metro pet magazine march 2012
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Metro Pet Magazine March 2012TRANSCRIPT
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Feature Articles5 Congratulations Smallz!
The winner of the MetroPet online contest was Smallz!
6 Why is Getting a Dog is Like Getting a New Job? Thinking about getting a dog, read this article first.
10 The Long and Winding RoadEnjoy your pet during all stages of life.
13 Bark for Life!Love to walk with your dog? Want to support the American Cancer Society?
14 Rabbit Care Here are some tips on taking care of rabbits.
18 Getting Ready!Before you take your dog to the groomers or vets, get them ready!
20 5 Tips to Bringing Up a Well Behaved KittenHere are five tips to help you bring up a well behaved kitten.
22 Exercise — Healthy for Your Furry Friend and for You!What if you could exercise and enjoy your pet at the same time? Check it out!
24 The Adventures of ChipA storm hits — it scares Chip and the little boy who finds him. What is next?
26 Giving FIV-Positive Kittens a Second Chance at LifeThe latest FIV-positive research shows how to save cats and kittens.
28 The New Frontier, Stem Cell TherapyExciting news in the field of stem cell research for pets.
30 Demystifying Joint Support SupplementsCan supplements and herbs really make a difference for your pets?
32 Crate Training BenefitsDid you know that crates for dogs can be very beneficial?
34 Easter Morning Heavenly MannaAn Easter morning treat for your furry friends!
In Every Issue4 Happy Spring! Enjoy this great weather!
16 Chip’s Corner — Use your knowledge about bunnies to complete this pawzzle!
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HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!March is here and Spring is right around the corner.
2012 will be remembered as the winter that wasn’t inKansas City. Most people I talked with were just finewith the weather. Here is hoping it lasts until Springofficially arrives!
ONLINE PET CONTESTThe winner of our first MetroPet online pet contest was
Smallz. This adorable little Malti-Poo received lots ofvotes! His story and photos can be found on page 5.
If you missed this contest, don’t worry, there will be another one starting soon.For details about the next contest, go to www.metropetmag.com for the link toour Facebook page. Once you enter your favorite photo,return to vote. We need our readers to help pick thewinner! Check it out today.
TERRIFIC ARTICLESThis issue has many great articles. In particular,
please take time to read the article about how gettinga new dog is like getting a new job. Check out the edu-cational article about stem cell research. And, don’tmiss the article on how supplements and herbs canimprove your pet’s health.
Just in time for Easter, is a very good article about bunnies. Before you pur-chase a cute little bunny for Easter, take time to review this article. There is eveninformation about how to build a bunny house!
For the cat lovers, don’t miss the informative articles about cats and kittensfrom the experts.
BARK FOR LIFE! This April and May there will be two Bark for Life events. The
money raised during these events will support the AmericanCancer Society. Pet parents and their dog are invited to walkand raise money for human cancer research. In addition,there is a coupon for Earthborn dog food. For each coupon
redeemed, $3 will be donated to the American Cancer Society.For complete details visit the facebook page for Bark for Life.
The coupon and details are also available at www.metropet-mag.com.
HAPPY SPRING!
Barbara Riedel, Editor
P.S. Remember to continue to support our advertisers — they make this magazinepossible. Tell them you saw their ad in MetroPet magazine.
Publisher’s MessageStaff &
ContactsPublisherBarbara Riedel
Editor/ProductionManagerDan O’Leary
Magazine LayoutROI Marketing
816.942.1600 • [email protected]
Advertising SalesAd Sales: 913.548.1433
Deals of the [email protected]
Contributing Authors Christine Bessent, DVM
Mike DeathePat Hennessy
Jennifer HaguePatty Homer
Carol FacklamPawlean Journe
John Rowe, DVM, CVAHeddie Leger
Cheryl Waterman, CVPM
Contact MetroPetPO Box 480065
Kansas City, MO 64148Phone: 913.548.1433
Ad Sales: 913.548.1433Fax: 913.387.4313
Publishing Policy: Articles printed in the MetroPetMagazine express the opinions of the individual authors and donot necessarily represent the formal position of MetroPetMagazine. Acceptance of advertising does not necessarilyconstitute endorsement by MetroPet Magazine.
Articles: Readers are invited to submit articles for considerationfor publication to [email protected]. All materials aresubject to editorial review.
© 2009 MetroPet Magazine. All rights reserved. Requestreprint permissions at [email protected].
MetroPet Magazine is owned and published by ROI MarketingServices, all rights reserved.
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Correction: the photo in the Boomeroos ad in Jan/Feb issue of MetroPet magazinewas taken by Jennifer Hague at FixYourImages, www.fixyourimages.com
Congratulations goes to Smallz— our Facebook contest winner!
Brian and Heather Brown are the proud parents of Smallz.Six years ago, Brian and Heather wanted to add a four leggedfriend to their family. They decided that the breed Malti-Poowould be the perfect fit. Once they decided on a breed, thelooked every weekend for six months. They didn’t have anysuccess and they were ready to give up.
WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED...Then came the call. Would they be interested in the runt of
the litter? They decided to take a drive and check it out. Onthe way, they set up a code words so they could communi-cate if they didn’t like the puppy. But code words weren’tneeded. When they walked in the door, this little fur ball ranstraight to them. They were smitten! This little, little puppy, arunt, was so small he could fit in the palm of your hand.
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Photo courtesy of Image Quest.
Smallz
Congratulations!
Everyone commented about how small he was — which isexactly how he got his name — Smallz! While Smallz grewto be a little bigger, he is still a small bundle of energy.
A FAMILY AFFAIRMost pet parents think of their animals as part of the fam-
ily. But in this case, Smallz actually lives with his AuntAmber when his pet parents are out of town!
Brian is a sprint car driver with 97 career wins, www.bri-anbrownracing.com. During the summer, when Brianand Heather are on the road, Smallz goes to live with hisAunt Amber! Amber is a leasing agent at the pet friendlyapartment complex, Pointe Royal, www.pointeroy-alapts.com.
Smallz has the best of all worlds, lots of family that loveshim!
To enter in the next contest, snap aphoto of your pet, entry details at
www.metropetmag.com
THE DECISION TO CONSIDER A CHANGEBefore you start looking for a job, there is a defining
moment that starts your search. Whether you are unhappy atyour current job, want to make a better salary or you are outof work — something made you decide that now is the time tolook for a job.
Before you start looking for a new dog, there SHOULD be adefining moment that starts your search. Did you lose a dogrecently, move to a larger place, do you want a playmate foryour current dog, always wanted a dog, your children are oldenough to be responsible with a dog or do you just feel theneed to add another furry family member? Getting a new dogshould not be a knee-jerk reaction to seeing a cute, fuzzy littleface - it should be a thought out process.
DETERMINING IF THE CHANGE IS RIGHT FOR YOUWhile considering changing jobs, you take into considera-
tion many things including loss of vacation time, loss of bene-fits, will you do something you love for less money or do some-thing that is ok for more money?
