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Happy Mud SeasonNorthern VT & NH
FREE
Alternatively Speaking: A Holistic Approach
to Vaccinations
OBarkaCare-Is mandatory health insurance
for pets coming soon?
What You Should KnowAbout Feline Asthma
Eventing, Six ToughGoals for Brave Kids(One chicken
required)
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Publishers: Tim Goodwin, Tim Hoehn
Senior Editor: Scott Palzer
Office Manager: Beth Hoehn
Accounting: Elisa Speckert
Graphic Design:
Monica Reinfeld, Lacey Dardis, Shane Lichtsinn
Sales: Karyn Swett, Scott Palzer,
Barry deSousa
If you have a tale about a tail or a photothat will make us
smile, wed like to hear
from you. 4 Legs & a Tail is publishedquarterly and
distributed free of charge
throughout Northern VT & NH.4 Legs & a Tail, Inc. is
locally owned andoperated and acts as a moderator without
approving, disapproving or guaranteeing thevalidity or accuracy
of any data or claim.
Any reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.
4 Legs & a Tail Volume N.115
P.O. Box 841
Lebanon, NH 03766
603-727-9214
[email protected]
Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail2 Whats Up This Spring?
The American Cancer Societys Bark for Life, New Englands largest
equine and canine expo, and more!5 Alternatively Speaking: A
Holistic Approach to Vaccinations, Anne Carroll, DVM6 Green Up Your
Pets, M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM Great ideas for your pets and the
environment7 Spring Pet Poisons Some considerations before you
start the yard work7 ObarkaCare Is mandatory health insurance for
your pet in the future?8 The Miracle of Love, Sandy Johnson A
tender story from the popular book, Miracle Dogs: Adventures on
Wheels.10 Rubys Story, Michelle Carroll, DVM A happy ending for one
dogs encounter with Intervertebral Disc Disease
11 Toys Toys Toys, DJ Nelson Tips for choosing the right toys
for your pet12 A Stroll in the Mud One German Shepherds mud
season13 What You Should Know About Feline Asthma, Elisa Speckert
Learn the signs and solutions 13 Comical Canine Cohorts, Pat Jauch
A message straight from the Sunday funnies15 Stelline, Jim Mayor
The joy of adopting an older dog16 When Molly Met Sally, Erin Regan
How one family battled Cushings disease
18 Rabies, Liam Bisson, DVM18 The Joys and Benefits of Backyard
Living, Ira Richards Some tips on getting started with animal
husbandry20 The Bear and the Branch, Jackie Finethy Matching wits
with a 300 lb bear.21 Rythem of the Rein: Four Hooves and a Tail
Bring Special Healing to Those with Unique Needs, Dianne
Lashoones22 Eventing, Six Tough Goals for Brave Kids, Denny Emerson
Tips from one gold medal winner to a future winner23 A Feline
Friend (18 Wheels Later) How one trucker made the purrrfect move24
Pet Accidents on Your Carpet or Upholstery: What Now?26 What Can
Happen to an Infected Lower Molar in Small Dogs, Sandra Waugh, VMD,
MS Little dogs can equal big dental issues27 Wild Donkeys &
Older great Danes, Gloria Towne28 Changing Direction, Jan Bailey
How one sailor found a new first mate
www.4LegsAndATail.com 1Spring 2015
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What's Up This Spring?The Greatest Dog & Pony Show on
Earth!
Whether you call it spring or mud season, everyone calls it
"four legs and a tail fun" as the 11th annual dog and pony show
comes to Essex Jct., VT. As the area's premier equestrian event and
last years addition of mans best friend, this heavily attend event
is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. Everything Equine &
Canine
will be Saturday, April 25th, from 8:30am-5pm and Sunday, April
26th, from 8:30am-4:30pm at the Champlain Valley Exposition in
Essex Jct., VT. Billed as New Englands largest equine and canine
show, the two day event stands apart from many regional shows as a
family friendly event with scores of consumer vendors, as well as a
full schedule of informative seminars, dem-onstrations, horse and
dog breeds on display and entertainment for dog and horse
enthusiasts. As event coordina-tors put it, The addition of dogs
last year really added a new dimension to the event. The crowd was
larger and we noticed more kids than usual. This years event is a
must for eques-trians, with renowned speaker and trainer, Dr.
Andrew McLean of The Australian Equine Behaviour Centre. The AEBC
system is evidence based and simple to understand for horse and
rider. By understanding how the horse learns training becomes more
effective and clear, improving horse welfare. Andrew McLean holds a
PhD in equine cognition and learning, has been an accredited horse
riding coach for over 30 years and has written 5 books (including
an International Best Seller) and authored 35 peer-reviewed journal
articles. A past winner of the Advanced section of the famous
Gawler Three-Day-Event, Andrew has also rep-resented Australia in
Horse Trials, been short-listed for World Championships and
competed at State and National events in FEI level dressage and
event-ing, has show-jumped to Grand Prix level and held a Racehorse
owner-trainers license and raced bareback in Australia and New
Zealand in the 1970 and 80s. Andrew will be presenting on both
Saturday and Sunday. As the first day winds down, what could be
more fun than Horsin Around on Saturday Night, a dog & pony
show? This annual variety show provides Edu-tainment by showcas-ing
many different breeds, disciplines and styles for new and longtime
horse and dog lovers. In addition to the excel-lent horse
demonstrations, the show will incorporate dogs and trainers
per-forming agility, obedience, a canine weave pole challenge, and
even a fun light hearted challenge of I can do what you can do
between dog and horse. The very popular Equine Extreme
Continued NEXT PAGE
Spring 20152 4 Legs & a Tail
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Bark For Life
Have you ever participated in Relay for Life in your community?
Perhaps you couldnt because dogs werent allowed? Well, guess what?!
Since we know that our canine caregiv-ers can be such a vital part
of patient sur-vivorship, it is our pleasure to invite you to join
us. Come celebrate our canine caregivers with our 2015 Bark for
Life event! The American Cancer Societys Bark for Life is a
noncompetitive walk
Trail Challenge on Sunday morn-ing will feature New Englands top
horse and rider teams competing for cash and prizes. On the canine
side, dog lovers will have a wide variety of educa-tional options
on both days with over 50 indoor seminars and dem-onstrations . The
very popular dog agility demonstration will be presented by Show Me
the Biscuit of Williston, Vermont. One of the staples of our
weekend event has been the interactive manner in which attendees
can learn and see firsthand, says event direc-tor Jeremy Spaulding.
Were particularly excited about this years show and the remarkable
seminars. A must see during this weekend of events is the dog show,
Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test and Meet the Breeds, organized by
the Champlain Valley Kennel Club. With more than 100 ven-dors on
hand, Everything Equine & Canine is sure to be a hit for the
entire family. Admission to Everything Equine & Canine is $10
and chil-dren under 5 are free. Advance discount tickets can be
pur-chased at Guys Farm & Yard loca-tions in Williston,
Morrisville and Montpelier Vermont and at Adirondack Tack in
Plattsburgh, NY. The general public is asked to leave their dogs
and horses home.
