ritsick with “Bear.” Photo by Fuzzypants Photography
into a modern facility with a well-stocked pharmacy, an operating room and local staff of ten people. I raised funds to pay for a series of American vets to visit the shelter, where they trained our vet to spay and neuter cats and dogs. We vaccinated hundreds of animals each year for rabies and distemper, and treated hundreds more for skin diseases, respiratory infections, accident injuries, intestinal infections, bite wounds and other problems. We opened a second long-term shelter and worked to find homeless dogs permanent homes, one by one. As the war between the Taliban and NATO forces escalated and foreign soldiers poured into the country, we also began helping American troops and others who rescued cats and dogs in the war-zone. I began receiving hundreds of emails from soldiers on military bases, often forwarded to me by the ASPCA or the Humane Society, begging us to save the small creatures who had given them companionship, comfort and an outlet for affection on lonely, bleak and violent deployments. Many of these war zone rescues required harrowing cross-country journeys, and sometimes we arrived too late to save dogs from being banished to the desert, euthanized or shot on military orders. Far more often, thankfully, we were able to get the mascot to safety, provide vaccinations and care, and send it home to the soldier or his family. For the past two years, we have worked very closely with the non-profit Puppy Rescue Mission, which raises funds to help ship home dogs adopted by American soldiers and others.
her soldier’s base was under fire. A cargo truck we sent to collect her and several other dogs was stopped and turned back by Taliban fighters, but a second truck made it through. Within several days of reaching us, Mocha began to relax and wag her tail, and that spring I brought her home. She was adopted by my friends Martha Dickey and Jay Goldbloom in Washington, and she goes to the beach with me on the Eastern Shore every summer. Bear, a huge brindle mastiff, and his smaller companion Shep, were once puppies rescued near a military camp in 2005 by a U.S. army officer, Jeff Ritsick, from Arlington,Va.. Both became beloved camp members and watch dogs for the troops. But military rules did not allow them to keep pets, and Jeff knew other soldiers whose rescued mascots had been killed on their commanders’ orders. He and his colleagues raised the shipping funds, and we arranged to send four of their camp dogs to the States. Jeff and his wife Corinne ended up keeping Shep and Bear, who now rule their roost in Arlington. Bear, easily ten times his puppy size, occupies most of the living room when he stretches out to nap.
In addition to Dosty, dozens of these Afghan adoptees ended up coming to the mid-Atlantic region, including Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.. In April, we were able to gather half a dozen adopters and their dogs together for a group reunion and photograph in a beautiful park in Northwest Washington. Each animal, and each rescue, involved a unique and a dramatic story.
Almira, now known as Fugee, is a sweet white hound dog I found lying behind a gas station in Kabul. She had a broken leg and internal bleeding, and she was in great pain, but she allowed me to pick her up and put her in my car. The leg injury turned to be old and improperly healed, leaving her with a permanent limp. The bleeding turned out to be from uterine cysts that were too complicated for us to treat at Tigger House. We sent her to a clinic in Pakistan, where she underwent several operations and chemotherapy. Last Christmas, she came home and was adopted by our friend Azadeh Chegini in Annandale, where she is now inseparable from Azi’s pack of beloved dogs and cats.
Mocha, a small honey-colored hound, arrived from far southern Afghanistan in early 2006. She was terrified and trembling, and she had given birth while
Polly Bravo, a little Koochee pup, was spotted near a highway this winter by some American security teams, who noticed that his neck was bleeding
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
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Photo by Javed Hamdard
Photo by Pam Constable Left: Pam at the shelter spending time greeting & getting to know their four-legged guests. RIght: “Hope,” rescued in the afghan war zone. Found extremely emaciated & with 3 tiny puppies.
badly. They were not allowed to stop for him, but a friend from their compound notified us and we sent out a search party, which rescued him after several days. At Tigger House, our vet found a collar that had grown into his neck, slowly suffocating him and causing gangrene. Once it was cut off, he responded quickly to heavy doses of antibiotics and his neck began to heal. Our friend put out the word, and Emily Jeter, a therapist in Alexandria, stepped up to adopt him, while some loyal donors in New York State helped to pay for his trip. Polly Bravo came home to Emily in March. Tigger House has not been able to bring systemic or miraculous change to Afghan society, especially the way it views and treats animals we would consider companions. Sadly, we hear new horror stories every week. Puppies are still mutilated, chained and tormented for sport. Few cats or dogs are sterilized, and the resulting urban dog population is regularly culled by government teams that scatter poison-laced meat in the streets. It is a truly horrible way to die. Dogs are still widely seen as religiously unclean and verminous; Tigger House staffers are often ridiculed when they pick up an injured dog in the street, and Western visitors are mocked as “dog washers.” On the other hand, local men who own fighting dogs pamper them for their valuable betting income, and wealthy Afghans are beginning to import expensive German shepherds and toy breeds. In a nation of weary and wary survivors, however, it will take another generation for people to begin seeing small animals as potential companions worthy of good care.
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Even though we are a small operation with limited resources and influence, we take heart from the fact that we have been able to help many individual animals who desperately needed shelter or medical treatment, and many individual soldiers, aid workers and others who had no place to safely keep the creatures they plucked from war and poverty and cruel fates. In the past eight years, we have arranged to send more than 500 dogs to loving homes all over the United States, Canada and other countries. Sometimes we fail to save dogs that come to us. Puppies die from parvo virus and cats contract fatal respiratory infections. Some animals are too old and sick to help, except by providing a safe and warm place for their final days. Our work is constantly hindered by bad weather, cancelled flights, military restrictions, cultural hostility, and physical danger. Today, conditions are becoming worse as war, violence and hostility to Westerners increase. But every time I receive a message that a soldier has been safely reunited with his dog, or another adopted animal has reached his new home, I feel like a small but important miracle has indeed been accomplished.
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A New Meaning to Military Deployments:
One Organization’s Way of Supporting Our Troops and Their Dogs By Amber Haldis
When military members receive notice of an upcoming deployment, they are given information and advice on how to prepare. They are told how to handle finances, what to do with their cars, how it’ll impact their families. The reason for this preparation is to help members of the military return to the same lives that they are leaving behind. There is another facet of being deployed that needs to be handled, too—pets, and what to do with them while the owners are away! This particular predicament was faced by Shawn and Alisa Johnson, members of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, in June, 2011, when Alisa had to move across the country for six months of traning—just as Shawn was scheduled to be deployed. Fortunately for Shawn and Alisa—and their dog, J.D.—family members lived near The Basic School in Quantico,Va., the facility where Alisa would be attending for her training. Those family members had the home, lifestyle and heart to take care of J.D. while Alisa and Shawn were tending to their military duties.
But for Alisa, an extremely dedicated pet lady who has stopped traffic to save stray animals, temporarily adopted such animals and taken on the risk of breaking lease agreements to house those pets, this situation, and Alisa’s dedication to pets, has prompted Alisa to take on the role of president of a not-for-profit organization---Dogs on Deployment. This organization, appropriately abbreviated DoD—the same abbreviation for the Department of Defense—is a networking website that puts military pet owners in contact with volunteers who are willing to be foster parents for pets. This became Shawn and Alisa’s solution to the question of what to do with pets when military service members are deployed or assigned to duties away from home. Days before Alisa was scheduled to start her training at The Basic School, and days before Shawn’s scheduled deployment, the couple sat in a bedand-breakfast inn and taught themselves how to use Adobe Dreamweaver—popular computer software— and create a website. The website offers a great alternative to taking a pet to a shelter, Alisa says. Dogs on Deployment’s main goals are to educate and provide outreach. Volunteers are asked to spread the word through social media and by word of mouth. One day a week, usually Sundays, Facebook “fans” are encouraged to spend a little time performing outreach. DoD’s most recent forum is Craigslist. The organization’s call for action, entitled EMPOC, which stands for “End Military Pets on Craigslist,” asks people to reply to posts by military members who are seeking help.