Things to consider before deciding on a dog or puppyinclude do you have enough time to spend training, exercisingand providing for the dog? Do you have enough money for vet-erinary care (preventive and emergency), food, toys, suppliesand training? Do you have an appropriate space for a dog?
by Patty Homer
CONSIDER YOUR OPTIONS —SENDING OUT YOUR RESUME
Once you decide that changing jobs is right for you,you start by determining what kind of work you want todo, check out who is hiring. If you know someone whoworks at an employer you are considering, you will mostlikely ask them a lot of questions about what it is like towork there. Then you either fill out applications or sendyour resume to several different companies.
Once you decide that getting a dog is right for you, youshould start by deciding if you want to adopt (pleasedo), buy from a breeder (if so, please be sure to visit thefacility — never buy from anyplace that you don’t get tovisit and meet the parents) or become a foster family to“test the waters” first. You start asking your friends andfamily questions about their dogs and paying more atten-tion to dogs you see on the street or on television. Youstart considering what the best dog for your family andyour lifestyle is. There are so many things to consider —
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Once youdecide thatgetting a dogis right foryou, youshould start bydeciding if youwant to adopt(please do)...
Why is Gettinga Dog LikeGetting a
New Job?
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activity level, age, breed, amount of shedding and/orgrooming, medical issues for the breed, if you have smallchildren what breeds are best with children (hint it isprobably not herding or toy breeds), do your childrenhave allergies, the price of maintenance (bigger dogs =more food, usually tougher toys and more training) andindividual temperament to name a few. Contacting andworking with a dog trainer at this point can save you a lotof headache, heartache and money down the road.
INTERVIEWINGYou get a call from somewhere you placed your resume
and they would like for you to come in for an interview.This is the time where the employer gets to find out a lit-tle about your schooling, experience, communicationskills and professionalism to see if you may be a fit fortheir company.
You find the right breed for you and search a few res-cues or responsible breeders for a dog that will fit yourneeds and wants. Now you go meet several different dogs— you should not get the first dog you meet, try very hard
to take the emotion outof picking out the right
dog — use yourhead and not yourheart! Once again,
hiring a trainer tohelp you pick out
the right dog for yourfamily is the smart
choice (many dothis servicefor free or at
a very minimalcharge).
TAKE THE JOB?ADOPT THE DOG?
You have interviewed,asked questions andhad questions asked ofyou and now anemployer offers you ajob. You consider theoffer, is the salaryacceptable? How farwill you have to com-mute? What is the dresscode? What are thebenefits? Let’s say youdecide everything looksgood and you acceptthe job —Congratulations! Younow give notice at your
Now you go meet several different dogs— you should not get the first dog youmeet, try very hard to take the emotionout of picking out the right dog — useyour head and not your heart!
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your dog to do this, you must provide the tools he/she needs — a schedule, food, water, medical care,exercise, consistency, consequences (positive and constructive), positive reinforcement, play and compan-ionship. You will need to show or tell your dog more than once how to do something or where something
old job, buy uniforms or new clothing if needed and perhaps you take a vacation before the new jobstarts.
You have decided on a dog that fits all of your criteria and you have been approved by the rescue,shelter or breeder. Have your family spend some time with the dog, if you currently have a dog, besure to introduce the dogs to each other in a neutral place. Spend an hour or more during thismeeting, if possible, have a trainer do a temperament evaluation (temperament testing can cer-tainly help but is not a guarantee) decide yes or no - if yes, buy a “uniform” (leash and collar)and all the supplies you will need.
YOUR FIRST DAY —ORIENTATION!The first day on the job, you have a lot of paperwork to
fill out, employee manuals to read, videos to watchand somebody there to guide you through each
step. You will
be shown where the break room, bathroom, HR, time clocks or otherdepartments are located and you will most likely be assigned someone tostick with you to show you the ropes. The new company does not usually say,“Welcome, make yourself at home, I’m sure you can figure out where every-thing is, who everybody is and where and what you are allowed to do.”
The day you bring your dog home, make a veterinary appointment as soonas possible, show your dog where the bathroom is, where he eats, what hechews on and what rooms he is allowed in. You need to be the person thatsticks with your new dog to show him/her the ropes.
YOUR FIRST 90 DAYS —THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD
During your first 90 days on thenew job, someone is there to showyou around, explain to you what yourjob is and how to do it (your train-er). You will probably be told morethan once how to do some things orwhere something is — on a new job,the trainer’s job is to teach youpatiently in a way that you can under-stand and learn what is expected ofyou. You are given an incentive ormotivation in the form of a paycheckevery so often in order to pay atten-tion, learn and perform the tasksexpected of you in a timely and cor-rect manner — this is called positivereinforcement. You are given thetools you need to perform your job— computer, paper, pens, chairs,desks, breaks, time off, training,companionship and hopefully conse-quences for your actions (positiveand constructive).
During the first three months withyour new dog, you are the trainer, sobe prepared to teach and train untilyour dog fully understands what isexpected of him/her. In order for
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is (bathroom) with patience, kindness and the understanding thatthis is a dog — they don’t speak or understand English or humanways.
EMBRACING YOUR NEW NORMALYour probationary period is over; you have been trained and
given all the tools you need to perform your job. It is never easy atfirst; things were done differ-ently where you worked beforeor you think things should bedone a different way, but onceyou get in the groove, youknow what is expected of you,you are able to perform thejob due to the training youreceived and you receive apaycheck on time. Every sooften for the rest of the timeyou are employed there is anadditional treat — a raise, promotion, treats in the break room, apat on the back from your boss, co-workers or customers. You fallinto a pattern that is familiar and comfortable; this is your new nor-mal.
After a few months with your new dog, hopefully, you have taughthim/her all the things he/she needs to know to live harmoniouslywith your family. It is different than before when you did not have adog or you had one less dog, but thanks to the time invested in your
patient training and positive reinforcements, your dogis happy, behaving appropriately and has bonded withyou. s with your job, the motivation and positive rein-forcement (paycheck, raises and pats on the back foryou — food, play and affection for your dog) contin-ue until your time together comes to an end.
Patty Homer has worked as a vet techfor 10 years and has been training petsfor over 20 years. She offers in hometraining, behavior consulting and pri-vate obedience classes for dogs and catsas well as Pet First Aid and CPR classes.Patty is certified through theCertification Counsel of ProfessionalDog Trainers (CPDT-KA) and is thefounder and president of HEARTland
Positive Dog Training Alliance. Her experience in the veteri-nary field as well as training gives her a unique approach todog training, considering the mind, body and spirit of eachpet she works with. You can find her atwww.goodpupkc.com, [email protected],816.699.2260 and follow her on facebook.
After a few monthswith your new dog,hopefully, you havetaught him/her allthe things he/sheneeds to know to liveharmoniously withyour family.
Every person or animal comes into your life for a reason. Itis part of our individual journey and they have something to teachus — about ourselves, about life, or some lesson that is meant tobe. When we bring animal companions into our lives, we mustmake that commitment to care for them, however long it may be,until death do us part. They provide us deep companionship, loy-alty, and unconditional love, so we owe it to them to provide qual-ity care in return. The relationship is moreakin to having a child than getting married, asyou can’t divorce your children.