For more information anda complete schedule, visit
www.cvexpo.org/EverythingEquine
Sponsors include 4 Legs & a Tail magazine, the University
of
Vermont Extension, Guys Farm & Yard, Horse Works, Show Me
the Biscuit, Poulin Grain, Inc., Equine Journal, Vermont Horse
Council,
Equiscents/VT Equine Acupressure and the Champlain Valley
Exposition.
event for dogs and their owners, raising funds and awareness for
the American Cancer Societys fight against cancer! This is a
special year for Bark for Life. This year we have two very special
guests coming to see everyone! Come meet our new friend Duke, and
his best friend Alisha, both canine cancer sur-vivors! We all know
that canine com-panions demonstrate unconditional love, joy,
security, and compassion that can be the best therapy for cancer
patients during their treatment. Come hear the story about the true
meaning of dogs best friend; and oh Duke LOVES hugs!! You can also
follow their story on our Facebook page; Vermont Bark for
Life-American Cancer Society Bark for Life is committed to
hon-oring the lifelong contributions of our furry support team, so
we invite everyone to join us in celebrating our canines, and to
bring an end to cancer. It is time to build your FIGHT BACK team
and start fundraising, to make this years Bark for Life event a
huge success! To register your team, please visit
www.relayforlife.org/barkchit-tendenvt or contact Jennifer Clark at
802.872.6323 or [email protected]! Lets take a bite out of
cancer... together!!
www.4LegsAndATail.com 3Spring 2015
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Caws 4 Paws Adopt-A-Thon & Pet Expo A howling good time is
in store for all as JD Green of Froggy 100.9 presents the 1st
Annual Caws 4 Paws Adopt-A-Thon & Pet Expo from 10-5 on
Saturday, May 16 at the BOR in Barre. This is a must for all dog
lovers and future dog lovers as the event will play host to a
variety of rescue groups as well as local humane societies.
According to organizer and popular morning radio personality JD
Green, This has been a dream of mine for a long time. A dog lover
himself, Green is a reg-ular contributor to the Sunday magazine of
the Times Argus, sharing exploits of his long time buddy, Buddy.
The month-ly column, entitled Beyond The Dog is based on a book
project that is currently in the making. Learn more by visiting
www.beyondthedog.com. In addition to adoption opportuni-ties, the
one day event will feature obedi-ence training and behavior
demonstra-tions as well as a wide variety of other educational
canine programs. A large number of vendor booths ranging from
veterinarians to pet food distributors will also be on hand to
answer questions. The Caws 4 Paws will also feature guest speak-ers
as well as K-9 demonstrations. Admission will be on a dona-tion
basis with plenty of free park-ing. For more information contact JD
at [email protected]
Spring 20154 4 Legs & a Tail
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Ready or not, spring is here. There will be robins on the
branch, crocuses emerging in the lawn, and of course, rabies
clinics. These clinics serve a very important function in
preventing the spread of rabies. My hospital hosts clinics for
three surrounding towns, but they are not meant to be a substitute
for healthcare. As a society we are cava-lier about vaccination.
With increasing pressure on our time and pocketbooks, more people
may turn to a quick stop at a clinic for shots, just as we can walk
into a pharmacy and receive multiple vaccina-tions without any
input from our doctor. Without veterinary guidance, pets can
receive more vaccinations than they may need, and when it comes to
vaccination, more isnt always better. First, let me state for the
record, that holistic veterinarians are not necessarily
anti-vaccine. I take the approach that a vaccine should be val-ued
for its vital role in protecting against infectious disease, but
also respected for what it is - a biological drug with potent
effects on the immune system. Effects that in some cases can cause
real health issues, and that possibility should not be ignored. The
decision about which vaccines to give and how often to give them,
can raise some heated debates. Vaccine manufacturers, professional
organiza-tions, and legislators want to influence this discussion.
Luckily, most individual vaccination decisions are left to the
vet-erinarians, who use guidelines based on the most up to date
science. However, the pet owner should have the knowledge that one
size does not necessarily fit all. At the center of holistic
medicine is the under-standing that to treat a patient is to
under-stand them on all levels. This includes all of a patients
past history, breed tenden-cies, diet, environmental exposures,
etc. Vaccination is a medical decision that deserves a conversation
equal to that of any medical treatment or surgical pro-cedure. The
result is an individually tai-lored vaccine protocol that is
specific to your pet, providing maximum protec-tion with the least
chance of harm. How have we become concerned about excessive
vaccination? Over the past several decades vaccination science has
come a long way, our pets have ben-efited from more effective and
safer vac-cines. These advances have created more vaccines than
ever before, and they can be combined in up to a nine-in-one
shot.
Convenient combo shots have a down side too, as they create the
potential for pets to be immunized for diseases that they are not
at risk for, either because they are not common where your pet
lives or the types of activities they do or dont do. But the main
cause of overuse is that a few of the ingredients require annual
boosters while the rest could go far longer than that, and giving
all of them sooner is not needed. In general vaccines are safe and
rarely cause issues, however cer-tain breeds or individuals with
genetic sensitivity are at risk for vaccine related illness. Though
rare, these issues have become more noticeable as more pets are
immunized routinely, with more shots than ever before. The most
commonly recognized example is the potential for cancers in certain
cats from any irrita-tion of the skin, including those from
vaccines. Researchers are also trying to correlate the suspected
effects over-vac-cination can pose on the immune, endo-crine and
neurological systems. It does seem that the risks may be enhanced
if your pet is already having any issue that involves the immune
system or chronic inflammation. This is why vaccination should be
taken into consideration with a whole health plan, including the
use of individual or smaller combination vacci-nations that do not
exceed what your pet really needs. So how can veterinarians take a
holis-tic approach to vaccination? As with any medical decision, we
weigh the risks and benefits. Our vaccination discussion should
involve an assessment of the pet first, evaluating their current
and past health issues, possible future issues com-mon to the
breed, and past vaccine expe-riences. We can then determine what
dis-eases they could be exposed to and if those could cause enough
harm to warrant protection. If there is no real benefit to the
patient then even the small risk of vac-cinating is not worth
taking. We can cer-tainly take measures to reduce those risks by
avoiding giving multiple vaccinations at once, postponing vaccines
if the pet is not healthy, and giving vaccines no more often than
modern veterinary guide-lines suggest. According to these
guide-lines, many traditional veterinarians are already using fewer
immunizations, less often. Immunity can last beyond what we once
believed and we can measure that protection using a test called a
titer to determine if a vaccine is truly needed,
Alternatively Speaking:A Holistic Approach to Vaccination
Anne M. Carroll, DVM - Chelsea, VT
especially in high risk patients such as elderly pets, cancer
patients, or those with chronic issues. Homeopathic reme-dies can
also be used to minimize adverse effects in those that are at risk
but need their shots. To maximize your pets health this spring,
dont just vaccinate. They may need a booster or they may not. The
important thing is to get a good checkup, look for subtle signs of
early disease that can go unnoticed at home, get updated on the
latest recommendations for general health care, diets, parasite
control and of course, vaccinations. Getting an annual checkup for
your pet is like a person going to the doctor once every seven
years, a lot can happen in that time. This relation-ship with your
veterinarian is what ulti-mately insures long-term health for your
pet, not the medicines we hand out. After all, if they are not
needed, whose pet will complain that they did NOT get a shot?
Dr. Anne Carroll is owner of the Chelsea Animal Hospital where
she practices
both conventional medicine and surgery, as well as several
alternative modalities including traditional Chinese acupunc-
ture and Chinese herbal medicine.Her associate Dr. Betty Jo
Black bringsclassical homeopathy to the practice.
For more information on alternativeveterinary medicine visit
their website at
www.chelseaanimalhospital.com
www.4LegsAndATail.com 5Spring 2015
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Spring 20156 4 Legs & a Tail
Earth Day (April 22) and Vermont Green up Day (May 2) is the
perfect time to consider some Earth friendly practices to help the
environment, when it comes to our furry companions. Plastic is
every-where, and only 27% of plastic is recycled. Landfills can
only hold so much and even then it takes 450 years for plastic to
start to degrade. If we can use products for our pets made from
recycled plastic or even better from renewable resources, it is
bet-ter for our pets and the environment in the long run. Consider
making homemade treats to avoid buying ones pre-packaged in
plastic. While there are a million reci-pes online for homemade dog
biscuits, double check the ingredient list with your veterinarian
before making them to ensure they are safe for your pet. An even
simpler way (if your pet eats canned food) is to take some of your
pets canned food, cut it into small strips, and bake in the oven
until it is brick consis-tency. Homemade diets are a great
idea,
Green Up Your Pets!The Vermont Veterinary Medical
Association
M. Kathleen Shaw, DVMbut they can be tricky because you must
ensure that the diet has the proper bal-ance of ingredients,
vitamins, and min-erals. Animals can become very sick on
some homemade diets if they are not balanced: check with your
veterinarian first. Just because Dr. Google says its so, doesnt
mean that recipe is complete and balanced. There are at least five
types of kitty litter that are not only biode-gradable, they can be
used as mulch or compost (once you scoop out the waste)! These use
renewable prod-ucts such as corn, wheat, paper, or kiln-dried wood.