Additionally, pet shelters that military members use are asked to refer to Dogs on Deployment as an alternative. Those who may not have the financial means to support pet relocation can take advantage
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The Virginia–Maryland Dog
{ feature }
Left: DoD Founders Shawn & Alisa Johnson & “JD” Right: Reunion between one of the DoD pet owners after returning from Deployment Photos courtesy of Dogs on Deployment
of DoD’s Pet Chit program, which helps military members successfully prepare for boarding pets with volunteers. The best part about starting Dogs on Deployment has been the huge amount of support, Alisa said. She could not believe how quickly boarders had volunteered! There were about 20 boarders signed up before the group’s first military member sought to use their services. The network grew to about 50 in June, 2011. Subsequently, the network provided homes to about 30 animals within six months. Today, the network boasts nearly 5,000 “likes” on Facebook. DoD tries to get boarders within a 50-mile radius of military bases, but people across the country can volunteer. In one heartwarming instance, a prospective boarder, supplied in advance with only a photo and the owner’s word, agreed to drive for hours across several states to meet the family. That boarder subsequently ended up fostering the dog!
The next leg of this program is to partner with other boarding groups to increase the network and spread the word. DoD also wants to work with businesses that are willing to donate supplies or offer discounted services to deployed animals. Individuals and organizations can donate many items to DoD, including food, vet care, dog walking, and pet training. People who wish to help can also show their support by purchasing DoD apparel, and, of course, by sharing information about the company with friends and followers, in person and in social media. Providing a temporary home to pets is a whole new way to support our deployed troops and other active military members. As DoD’s slogan requests, please support our troops by boarding their pets.
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There is no requirement to volunteer or to use the site’s networking services. Dogs on Deployment does not screen boarders, and the final agreement to board a pet is decided upon by the parties involved in each situation. Alisa gives tips and suggestions for finding a boarder on the Dogs on Deployment’s Blogspot account. An owner’s responsibilities do not end with simply finding a temporary home. They are encouraged to get their pets spayed or neutered, keep their vaccines up to date, and get a physical for their pet beforehand. In addition to maintaining a pet’s health, this aids in defining certain legal terms of the contract, also. DoD provides contracts and forms that delegate the transfer of care, grant permission for boarders to make decisions affecting the pet, and explain how financial support for the pet is to be handled. Also, a veterinarian release allows boarders to charge a credit card in the owner’s absence.
Interested parties can go to www.DogsonDeployment.org to register as boarders or service providers, and to offer monetary support. The website provides links to the organization’s Blogspot, Facebook, Twitter and Causes.com accounts, where you can follow news, view pets, hear success stories, and be connected to DoD’s partners. Shawn and Alisa can be reached through e-mail at info@dogsondeployment.org, and by phone at (619) 800–3631.
Meet Boston “This is “Boston,” a Pet in Need owned by a sailor stationed in Virginia. She is one of the many pets listed on Dogs on Deployment who is looking for a DoD Boarder home during their owner’s absence. Pet Name: Boston Location: Norfolk, VA 23513 Boarding Dates: Jun 18, 2012 - Apr 16, 2013 Gender: Spayed Female Pet Age: Adolescent (1-4 years)
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
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As an accredited member of the American Animal Hospital Association, we are dedicated to providing excellence in small animal care. Our hospital is evaluated regularly by AAHA to ensure that we meet or exceed the association's standards of excellence. AAHA standards are recognized around the globe for quality care in veterinary medicine. Doctors’ hours are by appointment during the following times: Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 am to 6 pm Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 am to 8 pm Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 am to 8 pm Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 am to 8 pm Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 am to 8 pm Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 am to 12 pm
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{ weekend getaway }
Brampton Bed & Breakfast Inn Located on an expansive 25 acres just a mile outside of historic Chestertown on Maryland’s upper Eastern Shore, the Brampton Bed & Breakfast Inn is an exquisite getaway for lovers of days both past and present. Looking at and admiring the elegant 19th century plantation house from the outside, guests are swept back through time. Once they pass through the front doors, however, they are immediately brought to a new place in time, a unique setting where elements of two differing time periods are combined seamlessly in style. The rooms and suites of the 1860 estate boast objects and amenities of classical and contemporary natures, and it seems as though the perfect ones of each period were included. Wood-burning fireplaces and maple-carved beds, along with air-jetted tubs and flat screen TVs, are just some of the elements from each time period that can be found in the rooms of the plantation house. Six cottages on the premises offer separate and unparalleled seclusion, and they offer a perfect romantic getaway for couples with or without their dogs. The cottages offer “every amenity you can dream of,” in the words of Rita Scardino, one of the innkeepers at Brampton. Some of these amenities include: large Whirlpool tubs, outdoor showers, wetbars, spacious screened-in porches, wood-stoves, heated towel bars, Wi-Fi internet, and large and roomy steam showers. The cottages also include views overlooking meadows and private gardens.
Every cottage also includes large, flat-screen TVs and DVD players. Of the six cottages, only one of them, Russell’s Cottage, is pet-friendly, but this should not deter prospective guests from coming. An extra feature of Russell’s Cottage is a fenced in area for dogs, where they can enjoy a unique activity. In the words of Rita, dogs who come to the inn experience a plethora of new scents and smells that are native only to the surrounding area, Brampton in particular. They love taking in these new smells, one of which is the scent of fresh, homemade dog biscuits that Rita herself bakes when she knows there will be guests with a dog arriving. The Brampton Inn allows up to two dogs to stay at any time, and there is a daily pet fee of $25.
By Jesse Sokolow Photography by Jumping Rock Photography
Chestertown, situated on the banks of the Chester River, is extremely dog-friendly, as many of the residents themselves own dogs, and there are many restaurants with outdoor seating in town, where guests can take their dogs. There are also two parks where dog owners commonly gather and socialize, letting their dogs meet and play with others. There are no off-leash dog parks in the area, but the 25 acres that the inn is located on, and the additional surrounding 10 acres, provide many trails and paths through wooded areas with “a peaceful, park-like setting,” says Rita. There, dogs can eagerly pull their owners along as they walk the paths with joy and excitement. Brampton Bed & Breakfast Inn 25227 Chestertown Road Chestertown, MD 21620 (410) 778-1860 TF (866) 305-1860 www.bramptoninn.com
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
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{ weekend getaway }
The Inn at Meander Plantation By Jesse Sokolow Photography by Jumping Rock Photography
Situated in the heart of Virginia wine country, a mere 11 miles from Montpelier, the Inn at Meander Plantation proudly upholds its classical roots and winery traditions. Though conveniently located only an hour outside of Washington, D.C. in Locust Dale, Va., this country inn displays no signs of the fast pace of city life. Instead, guests are taken back to a special, simpler living style, and to a distinctive, slower time that is unique to Virginia wine country estates. The 80 acres of land that are part of the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills and that belong to the inn stretch and roll lazily to create a stunning and natural picture of beauty for guests to enjoy. The surrounding area is rich in history as well as wine, and the area was the location of many Civil War battles. Guests can visit and tour these historical sites, and observe up close how history unfolded. Montpelier, the famous estate of the fourth President of the United States, James Madison, is obviously historically important, and the estate is close to the inn. If history doesn’t appeal, guests can instead visit local wineries or enjoy hiking the surrounding mountainous terrain, and they can enjoy these activities with their dogs if they like. Afterwards, they can taste the exquisite, ever-changing and seasonally-updated menu of Meander Inn, presented by Suzie Blanchard, one of the innkeepers and a cooking instructor with 23 years of experience. Each of the Meander Plantation Inn’s ten rooms are uniquely decorated and individually designed, ensuring that none look or feel quite the same. Some rooms are in the stately Manor House, while others are located a mere stone’s throw away, and though all are special and different in their own ways, each is equally impressive. The Summer Kitchen room, for instance, is in a separate building adorning the Manor House, linked by an archway made of brick. On the original plantation, the Summer Kitchen room was the original kitchen. Perfectly converted into a lodging room though, it now boasts a fireplace with gas logs,
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The Virginia–Maryland Dog
a private bath, and a staircase inside, which leads to a large upstairs bedroom, dotted with windows that offer views of the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, and tranquil pastures and surrounding lands. Of the ten rooms at the inn, six are pet-friendly. There is a $25 pet fee that covers the entirety of the stay, and dogs are more than welcome. There is already a resident golden retriever at Meander named Callie, who “loves to welcome other dog guests,” says Suzanne Thomas, one of the innkeepers and owners of Meander. Guests can arrange to go on picnics with their dogs, who love the open country air and nostalgic feeling of being back to their roots in the wilderness. Along with hiking, there are many nature trails that weave through the land and alongside nearby rivers that dogs love to walk. These trails provide peaceful views and never-ending beauty for guests. Inn at Meander Plantation 2333 North James Madison Hwy Locust Dale, VA 22948 (800) 385-4936 www.meander.net
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{ health }
Digestive Health for the Modern Pet Pet lovers occasionally find themselves wishing that their pets could talk. It would make our lives much easier (and much more interesting). But since humans are still unable to figure out what the common bark stands for, we have to do our best in preventative care to ensure the comfort of our pets, starting with their tummy health. There are options available for pet owners to maintain their animal’s digestive health. According to Dr. Chris Bessent, a Wisconsin veterinarian and the founder of Herbsmith, an herbal supplement company for animals, a daily digestive supplement is important for even your average, every-day dog. “We live in such a toxic world,” Bessent said. “They pick up toxins in their food, from the grass, from the ground, in their water source.”