It is unfortunate that their lives are shorterthan ours, but we know that going in, so wejust have to love, honor, and appreciate themfor the brief time we have them. One of thegreatest things you can do for your furry fami-ly member is to give them good quality nutri-tion (i.e. foods without by-products and harm-
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by Pat Hennessy
ful preservatives), and plenty of exercise and envi-ronment enrichment (colorful/noisy toys, appropri-ate chew items, etc.). Providing good nutrition islike keeping up on oil changes and tune-ups foryour car to keep it running smoothly.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENTAnother wonderful
thing you can do isoffer a quality educa-tion about the behaviorthat you want. A qualityeducation consists ofyou learning how tounderstand your com-panion’s language andthen using positive
We all want the best for our companion animals and to achieve that, is to give to themthroughout their lives, not just in crisis or at the end. Think of the blessings they give toyou on a daily basis and pay it back to them each day. It is then you will have honoredthem and have no regrets, as you carry their wonderful memories in your heart.
“The long and winding road that leads to your door will never disappear.”Lennon/McCartney
The Longand
WindingRoad
Every person or animal comesinto your life for a reason. It ispart of our individual journeyand they have something toteach us — about ourselves,about life, or some lesson thatis meant to be.
reinforcement to communicate the behavior youexpect. Positive reinforcement motivates your compan-ion and helps him learn a behavior vs. react to a fear-ful or painful stimulus — thus achieving a relationshipbased on trust and understanding, and building a clos-er bond with you.
Throughout your canine’s or feline’s life, you canlearn ways to help them cope with a variety of situa-tions, be it an emotional crisis or a physical trauma.There are very effective tools and techniques (compli-mentary to veterinary care and positive training), suchas TTouch®, massage, meditation, etc., that can beused to help calm animals through drama or pain.These are methods that you can learn and use at hometo help in many types of situations, from birth throughthe senior years. These tools are especially useful fordogs that come from shelters and rescue organizationsas they are adjusting to their new forever homes.
END OF LIFE CAREThere are many decisions you will make throughout
the life of yourcanine or felinecompanion, andthere are two veryimportant ones notto be overlooked:who will care forthem if somethinghappens to you, andhow will you handleend-of-life care? Youcan easily check withfriends and family tosee if any of themwould be willing andsuitable guardiansfor your fur-kids. Ifthat is not an option,you can work outarrangements with a rescue organization, generally toinclude a donation to support your companion’s care.
When it comes to end-of-life care, that one can bemore complicated. We all hope that our companionslive the full length of their lifespan (or beyond), andwith good quality nutrition, holistic options, pharma-ceuticals and technology that is not out of the question.However, there are times that we face losing them earlydue to medical conditions, accidents, etc. Whether youface this dilemma in the senior years or younger, it isvery very difficult. Your veterinarian will offer yousound advice for dealing with the clinical aspects. Youcan use calming methods to bring comfort and makethe transition a bit easier. But you have to reach intoyour heart, as you know your animal companion better
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There are manydecisions you willmake throughout thelife of your canine orfeline companion,and there are twovery important onesnot to be overlooked:who will care forthem if somethinghappens to you, andhow will you handleend-of-life care?
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than anyone, and connect with her heart to findyour answer. Our animals always tell the truth, wejust have to look for it. None of us want our com-panions to go a day longer in pain than they must,nor do we want to let them go a day earlier thanthey should. It is a very personal decision but it isnever easy (and sometimes we have no choice).Your veterinarian should provide guidance aboutyour choices, and help you feel more comfortableabout your final decision.
LETTING GOI look at my baby, sleeping peacefully, her head
resting on myleg. I rememberwhat a tiny ballof black I saw asshe was borninto by hands. AsI stroke her softand silky fur Ican feel how herbody has grownfrail. But shewill still look up at me with that spark in her eyes.She will tell me if she wants a drink and will stillsnap a treat from my fingers (as I remind her tobe gentle).
I will help her out to go potty,even if my shoulder is sore. I will dowhat it takes to comfort her and giveher quality, until the spark goes outor her heart tells mine “it’s time.” Iwill do that for her because her par-ticular disease gives me the gift oftime and I can never repay the bless-ings that she has given to me. It isalways better to have loved and lostthan to have never known animalcompanion love at all.
Pat Hennessy is thefounder of N2paws,LLC, an organizationthat provides a holis-tic approach to com-panion animal carethrough behavioreducation, energywork, and positive training methods. Pat isa Level 2 TTouch® practitioner, CPDT andmember of the IAABC, IAATH and AWA. Youmay contact N2Paws via [email protected], phone 816-522-7005,or visit the website www.n2paws.com.
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I will do that for herbecause her particulardisease gives me thegift of time and I cannever repay the blessings that shehas given to me.
What is My Dog SayingWant to better understand the body language of you pet? Here is
your chance! This seminar will be held on April 7, 1:00 – 3:00 pmin Overland Park, KS. The seminar is limited to 40.
For a minimum donation of $5, or Free for all verified sheltervolunteers and workers, you can attend this fun and educationalseminar about dog body language. The proceeds will go to areashelters. For details visit www.goodpupkc.com or call816.699.2260.
Bark for Life!
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WHAT IS BARK FOR LIFE?The American Cancer Society’s Bark For Life is
a noncompetitive walk event for dogs and theirowners to raise funds and awareness in the fightagainst cancer.
It is a fun-filled event with demonstrations,contests, activities and a signature (but muchshorter) relay-style walk for both canines andtheir owners. This fundraising event honors thecare giving qualities of our canine “best friends”and honors their life-long contribution to help-ing people stay well and get well.
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITYBark For Life presents a unique opportunity
for people to be empowered through theircaninecompanion partnerships and to con-tribute to the fight against cancer. Canine care-givers are companions, service dogs, guidedogs, rescue dogs, therapy dogs, policy dogs,diagnostic dogs and cancer survivor dogs whorepresent unconditional love, joy, security andcompassion with no judgment ofhuman ability, weakness or appear-ance.
SUPPORT BARK FOR LIFEBy supporting Bark For Life, you
help the American Cancer Societysave lives, and provide funding tocontinue their efforts in Research,Education, Advocacy and Services.
REDEEM THE COUPON! There is also coupon for Earthborn
dog food. For each couponredeemed, $3 a will be donated tothe American Cancer Society. Forcomplete details visit the facebookpage for Bark for Life. The couponand details are also available atwww.metropetmag.com.
RABBIT CARERabbits are not the kind of pets you can just leave in a cage and
ignore. They require regular daily care and attention. Make sureand do plenty of research before getting a rabbit as a pet asit is a responsibility. There are many good books andinformational websites on the internet that will helpyou learn what you need to know to keep a rabbit fora long time as a healthy pet.
RABBIT FEEDINGYour rabbit will require food and water every
day. Your rabbit is depending for you to supplyclean, fresh water that is changed every day.Your rabbit should be fed pellet food and haveunlimited hay. Rabbits love timothy hay.Rabbits love alfalfa hay. It is a good practice tofeed younger rabbits alfalfa hay in the morning,
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Tips forCaring for a Rabbit
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and just pellets at night. When feeding pellets theyshould be started around 6 months of age and bythe weight of the rabbit. Do not free feed your rab-bit pellets as this can lead to obesity which is notgood for your rabbit’s health. Of course, vegetablesshould be provided every day starting around 6months of age according to the weight of the rabbit.It is important that at least one vegetable you feedeach day contains Vitamin A. Please consider fruitsto be treats. They should be fed sparingly due tohigh sugar content.