Nearly every local
pet or feed store has at least one such kitty litter. Stop using
those plastic gro-cery store bags for your dogs waste and use ones
that break down quickly and naturally and dont harm the
environ-ment. It is estimated that a million ani-mals (mainly in
the ocean) die each year from ingesting plastic, mistaking it for
food. There are several companies that make biodegradable doggie
doo bags that can be found locally. You know you cant resist buying
toys for your pets. Did you know there are many companies that make
dog and cat toys and beds from recycled plastics, hemp, wool, or
cotton? Check with your local pet supply stores, or as a last
resort, check online. You can even make your own pet toys at home.
Reuse scraps of fab-ric to make your own braided dog pull toy. Cat
owners all know that most of the time the cats have more fun
playing in bags or boxes than they do with toys from the store. You
can even crumple up your old bills and have the satisfaction of
seeing your cats bat them around the house. Cats find cords and
stringy toys irresistible to play with, but they also like to try
to eat them. This can cause serious illness, so put them away when
youre done play-ing. Avoid plastic food and water dishes and use
ones made from metal or glass - or better yet, look for ones made
from sustainable materials. There is at least one company that
makes food and water dishes from bamboo, for example. So green up
your pets! These are small things that you can do to help make the
environment a safer and better place for wildlife and all of those
future puppies and kittens.
The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in
1898, is a professional organization of 340 vet-
erinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality
medicine.
8 Local OfficesVacation Travel Educational Tours
Corporate Travel SolutionsProfessional Sports TravelGroup &
Incentive Travel
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www.4LegsAndATail.com 7Spring 2015
Many people are beginning to realize the dangers of landscaping
items such as cocoa mulch and stainless steel edg-ing, but there
are many more potential dangers for pets when you start your
springtime lawn and garden care. While flowers are colorful and
fragrant, there are several that are toxic to pets. Daffodils can
cause severe vomiting, diar-rhea, abdominal pain and potential
respiratory distress in dogs and cats. Lilies are deadly to cats
and Autumn Crocuses can cause severe illness and death a few days
after ingestion. Most pesticides and insecticides usually cause
only mild irritation to your pet when ingested. The concentrated
forms are the ones that can really make your pet ill. Fertilizers
such as bone or blood meal may help your flowers grow, but to most
dogs, they are very tasty and can lead to vomiting, diarrhea,
It looks like Washington is at it again, as legislators in our
nations capi-tal have begun conversations to amend the Affordable
Healthcare Act. The cor-nerstone of the current administration,
ObamaCare has been the most polarizing legislation in more than 50
years, and the current proposal has lawmakers fighting like a cat
and dog over it, literally cats and dogs. Under the plan laid out
by a Senate sub-committee, a single payer health care program will
be required for all dogs and cats. Needless to say, the idea has
drawn fire from several groups over the guide-lines of the bill,
including benefits. As one Georgia congressman put it, That dog
dont hunt! Here in the Bible-belt, spay and neutering is a form of
birth control and should not be funded by my taxpay-ers. When
pressed further, the congress-man did say he would consider spaying
if the mothers life was in danger. One animal rights group applauds
the effort. According to one spokesperson, Weve paid a lot of money
to our lobbyists over the years. Its about time Washington threw us
a bone. Even the veterinary industry has chimed in with a
statement. Dogs and cats are part of our families and should have
FULL mandatory health benefits including vision coverage. Cats are
prone to cataracts, (which is where the human optical term
originated), and many dogs suffer from varying forms of blindness.
Both would be well served with the pre-scription glasses covered
under this pro-posal. However, some have been highly criti-cal as
being too focused on just dogs and cats. The American Alpaca
Society has
and gastric obstruction. Rose fertilizers may contain
disulfo-ton and as little as 1 teaspoon of this can kill a 55 pound
dog. Fertilizers applied to your lawn are reasonably safe when
applied correctly. In general keep the pets off the lawn until the
liquid is dry or the granules have been wetted. Whenever youre
working in your lawn and garden, be sure to keep any containers of
lawn care products out of pets reach. Save labels or containers in
case your pet does eat something: this will help your veterinarian
find the right treatment for your pet. If you are concerned with
the potential toxicity of something your pet ingests, call your
veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680
(www.petpoisonhelpline.com). To learn which plants are toxic to
your pets, go to
http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/seasons/spring/
Spring Pet Poisons
OBarkaCare?called the proposal discriminatory. As one alpaca
farmer put it, Next time you complain about some scratchy acrylic
sweater, youll wish for healthier alpacas. A full vote is expected
sometime
this spring, and if all goes according to plan, OBarkaCare could
go into effect as early as April 1, 2015. For more infor-mation
visit www.4 Legsandatail.com/HappyAprilFools
M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM-VVMA
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The Miracle of LoveSandy Johnson
Any man with money to make the purchase may become a dogs owner.
But no manspend he ever so much coin and food and tact in the
effortmay become a dogs Master without consent of the dog. Do you
get the difference? And he whom a dog once unreserv-edly accepts as
Master is forever that dogs God.
-Albert Payson Terhune, Lad: A Dog This is the story of two
souls, one four-legged, the other two-legged, who were meant to
meet and fulfill their shared destiny.First, Scooters story: A very
cold day in February 2011. I was crouched on the side of the road,
hiding from the people and noises coming from the street. Most of
all, I was hiding from the man who shot me, my owner. I was a
growing puppy, six months old and always hun-gry; they didnt want
me anymore because they couldnt feed me, so they turned me out of
the house and chased me away. Lost, alone, and hungry, I wandered
for days. Finally, I gave up and went home, hoping they would take
me back. But when I showed up at their door, the big man took down
his rifle and shot me. I turned and ran, but he shot me two more
times, once in each flank, and once in the back. I tried to keep on
running, but I could move only as fast as my two front legs would
carry me. When I couldnt move anymore, I hid in the bushes. I dont
know how long I had been lying there when some people spotted me
and stopped their car and tried to pick me up. I was frightened at
first and tried to get away from them, but I had no strength left.
They put me in a big blue plastic tub in the back of their car and
talked about taking me someplace where I could be put to sleep.
They drove to a building where many dogs were barking and lots of
people were coming and going. A man came out and opened the back of
the car and looked at me. Gently, he opened my mouth and looked at
my teeth and ears, and then he scratched the top of my head and
picked me up and carried me into the building. The smell of dogs
and cats and critters of every sort filled the air. I heard the
people who picked me up say, We think he was hit by a car....
Better put him to sleep.... Poor doggie.... The nice man took me
into a room and put me on a big steel table with a towel on it to
keep me warm. He looked at my eyes, my ears, and my mouth again.
Then he looked at my back legs. Carefully, he picked me up and put
me on the floor and walked a short distance away and turned to me.
Using my front legs, I scooted along the smooth floor, which was so
much easier than rocks and grass, and came to him. He turned and
walked away again, and I followed him. He chuckled and said I was a
real scooter. I liked the man; I liked the way he looked into my
eyes and smiled as if we were old friends. I followed him around
the table a few more times before he stopped and scratched me on
the top of the head again and then under my neck. I just melted
into him from that moment. He picked up the phone. His expression
was discouraging; he wasnt liking what-ever it was he was hearing.