According to Bessent, a daily digestive supplement with a probiotic helps to keep gut health at its fullest and minimizes the amount of challenge on the immune system from bad bacteria. “We always want to keep good bacteria in their gut,” Bessent said. “Bad bacteria changes the bowel flora in the gut and can produce a lot of gas.”
By Shannon Venegas
Dogs are stressed in general from toxicity load, environmental stress or being fed high grain or high carbohydrate diets. Those sorts of things change the good to bad ratio of bacteria in the gut, Bessent said. In addition to just the everyday need for a supplement, some dogs require a special need for a digestive boost. For example, a dog who is recovering from surgery, or who is on an antibiotic, or who is on a daily non-steroidal anti-inflammatory will need a good probiotic and prebiotic to help keep the balance of bacteria in the gut healthy.
These toxins, along with a dog’s diet and stress level, have a strong impact on its digestive system. Dogs are naturally scavengers, carnivorous animals. Since they have been domesticated and brought into the house to eat dry food, their diets have changed. Susie Bower, owner of End of the Leash, a dog supply store in Mukwonago, Wis., said a daily digestive supplement is good for any dog, to break down allergens and maintain good tummy flora (gut flora refers to the microorganisms that live in the digestive tract).
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
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{ health }
Resources: University of Maryland Medical Center, www.umm.edu Herbwisdom.com Enzymeessentials.com.
Dr. Gretchen Jaeger, owner of Prairie Animal Hospital in North Prairie, Wis., said pets that have been on medication for a while especially need a probiotic in their diet because the antibiotics kill off the normal bacteria level. Jaeger said a dog in need of a digestive supplement will exhibit signs such as soft stool, mild diarrhea, vomiting, chronic infection, and long-term antibiotic use. According to Bessent, the best digestive supplement is one that is all-encompassing and includes probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes and herbs. The key ingredient to a beneficial digestive supplement is a good probiotic. Probiotics are live microorganisms that project a health benefit on the host. In other words, probiotics are bacteria that are beneficial for the digestive system. One example of a probiotic is lactobacillus acidophilus, which is able to create lactic acid from fermenting milk sugars. This aids in digestion and helps encourage the absorption of minerals and calcium. Lactobacillus also has immunity-boosting attributes. Prebiotics are also good for the digestive system. According to Bessent, a prebiotic is a long-chain sugar that feeds good bacteria, encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.
In addition to probiotics and prebiotics, key enzymes are a must in boosting your pet’s digestive system. Digestive enzymes break down the nutrients your pet eats. “A dog that has any GI upset at all, by adding a digestive enzyme, it helps them to maximally utilize the food they take in,” Bessent said. “Doing that helps to maintain quality of life and support good health.” According to Bower, most of the basic dog food brands are depleted of all their beneficial enzymes. “When the food is baked at anything over 120 degrees, the enzyme activity is no longer present in the dog food,” Bower said.
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The Virginia–Maryland Dog
Examples of enzymes include protease, which breaks down protein and amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates. Protease digests proteins so amino acids can be absorbed by the intestinal wall. Lipase is another important enzyme that breaks down fats to be absorbed by the intestines. It also helps in reducing gas and bloating. In addition, there are certain herbs that can be beneficial for the digestive system. According to Bessent, cinnamon, ginger, and licorice balance sugar metabolism and balance the gut while promoting bowel health. Cinnamon is known to relieve nausea and vomiting. It also has been known to warm and stimulate the digestive system. Ginger is also helpful for discomfort after eating, and the herb has been used to treat gastrointestinal issues. Licorice is especially helpful in increasing the flow of bile. It can be used for heartburn and irritation in the digestive tract. Overall, these safe herbs are helpful to maintain G.I. health. Another important factor to remember when choosing the right digestive supplement is the number of colony forming units (CFUs) per serving in the product. CFUs are determined by taking a sample of the powder and observing how many colonies of live bacteria are formed per gram in one day. Ideally, one serving of a supplement should contain at least ten billion CFUs. The other thing to consider when shopping for a digestive supplement is the way it is stored. Moisture activates the growth of these good bacteria. According to Bessent, digestive supplements packaged in powder form in a container hold live bacteria when they are opened, but lose their affect by the time they are half gone. Digestive supplements containing microorganisms that are blister-packed in a capsule keep the formula safe and alive until it enters the pet’s system. Even though our animals cannot tell us when their tummies are upset, pet owners can do their best to prevent discomfort. A dog’s stomachs can be upset just as often as a human’s, and it is important to pay attention to the warning signs to prevent a problem before it occurs. A good probiotic and prebiotic, along with beneficial herbs and enzymes, are essential to promoting digestive health.
{ nutrition }
Treating Kidney Problems Naturally The role of the kidneys is to remove toxins and excess fluid. When the kidneys become diseased or damaged, they may lose their ability to perform these functions, causing a toxic build-up in the body. The kidneys are similar to a filter -- if this filter is clean, the body is able to function properly. Kidney disease is a very
A significant improvement may be seen when switching the diet to a homemade, low protein, high quality diet. If home cooking is not an option, I would recommend a high quality kibble. The diet should contain quality proteins and whole grains. Avoid foods containing by-products, grain fragments, and synthetic preservatives such as butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), propyl gallate, propylene glycol and ethoxyquin.
By Darleen Rudnick, B.S.W., M.H.N. Nutritional Pet Consultant
common problem in older dogs and cats, and the ailment can be treated naturally with a proper diet and supplements. Symptoms of kidney disease include: Excessive thirst Excessive water intake Pale or colorless urine Bouts of vomiting, constipation or diarrhea Increased nighttime urination Shortness of breath Loss of appetite Fatigue Dry, itchy skin Treating Kidney Disease Naturally It is very important to treat each pet individually. Therefore, the recommendations listed below are general, and they would not apply to every pet suffering from this disease. Feed a Natural Diet Since diet is one of the most important factors in dealing with this disease, I highly recommend a homemade diet. You must give your pet food that takes the strain off the kidneys. The body must produce as little waste as possible, so the kidneys are asked to do the minimum amount of work to remove the waste. The diet must be low in protein; however, what protein the pet does get, it must be of a very high quality. It is also extremely important to feed your pet several small meals a day. It is NOT healthy to feed your pet once a day.
Use Bottled Water Water may contain toxic metals such as lead, copper, mercury, and aluminum. Some pets are very sensitive to these metals. Exposure is common through aluminum cookware, auto exhaust, industrial pollution, and copper pipes. Water may contain metals such as cadmium, a rare, naturally occurring metal used in the manufacture of pesticides, rubber tires, plastics, and paints. Because of its industrial uses, it is often found in water and food supplies. Avoid all Toxic Flea Products If the product states on the label, “Hazardous to Humans and Domestic Animals”, it is hazardous to your pet. Supplement the Diet with High Quality Vitamins Supplements are recommended to treat the whole body with nutrients to strengthen your pet. Vitamins and minerals have the power to neutralize the possible harmful effects of impurities and toxins present in a pet’s food or environment. They will also ensure against possible dietary deficiencies and provide extra nutrition in times of stress. Supplements make a tremendous difference in improving the quality of a pet’s life.
{
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For More Information Contact: Darleen Rudnick B.S.W., M.H.N. Purely Pets Tel: (804) 748-7626 darleen@purelypets.com www.purelypets.com
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
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{ alternative therapy }
Holistic Health 101
By Deva Khalsa, Holistic health is all about keeping your dogs as healthy as they can be, and its use creates a wiser VMD, CVA, FBIH and stronger body that, as a result, can stay healthier. Each and every thing on this earth that is alive has a system that sustains that life within it. There exists, in your dog’s body, a complex machine that is bustling with activity and full of energy. How well this machine is maintained will define how healthy your dog remains, and how long his life will be.