NEED LOTS OF ATTENTIONRabbits need lots of attention. Sometimes people
get rabbits thinking they can leave them outdoorsand they won’t take much time. Quite the contrary.Rabbits need to be socialized just like any other pet.They enjoy companionship and are very playful.Please keep in mind that your rabbit will also needsomething to occupy its time such as things to chewon and toys. Simple cat toys will do, but they mustbe rabbit safe, as rabbits will chew on items, unlikecats. You don’t need to spend a lot of money, butcan get creative as long as the toy is safe for rabbitsor chewing animals.
OUTDOOR PENYou can supply an outdoor pen for your rabbit to go
outside for exercise and fresh air, but never leaveyour rabbit unattended and never without a safetyenclosure. Any loose predator can come along andeither scare your rabbit or harm it. Make sure thearea where you place the outdoor play area is pesti-cide free. Also learn about the weeds that can beharmful or poisonous to rabbits. Your rabbit must besupervised at all time while outside to protect it fromhazards or getting lost. It is important to make cer-tain to provide enough space for your rabbit. If yourrabbit is going to live in a hutch it should be nosmaller than 2 feet tall x 2 feet deep x 3 feet wide. Ifyou have more than rabbit, you should definitely pro-vide more space. Rabbits are generally very cleanpets if cared for properly and regularly.
GNAWING ON WOODTo help keep your rabbit healthy you will need to
provide a piece of wood for it to gnaw on in order tokeep its teeth to a healthy length. Gnawing on woodhelps keep their teeth trimmed down and also pro-vides exercise. The wood should always be untreated.Research which woods are rabbit safe as your rabbitcan become sick or die if provided the wrong type ofwood. You can purchase special Gnawing woods forrabbits at the pet store.
BATHINGYou really do not need to worry about bathing your
rabbit. The rabbit is naturally a very clean animal andcleans itself on a regular basis. Rabbits really do notmake good pets for young children as they are veryfragile. Their backs can break easily. They must belifted properly and carried gently. To pick up a rabbitproperly place one hand under the rabbits chest andthe other under its rear-end to support the rabbitsweight. It is improper and cruel to grab the rabbit bythe scruff of the neck and lift it without supportingthe rest of its body. People think this is proper sincethis is how the mother rabbit sometimes will carrythe rabbit, but there is nothing farther from the truth.It is extremely important to be very gentle so yourrabbit will not get hurt and be careful not to dropyour rabbit as they become seriously injured.
VACCINATIONSOne thing many people do not realize is that rabbits
need to be vaccinated against Viral HemorrhagicDisease yearly and myxomatosis every six months.Observe your rabbit on a daily basis to catch any ill-ness that might occur or if its appetite has changed ordecreased. A lethargic rabbit may be indicating thatsomething is very wrong.
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Chip’s Corner
Pawzzleby Pawlean Journe
Across:4. Food and water should be
__________ and changedevery day.
6. Rabbits really enjoy____________________.
10. Overfeeding your rabbitcan lead to _____________.
11. Should only be consideredtreats and given sparingly.
14. If cared for properly, rab-bits are very ___________pets.
15. Rabbits are ____________.
16. Essential to a rabbit’shealth.
18. Do not lift your rabbit bythe _________ of the neck.
20. Rabbits require lots of_______________________.
21. Something your rabbit willenjoy chewing on.
23. When bedding down rab-bits like _____________materials to burrow in.
25. Rabbits can easily breaktheir ___________, ifdropped or not carriedproperly.
26. Rabbits require regularcare on a ___________basis.
27. A type of food for rabbits.
28. Rabbits should have fresh _________________ each day.
Down:
1. Rabbits should be vaccinated for thisdisease.
2. _______________ A is important toprovide for rabbits in the form of car-rots.
3. Rabbits need to be ________________to make good pets.
4. One time a rabbit requires every day.5. An activity rabbits like.7. When leaving a rabbit outside the
grass should be free of______________.
8. You should not __________________your rabbit.
9. Name of house sometimes used forrabbits.
12. If you provide wood for your rabbit tochew on, make sure it is ____________for the rabbit.
13. A type of hay rabbits love.17. If your rabbit is _______________, it
could be sick and need to see a vet-erinarian.
18. To carry your rabbit, place your handaround its chest and underneath itsbody to give it ______________.
19. If you are going to leave your rabbitoutdoors to enjoy fresh air,make sure to have a safe__________________.
22. A rabbit is a_______________ animal.
24. You do not need to___________ your rabbit.
A FUN PROJECT FOR YOUR PET RABBITCreating and building a cardboard playhouse for your pet rabbit is an
inexpensive way to keep your rabbit involved in a natural activity. Rabbitsnaturally enjoy chewing, digging, and shredding. A cardboard playhouseprovides a place for your rabbit to hide and feel safe in the hustle andbustle of your home, especially if you have children.
MATERIALS NEEDEDMaterials you will need to assemble a playhouse include the following:• Cardboard boxes• Additional flat or long pieces of Cardboard• Cardboard tubes or untreated wood• Cutting utensilsThe ideal box is large enough for your rabbit to move around in, but not
so tall that he/she cannot jump onto the top to play as well. Remove anyexcess tape from the box so your rabbit does not chew or choke on itand/or get caught in your rabbit’s fur. Cut two or more openings in thebox. The openings should be appropriately sized for your rabbit.
Lining the playhouse with newspaper, phone books or other shredableitems gives your bunny more to dig, shred and chew. You can add a small-er box or paper towel tubes for your bunnies to push and rearrange. Cutadditional pieces of cardboard to fit the inner walls. You can secure thesepieces by pushing untreated sticks of wood through the walls.
USE YOUR IMAGINATIONDifferent levels and steps can be added with more cardboard boxes to
create a larger more elaborate maze to the playhouse and by combiningtwo or more boxes of different shapes and sizes. You can also add rampsfor your bunny to climb to the next level. Do not paint your rabbit’s play-house as the paint is toxic. You are well on your way to providing the per-fect rabbit playhouse giving your pet hours of enjoyable play time. The skyis the limit if you use your imagination.
Did You Know? Dog waste is not fertilizer. If you leave
dog waste on your lawn it will burn thegrass and leave it discolored. But,beyond just discoloring your lawn, it hasbeen estimated that a single gram of dogwaste can contain 23 million fecal col-iform bacteria, which are known tocause cramps, diarrhea, intestinal ill-ness, and serious kidney disorders inhumans. So pick up your dog waste! M
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Going to the Goomers?
Getting Ready!by Mike Deathe
Going to the Vet?OK , so your dog doesn’t like it’snails trimmed, mouth touched, tail messed with,hates the hair dryer and could live life happilyfor the rest of his/her life without another bath.You know it, so does your groomer and your vet.Here are some tips because your groomer, yourvet and I want Fido to accept, if not like, his tripsto these folks. So with a little work on your endand patience on the part of your wonderfulgroomer, and fantastic vet, I bet we can improvethis situation in no time at all. But where do youstart…
CRADLE AND MASSAGEI call it “Cradle and Massage” and it is some-
thing every dog owner should do with their furrybest friend! The earlier we start, the faster we getFido to like his visits to the groomer. Don’t freakout if your dog is 3 or 4 years old; we can still
improve the situation, making the visit safer and more pleas-ant for everyone involved. So, just what is “Cradle andMassage”? It is a simple but effective desensitization pro-gram for dogs of all ages in regards to the common spotsmost dogs just plain don’t like having messed with, the feet,mouth, tail and ears. Ironically the same spots our unfortu-nate groomers, and sometimes vets, have to touch everytime.
