What You Need To Know

from THE WAG magazine - Fall 2016

Doggie Salon Su“Paw ” Market

By Teresa Bitle

Your dog can get the canine equivalent of the flu, and although it ’ s not the same as the one you get, it can leave him feeling just as under the weather Fortunately, it ’ s not very common in Arizona, and you can take steps to reduce your dog ’ s risk

What is Canine Influenza?

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), canine influenza is a contagious respiratory disease characterized by cough, runny nose and fever It’s usually mild roughly 20 percent of infected dogs exhibit no symptoms but at its worst, canine influenza can result in severe pneumonia and even death (The AVMA sets the mortality rate at less than 10 percent )

“It resembles kennel cough,” says Dr Bridget Stewart, Medical Director at Animal Clinic Del Rancho in Scottsdale, adding that unlike the flu you experience, it ’ s not seasonal, meaning your dog can get canine influenza year round. It is also not transmissible from dogs to humans

Unfortunately, most dogs exposed to canine influenza will contract the disease since it is so new. The more common of the two canine influenza strains spread from horses to dogs in 2004, while the less common strain spread from birds to dogs in 2007 Dr Stewart says both strains can be either mild or severe in nature and affect dogs of all breeds equally; although, like any other virus, canine influenza is more likely to take a greater toll on young and elderly dogs

Preventative Measures

Because the disease is spread primarily through coughing, sneezing and contact with contaminated objects (like food bowls and leashes), your dog ’ s lifestyle plays a more importan in his likelihood of contracting canine influenza than other factor, according to Dr Stewart Dogs that spend a lot of time around other dogs at kennels, dog daycare facilities, boarding facilities and dog parks are more at risk

One of the easiest ways to reduce the likelihood that your dog will get canine influenza is to keep him up to date on his regular vaccines, especially Bordetella, since dogs with weakened immune systems from other illnesses are more likely to contract and spread it

If your dog regularly spends time at the dog park or in group settings, you may want to have your dog vaccinated against canine influenza, Dr Stewart says The vaccine doesn’t prevent the virus, but it does minimize its symptoms and has no real side effects. While the incidence of canine influenza in Arizona isn't exceptionally high, its frequency could increase at any time, especially with so many winter visitors bringing dogs from high risk areas like Chicago

Seeking Treatment

If you suspect your dog may have canine influenza, schedule an appointment to have them checked out by a veterinarian.

“Any time your dog is acting abnormal, not wanting to eat, not as excited to go on walks, that ’ s a good time to take them to the vet,” says Dr Laura Olsen, an associate veterinarian who also works at Animal Clinic Del Rancho

Treatment for milder cases is largely supportive in nature a veterinarian will confirm the dog is hydrated and suggest ways to keep him comfortable until he recovers, usually in two to three weeks, according to the AVMA If the symptoms were to worsen i ith hospitalization may be necessary the dog, keep his nasal passages nd, hopefully, avoid the onset of eumonia

For more information about canine influenza, visit PetPartners.com or the American Veterinary Medical Association website, www.amva.org

Reviews by Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm Sez

Dogfella: How an Abandoned Dog Named Bruno Turned This Mobster’s Life Around by James Guiliani (with Charlie Stella)

Many times, you’ve made your dog an offer he can’t refuse

A d for that, he’s sworn his loyalty forever. Whatever u ask, he does; he’s your enforcer, your protector, ur good little fella And, as in the new book ogfella by James Guiliani (with Charlie Stella), e always backs up the family or most of his life, James Guiliani barely gave anmals any thought.

Growing up in Queens, New York, the fourth of five boys, he thought of mayhem instead: he was the wild child, the one who gave his parents grief, the boy punished at Catholic school on a regular basis As a teen, he joined a gang. As an adult, he was addicted to drugs and alcohol and became a Gotti family employee

No, Guiliani barely tolerated animals; in fact, when he fell in love with Lena, “a nice Italian hottie” who happened to have a lot of pets, he ignored the cats and put the Pug out of the bedroom Guiliani didn’t sleep with the fishes and he definitely didn’t sleep with dogs, either.