When he put the phone down, he got up and spoke to the people who
brought me inHes got great character . . . gets around on his own .
. . and then they wandered off into another room. Before long,
someone brought in big bowls of food and water, which I finished
off three times, until I couldnt eat anymore. I curled up on a
blanket on the floor and fell asleep. After a while, the man came
back in with a towel that he wrapped around me. I didnt know what
was happening, but I remembered the conversation about being put to
sleep. I tried to get away, but the more I wriggled, the tighter
his grip got. Now I was scared. He had covered me up completely
with the towel, including my eyes, and went through a couple of
doors, and it got really cold. This must be the end, I thought.But
then it got really warm. We were in the nice mans car. He talked to
me for a long time. I couldnt understand all the words, but I could
understand what he meant. We were friends; I had nothing to fear
anymore. He drove for a while and then stopped at a bigger
building. He grabbed that really big, warm blanket and some of the
towels and took me inside. There were more dogs in there; they all
came up and sniffed at me. Then I had my first bath. The other dogs
wouldnt leave me alone, I growled and snapped at them; it was all I
could do, because I couldnt run. But then the nice man, my friend,
came back in and showed me that the other dogs were not going to
hurt me. For a long time, he stayed right next to me.
Continued NEXT PAGE
Spring 20158 4 Legs & a Tail
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my mood bleak. But I was not hopeless. I called the director. I
always valued her opinion on such matters. She knew the budget
issues, the risk involved, and the very small chance of his ever
finding either a rescue or an adopter. She also realized that the
fact of his survival so far was a miracle. Still, with apology
ringing in her voice, she agreed with the vets suggestion. I was
devastated. I couldnt accept it. I didnt know the scope of issues
that Scooter (by then I had named him) brought with him, but I knew
that I would go through hell before I gave up on him. I had to save
him. At that moment, Scooter was mine. Or, rather, I was his. In my
heart, I knew that losing him, even after knowing him for only an
hour, would wound me more deeply than I could stand. At that moment
I took him on, took him in, and opened my world to one of the
greatest loves I will ever know. This pillow-stealing,
wheelchair-breaking, run-you-down-and-make-you-glad, oversize dust
mop has become one of my best friends. TJ Jordi, firefighter,
certified master diver, service dog trainer,
and recipient of the Humane Heroes Award, is now the director of
Tennessees Cheatham County Animal. With the support of a small but
dedicated staff and rescue network, they have not had to euthanize
a single healthy, adoptable
animal in three years.
Scooter has become a celebrity. He was the grand marshal of the
Cheatham County Special Olympics in 2012 and 2013, and won a bronze
medal in 2012 and a gold medal in 2013. He is being trained as a
therapy dog for people in wheel-
chairs, and hes been to nearly all the schools in Cheatham
County and has served as the lead dog in all Cheatham County
Christmas Parades since his arrival. He is proof that
handicapped pets can live full and productive lives.Together, TJ
and Scooter are fulfilling the destiny that brought
them together.
Finally, I got so tired that I just lay down and fell asleep. I
know at some point he picked me up and carried me to another room
and put me on a warm, comfy blanket. When I woke up, I looked
around for my new friend, only to discover that he was right next
to me, with his arm over my back. I licked his face for the longest
time. Then he got up and brought me another bowl of food. After a
couple of days lying around, he took me back to that place with
that big steel table, but for some reason, now I wasnt worried. I
had learned his name was TJ and that we would be friends forever.
TJ came out of another room with a big box in his hands and took
out a bunch of strange-looking things and some tools and got busy.
When he was finished, he picked me up and took me over to the thing
with wheels that he had been putting together. After getting my
back legs into the strange-looking contraption, TJ put me down on
the floor and wrapped the thing around me and snapped it on. I just
looked up at him, wondering what he wanted me to do. TJ grabbed
onto my collar and pulled on me . . . and sud-denly I could move!
With ease! I could even run again, I was still really fast, I ran
everywhere I could reach. I could hear people behind me laughing,
but I didnt care . . . I could run again! I ran and I ran, and I
ran till I couldnt run anymore. Finally, I got really tired and
fell asleep underneath TJs desk while still in the contraption. I
felt so good. When I finally woke up, I made the biggest decision
of my life: I decided to adopt my best friend, TJ. TJs Story The
dog, a six-month-old Border Collie, was brought in from the back of
a beat-up hatchback inside a blue container. He was a sad sighta
heart-wrenching puppy, not even a teen-ager. His hind legs and hips
were scraped from scooting on the ground. Unfortunately, I knew we
couldnt afford to take him for X-rays, not on our government
budget. But when I looked him in the eyes, we connected. It was
like a total alignment of all the planets in the universe, an
almost audible ping. I knew right then that I was going to trytry
anything. We brought him in and carried him to the treatment room,
where the table was set up to euthanize him. I put him down on the
table and looked at those pathetic, withered legs, and my heart
dropped. There were no signs of new or fresh injuries. I tousled
his head, and he smiled back at me. I set him down and backed up,
hoping for a miracle, a sign, anything. I hadnt gotten two steps
away before he screamed. It wasnt a yelp of pain or a howl of
sorrow. It was a sudden, soul-stop-ping scream that cried, Dont
leave me! The scream was unlike anything Id ever heard before; it
was enough to stop me in my tracks. He had pulled himself along,
his useless legs dragging behind him as he scooted toward me.
Ecstatic that I had stopped, he dragged himself over to me and sat
at my feet. His head was cocked back, and his tongue was lolling. I
looked into his eyes, and I knew that, no matter what, I had to
find a way to help him. I started around the table, and he
followed, screaming joy-ously and sliding along the floor. To think
that he had been dragging himself like this through streets and
woods and rocks made me cringe. We started to chase each other
around the room like two little boys, me laughing and his tail
wagging. I had to stop and call the vet. I needed to know the next
step; I had to know if there were any other options available for
him. When the vet listened to his story, she explained that even
with-out an X-ray, it was clear that the dog was paralyzed, and
proba-bly had been so for a while. His scream was most likely his
only defense when, stranded and alone, predators were near. The
fear I felt for him at this past danger, together with the joy that
he had survived, carved itself into my heart. This dog was meant to
be saved. Regretfully, she suggested that it might be kinder to put
him down. Impressed as she was with his survival, quality of life
in the shelter would be poor, and finding someone to take care of
him would be nearly impossible. I hung up the phone,
Sandy Johnson attended the University of Pennsylvania, CIDOC in
Cuernavaca, Mexico, and the New School for
Social Research in New York City. She studied acting at the
Neighborhood Playhouse in New York and at the Actors
Studio in Los Angeles. Learn more about Scooter and the other
pets and people in this book.
See color photos, more stories,and upload your own at
HandicappedPets.com/MiracleDogswww.4LegsAndATail.com 9Spring
2015
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Meet Ruby, a four year old dachshund who loves to run and play
hard with her corgi and three dachshund housemates. Rubys parents
noticed that she was weak in her hind end when they went to bed one
evening. The following morn-ing (approximately 10 hours later) she
was able to bear weight on her hind limbs, but was unable to walk
on her own. Her parents had a previous dog that needed back
surgery, so they knew it was time to take her in to Burlington
Emergency & Veterinary Specialists (BEVS) for emergency care.
They also noticed that she was not able to urinate and her symptoms
were worsening quickly. After a thorough neurological exam, it was
noted that Ruby still had deep pain present (ability to feel and
withdraw from pain in her feet). She was diagnosed with IVDD
Intervertebral Disc Disease and referred to our surgeon, Dr. Helia
Zamprogno for a CT/Myelogram and surgery. The CT and Myelogram
identify the herniated disc, allowing the surgeon to decide on the
location that requires surgery and the correct side to approach
from. 85 95% of dogs that are taken to surgery with deep pain will
walk again with surgical correction. 50% of dogs that do not have
deep pain at the time of surgery will walk again with surgical
correction within 24 hours of loosing deep pain. The longer a dog
waits for surgery after losing deep pain the less likely they are
to walk again, even after surgical correction. Recovery from
surgery requires dedicated nursing care, physical rehab and time,
as it can take several weeks to regain the strength and
proprioception needed to walk again. At-home care involves a safe
well padded area to rest, bladder management (regularly expressing
the bladder when they are not able to urinate on their own) and
giving daily medications.