IT IS EASY TO GET STARTEDThis technique will need to be done 3-5 times a week for
10-15 minutes. I want you to get on the floor with your dog,even while watching TV, and simply cradle the dog betweenyour legs and massage each of the above mentioned bodyparts, followed by a treat after each part! The goal here is toconvince Fido that touch is good (rewards) and relaxing(kind, gentle touching). By the time you get this perfect,your dog should be comfortable lying on their back, beingtouched and will be totally relaxed. Don’t be upset if you
can’t even get close to this description the first time youtry this. Take it slow and progress in baby steps.Consistency and being gentle will pay off in the end!
CRADLEThe other thing that
needs to be done immedi-ately is to change yourdog’s view of being at thegroomer or of going to thevet. I want you to committo going to the groomer’slocation at least once aweek, (2-3 times a weekstarting off is even better)and just go in sit in, thelounge and give Fido sometreats. Let the staff knowwhat you are doing and askthem to give treats to your pooch as well. After 10 min-utes or so, just get up, get in your car and go home! Thereason for all this subterfuge is simple, the only time youever take your dog to the groomer (or vet) it is anunpleasant situation (at least for those who don’t prac-tice “Cradle and Massage”). By adding weekly short tripsfull of treats and rewards, your dog starts to associatemore visits as being positive and less being negative. Thismakes an overall positive association about going onthese field trips!
Last thing, ask your groomer or vet to attempt to giveyour pooch a treat during the groom or examine andreport back to you whether or not the dog took the treat.Ironically, one of the best ways to determine a dog’s levelof stress or fear (leading cause of snarkiness) is to seeif they are comfortable enough to eat. This litmus testneeds to be your final goal, not to mention a vet orgroomer that gives gifts (treats/rewards) isn’t all thatscary anyways. The goal here is not to label, categorizeor belittle your dog, but rather to help you his Mommyor Daddy make the visit less scary and more fun!
Mike Deathe is a stay-at-home dadwho found his passion as a dog trainerin 2008. The author of the Keep ItSimple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Pet Blog. Mikehas had dogs since he was four yearsold! In 2009, he and his wife Katefounded Muttz “R” Us, a t-shirt and petproduct company with a philanthropicmotto of “Adopt a Pet, Save a Life.” In
2011 Muttz “R” Us also launched KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID DOGTRAINING. He is a charter member of Heartland Positive DogTraining Alliance and just earned his CPDT-KA credential! Visithim at facebook or twitter or follow the blog@http://muttzmembers.blogspot.com/ or check out thewebsite muttzrus.com for details about shirts. M
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The other thingthat needs to bedone immediatelyis to change yourdog’s view ofbeing at thegroomer or ofgoing to the vet.
5 Stepsto Bringing
up a
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12 1 Biting and scratching are normal components
of a kitten’s play behavior, but should never bedirected at humans. To make certain thisdoesn’t start, you must avoid any interactionthat encourages rough play, such as wigglingfingers, “wrestling” or chasing through thehouse. Instead, teach your kitten how to playfetch or distract him/her with toy “fishing”poles or laser pointers. This way, your kittencan play with you without you becoming itsfavorite chew toy or scratching post.
HERE ARE SOME TIPS ONHOW TO HAVE A WELL
BEHAVED KITTEN!
WellBehaved
Kittenby Cheryl Waterman, CVPM
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2 A kitten’s natural instinct to scratch can be anissue if he takes a liking to scratching on yourfavorite antique chair! Observe what texturesyour kitten is attracted to, then offer a similar,appropriate option. Not all cats like scratchingon a traditional post. They may prefer corrugat-ed cardboard, sisal rope, logs or a number ofother options. Placing a scratching option nearwhere they are scratching can be helpful, andyou can use catnip or praise to make it a funspot!
3 Some kittens are cuddly by nature, while othersneed special bonding to teach them the joys of“lap time”. Never force a kitten to sit still whenall they want to do is play! Pick a time whenthey are sleepy, then start a “kitty massage”.Start with the face and chin, and work your waydown all the way to your kitten’s toes! He/shewill be putty in your hands when you need totrim those nails every few weeks!
4 No one likes to come home to a kitten-trashedhouse. Overturned collectibles and dug upplants are just a couple of favorite destructivepursuits for a kitten! Don’t be afraid to confineyour kitten in a special “cat proof” room whileyou are away, or even at night. Using methodssuch as water pistols, compressed air canisters,police whistles or double sided tape can all beeffective deterrents when setting appropriateboundaries.
5 The first three to six months of a kitten’s life arethe most important in establishinggood social behavior. Be consis-tent with all behavior modificationstrategies (this includes everyonein your family). Spend lots ofquality time with your kitten, andyou will end up with a soul matefor life!
Cheryl Waterman is theHospital Administrator atthe Cat Clinic of JohnsonCounty and a long-timecat lover. She has beenwith the Clinic for the past13 years, and in 2007received Certification inVeterinary PracticeManagement (CVPM) des-
ignation. She is a member of the VeterinaryHospital Managers Association and the AmericanAnimal Hospital Association. You can contact herdirected at the Cat Clinic of Johnson County,(913) 541-0478.
Dogs show us that they love us in many different ways,every single day. One way we can give back and show how muchwe care about our pets is to incorporate them into our dailyworkouts.
FURRY BEST FRIENDKansas City resident Britton Hunter’s life changed when
she adopted a beautiful Pit Bull, Nene, who wouldbecome her furry best friend and workout partner.“It’s important to first understand how important it isthat pets get good exercise. Hanging out in the yardisn’t very stimulating mentally and is no challengephysically. Making a conscious effort to improveyour pet’s life by including daily exercise andnew scenery is the first step,” she said. Neneand Britton can often be found outside,enjoying a fun game of hide-and-seek.“Nene really loves it when I chase heraround the yard as she springs in andout of the bushes. It wears us both out!”
Hunter is also a volunteer dog walk-er at a local animal shelter andadvised that even non pet ownerscan achieve great exercise just byvolunteering. “I can’t tell youhow great it is for the homelessanimals temporarily residingin cramped kennels to getout, or how much I’ve bene-fited from the constant exer-cise while I’m there. Volunteer dogwalking is truly one of the most rewardingthings you can do. The animals will love you for it andyou will lose weight without even trying,” she said.
BOND AT A DEEPER LEVELIf you’re looking for a way to bond with your dog on a deeper level,
you might consider Doga (Doggy Yoga). Local Doga instructor PatHennessey describes Doga as an opportunity to improve the human-ani-mal bond, while stretching, deep breathing, meditating, and learning toM
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Exercise Healthy for Your
Furry Best Friend!
bal-a n c e
a n dr e l a x
with yourc a n i n e
companion. “ A n i m a l s
are alreadymasters at this.