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That’s why our rediscoveries and new discoveries of holistic products and techniques is such an important development. While conventional therapies tend to take over and decrease the body’s ability to heal itself, holistic ones work with the body to fortify and encourage its own healing powers. The result is a healthier dog with a stronger immune system.
have approached a time in history when this term can fully describe the nature of medicine. Complimentary means that the wonderful medley of styles of healing, new and ancient, can be used to compliment each other. There is a time and place for each one. The ability to combine the best options from different healing venues is what’s known as integrative health care.
Today, terms like complimentary, holistic, alternative, and conventional abound in our literature. They are used so often and in so many diverse places that some observers wonder what these terms mean. Conventional is used to depict the use of surgery and pharmaceutical drugs. Alternative means not using the conventional approach of surgery and drugs. By far, my favorite word is complimentary. Hopefully, we
Holistic almost has too wide a definition, for it portrays a wide range of approaches ranging from sophisticated and learned modes of healing like acupuncture and homeopathy to eating organic foods, exercising and massages. Holistic, in a basic sense, refers to choosing to work with the body’s innate intelligence, promoting balance, strength and restoration. It can simply mean a healthier diet and a daily supple-
The Virginia–Maryland Dog
ment for your dog. Sometimes it’s the approach an owner takes in an effort to save her beloved dog from a severe disease. When your dog’s body is given the ammunition it needs to run its systems and the guidance it needs to correct that which is causing disease, it moves rapidly to heal itself. There are many holistic modalities or techniques available, but they all have the same common denominator--they greatly increase the body’s ability to heal and cure itself. It’s that simple. Holistic health works with the nature of healing. There is a wisdom that is always at work within our own and our dogs’ bodies. Without any conscious thought, the cells work at a furious pace, headed toward order and health. They are well-acquainted with the actions necessary to continue in their pursuit of life. Mankind has worked to support the inherent objectives of these cells, augmenting and supporting their ability to heal, for thousands of years. That old-fashioned body wisdom during times of illness sometimes needs a little help from its friends. I have found that dogs seem to innately know what is truly good for them, and they surely love holistic health. Dogs that hated going to the veterinarian would pull their way into my office once they understood what it was all about. Holistic health also provides us with some of the most curative treatments available for your pets. In my practice, I routinely treat dogs with severe illnesses. Quite a few of them have been given no hope. By using the appropriate holistic therapy, many of them are returned to full health. The key is an awareness of the alternatives and where to use them. When the different facets of these therapies are put together, a series of pluses is the result.
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Holistic care contains therapies that make up a powerfully healing combination. In learning about some simple holistic health therapies, you’ll be able care for quite a few of your dog’s medical needs, and I am certain that you’ll enjoy how effective and easy it will be.
Deva Khalsa is a holistic veterinarian, author and lecturer. She has practiced as a holistic veterinarian since she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1981. She is the author of the best-selling “Dr. Khalsa’s Natural Dog,” and she has lectured about holistic pet care. She plans to write a series of articles for the magazine called “The Naturally Healthy Dog,” about how to use holistic health at home.
BRINGING THE PHOTO STUDIO TO YOUR PET. www.sassypetphotos.com
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
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{ legal }
To Chain or Not to Chain?
An Overview of Local Anti-Tethering Laws By Hillary Tethering or chaining a dog under most state Collyer, Esquire laws means that a person ties a dog with a rope or line to a stationary object. While dog owners with large amounts of land or individuals who do not have fenced-in yards sometimes turn to tethering their dogs as a means of keeping the dogs on their property, this form of confinement can cause dogs significant physical and psychological pain. After all, dogs, just like their people, are social beings who flourish by interacting with humans and other animals. While tethering for short time periods, while using appropriate equipment in a “dog-friendly” environment (i.e., ensuring your dog has sufficient space to move around and access to plenty of water, shelter, etc.) is generally considered harmless, keeping a dog on a tether for all or most of the day can lead to negative behavior changes. Tethered dogs run the risk of becoming anxious or “stir crazy” given their inability to release energy and socialize with others. In dogs, boredom often leads to frustration, which, in turn, can lead to aggression. Also contributing to aggression is the fact that, when provided only a small area to inhabit, tethered dogs may become irrationally
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The Virginia–Maryland Dog
protective of that area. Studies indicate that a chained or tethered dog is nearly three times more likely to bite than a dog who is not chained or tethered. In addition to depriving dogs of socialization and leading to negative behavioral traits, tethering is often associated with a variety of cruel and inhumane treatment. For instance, tethered dogs are often the victims of abuse and neglect, and they suffer from irregular feedings, empty water bowls, inadequate veterinary care, and exposure to extreme weather. Tethered dogs are forced to eat, sleep, urinate and defecate in a confined area, which is contrary to their natural instincts. Additionally, such animals may suffer neck injuries from collars that have become embedded in their skin, or they may even die from strangling if their chains become tangled with other objects. Also, chained dogs are less able to defend themselves against stray dogs, wild animals, or abusive people. Finally, chained female dogs that have not been spayed are likely to attract stray male dogs, resulting in unwanted litters. The negative consequences associated with tethering have led many jurisdictions to enact what are known as anti-tethering or anti-chaining, laws. Such laws may be passed at the state or local level. The
{ legal }
laws themselves vary from state to state. Some laws prohibit tethering outright, while other laws may do one or more of the following: prohibit tethering a dog outside overnight restrict the length of time that a dog may be tethered
regulate the length of the tether (e.g., prohibit
that restricts the dog’s access to suitable and sufficient clean water or appropriate shelter;
in unsafe or unsanitary conditions; or that causes injury to the dog. Any person who violates Maryland’s statute is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to imprisonment up to 90 days or a fine up to $1,000, or both.
using a tether that is too short)
prohibit tethering dogs younger than a certain age (e.g., six months old) prohibit tethering a dog who has not been spayed or neutered prohibit using a tether that weighs more than the animal reasonably can bear prohibit using collars and halters that are not properly fitted prohibit tethering a dog in a way that poses a risk of injury or strangulation
The District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia all have enacted anti-tethering laws. The salient features of each jurisdiction’s law are discussed below.
Virginia’s Anti-Tethering Law Virginia law requires an animal that is tethered be given “adequate space.” Under Virginia’s statute “adequate space” generally means sufficient space to allow the animal to: first, easily stand, sit, lie, turn about, and make all other normal body movements in a comfortable, normal position for the animal; and, second, interact safely with other animals in the enclosure. More specifically, for purposes of tethering “adequate space” means a tether that: is appropriate for the age and size of the animal; is attached to the animal by a properly applied collar, halter, or harness;
has a collar, halter, or harness configured so as District of Columbia’s Anti-Tethering Law Washington, D.C.’s anti-tethering law prohibits persons from cruelly chaining any animal. For the purposes of the D.C. statute, “cruelly chains” means attaching an animal to a stationary object or a pulley by means of a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or similar restraint under circumstances that may endanger its health, safety, or well-being. This definition includes a tether that: exceeds 1/8 the body weight of the animal; causes the animal to choke; is too short for the animal to move around or for the animal to urinate or defecate in a separate area from the area where it must eat, drink, or lie down; is situated where it can become entangled; does not permit the animal to reach food, water, shade, dry ground; or does not permit the animal to escape harm.
Anyone who cruelly chains an animal is subject to imprisonment in jail for up to180 days or a fine up to $250, or both. Maryland’s Anti-Tethering Law Maryland’s anti-tethering statute prohibits persons from leaving a dog outside and unattended by use of a restraint: that unreasonably limits the movement of the dog; that uses a collar made primarily of metal or that is not at least as large as the circumference of the dog’s neck plus one inch;
to protect the animal from injury and prevent the animal or tether from becoming entangled with other objects or animals; and is at least three times the length of the animal (as measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail).
However, when freedom of movement would endanger the animal, temporarily and appropriately restricting movement of the animal according to professionally accepted standards for the species is considered provision of adequate space. See Va.Code Ann. § 3.2-6500 (2012). Violation of Virginia’s anti-tethering law is a Class 4 Misdemeanor. Local Ordinances In addition to state laws, dog owners should be mindful that they might also be subject to a local ordinance in their respective city or county. For instance, in 2010, in an effort to protect dogs from neglectful owners who chain their dogs outside all day without food and water, the Alexandria, Va., City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting people from tethering dogs for more than three hours cumulatively within a 24-hour period. In this instance, the local ordinance goes further than state law. In conclusion, while there may be no harm in tethering your dog for short durations under humane conditions, dog owners should be mindful of the dangers and penalties for exceeding the statutorily permissible restrictions on tethering.