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) in Dogs
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a condition where the
cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spi-nal column either
bulge or burst (her-niate) into the spinal cord space. These discs
then press on the nerves running through the spinal cord causing
pain, nerve damage, and even paralysis. Breeds of dog that are
predisposed to IVDD include the Dachshund, Beagle, Basset Hound,
and Shih Tzu.
Symptoms and Types Made up of a gelatinous substance surrounded
by a thick outer layer, inter-vertebral discs are basically the
shock absorbers of the spine. There are two types of disc
herniation seen in dogs: Type I and Type II, of which Type II
gen-erally has less severe signs and symp-toms.
Symptoms of IVDD may include: Unwillingness to jump Pain and
weakness in rear legs (lameness) Crying out in pain Anxious
behavior Muscle spasms over back or neck Hunched back or neck with
tense muscles Reduced appetite and activity level Loss of bladder
and/or bowel control (urinary and fecal incontinence,
respectively)
Rubys StoryMichelle Carroll, CVT
Here Ruby is recuperating withher brother Max.
Spring 201510 4 Legs & a Tail
Michelle is a Surgery technician at Burlington Emergency &
Veterinary Specialists but because of her diverse background she
also jumps in and helps with Internal
Medicine and Emergency. When Michelle is not at BEVS she
volunteers as atherapy dog handler with Therapy Dogs of Vermont.
Michelle is the mother
of two Labrador retrievers, Harper and Ritter.
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Spring 2015
Toys Toys ToysDJ Nelson - St. Johnsbury, VT
Our pets always love getting new and exciting toys. Toys are
very important for any pet (Dogs, Cats, Birds, Small ani-mals).
Toys do so much more than offer something to play with. They
challenge pets mentally, help keep teeth and gums healthy, help
exercise, and create bonding time with their human pals. There are
so many toys/accessories to choose from. You go online to search
for the best possible toy/accessory for your pet. And you see it.
You have just read about someones heartache when their beloved pet
has to go into emergency sur-gery or possibly die from a bad
interac-tion with a toy. It causes you to tear up and then panic
sets in. It is heart breaking and scary especially, if this is a
new pet. Not only are you trying to cover up your tears before
someone sees you, you still have no clue what to get your own pet,
because so many things are bad for your pet. So what is bad and
what is good? Anything can be a potential hazard. I look at it this
way. Our children can choke on a grape, but that doesnt mean they
shouldnt eat them. We take precautions, we have the children eat
while sitting down, or maybe we cut them into smaller pieces. How
does this translate to toys for dogs, cats, small animals, and
birds? Here are some important safety tips that can save your pets
life! Anything can be a hazard under the right conditions! This
doesnt mean you have to stay away from all toys, chews, etc. As
long as you take steps like the ones below, you will decrease the
risk of inju-ry or death to your pet. Remember, toys/accessories
are very important for your pets mental health and development, and
they can be fun for you too. 1. If you dont know how your dog/cat
will react with a toy, let them play with it only when you can
watch. If you find they are destroying it you can remove it.2. Give
size appropriate toys. Toys that are too small can become a choking
hazard. When in doubt, get the next size up.3. They may love rope
toys, but it is in their best interest that you and your dog/cat
play with rope toys together only. If you prefer not using rope
toys, there are alter-native tug toys, such as the Kong Wubba.
4. Inspect dog/cat toys often... If they are starting to fall
apart, pick up the pieces and the toy, and discard. 5. Pick
appropriate toys for your dog or cat (think breed, size, behavior).
If your dog rips apart stuffed toys, then dont go for stuffed
toys... If your cat has a thing for eating ribbon, dont give him a
toy with ribbon.6. It is ok to make alterations on your dog/cats
new toy... Example if a cat likes to eat string, and you buy a toy
mouse with a string for a tail, it is okay to cut it off before you
give it to them. 7. Toss out toys that are breaking down,
old/frail, etc and replace with new.8. Inspect everything right
down to the cage for your small animals/birds. For small animal
houses I like the wooden houses by Super Pet/Kaytee they use safe
glue and wooden pegs instead of metal.However they still need to be
inspected. Sometimes pets will chew the wood making a spot that may
be sharp. When you see this cut off and sand the sharp edge, making
it safe for your pet. 9. Inspect bird toys. They will destroy them,
that is okay, but for example; if the rope becomes frayed you can
cut it off the toy, before the birds foot gets caught in it. 10.
Folks love to go out into the woods and collect branches/wood for
their birds/small animals, even reptiles. I recommend you purchase
these items,
www.4LegsAndATail.com 11
which have been cleaned or made pet-safe, from a pet store
instead. Things collected from outside can bring in bugs, etc.,
that can harm your pet. Again, these are just a few of many tips
regarding pet toys. Anytime you have questions or concerns contact
your vet or local pet store for help.
DJ Nelson has worked in the pet industry for almosttwo decades
and is the owner of AquaRealm Aquarium & Pets in St. Johnsbury,
Vermont.He works with Reptiles, Birds, Small
Animals,Fresh/Saltwater fish, and Dog & Cat Nutrition. Since
proper care is constantly changing, educating customers about their
pets is the most important.www.aquarealmaquarium.comand
Facebook
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A Stroll in the Mud After five decades of mud season there are
few things that can rattle my cage. The exceptions are: 2am phone
calls from my daughter, letters from the IRS marked URGENT and
coming home to find a police car parked in my driveway. The latter
was the case this last spring. Let me start with the fact that
Bailey, our eight year old German Shepherd, is a little sweetie.
She can bark like a Sheperd, but there is no bite to back it up. In
fact, shes such a baby, that most times shell camp by the door when
left alone and pine until we return. I say most times, because the
day the police came to visit was the day Bailey decided not to wait
for her masters. If you know Shepherds you know the intelli-gence
of the breed, they are certainly smart enough to open a French door
handle. Once this simple task was achieved, there was only one
logical way to celebrate her new found freedoma casual stroll
through the park and downtown Lebanon, NH. Naturally, the obvious
issues arose: a self walking dog without a leash, and the fact that
she is a large German Shepherd going solo. Although Bailey has not
shared the details of her adventure (and maybe its bet-ter off that
way), a story was shared with me by the local police officer who
followed her home that day. He received a call about a German
Shepherd wandering around the town. By the time he had caught up
with her, Bailey was covered in mud, tired, and ready to call it a
day. She walked the last hundred feet and into an open door-way.
The fast thinking cop was worried and couldnt be sure that this dog
hadnt just strayed into the first open door she came across.
Arriving back at our house from a morning of shopping was when my
heart skipped a beat. We found a Lebanon patrol car sitting in our
driveway! Fortunately, officer Kapuscinski shared this tale as we
went in to confront our wayward dog. She was lying sheepishly on
our white bedspread covered in mud. If we hadnt known the entire
story, Im sure we would have wondered until our final days, How did
that dog get so muddy IN the house?
Spring 201512 4 Legs & a Tail
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In most cases, however, the exact cause is not able to be
determined and our feline friends are managed medically. This
includes limiting their exposure to some of the more common and
easily avoided irritants (cigarette smoke, dusty cat litter,
perfumes, etc). It also includes placing your pet on medication to
manage their symptoms. Oral steroids are the most com-mon treatment
for feline asthma. Ideally owners will try to decrease this
medication to the lowest effective dose. Inhaled medi-cations such
as albuterol or steroids used with a specialized feline mask and
spacer are also very effective with fewer long-term side effects.