We can learn abit from them and
have fun with themat the same time,”
said Hennessy. Doga isalso beneficial for dogs that are fearful or anx-ious, aging, physically challenged, or hyper.“Doga is a great activity to do with any age dog. It
“I love to playfetch and catch
with Oscar and weare both out of
breath when it’sover, which is anexcellent cardio
workout,” saidMatthews.
Healthy for You!by Jennifer Hague
Mix 93.3 radio personality Jenny Matthews and pup, Oscar,
as photographed by Jennifer Hague, FixYourImages.
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is great for bonding and calming younger dogs. It is a funactivity for middle-aged canines, and a wonderful way to keepyour senior dog active,” she said.
Mix 93.3 radio personality Jenny Matthews integrates hernew Boxer puppy Oscar into her daily exercise. “Pets makeexercising more fun because it’s working out without evenrealizing it. I love to play fetch and catch with Oscar and weare both out of breath when it’s over, which is an excellentcardio workout,” said Matthews. She also gave Doga a try withher energetic boy. “I want to involve Oscar in as much of mylife as possible. Doga was a wonderful way to bond and ahealth benefit for both me and my pup!”
Doga is available in the Greater KC area. Pat offers it at avariety of facilities in town. A minimum of four students isrequired for a class. Anyone interested in Doga can visitwww.n2paws.com or contact [email protected] to schedulea class.
Jennifer Hague is a nationally published pet pho-tographer, nationally recognized photo restorationartist and dedicated animal rescue volunteer. Sheregularly volunteers and offers her photographyservices complimentary to local shelters and res-cues, helping adoptable dogs gain exposure andbecome adopted more quickly. Jennifer lives inOlathe with her husband Dan and MiniatureSchnauzer Remington, who is her daily, furryinspiration. She can be reached at [email protected] or visither website at www.fixyourimages.com.
Reprint and copyright permission granted by Kansas City Fitness Culture Magazine.
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CHAPTER 2I could hear the birds chirping
which I thought must have been agood thing. I was not hearing any ofthe banging, clanging or loud nois-es. I pushed my nose in to the littleslit in the top of the box and took adeep breath of the early morningfresh air. It smelled like rain. I lovedto play in rain, but did not like thethunder and lightning. They scaredme. My MawMaw had taught me tobe honest so I can admit, I amscared. If I hear thunder, I want torun and hide and am terrified oflightning. I did not feel safe insidethe box as every time it thunderedthe ground shook and I could seeflashes of lightning through the littleslit at the top of the box.
Suddenly, the box started to move,then it got very wet inside. I tried tocrawl to a dry spot but within min-utes the entire box was soaked andstarting to get soft. The wind sound-ed like a roaring noise and the boxlid flew open and I was getting hit bylittle balls of ice. I could see trees
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by Heddie Leger
RECAP FROMCHAPTER 1
Recap from Chapter 1 — Chip isstuck in a dark box all night long andis very scared. He slept very little andwas very hungry. Just when hethought it could not get anyworse........
going by very fast and figuredthe box was floating onwater, very fast rushingwater. It took everything inme and all my self-control tostay in the box, I wanted tojump out, but was afraid if I did Imight drown. All of a sudden thebox fell apart and I went flyingthrough the air. I kept swirlingaround and around and couldsee the tops of the trees. I closedmy eyes thinking I would neversee my MawMaw again and whilemy eyes were closed, I could feelmyself falling, falling, falling andthen with a thud landed in a hugepile of leaves and mud. I openedmy eyes and could see nothingbut leaves and mud, and brokendown trees.
I could hear a faint cry thatsounded like nothing I hadheard before and saw a smallboy and girl muddy and dirtywandering around and crying. Ilet out a small whimper and theystopped. The girl was going to runaway, but the boy looked at meand convinced her to wait. He slowly walked over to me and sat down in thepile of leaves and mud with me. We were a fine pair, both soaked to the bone,muddy and dirty, but he had a smile on his face and he quit crying. “LookPenelope,” he called, “it’s a puppy and it needs our help.”
Apparently the little girl was in no mood to think of anything or anyone butherself as she yelled at him and told him to leave the stinky, dirty puppy alone.
“Boy, I will bet you are hungry,” the boy said. I really did notknow what to do, run away and hide or snuggle up to him.I decided to snuggle up as I was really cold and wet. He lift-ed me up, gave me a hug, and promised me he would not
Self-discipline — regulation or managementof oneself for the sake of improvement.
Honesty — sincere fairnessand straightforwardness of con-duct with adherence to the facts.
ChipThe Adventures of
leave me alone. The boy scolded the girl named Penelopefor being unkind. Penelope said, “we cannot even find foodfor ourselves and you want to try to feed a puppy?” She wasactually yelling at him. You could say that at least she washonest with her feelings, but the boy showed such incredi-ble patience and self-discipline with her, he did not yell backand was not mean in return. He seemed to understand howmiserable she was, and also how much I needed help. Hekindly told her “we will find a way and work it out, the pupcan share my food and you don’t have to share if you don’twant to.” “Wow,” she said, “you have lost your mind.” Theboy assured her we would all be fine. But, I could see theworry in his eyes as he walked silently and they both lookedfor food and shelter of some kind.
STORY DISCUSSION TIPS1) Does your family have a plan in the event of a disaster
like a fire, tornado or earthquake?2) Do you think the boy or girl showed self discipline?
Which one was more honest? What is your definition ofhonesty?
3) What plan do you have for your pets in the event of anemergency or disaster?
ACTIVITYAs a family think about what you would do in the event of
an emergency. Do you know where the emergency suppliesare located. Plan out a supply packet that you would keepfor your pet in the event of an emergency. Make a check offlist to hang in your home.
Both self-discipline and honesty are very important whengoing through an emergency. Think about ways to stay posi-tive in a crisis situation.
Jan/Feb Pawzzle Answers
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A s Kansas City’slargest no kill pet adop-tion center, WaysideWaifs is proud of the life-saving work we do everyday. We committed to ourno kill philosophy, andthat applies to catsinfected with the FelineI m m u n o - d e f i c i e n c yVirus, or FIV.
LATEST RESEARCHIn 2011, Wayside Waifs
became one of the onlyanimal shelters in themetro to adopt out FIV-positive cats. Armed withthe latest research onFIV-positive cats, long-time Wayside volunteerSharon Payne advocatedfor the program, andimmediately won thesupport of Wayside WaifsDirector of OperationsBarbara Poe and SeniorVeterinarian Dr. Luke Pickett.
“I’ve always had friends withFIV-positive cats, and I’ve seen how well they do,” said Payne. “Theproblem is FIV is such a misunderstood disease that sounds muchscarier than it really is.”
A SLOW VIRUSFIV is a slow virus that affects a cat’s immune system over a period of
years. Typically, FIV-positive cats live long, healthy lives without evershowing any symptoms. It is not contagious to people or non-felines.
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GivingFIV-Positive Kitties
a SecondChanceat L i fe
“The problem is FIV issuch a misunderstood
disease that soundsmuch scarier than it
really is,” Director ofOperations Barbara Poe.