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
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{ training }
DANGER By Pat Lacy, Dog Obedience Instructor
Do Not Leave Your Pet In A Parked Car During Hot Weather
Heat builds up in your car and can kill a pet very quickly. It is not even safe to leave the windows partially open or the air-conditioner running. If the air conditioner cuts off, the dog can overheat and die in just a few minutes. Temperatures can soar quickly--especially if your car is parked in the sun. And remember--the sun moves. When temperatures are 70 degrees and higher (even with the windows cracked); your vehicle can become a death trap for your pet. Because metal conducts heat, temperatures inside a car can soar as high as 170 degrees. A dog’s normal body temperature is about 102 degrees, which is higher than a person’s. Dogs do not perspire as we do. They get rid of body heat through the pads of their feet and by panting. When overheated, they pant excessively, which can bring on panic and could cause them to hyperventilate, pass out, and die. If someone cannot remain in the car to monitor the heat or you cannot take your pet inside with you, it is better to leave them at home. Check your vehicle for safe temperatures where your pet rides. Some vans, wagons and even passenger cars do not have windows that open in the back. Air conditioning vents are not always adequate for passenger areas, thereby creating “hot pockets”. Although the driver may be comfortable with windows open or the air conditioner on, the pet is not able to tell you he is overheated. Over-heating is a big problem in stopand-go traffic. Never leave your pet in a car in the heat--even for short periods of time. Many pets have died after being left for only a “few minutes.” Being left alone for 15 to 20 minutes is enough time to cause brain or kidney damage--or even death from the heat. Remember, air-conditioners blow warm air when left on, if the car is not moving. Air-conditioners can also malfunction, contributing to increased heat in the car. Additionally, avoid games like retrieving or running and avoid heavy exercise during high temperatures. Try not to walk your pets on hot pavement or asphalt. Walk early in the mornings or in the cool of the evenings. Remember, dogs expel heat through their pads.
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If your dog is kept outside, see to it that he has plenty of consistent shade and fresh water. A dog house that is warm in the winter is too hot in the summer. They need a well ventilated area that is shaded all day. Do Not Allow Dogs To Ride With Thier Head or Body Out of Car or Truck Windows. They love this, but debris can damage their eyes, ears, nose or throats. They are also subject to slipping out or jumping from the vehicle as the result of a sudden stop or an accident. Do Not Let Dogs Ride In The Back of Open Pick-Up Trucks! Dogs love this also, but it is dangerous for several reasons. First, dogs expel body heat through panting and the pads of their feet. If they have to stand on a hot pick-up truck bed, one main source of expelling body heat is eliminated. Second, you are adding greatly to their body heat, since they will also absorb heat trough their paw pads, which may sustain serious and crippling burn injury. Third, dogs can jump or be thrown from a vehicle, no matter how reliable they may appear to be. Tying a dog in the back of a truck could result in a broken neck--or death--if the dog jumps or is thrown over the side of the truck bed. Fourth, for pick-up trucks with camper shells, observe the same rules for pets left in cars. Seat Belt Harnesses are available for our pets. Seat belt harnesses afford protection from a dog jumping on the driver and causing an accident. The harness stops the dog from getting out of the car before you are ready to get out. In an accident, a dog can be thrown into the windshield or thrown out of the car. Seat belts prevent dogs from being a nuisance while traveling. Virginia and Maryland laws require seat belts for humans. It is humane to use them on your pets. Leave your pet at home when possible, but travel with them safely when desirable. Enjoy your summer, but be sure to keep your pets safe from the heat! For more Information: Dog Lovers Obedience School 1127 Gaskins Road Richmond, VA 23233 (804) 741-DOGS www.dogloversobedienceschool.com
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Consider Adoption Approximately 5-7 million companion animals enter shelters every year. (Source: ASPCA)
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{ training }
GIVE – A Life-Saving Command By Tom Lacy, Dog Obedience Instructor
John and Sara shared this hair-raising episode with fellow obedience class members from the life of their eight-month old Goldendoodle, Sammy. This occurred on a morning when neither had to go to work so they slept late – but Sammy didn’t. Sammy sensed Dad was a heavy sleeper and carried his “prize” to Mom’s side of the bed. Sara sensed his movement. She opened her eyes as he came around the foot of their bed. Her complete confidence in Sammy allowed her to slowly extend her hand under his chin as she softly gave the command, “Give.” Sammy obediently dropped the sharp meat carving knife he had lifted out of the opened dishwasher into her waiting hand. The blade was positioned upward in his mouth. Disaster was averted. The mix between Golden and Poodle may have contributed to Sammy having a soft mouth. Proper obedience training definitely paid off. What is proper obedience training regarding the give command? Obviously, different schools of thought apply. Our goal is to Make the Family Pet a Good Canine Citizen. Adapt children who are as young as 3 years old train with the adults. Although we recognize other methods of training using treats and clickers, we teach methods that the youngest student can readily execute. Adult class members perfect this method, and then spend as much time as necessary teaching children to execute the give command properly.
Place the dog in a sit-stay. The handler kneels behind, with the dog between their thighs, both facing in the same direction. Place the left hand under the dog’s lower jaw holding the dog’s head steady. Stroke with the left hand to calm the dog, if necessary. Hold a plastic drinking straw in the fingers of the right hand. While giving the command, “Hold,” gently roll the bottom lips over the lower back teeth with the left hand. This maneuver opens the dog’s mouth. Insert the straw in the dog’s opened mouth. Use the right hand to keep the straw positioned in the dog’s mouth. Only release the straw as the dog comfortably holds it in their mouth. Give words of encouragement as the dog continues to hold the straw. Keep the left hand under the lower jaw at all times. Allow the dog to hold the straw momentarily. As you say “Give,” roll the lower lips over the dog’s back teeth again and take the straw out of the mouth with the right hand. Praise the dog lavishly, but not vigorously. Keep the dog in a sit-stay for a few moments before issuing the release command, “Okay.” Practice this routine to perfection. The dog should eventually perform perfectly with straw substitutes, such as other reasonable household items, including articles of clothing and their favorite toys. On command, they must learn to release any item, dropping it into your hand. Finally, teach this vital command to the children. Make sure that they learn it thoroughly. In the above situation, what might the results have been in your household if your dog showed his “prize” to a 5-year-old child who hadn’t been properly trained to give? For More Information: Dog Lovers Obedience School 1127 Gaskins Road Richmond, VA 23233 (804) 741-DOGS www.dogloversobedienceschool.com
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The Virginia–Maryland Dog
{ featured business }
Summertime and the Reading is Easy! This summer, something new is in the air in the world of summer reading for kids. What does summer reading, dogs, cats, kids, money, and community involvement have in common? Read For Rescues! Start with a book about a companion pet, sprinkle with love and creative spirit, and the result could just be a new generation of readers, savers, and givers to effect change for dog and cat rescues! Sound too good to be true? Not really. All it takes is a commitment of a caring adult to introduce a child to Read For Rescues. Read For Rescues is a reading-based initiative created to get kids interested in learning about companion pets, and in particular, rescues. The program was developed so it can be customized for kids of all ages and reading abilities, and to support rescue groups and shelters anywhere. From books about responsible pet ownership to subtle or stunning tales of rescues, suggested lists are available to help launch the experience. A starter kit consists of a paw print cello bag filled with a starter book, three-part Moon Jar savings boxes, fun gem magnets, a bookmark, and an awareness bracelet that says, “Read For Rescues – Save A Life Opt to Adopt.” The starter kit retails for $27.50 and is promoted as “So Much Learning in One Small Bag.”
process, one thing is certain: Kids will be introduced to a new way to view the world of rescues, and they just might initiate a generation of change. Read For Rescues hopes to align with community partner sites to create check-in locations for kids to report results, share stories, and receive the rewards of contributing to the world around them. Interested participants with questions, or potential sponsors, can write toreadforrescues@gmail.com. And, please visit www.ReadForRescues.com to start empowering a child you know to make a difference!