Antibiotics are also used in some cases if a bacterial infection is
suspected. Though most cats can be man-aged very well with just a
few medications it is important to pay close attention to the way
your pet is acting and feeling. If they suddenly begin having
trouble breathing or their medication seems to stop work-ing it is
imperative that you contact your veterinarian immediately. In some
cases your cat may require oxygen therapy and additional
medications to recover from a particularly serious episode.
Elisa Speckert a graduate of the University of Vermont with a
degree in Animal Science and is currently a veterinary technician
at River Road
Veterinary Clinic in Norwich, VT. She cur-rently lives in White
River Jct. with her son,
three dogs, cat and hedgehog. www.RiverRoadVeterinary.com.
What You Should Know About Feline
AsthmaElisa Speckert, Norwich, VT
Feline asthma or bronchitis is a relatively common condition in
cats. This condition occurs when your cat is exposed to a certain
irritating substance that causes an allergic response. This
response results in a narrowing of the air-ways and difficulty
breathing for your cat. Additionally, the bodys inflammatory
response allows for the buildup of mucous in the airways that can
cause additional problems. Adult cats between the ages of 2-8 are
most commonly diagnosed with asthma. Siamese cats and overweight
animals are also at an increased risk. Symptoms of feline asthma
can include coughing, dif-ficulty breathing, open-mouth breathing,
sneezing, vomiting, mucous discharge and wheezing. There are a
large variety of substanc-es that can trigger your cats allergic
response. These are often inhaled irritants
including cat litter dust, cigarette smoke, hairsprays or
perfumes, pollens or molds. Other less common causes of feline
asth-ma can include viruses, bacteria and heartworms or lungworms.
Diagnosing feline asthma usually requires complete blood work and a
radiograph (x-ray). The blood work is use-ful in determining
whether a bacterial infection is present in your cats respi-ratory
system as well as whether they are having an allergic response. A
radio-graph will allow the veterinarian to see if there have been
any chronic changes to the lungs which are common in feline asthma.
Additional testing including biopsy of the airway tissues with a
scope can be done in an attempt to identify exactly what is causing
the asthma.
Chronic lung changes in a cat with asthma.
Snoopy, the independent, self-reliant beagle of the Peanuts
cartoon, exudes an air of self-assurance. Surrounded by his
feathered friend, Woodstock, and a bunch of youthful servants led
by Charlie Brown, this dog has a doghouse of his own and knows that
every night his human caregiver will provide food and water. Leash
laws do not rule his realm, so Snoopy goes on various expe-ditions
with the bird but always man-ages to be home in time for
supper.
Buckles lives in the home of Paul and Jill, a couple who tries
valiantly to mold their pampered pet into a proper pooch. When he
tears the garbage, or ransacks the house, he is banished to the
garage, to no avail. When he loung-es on the new furniture his
inner self
Comical Canine CohortsPat Jauch - Caladonia Canine Rescue,
Inc
There is much to be learned from humor, which, at its best, is a
form of truth. Just turn to the comics page and you will find a
bevy of beasts, not the least of which are Buckles, Fred Basset,
Garfield and Odie, and Snoopy. The personification of these
creatures provides some insight into the reasons for their
behavior, giving the dogs (and cats) eye view of the world for
thehumble humans who share their lives and provide comfort. There
are lessons to be learned from their madcap activities
and the situations described can easily fit the funny story list
of any pet owner.
scolds the behavior, yet he continues, knowing that his owners
will not be pleased. The look of shame Buckles demonstrates when
his owners return usually serves to dismiss punishment. He has a
conscience (doesnt every dog?) but it never prevents his
misbe-havior.
Odie and Garfield are quite a pair. Garfield, the smug fat cat
who rules the roost, survives on lasagna and any other human treat
in sight. Jon, his owner, caters to his every whim. When the
overzealous Odie bounces into the frame, Garfield watches with
scorn, never missing an opportunity to swat the unsuspecting
canine, and then appear as the innocent when Jon attempts to
discipline him.
Fred Bassett is the model of the mature dog. Obediently bringing
his masters slippers, fetching the paper, and knowing his place in
the scheme of things, his sole desire is to become a lap dog.
Occasionally, he succeeds. His preoccupation with relocating buried
bones and the forgetfulness that enters the process brings to mind
human traits that affect all of us.
Each of these pets from the com-ics has a story to tell.
Apparently they have been spayed or neutered, since no unwanted
litters have arrived over the course of their years in print. Each
has a loving family, adequate shelter, food and water, and the
inevitable trip to the vet. What more could any animal require?
Their owners care!
www.4LegsAndATail.com 13Spring 2015
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Spring 201514 4 Legs & a Tail
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www.4LegsAndATail.com 15Spring 2015
STELLINEJim Mayor - S. Albany, VT
In the Spring of 2012, while visiting our veterinarian at East
Haven (VT) Veterinary Service with our ailing collie-shepherd mix,
Ranger, Dr. Sally asked if we might be interested in another
rescue. Not exactly waiting for my, Im sorry I think we have
enough, she brought out the most adorable, long-haired, miniature
dachs-hund. Puppy she wasnt, however, as Dr. Sally estimated her
age around fifteen. Maybe I have gullible written all over me. In
any case, we made room for the little one for the long drive home.
She rode home quietly in the passenger seat as if she belonged
there. She was most literally a rescue. She had been abandoned in
the house of per-sons, who had moved several days before the
neighbors heard her distress cries. One can only wonder why we
still use the blanket term humans to apply to all people. My two
adult kids were surprised, and needless to say, delighted with the
new addition. After a short discussion we settled on the perfect
name for her, Stelline, loosely being the Italian word for little
star. Little, because the pasta is very small stars. Stelline,
indeed fit right in, because she came with her own share of
problems. Dr. Sally had pulled almost all of her teeth, leaving her
with only a couple in her upper jaw in the front, and those were
loose. Soft foods were in order, but Stelline used her abnormally
long tongue to dispose, with aplomb, a dish of her food. It does
take her a while to eat, but most of the time our other companions
respect her food.
Although Dr. Sally had given her a good going over, it wasnt too
long before we noticed she had eye problems. On the return trip to
our vet she decided we should seek expert help, and off we went to
the eye care clinic at Peak Veterinary Referral Center in
Williston, Vermont. She eventually lost sight in first one eye, and
then the other. Dr. Hoy at Peak was reluctant to remove either eye,
due to the Stellines poor risk for surgery. Although Stelline
spends most of her days asleep in front of the heat register,
snuggled into one of three soft beds scattered around the room,
parts of each day are spent wandering around the living room,
occasionally bumping into furniture and, rarely, other animals. But
she has a good memory. Among her favorite things are interludes on
someones lap, a nice belly rub, which will usually elicit a
roll-over, and tofu as a treat. Although she isnt allowed outdoors,
she has quite a nice batting average with the various puppy pads
spread about the house. In general, the other companion animals are
not bothered by her, even with an unexpected encounter, but none
have seen fit to act as a guide companion yet. Although our small
Christmas tree will be just one more complication in Stellines
life, she will soon remember its location, and the cat or two
amongst its branches. As we gaze out on the snow-covered trees and
down on our little star snug-gled near the warm air duct, we admire
Stellines ability to let no obstacle bother her. I can only hope I
will wander through my old age with as much poise and sweetness as
she.
Jim Mayor is a retired engineer. He has lived with his family
inSouth Albany, VT for the past 20 years.