“Wayside does such agood job placing animalswith special needs, so Iknew this would be agood fit,” raved Payne.
SHE WAS RIGHT! She was right. During
the first year of the FIVadoption program,Wayside successfullyplaced more than 20 catsinto loving homes.
“We’re thrilled thatwe’re breaking the stig-ma attached to thesegreat cats,” said Poe.
Wayside now transfers FIV-positive cats from othershelters into our vibrant adoption program.
SUCCESS AND THEN ADOPTION! “Without Wayside, these cats would have been instant-
ly euthanized,” said Payne. “It’s just marvelous thatwe’re able to save their lives.”
Payne hopes the success of Wayside’s FIV adoptionprogram will inspire other area shelters to begin adopt-ing out FIV-positive cats.
“We’ve shown they are highly adoptable, and it’s timefor other organizations to get on the bandwagon,” shesaid.
Wayside Waifs recommends FIV-positive cats are theonly cats in the household.
Wayside Waifs specializes in pet adoption and offers a large selec-tion of dogs, cats and other small mammals. For over 65 years,Wayside Waifs has provided safety, comfort and love to tens of thou-sands of animals, providing a sanctuary for animals who's futureswould be very bleak. For more details about Wayside, visitwww.waysidewaifs.org or call 816. 761.8151.
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FIV FACTS
1 The Feline Immuno-deficiency Virus or FIV is aslow virus that affects a cat’s immune system overa period of years.
2 FIV is a cat-only disease and cannot be spread tohumans or other species.
3 FIV cats most often live long, healthy, and normallives with no symptoms at all.
4 FIV is not easily passed between cats. It cannotbe spread casually — like in litter boxes, waterand food bowls, or when snuggling and playing.It is rarely spread from a mother to her kittens.
5 The virus is passed through blood transfusionsand through serious, penetrating bite wounds —mainly by stray, intact tom cats.
6 A neutered cat, in a home, is extremely unlikelyto infect other cats, if properly introduced.
Source: Best Friends Animal Society
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There is a new kid on the block in the field of medicine where sciencefiction has met today’s real world. The field of regenerative medicine is allabout repairing health, restoring function, and indeed regenerating dam-aged or diseased tissue. All of us have aches and pains, stiff joints orinjuries that can become chronic over time. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if wecould walk away from chronic pain, heal arthritic joints, or even regener-ate a failing organ? Stem cell therapies have the potential to do just that andmore. This new frontier is wide open and full of possibilities.
STEM CELL RESEARCHMany people are aware of stem cell research and the controversy it has
sparked in recent years, but most don’t realize that adult stem cell usage iswhere all of the advances in medicine have occurred. Embryonic stem celltrials have been wrought with problems from the beginning and in fact theygrow like tumors in the host body. Veterinary research has always been atthe forefront of adult stem cell therapies in human and veterinary medi-cine.
Stem cells are simply cells that have not completely differentiated into aspecific organ or tissue type. They are present in our bodies in various tis-sues such as fat (adipose), muscle, tendon, cartilage, joint, capsule mem-branes, and bone marrow. They are considered multi potent cells in thatthey have the potential to change into and become tendon, ligament, bone,cartilage, heart, nerve, blood vessel, fat, and other organ tissues.
by John E. Rowe DVM, CVA
TThheeNNeewwFFrroonnttiieerr
Stem Cell Therapy
STEM CELLS AND ANIMALSToday in veterinary medicine the majority of
research applications of stem cells have been inhorses, dogs, goats, and rats. Thousands ofpatients have been treated to date and the mostcommon ailments addressed have been: hip andelbow dysplasia, torn cartilage pads of the knee,delayed bone healing, articular cartilage injury,and tendon/ligament damage. Everyday moredata and anecdotal information is gathered oncases from around the world. New applicationsare always being explored. Some autoimmunedisorders and inflammatory bowel disease havesuccessfully been treated. A study to regeneratefailing kidneys in cats will soon be underway atthe university level. Liver disease, heart condi-tions, and the repercussions of stroke are cur-rently under investigation.
ACQUIRING A TISSUE SAMPLEThe process begins by acquiring a tissue sample from the patient in need. Two
tissue types containing stem cells have been most commonly used — fat (adi-pose tissue) and bone marrow. There is no risk of the patient rejecting theirown stem cells as they are taken from each individual patient and not an outsidesource. The falciform ligament is a large fat pad inside the abdomen of even thesmallest dog or cat. It is easily removed via abdominal surgery and ready forimmediate transport to a facility that will collect the natural stem cells andreturn them to the doctor in a protein rich solution. A benefit to this process isthe ability to treat the patient within atwenty-four to forty-eight hour turn-around.
Mesenchymal bone marrow stem cellsare even more easily retrieved. Undersedation, a small incision is made overthe point of the shoulder or the crest ofthe pelvic bone. Up to 5 cc (1 teaspoon)of bone marrow blood is drawn from thepatient using needle and syringe andtransported to a facility where the stemcells are actively grown to tens of thou-sands. Although this process takesweeks to complete, bone marrow stemcells have proven to be the gold standardin potency in every animal and human trial. All stem cells have a trophic andchemotactic effect. The trophic effect occurs as stem cells activate the repara-tive process like a policeman telling local tissue how to heal. Their chemotac-tic properties call in other immune cells and growth factorsthrough the circulation. They direct a healing concert!Cryogenic banking is the method used for all cell types tosave extra stem cells from each patient indefinitely. If apatient requires another joint or intravenous injection in thefuture, cells are readily available.
EXCITING ADVANCEMENTSThese are very exciting advancements! We hope to help one
patient at a time in veterinary medicine while broadening thehorizon to human applications as well. The sky could be thelimit, but for now regenerative therapies are not an exact sci-ence. Each new patient has the potential to heal at variablerates. The success rate thus far has been compelling, and weexpect more success in the future. As is important in everyaspect of healing, the overall health and wellbeing of eachindividual is always a primary factor in returning to healthand homeostasis. As you can see, the newkid on the block is here to stay.
Dr. John Edward Rowe owns Aid AnimalHospital, located in the Waldo area at 8343Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO. Dr. Rowe has beenpracticing veterinary medicine for over 20 years,incorporating western and eastern medicine in acooperative approach to healing and wellness. Heand his wife have two children and are pet parentto four dogs, two adopted through Aid Animal Hospital, and two pet rats.He is honored to work with knowledgeable and loving staff, who arecrazy about working with animals, as is Dr. Rowe.
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WHAT’S NEXT?This article is meant to be an intro-
duction to the concept of how stemcells could be a treatment option foryour pet. Because each animal has dif-ferent needs, you will need moredetails before you proceeds, such astreatment costs, specific benefits toyour pet, treatment timelines, etc.
If you are interested and want moredetails here are two local veterinarianoffices which may be able to assist you. • AID Animal Hospital — located at
8343 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO.Dr John Rowe combines westernmedicine with a holistic view. He canbe reached at 813.363.4922.
• Arbor Creek Animal Hospital —located at 15971 South BradleyDrive Olathe, KS. Dr Michael Tarrantand his staff’s slogan is We LOVEAnimals. Call him at 913.764.9000.