How does it work? While there’s a Read For Rescues starter kit (dog or cat versions), any parent or child can visit the program’s website at www. ReadForRescues.com and print out a pledge form and reading log sheet. Now just add creativity and enthusiasm. Instead of pledges to purchase cookies or rolls of wrapping paper, kids secure pledges to read books! Regarding which books, and how much is pledged per page or per book—that is the decision of the child. The money earned from pledges becomes another learning experience. Save, spend, or share? Or a little of each? And which area rescue organization or shelter should the funds help support? The learning experiences just continue to multiply. Whether a child discovers Read For Rescues on their own, with friends, or makes new friends in the
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
“From books about responsible pet ownership to subtle or stunning tales of rescues, suggested lists are available to help launch the experience”
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{ safety }
A Matter of Life and Death:
Knowing Animal First Aid and CPR Can Save a Pet’s Life By Merrill CristWarchal
Many of us have taken a human CPR and first aid course for either work or for personal reasons. Having the skills to manage emergent events buys time between the onset of the
ture for a dog or a cat? How to stop excessive bleeding? Learning how to manage all of these, and more, can help give your pet the best opportunity to have a successful outcome in the event of an emergency.
emergency and the arrival at an emergency
Responding to an Emergent Situation
room. For life-threatening situations, we are
Safety First The first thing to do in an emergency is remain calm. Panicking only escalates the situation. Take a deep breath, collect your thoughts, and begin a systematic survey of the area with the intention of identifying potential dangers. Are you in the midst of traffic? Who is in the immediate, or surrounding, vicinity? Are there environmental hazards?
able to pick up the phone, dial 911, and then help is at our side within minutes. Unfortunately, that is not the case for our animal companions. We are our pets’ 911. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, one out of four more pets would survive an emergency situation if just one pet first aid technique were applied prior to receiving veterinary care. Would you know how to handle an animal that is having a seizure? A dog choking? How to ventilate a cat? How to prevent heatstroke? What is a normal tempera-
Once the scene has been secured and any bystanders are safely out of the way, check on the animal. For safety reasons, for yourself and for the animal, see if the animal need to be restrained or muzzled. It is important to remember to never muzzle an animal that is choking, vomiting, having seizures, or having difficulty breathing. And never leave a muzzled animal unattended. Primary Pet Assessment After determining the safety at the scene, conduct a primary pet assessment. If there is breathing and a heartbeat, begin first aid. If there is no breathing, but a heartbeat is present, begin rescue breathing. If there is no breathing and no heartbeat, begin CPR. Should obstacles prevent the rendering of care and you cannot safely remove them, remove yourself and the animal instead. If removing the animal is necessary prior to assessing for injury, move with the assumption of cervical injury.
Responding to Heat Stroke in Summer As summer approaches, it is important to recognize heat stroke. Signs for heat stroke include bright red gums, uncontrollable panting, rapid heart beat, agitation, vomiting, lethargy, and a rectal temperature of 103 degrees or higher. If heat stroke is suspected, move the animal out of the sun and away from the heat. Run cool water over the animal, or apply cool wet cloths to the armpits (axilla), groin, and abdomen. Re-wet cloths often and always use cool water. Plac-
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The Virginia–Maryland Dog
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ing the animal on cool soil found underneath mulch can draw away body heat. Wiping rubbing alcohol on paw pads will help decrease internal temperatures. If there is access to air conditioning, use it. Monitor for excessive cooling. Once the temperature has decreased to 102.5 degrees or the animal has stabilized, transport for evaluation. Remember, nothing replaces veterinary care.
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Traveling With Pets and Handling Emergency Situations Summer is also a time for summer vacation, and our animal family members are often along for the ride. When traveling with animals, always know the nearest veterinarian and 24-hour animal hospital, as well as directions to each, from where you will be staying. A pet first aid kit is highly recommended. Such a kit should, minimally, contain the following items: a digital thermometer, blunt-end scissors, thermal blanket, chemical ice pack, cotton gauze pads, medical tape, hydrogen peroxide, diphenhydramine, rubbing alcohol, and antibiotic ointment. Also, consider having Rescue Remedy in your kit to help reduce shock. Knowing CPR and first aid for animals can mean the difference between life and death. Consider taking a course in your community.
{
For more Information: Merrill Crist-Warchal, PetStructor (SM) www.PetStructor.com (410) 309-3304
}
Summer is also a time for summer vacation, and our animal family members are often along for the ride. When traveling with animals, always know the nearest veterinarian and 24-hour animal hospital, as well as directions to each, from where you will be staying.
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Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
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{ feature } r
he awaiting “Sophie” ome forever h
“Elmer” in need of a new home
A Labor of Love for Labrador Retrievers By William Given In 1991, five Labrador Retriever-loving memPhotography by Fuzzypants Photography
bers of the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac had an idea that would subsequently lead to great payoffs. With a shared concern for the alarming number of Labs being euthanized in municipal animal shelters, the club members formed an organization devoted to the rescue and re-homing of Labs in Maryland. Today, this organization—Lab Rescue of the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac (LRLRCP)— has a rich history filled with many successes. The program started as a Maryland-based project, but today, LRLRCP operates in Maryland and Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region! The Labrador Retriever is the most popular of all breeds, so it is no surprise that there are more Labs to rescue than any other breed. In the past
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The Virginia–Maryland Dog
few years, there has been a significant increase in the numbers of Labs given up to municipal animal shelters and to rescue groups by their owners. The continued down turn in the economy gets the blame. More people continue to lose their jobs, forcing them to move in with family members--where there is no room for a dog. More people continue to lose their homes to foreclosure and, by necessity, are moving into apartments that do not allow dogs. Also on the increase is the number of the Labs being relinquished by their owners that are in need of surgeries or medical care that the owners simply cannot afford.
Big Numbers: The numbers illustrate the situation. During its first year of operation, LRLRCP saved and found loving homes for 112 dogs. Last year, 902 Labs were rescued. About 890 dogs were placed in forever homes with new families to call their own. Those
{ feature } ilable “Onyx” is ava for adoption
{
}
A dog rescue group’s idea 21 years ago blossoms into a successful program that saves Labs throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
are impressive numbers. In the first three months of this year, 2012, LRLRCP has rescued 230 dogs and placed about 176 to adoptive owners. That is a success rate of 76 percent, but spring and summer are now upon us, and that is the time when most families begin considering adopting a family pet.
The Cost of Rescue: As with all rescue groups, the adoption fees do not nearly cover the veterinary expenses and costs of operation. “Lab Rescue has an ongoing need for financial support to meet the cost of veterinary care for the dogs rescued,” said Stephen Push, the public relations director for LRLRCP. “Funds are used for routine care, including spays and neuter, as well as heartworm treatments and orthopedic surgeries.” LRLRCP is a volunteer-driven organization---with more than 500 volunteers and just one staff member. Contributions pay for veterinary care, medication, and other direct expenses necessary to rescue, rehabilitate, and find forever homes for hundreds of loving Labrador Retrievers each year. If supporters want to make a sponsorship donation, they can earmark their donation toward the care of a specific dog or treated condition. For example, Bud is a 5-year-old black male who is blind, due to diabetes. LRLRCP is paying for surgery that should restore his sight. Donors’ contributions would help immeasurably in such cases.
If people cannot make a monetary contribution, they can still help LRLRCP. The rescue group has a wish-list of items you could donate to help them in their cause. On this list are things such as large and extra-large crates, dog food, joint supplements, heart worm preventatives, leashes and buckle collars, EZ walk harnesses, and even postage stamps.
Need for Foster Families: “LRLRCP has between 50 and 60 dogs in foster care at any given time,” Push said. “We always need additional foster families, because the more foster homes we have available, the more Labs we can save.” LRLRCP works hard to match foster homes to dogs that are a good fit for the foster family’s circumstances and the dog’s needs, whether it is an energetic puppy, active youthful dog, a placid senior or a pregnant mom. The foster homes are the most important link in any rescue’s chain. Without their hard work and assistance, LRLRCP workers could not save, rehabilitate and place the number of homeless Labs that they do place in homes.
Volunteer: Volunteering is a great way to show support for Lab Rescue. “Volunteers play many critical roles in the effort,” said Push. Volunteers can assist with the transportation of dogs to adoption events. Volunteers could organize, or assist with fundraising
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
39
{ feature }
{
For more information about adopting, fostering,
}
donating, or hosting a fundraising event, please visit www.lab-rescue.org, call (301) 299-6756, or e-mail the organization at info@lab-rescue.org. They will welcome and appreciate a contribution of money, or a contribution of time to assist in their mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-homing Labrador Retrievers.
events and adoption fairs. Some volunteers do postadoption home visits, and others work with adoption applicants to match Labs with new families.