There are many advantages of adopting an older dog
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Continued NEXT PAGE
When Molly Met Sally
Erin Regan - Bethel, VT
Only once in a lifetime do you meet that one dog that truly
connects with you. For Sally Boyle, that dog was Molly. Sally found
Molly in a small pet store, and it was love at first sight. Little
did they know, that with as much love as they were going to share,
they were going to have some very tough times ahead. Before Sally
and Molly came to Country Animal Hospital, Molly devel-oped an
infection in her uterus called pyometra and she had to have
emer-gency surgery. Sally had a bad accident, where she had a
compound fracture of her right leg, and strangely enough, Molly
broke the same leg the next year. Their breaks were pretty much
identical, and they both had to have metal implants and bone
grafts. When Sally and Molly decided to visit Dr. Martin at Country
Animal Hospital, Molly had already had some bad experi-ences at
hospitals, and wanted nothing to do with medical care. Dr. Martin
initially saw Molly for a scratch on her eye, but she suspected
that something else was going on because Molly was overweight, was
always extremely hungry, and had lost most of her hair on her chest
and belly. Dr. Martin and Sally decided to test to make sure her
thyroid was working prop-erly because that can cause weight gain
and hair loss in dogs. They got the results back, and all of her
blood work was per-fectly normal. With those results and other
clini-cal signs, Dr. Martin started to suspect Cushings disease.
Cushings disease, unfortunately, can be expensive to test for and
requires a complicated treat-ment. Dr. Martin decided to have Sally
try and change her diet to see if that would help, before they
pursued further tests. After a few months, Sally noticed that Molly
started to drink a large amount of water, much more than normal,
and she wasnt acting herself. She came right in for an appointment
and strangely, Molly wasnt acting her normal grouchy self. We knew
something wasnt right. Dr. Martin recommended repeating the blood
tests, and found out that Molly had diabetes. Sally was given
detailed information on the requirements for
managing a diabetic dog, and willingly proceeded with the
treatment. They struggled for months trying to regulate Mollys
blood sugar, but were unable to succeed. Dr. Martin advised Sally
that she should really make sure that she doesnt have Cushings
disease, as that can make regulating diabetes even harder. Sally
was convinced it was time to test for Cushings disease, a condition
that can take at least two diagnostic tests to confirm, and can be
quite costly. Molly was unfortunately diagnosed with Cushings
disease on top of diabe-tes. Sally was crushed and heartbroken, she
loved Molly so much and this blow was very hard, but she would
never ever think of giving up on her. She decided to try and treat
her Cushings disease, which added additional medications,
monitoring and costs on top of what is required for diabetes. Dr.
Martin made every effort to keep the balancing of treating two
hormonal diseases as easy and affordable as pos-sible. Sally was
very appreciative of her efforts. In the months to follow, Molly
never acted like she didnt feel well, she would still run around
and hunt for mice and snakes and paw her way in to cuddle next to
Sally when she had worn herself out. During the same time Molly was
diagnosed with diabetes and Cushings disease, Sally was diagnosed
with a very overactive thyroid gland, called hyper-thyroid. It is a
condition similar to Mollys, both involving the endocrine system.
Molly had been doing well with her twice daily insulin injections
and injec-tions at the hospital for Cushings dis-
Molly celebrating the holidays.
Spring 201516 4 Legs & a Tail
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There are two types of Cushings dis-ease that are treated
differently. The most common form of Cushings dis-ease is caused by
the overproduction of a hormone by the pituitary gland in the brain
that in turn controls the amount of cortisol produced by the
adrenal glands. This is called pitu-itary-dependent Cushings.
A small percentage of dogs with Cushings disease have a tumor of
one of the adrenal glands which is called adrenal-dependent
Cushings.
Cushing's Disease
ease, but one day Sally noticed that she started to have trouble
going down the stairs. She had just turned 12 years old and had
lost a tooth right in the middle of her front bottom teeth. Sally
also started noticing that her eyes were turn-ing white, and she
knew that they were cataracts. She developed them very fast in
about a period of 2 weeks. They can be an unfortunate side effect
of diabetes. With almost a year of insulin injections, medications
for Cushings, and frequent trips to the vet, Molly was starting to
wear down.
Molly didnt start her care at Country Animal Hospital, but she
was treated there at a time in her life that mattered most. Sally
has been telling people that Dr. Martin was a miracle worker, but
Dr. Martin will always say that Sally was the real miracle worker,
because she did everything that was medically pos-sible for Molly.
Both Dr. Martin and Sally never gave up on Molly, no matter the
cost. Molly isnt with us anymore, but Sally feels that she received
the best care and attention that she could ever have hoped for from
a veterinarian. Sally has since acquired another dog who has a very
spe-cial story too. Marley is her new dog, she is the spitting
image of Molly and she was born on Sallys birthday. She is also
miss-ing her middle front tooth, the same one that Molly lost, it
never grew in. A techni-cian once told Sally that Marley has some
really big shoes to fill, and she sure does.
Erin Regan is a Veterinary Technician who graduated Magna Cum
Laude
from Vermont Technical College. She has been working at Country
Animal Hospital for 3 years, and has acquired a lamb and kitten who
both needed bottle feeding. She is also a United States Army
Veteran who served 8 years on active duty work-ing in intelligence,
and completed one
combat tour in Iraq.
www.4LegsAndATail.com 17Spring 2015
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Warmer weather and springtime are around the cor-ner and that
means its time to remind ourselves about Rabies. Rabies is a
neurologic disease in mammals. If left untreated rabies infections
are fatal due to ultimate failure of the central nervous system
(brain and spinal cord). Rabies is typically transmitted through
bite wounds from at least one infected ani-mal. (The virus is
present in the saliva as part of its life cycle). The virus then
travels from the bite wound site along peripher-al nerve fibers to
the CNS, where it continues to advance toward the brain.
Signs: Early signs may be subtle and include lethargy and
anorex-ia. As the virus progresses, patients begin to display signs
more consistent with neurologic disease that include: ataxia,
decreased mentation (dazed appearance, doesnt respond when called),
hypersalivation (drooling). Also, it should be noted that an
animals loss of fear of humans is cause for con-cern. All of us
have likely heard of cases of wildlife (mammals in this case)
behaving strangely. For example, I heard a story of a bobcat in a
western state that wandered into a restaurant and attacked several
patrons. This animal was later caught and test-ed positive for
rabies. Regarding public health, this is where the two worlds of
people and wildlife intersect, highlighting the importance of
proper vaccinations for our pets and taking care when encountering
wildlife. Rabies can effect any mammal, however, the most
frequent
species encountered in New England are: skunks, bats, foxes,
raccoons and woodchucks. In an effort to help control rabies, the
state of Vermont conducts rabies bait drops. Bait that has been
specially treated and approved for use in wildlife is used to
vaccinate the animals in a given area when they ingest the bait.
The primary species of interest is the raccoon as they seem to
thrive in urban environments. If you or your pet(s) encounter one
of these baits, it should be left alone. If you have further
concerns you can contact the Vermont state depart-ment of health or
your veterinarian. Thankfully, due to diligent pet owners and
regular vaccina-tion of the local pet population, I have not
personally seen any rabies cases in VT. That includes dealing with
the occasional suspected wildlife case. However, it is a disease
that is endemic in our area and something of which, as New
Englanders, we all need to be aware and respectful. The take home
message, with respect to avoidance, this spring is to leave
wildlife undisturbed as much as possible. If you encounter an
animal that is behaving strangely contact your local wildlife or
police representative. If you or one of your pets has contact with
a suspected rabies infected animal, that pet should be seen be a
veterinarian as soon as possible. Your vet can talk with you about
the appropriate course of action in each individual case.
Dr. Bisson owns and operates the Shelburne Veterinary Hospital
in Shelburne, Vermont; caring for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and
small exotic pets (rodents, ferrets and bunnies). Dr. Bisson
and
his wife share their home with 4 dogs and 1 cat.