The success rate thusfar has been compelling,and we expect moresuccess in the future. As is important in everyaspect of healing, theoverall health and well-being of each individualis always a primaryfactor in returning tohealth and homeostasis.
W ith summer sunshine turning to dampand cool it is the perfect time of year to eval-uate our pet’s joint health. Providing good
quality joint support supplements is one of themost common and important aspects of main-
taining joint health, especially in colderweather and as the pet ages. With so manyproducts available how does one choosethe right product for your pet’s specific
needs? Here are a few key ingredients that areimportant to look for when shopping for the
perfect joint supplement.
GLUCOSAMINE FOR JOINTSGlucosamine is perhaps the most widely
known and one of the most important ingredi-ents for joint health. Glucosamine is a fairly
small particle and is absorbed well by thebody and is used to make thick and viscousjoint fluid. This viscous joint fluid cushions
the two bone endings and allows them to glidesmoothly over each other. The recommendedamount of Glucosamine for a 50 pound dog is1000 milligrams per day. If there is less than thisit is simply not enough.
CHONDROITIN FOR CARTILAGEChondroitin is another common ingredient
found in joint supplements. This molecule is animportant component of cartilage. It is a largermolecule than Glucosamine and thus is not asreadily absorbed into the body.
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by Dr. Christine Bessent, DVM
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Joint SupportSupplements
Demystifying
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MSM is an ingredient that is widely known to have ananti-inflammatory effect. This is important as inflamma-tion causes the release of hydrolyzing enzymes. Theseenzymes cause the break down of the joint fluid thatcushions the joint.
Hylauronic Acid is another component found in manyjoint supplements that chemically is the same as jointfluid. Wouldn’t this be the ideal product to give to yourpet you might ask? The downside of Hylauronic Acid isthat it is a very large molecule and unlike Glucosamine itis not absorbed well into the body.
HERBS AS SUPPLEMENTSHerbs are also a great choice
for joint support. A few herbsto look for are boswelia, anherb that also helps to stop thebreakdown of joint fluid,yucca, curcumin, and cory-dalis. Cinnamon is also a greatchoice because it has a slightwarming quality for pets thathave joint issues that tend toget worse in cold weather.
One other suggestion is toadd Omega 3 fatty acids to thepet’s diet. Omega 3 fatty acidsare anti-inflammatory bynature and help to provide great joint support as well!
PREVENTIONAs always, it is generally a good idea to be preventative
when it comes to joint care. It is a great idea to supportyour pet throughout their life rather than wait until prob-lems occur.
Christine Bessent, DVM, is the owner and founder of HerbsmithInc. She created Herbsmith Inc. as a way to provide impeccablequality herbal supplements for pets. Dr. Bessent has been a practic-ing Veterinarian for nearly 25 years in Southeast Wisconsin, most ofwhich as a Holistic Veterinarian.
Cinnamon isalso a greatchoice becauseit has a slightwarming qualityfor pets thathave jointissues that tendto get worse incold weather.
Will your petbe the next
winner?
Details at www.metropetmag.comor on the MetroPet Magazinefacebook page. Check it out!
?
Crate TrainingBenefits
Crate TrainingBenefits
A crate is really an excellent investment. They pro-vide a sense of safety and security to your dog and are usedas a house training aid, a safe mode of transportation, abed, and a place of refuge when Rover is worn out or over-whelmed. They come in all shapes and sizes includingthose that appear to be part of the furniture. One of themost common types made from black wire and come invarious different sizes, some collapsible for ease of travel.
WHAT SIZE CRATE?The size you choose should provide space enough for your
dog to turn around, stand and lie down in. Since dogs willrarely relieve themselves in their immediate living environ-ment it becomes an invaluable tool for potty training. If thecrate is too large, they may eliminate at one end and lay atthe other end. When buying a crate for a puppy, get theappropriate size for adulthood but make sure there is aspacer to attach and make the living space smaller until theyneed the bigger space.
Dogs are natural ‘denning animals’, they like nothingbetter than to curl up in a close, cozy environment. Whentaking your pet on a trip their kennel provides a piece ofhome, a safe haven that gives them comfort. When you’reunable to supervise your young puppy, the kennel is a safe
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place for them to be while you take a shower, go out to get themail, etc. Remember, the crate is yourdog’s den, her safe-house, her private shel-ter from the storm. It should always beopen, always be where she can find it, andnever be used as a punishment.
FEEDING AND NAP TIME! Since I feed my dogs different foods and
in specific amounts I’ve found an excellentway to ensure they don’t eat each others’food is to put them in their separate ken-nels. When I announce ‘time to eat’ theyrun to their kennels gladly. Nap time isoften spent in their kennel without prompt-ing, the door remains open.
Some people aren’t comfortablewith the idea of confining theirpets in a ‘jail’ but to a pooch, thecrate isn’t a jail. It’s a safe haven.It’s great that the crate is a reliableway to help a new puppy avoiddangerous or destructive mishapslike chewing electrical cords orurinating on your new rug. Until apuppy’s housetraining and house-hold manners are reliable, sheshould cheerfully be put in her“den” any time you can’t provideclose supervision. And thatincludes bedtime when she shouldbe crated in a room wherehumans are also sleeping.
WHEN YOU ARE AWAYIf your pet must be in a kennel
during the day while you away fortheir own safety and keeping yourhome from being chewed apart, itis essential that they get plenty ofexercise when they are out of theirkennel. A mid-day break is anexcellent way to ensure they’reable to relieve themselves and getmuch needed exercise. A tired dogis a happy dog and will spend timein their kennel most likely sleep-ing. Overnight is the only time apuppy should be crated for morethan four hours at a time. Adultdogs can be crated for up to eighthours but no longer although highenergy dogs should follow the fourhour rule.
Carol Facklam owns CreatureComforts, LLC, a pet sittingbusiness. Carol’s personal touchand genuine care makes her anatural for this business. Sheenjoys sharing pet nutritiontips, crate training and leashskills with her customers.Creature Comforts was born outof her love for animals and thedesire to provide quality care topet families and their furryfamily members. Carol can bereached at 816.645.8713.
Since I feedmy dogsdifferentfoods and inspecificamounts I’ve found anexcellent wayto ensure...
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Directions:
• Preheat oven to 375°.• Tear bread slices into cubes and toss lightly with cream
cheese cubes.
• Place in an 8 x 8-inch greased baking pan and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, beat eggs together and add milk andhoney. Stir well.
• Pour over bread mixture and bake for 30 minutes. Cool,then cut into squares.
• Store leftovers well wrapped in the refrigerator.
Recipe credit:
Three Dog Bakery Cookbook by Dan Dye
& Mark Beckloff
Over 50 wholesome, healthy, simple-to-cookrecipes for your pooch, from Hearty Hound Loafand Banana Mutt Cookies to Hungry MongrelTurkey Burgers and Fiesta Bones.
EASTER MORNINGHEAVENLY MANNA
Whether your dog is a Saint Bernardor a Holy Terrier, he’ll be praying
for these on Easter Morn
Bakes up to 12 squares of saintly goodness.
Ingredients
6 slices white bread8 ounces low-fat cream cheese, cubed4 eggs1 1/4 cups skim milk1/3 cup honey
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