Adopting a Rescue Lab: If supporters have the room in their hearts and homes, they could adopt one of the wonderful Labs needing a forever home. Labs will likely do everything they can to make their owners feel as though they are the most important people in his or her world. Labs will greatly enrich your life. The adoption fee for a dog 4 months old or younger is $300; $250 for a dog between the ages of 4 months and 5 years; and $200 for dogs 6-yearsold and older. For a limited time, the adoption fee is $100 for dogs older than 8-years-old.
Special Dogs: “Lab Rescue always has a number of wonderful and easy living seniors available for adoption,” said Push. LRLRCP also has a few special-needs dogs who need especially loving forever homes. These Labs are blind, diabetic, or tripods, and they would make a wonderful companion for a kind-hearted people who will see the dog and not the health concern or handicap.
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The Virginia–Maryland Dog
Pros of the Breed: The Lab is gentle, handsome, playful, affectionate, loyal, and fun-loving. As a family dog, the Lab makes coming home a special experience, and it doesn’t matter whether you have been gone for the day or just 15 minutes. Labs possess all the qualities anyone could want in a dog. They are eager to please. Labs learn quickly, and they are easy to train, even by a novice owner. Labs bond well to all members of the family. And, the life expectancy for Labs is 12 to 14 years.
Cons of the Breed: Labrador Retrievers are generally pretty healthy dogs, but they are prone to several ailments. One of the best known is a problem of the hip called dysplasia. It is caused by an abnormal formation in the hip. It leads to a loss of cartilage and pain. Labs are also susceptible to a genetic eye defect called retinal dysplasia, which causes blind spots. And, like most athletes, they have problems with their knees and elbows. Push and all of the volunteers of the LRLRCP organization would like to express their sincere appreciation to the animal care professionals who have been so invaluable to their organization. Many have provided free or discounted services, thereby making the rescue group’s continuing success possible.
HELP WANTED: FOSTERS! With hundreds more animals at the Montgomery County Humane Society during the summer, all those homeless kittens, puppies and other animals of all ages need TLC in homes on a short-term basis. Fosters provide food, supplies, and socialization, while the shelter covers basic shots and the cost of spay/neuter. Your home resembles life with a new permanent adopter better than the shelter, and you get to help the animal find that new forever family.
GOT A FEW MONTHS* TO GivE A FEW ANiMALS A SECOND CHANCE? Call our Foster Program,
240-793-4201 or email
FosterMAU@mchumane.org More info at http://mchumane.org/fosterprogram.shtml * You must be able to commit at least 6 months
{ feature }
Cranial Cruciate Ligaments— A Real “Pain in the Knee”
{
}
A “Vetside” Chat with Dr. Matt Nicholson By Krisi Erwin, DVM, CVA, CCRT
This is the first in a planned series of “Vetside” chats with local veterinary surgeons about common sports injuries in dogs. The following interview is with Matthew Nicholson, a surgeon with the Veterinary Surgical Centers in Winchester, Virginia. In the article, Dr. Nicholson discusses the ins and outs of canine cruciate disease.
Q: How long have you been a surgeon?
A: After graduating from veterinary school at the Va-Md Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, I began my residency in 2000 at the University of Pennsylvania and achieved ACVS board certification in 2004.
Q: What made you want to become a surgeon?
A: I don’t recall a specific reason or event, but it seemed to be a natural progression for me. I suppose my exposure to surgery working as a surgery assistant while in undergrad was helpful and interested me the most.
Q: What are the most common orthopedic injuries that you see?
A: As you can imagine, orthopedic injuries are very common and I see them both in house pets and athletic dogs. Sometimes these injuries are traumatic, and other times the dogs are born with the condition. Here is a short list of what I see most often: a. Cranial cruciate ligament tears b. Patella luxation (kneecap dislocation) c. Congenital hip abnormalities (hip dysplasia, legg perthes) d. Fractures e. T endon injuries – achilles, biceps, supraspinatous, others
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The Virginia–Maryland Dog
Q: There is a lot of talk about cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tears. What is a cruciate ligament, anyway?
A: The cranial cruciate ligament is synonymous with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in humans. This ligament is located within the knee joint with the caudal cruciate ligment. These ligaments form a cross, hence the term cruciate. Their primary functions are to help prevent forward movement of the tibia (shin bone) relative to the femur (thigh bone), internal rotation, or hyperextension of the knee.
Q: Why are CCL injuries so common? What are the causes?
A: CCL injuries are one of the most common that I see, but the development of this injury has several causes. Traumatic injuries do occur, but account for the fewest numbers of cases I see. Most cases have a slow, degradation or weakening that progresses over time. The reasons for this are numerous, and continue to receive the greatest attention in research. We have learned that there are structural factors of the knee that may lead to instability and subsequent injury. One factor is the tibial plateau angle (TPA), the portion of the shin bone that makes up the base of knee joint. If this angle is too steep, it can predispose a dog to tearing his CCL. There can also be abnormalities in the angle of the patellar tendon that holds the kneecap in place and the TPA itself.
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These factors may potentiate weakening or tearing of the CCL due to a shear force, but are not likely the primary factors. Instead, they are often exacerbated by weakening of the other stabilizers of the knee joint including: the surrounding ligaments, joint capsule, contours of the joint surface (including the kneecap), meniscal cartilages that help to cushion the knee, as well as the supporting muscle groups, in particular the quadriceps and hamstring muscles. There is a lot of evidence to show there are several biologic factors that may also cause or propagate CCL tear, including genetics, immune-mediated diseases, obesity, hormonal factors (such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease), infectious diseases, or primary cellular abnormalities.
Q: It is clear that this is a much more complex injury than I previously thought! Do these injuries always require surgery? A: When a patient presents with signs attributed to a CCL tear, we have to determine which of the above factors may have contributed to this injury. With instability due to a CCL injury, the body responds by trying to stabilize the knee with the development of scar tissue. Our goals as doctors treating a non-surgical case would include redevelopment of muscle tone and mass and trying to control inflammation and pain.
Unfortunately, it can take weeks to months for a dog to recover from a CCL injury without surgery and a lot of these patients go on to develop significant arthritis at a younger age than those that have had surgery. For this reason, surgery is often recommended. The goal with surgery is to aid in stabilizing the knee and/or correcting other contributing factors such as a kneecap dislocation. Providing stability with surgery sooner than the body’s response is able to aids in earlier return to function and increased comfort for our canine companions.
Dr. Matt Nicholson. Photo by Dr. Krisi Erwin
Q: If my dog were to need surgery for a torn cruciate, what does the surgery entail?
A: There are several types of surgeries to aid in stabilizing the knee due to CCL tear. Historically, the surgical goal was to re-establish the stability that the ligament used to provide, such as replacement with a graft of the patient’s own tissue, or more commonly stabilization with suture material. Other, newer procedures such as the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), tibial tuberosity transposition (TTA) or closing wedge osteotomy (CWO) are aimed at reducing the shear force that may have contributed to the tear and stabilizing the knee during weight bearing. There are several opinions as to which of these may provide the best return to function, but often the best procedure for the patient would be discussed at length with the client after examination.
Q: As a pet parent, I would have to worry that this is a big surgery for my dog to go through. How successful is surgery? Should I expect my dog to recover well? How long does it take to recover? A: In discussing surgery with my clients, I certainly understand the worries that they might have about their pet’s safety! I encourage all pet parents to ask their veterinary surgeon these questions to help
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
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ensure that they are as comfortable as possible before moving forward with a procedure. It is a big decision. Thankfully, though, surgical success rates are generally 85 to 95 percent. Essentially, this means depending on the procedure, and other factors that may have contributed to the injury, 85 to 95 percent of patients will have good to excellent use of the injured leg after recovery. Those are pretty good odds.
commitment to helping your dog with rehabilitation after surgery will help to speed recovery, not to mention that it is great bonding time with your pet!
Q: Goodness! This is a rather daunting injury and I sure would like to protect my dog from this if possible. How can I prevent him from having a CCL injury?
Also, the use of multi-level pain management has become more common in veterinary medicine and we are able to keep our post-surgical patients much more comfortable now by managing pain from different angles. I am pleased that most of our cruciate surgery patients are quite comfortable during their recovery time.
A: There is no known bomb-proof preventative at this time. But, we can aim to control some factors such as weight and activity that may potentiate the injury. It is recognized that up to 50 to 60 percent of patients that have injured their cruciate ligament will go on to develop injury in both hind limbs, so trying to manage the factors that we have some control over is very important.
The recovery period is generally a three-month process. Patients with more chronic or more prolonged signs may take longer. No procedure will halt the inevitable progression of arthritis, but many will likely slow that progression.