Lena kept promising him that there’d come a day when he’d be an animal lover, but he didn’t believe it Even though they were starting a business for pet lovers a dog boutique he didn’t believe it…until the day he met Bruno.

Lena saw the seven pound dog first; it was tied with nautical rope to a parking meter in front of a veterinarian’s office. At her insistence, Guiliani ran to check it out and found a desperately ill, abused Shih Tzu The dog’s condition angered Guiliani; that the vet had ignored the pup inflamed him Once the pooch he named Bruno was stable, Guiliani told Lena, “…let’s go get my dog.” That was the first day of Guiliani’s permanent sobriety

Although Bruno didn’t live long and Guiliani was devastated over that–the dog’s presence and unconditional love uncovered a soft side to the tough guy When Lena handed him Gizmo, the dog who came after Bruno, Guiliani says that it was instant: “I became an animal advocate…I became a true Dogfella ”

Can’t get enough books about animals? Then you’ll love this: take everything you enjoy about mobster movies, add a few collars (in every sense of the word), and badda-bing, you’ve got Dogfella

With attitude-times-ten, a short fuse for humanity, and a love of animals that surprised even him, author James Guiliani (with Ch at may make readers wince between chuckles: Guilian s when telling stories about living by his fists. He’slence he did to humans and violence he’s witnes h of which I rather came to expect; and, while it was o the story. You, of course, shouldn’t be surprised at n these pages

But what can you say about a former jailbird with s, except that you’ll want to read more about him? d you’ll never fuhggedaboutit

Do Unto Animals by Tracey Stewart, illustrated by Lisel Ashlock

Throw a toy and find out. Going for a run, eaking a snack, sitting quietly with a warm anket and firm scratch, even watching TV an put a smile on Scruffy’s face; because ’s all about being with you But if you still need ideas, Do Unto Animals by Tracey Stewart has them for you.

If it’s possible, Tracey Stewart loved animals before she was even born pictures exist of her heavily-pregnant mother with family pets Animals always surrounded Stewart; and when she was a child, she wondered if she could make a living through her love of them. After a few life-detours including different jobs and men, other than the one she’s married to now she does

A dog was Stewart’s first love. He was a rescue bully-breed; but she says she’s not sure who rescued who, in this situation As she put it, a dog has always been “my four-footed soother, my crutch my confidant, my best friend ”

“If guardian angels really exist, mine don’t have wings. They have wagging tails, soft pink bellies, and terrible breath ”

Although allergic, Stewart has loved a cat or four. She can’t live with them comfortably she’s tried! so instead, her children act as champions of cats needing homes And that’s a good way to help animals; if you can’t have one, virtually adopt one.

Just because an animal doesn’t sleep in your house doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do for it Your backyard is full of what Stewart calls “The Landscaping Team, Pest Control Team, and Cleanup Crew.” And if you live on or near a farm, she says you should visit a barn often Cows and pigs are no dummies, and there’s a lot to learn on the back (or front) of a horse.

Other things you can do for animals: learn animal massage, visit a shelter and adopt a mutt Don’t believe everything you’re told about pit bulls or black cats. Remember that bugs and worms are friends. Know how to help an injured animal And this year, change a tradition: your family’s holiday menu doesn’t have to have a turkey on it.

It’s a good thing animals can’t buy books We should all be glad they can’t read, either; because if they could, they’d want to go live with author Tracey Stewart. But here’s the thing: there rea side Do Unto Animals it’s just all framed differently already know how to pet a dog well We’re aware of that bees are dying off, and that livestock have person wart reminds us of these things in a shoulder-bumpi way and besides, it’s hard not to be thoroughly smi makes up dog breeds a “White-Bibbed Snuggler,” i

For animal lovers, Do Unto Animals i maybe even twice. It might teach you something; an hat? This book about making contented critters will m