Q: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me about this topic! On a more fun note, what hobbies do you have outside of surgery?
Q: Would pet rehabilitation help my dog to recover from surgery better?
A: Absolutely! Rehabilitation is critical in your pet’s overall success and recovery. This helps address some of the other factors such as muscle tone and muscle memory in stabilizing the knee. It also aids in reestablishing range of motion and comfort. Your
Dr. Nicholson assessing a knee for stability. Photo by Dr. Krisi Erwin
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A: I definitely try to be as well rounded as possible! I love surgery and working with my patients and their families. However, when I am not at work, I also enjoy gardening, Civil War history, photography, the Washington Nationals, baseball, and, unfortunately, the Redskins.
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Dr. Nicholson currently works at the Veterinary Surgical Centers (VSC) and heads their Winchester department. Feel free to contact VSC if you have any questions about this injury, at: (540) 450-0177. You can also contact me at: wecare@wholisticpawsvet.com if you have any questions.
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The Virginia–Maryland Dog
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{ events }
calendar In Virginia:
In Maryland:
Sunday, June 3rd 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday & Saturday June 1st & 2nd 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
25th Annual Eastminster Dog Show Keswick, VA For more information: Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA – www.caspca.org
Saturday, June 16th
18th Annual Black Tie Silent Auction Dinner Dance at Ayrshire Farm For more information: www.middleburghumane.com
Saturday, June 16th 10 a.m. to Noon
History Hounds Explore Ginter Park Benefit: Richmond SPCA For more information: www.richmondspca.org
Saturday, July 21st 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dog Days of Summer: Bark in the Park Sky Meadows State Park Bring in a can/bag of dog/cat food and get a free raffle ticket. For more information: www.middleburghumane.com
No Fleas Flea Market – Giant Yard Sale Benefit: Humane Society of Harford Cnty 2208 Connolly Road Fallston, MD For more information: erin@harfordshelter.org
Saturday, June 16th 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Benefit: Humane Society of Washington County LuHowl Milestone Farm Williamsport, MD For more information: www.hswcmd.org
Saturday, June 16th 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Carroll County Pet Expo 706 Agriculure Center Drive Westminster, MD For more information: kim.booe@carrollcountytimes.com
Saturday, June 23rd Noon to 5 p.m.
Reach Out Rescue’s Dog Days of Summer! Benefiting: Reach Out Rescue & Resources (RORR) Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard 18125 Comus Road, Dickerson, MD Admission: Early Bird Tickets: $15; Tickets on day of event: $20 For more information: rorrevents@gmail.com
Saturday, July 14th 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The 8th Annual Horse and Hound Wine Festival! Benefiting: 501-3c organizations that benefit horses and dogs Admission: $15 for Tasters, $5 for dogs For more information: ph. 542.586.3707 or email appleseed@earthlink.net.
Summer 2012 | www.thevirginia-marylanddog.com
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Seeking a Forever Home “Honey”
“Honey” lived on a chain behind a trailer for many years. She was often cold, scared, hungry and always lonely for love and attention. Honey was rescued in December of 2010 by a wonderful Middleburg Humane Foundation (MHF) volunteer. After receiving much love and attention from the staff and volunteers at the MHF, Honey now is one happy fun-loving little dog awaiting her forever home! Breed/Mix: Mix (Estimated to be a Border Terrier x Pit-bull Mix) Approximate Weight: 30 Pounds Approximate Age: 7-8 years Activeness: Moderately Active Good w/Other Dogs: Yes Good w/Children: Yes Housebroken: Yes Medical Issues: None Feeding Issues: None Special Needs: Is still unsure of some men & must be supervised when with cats. Vaccinations: Prior to adoption, the MHF ensures that all dogs are current on vaccines, dewormed, heartworm tested, & spayed/neutered. Fun Facts: Honey loves to play!!! She has a blast playing with toys, loves to go on walks, likes going down the slide in the playground & enjoys belly rubs.
Middleburg Humane Foundation
Photo Courtesy of MHF
The Middleburg Humane Foundation (MHF) operates a private, non-profit, five acre farm shelter located in Marshall, Virginia. It is their goal to provide a safe haven for abused, neglected, and “at risk” animals, both large and small. MHF specializes in the rescue and rehabilitation of animals that come to their shelter from a vast variety of abusive situations. After much needed nurturing and medical care, the animals are placed available for adoption. MHF receives no state or county funding. They depend solely on donations from private individuals, businesses and foundations to continue their vital work. MHF also has many wonderful cats, kittens, dogs, rabbits, horses, and other various rescued livestock looking for forever homes. They would love to work with you to find the perfect family friend. Visit their website at middleburghumane.com.
“Mystic”
“Blue”
Middleburg Humane Foundation middleburghumane.com 540.364.3272 Photography by Fuzzypants Photography
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The Virginia–Maryland Dog
“Chester”
“Leo”
A WRINKLE IN TIME...read on. The Indian Solid Gold (Curcumin) and the Solid Gold SunDancer Dog Food The best dog food that you can buy for your dog is the Solid Gold SunDancer. It has no grains and no gluten. To control gas production, and maybe bloat in dogs, SunDancer uses tapioca and quinoa, called the Food of the Future. The meat is chicken and fish, all the Oriental dogs, the Arctic dogs, and dogs from England, Scotland, Ireland and water dogs, such as labs and poodles, were fed a fishbased diet and sea vegetation, such as in our Sea Meal, which is always fed with our dog food. Retrievers, terriers and spaniels, were originally from England are included. Sea Meal is effective against allergies and scratching. Curcumin is the root of the turmeric plant, and is in our SunDancer dog food, Curcumin has a 4,000 year old history in India for helping a wide variety of health problems. Dr. Oz on TV frequently talks about curcumin. Edgar Cayce, the sleeping prophet, said the two greatest gifts from God to Man are curcumin and olive oil. The Jan. 2003 issue of Cancer Research declared that curcumin has the ability to “suppress proliferation of cancer cells.” The October 2010 issue of “Nutrition and Cancer” indicated that curcumin makes chemo more effective. Recently, a breeder of Dalmatians talked with our sales person about using our SunDancer dog food. He had been feeding a cheap, low quality dog food. He decided to continue to feed the inferior food and buy curcumin/turmeric in a health food store and add it to the dog’s food. BIG MISTAKE! About a month later he called our store. He asked, “Have you ever seen a yellow Dalmatian?” He had one. He had overdosed on the curcumin. First of all, curcumin has to be cooked at a low temperature and must be mixed with oils to release the active properties. He rushed the dog to the vets. He never told the vet what he had done. So after extensive and expensive test, on the liver and kidneys, costing over $350, he called us. We put the dog on our non-curcumin Holistique Blendz dry dog food. Holistic does not mean natural or organic. It means that the whole body works together-mind, body and spirit. See the previous information on problems with white, near white or light colored dogs. White dogs absorb more ultra violet light (photo-aging) which may depress the immune system. Holistique Blendz is only 18% protein from fish, to spare stress on the organs. It is particularly effective on dogs with tear stains. Most of the tear stains are on white or light color dogs. So dropping the protein to 18% helps. Sissy has an 18 year old Dane mix. She was all gray on the muzzle. After six months on the SunDancer, the black came back.
Now for our cute story – “A Wrinkle in Time” It was during WWII, Sissy, the owner of Solid Gold, lived in N.J. Her father worked for the army getting hard to find products. One summer, he was transferred to New Mexico. Sissy and her mother went there for the summer to be with him. In the cool of the evenings, the kids would go to a local stable to play with the horses. The kids loved to groom the horses. Sissy’s favorite was Fury, owned by Mr. O. Mr. O. told Sissy that if she would give Fury a daily brushing, he would teach her how to ride. So the entire summer was a delightful experience. Eventually, the summer came to an end, and Sissy returned back home. It was several years later, after the war was over, that Sissy was reading the paper. She saw a familiar photograph. She asked her mother why Mr. O’s picture was in the paper. Her mother smiled, it was a picture of Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, the Father of the Atomic Bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico. “Just a Wrinkle in Time”.
Solid Gold Holistic Animal Nutrition Center 1331 N. Cuyamaca, El Cajon, CA 92020
Ask your local pet store for a free catalogue. If they don’t have a SunDancer catalogue, call us at (619)258-7356, M-F, 10am to 5pm Pacific time. Or e-mail us at sarah@ solidgoldholisitc.com. You can also visit our website at www.solidgoldholistic.com.