RabiesLiam Bisson, DVM - Shelburne, VT
Continued NEXT PAGE
The Joys and Benefits of "Backyard LivingIra Richards
From the past to the future, the practice of Backyard Living is
alive and well. In addition to raising fruits and veg-etables for
personal use, there has been a strong resurgence of backyard animal
husbandry in recent years, particularly as consumer awareness
grows, and folks become more concerned about what they are putting
on the family table. It should come as no surprise, that in order
to avoid the potential for foods to contain harmful chemicals and
other unwanted substances, one must know exactly where that food
came from and how it
was produced. Relatively new concepts such as urban agricul-ture
and vertical farming are now going beyond a few plant-ers of
peppers and tomatoes or fresh herbs on the windowsill; backyard
enthusiasts are dabbling in everything from raising livestock to
beekeeping, and everything in between. Although very few people
would consider our region of New Hampshire and Vermont to be an
urban area, when it comes to growing and raising our own food, this
is a very good thing. Our landscape allows us to spread out a bit
further and
worry less about maximizing every square inch of space as we
grow our gar-dens and raise our animals. At the local feed and
supply store, we see an incred-ibly wide range of Backyard Living
enthusiasts, from the basil-on-the-win-dowsill growers to full-time
commer-cial farmers. We know that our area is brimming with people
who share the common interest of raising and grow-ing their own
food for an equally-wide variety of reasons, including
self-suste-nance, health, education, nostalgia, and for the simple
joy it brings to the entire family.
Spring 201518 4 Legs & a Tail
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www.4LegsAndATail.com 19Spring 2015
Getting Started with Your OwnBackyard Living
Your community feed store, has long been a place that the locals
visit not just for feed and supplies, but to share information and
catch up with their neighbors. Its one of the reasons they strive
to keep the staff well-trained and up-to-date on the latest news
and information regarding the products they carry, animal health
and nutrition, the agriculture industry at large, and so much more.
They have embraced the community roll of an informational resource,
sharing from their own knowledge and years of experience, as well
as from a vast network of industry experts, so that the customers
they serve can learn new skills and stay informed. We encourage
readers to look for the various training and seminar opportunities
offered on a variety of topics throughout the season. Gardening is
certainly a great way to introduce homegrown food products into
your familys lifestyle. One of the most attractive benefits of
starting with growing fruits and vegetables from seed is that
gardening is very versatile and scalable, which means that almost
anyone can grow and enjoy their own crop in some form or another.
Many customers start out with a few pots of peppers or tomatoes, or
they might build a raised bed or two in order to maximize space and
grow a select assortment of fresh produce. This can lead to
expansion quickly, and once those dabblers get a handle on how to
successfully care for their crop, they often devote larger areas to
their gardens and experiment with a wider variety of delicious
fruits and vegetables. To begin with animal husbandry, a large
majority of people start by raising chickens, most often for the
eggs they produce. Raising poultry is a relatively easy activity
that requires very little in the way of expense or expertise in
order to get started. Not only is the experience of raising and
keeping backyard birds reward-ing and fun for the entire family,
but few will argue against the noticeable taste difference between
a farm-fresh and a store-bought egg; theres simply no com-parison.
Once the appropriate level of knowledge is achieved, simply call or
stop by your local store to place your spring poultry.
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Anyone who lives in rural New England and has a bird feeder in
their backyard, has probably witnessed a bear raiding their feeder
from time to time. Living in Ridge, New Hampshire, with 18 acres of
woods, a pond, apple trees, wild berries and bird feeders, I have
been blessed with numerous animal sightings. Id like to share with
you one sighting in particular, of a bear- I named him Tough Guy.
Tough Guy weighs in at about 300 pounds of stubborn determination.
Hes healthy and strong, curious and cau-tious. His walk is a
confident swagger. I can single Tough Guy out from other bears by
the large, white patch on his chest. His singular motivation for
all he does is survival. In order to keep my feeder out of the
reach of bears and squirrels, I have learned to toss a plastic
coated wire cord, with a weight on one end way up high over the
thin branch of a tall thin tree. I then fix the bird feeder to that
end and wrap the other end around the tree trunk; a pulley of
sorts. With this feeder in place, up high enough so the bear cant
stand up and pull it down, I really thought I had it made. I mean,
what bear is going to climb a tall, thin, tree and go out on a thin
branch to get the feeder? Tough Guy, thats who! Last May, about
dusk, I spotted Tough Guy circling that tree, eyeing my bird
feeder. After sniffing the air with his nose straight up, he
climbed that tree in a matter of seconds! Then he perched himself
close to the trunk of the tree, on the branch with the bird feeder
hanging from it. First, he tried to reach out and grab the cord,
but it was too far out, so he began to shake the branch-- trying to
shake the feeder loose, a trick that had worked for him in the
past. When that didnt work, he started to bend a smaller branch
near the one with the feeder on it. He continued to pull the small
branch up and down, over and over, until he could use it to whack
at the feeder!
I couldnt believe my eyes, Tough Guy had just made him-self a
tool! He whacked that feeder with the small branch 6 or 7 times,
all the while precariously perched on the small limb, and becoming
more and more agitated. Next, Tough Guy decid-ed to hold on with
all fours and use his mouth to manipulate the thinner branch and
hit the feeder, which didnt work at all. Now, his impatience was
getting the best of him, and he started making all kinds of noises
- little grunts, snapping sounds and huffing; generally, just
complaining. Finally, Tough Guy slid down the tree and wandered
back into the woods. I was elated! Id not only just watched a bear
make and use a tool, but my feeder was still there. I won! After
two years of Tough Guy outsmarting every attempt Id made to keep my
feeders from him, I had finally won! Now I could take my cof-fee
outside in the morning and watch the chickadees, and car-dinals,
and all would be well. I was wrong! I had forgotten that bears,
foxes and other critters often make a second pass through their
routes in the night. This is exactly what Tough Guy did! Less than
an hour later, he was back, nose straight up in the air again ready
for one more try. Up the tree he started, when he felt the cord
wrapped around the trunk. Back down the tree with a little thump,
Tough Guy simply unwrapped the cord, and down came the feeder,
nearly hitting him on his big stubborn head! Wait a minute, he won?
In spite of my ingenious pulley, he won? I was beside myself, I
didnt know exactly how to feel about Tough Guys victory. Id seen a
lot of bear behavior in this yard over the years. Everything from
courtship in early June to cubs wrestling in midsummer, to all out
nonstop feed-er raiding in the fall. But never had I seen a bear
make a tool to get what he wanted. Maybe, on second thought, Tough
Guy wasnt the only winner. How often do we get to witness something
like this, and how blessed am I to watch these animals in nature,
in real time, doing what they need to do for their survival? Yeah,
I guess we both won, and I cant wait to see whats in store for us
next year. See you in the Spring, Tough Guy.
THE BEAR AND THE BRANCH!Jackie Finethy - Rindge, NH
Bears are bowlegged to give them better grip
and balance.
Williamstowns Earl Everhart and his best friend Spencer marched
in the Northfield Labor Day Parade. They were promoting the
Northfield
Rotary Clubs Motorcycle Raffle.
And Your Little Dog Too
Spring 201520 4 Legs & a Tail
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We all have special bonds with 4 legged friends, cats and dogs
enrich our home lives. The bond that devel-ops between a horse and
a human has a slightly different mystique to it. The horse is a
different type of being, that intellec-tual and emotional level of
connection is different than what we have with our house pets.
Horses are more self directed beings in thought and action (yes,
they do depend on us for feed and care). When a horse chooses to
interact with us, it is an honor and a privilege to be accepted
into their social circle. They demand honesty and respect in their
social lives and when we give that to them, they reward us with
their acceptance of us. This is why Equine Guided Education and
Learning is so pow-erful in teaching us about ourselves, how our
actions and reactions impact those around us. Spending time with
our smaller house pets may help us redirect our thoughts from
ourselves onto them. Interacting with a horse DEMANDS we focus our
attention on them, they expect it and let us know immediately if we
are not with them mentally, even if we think we are. They will
wander away, they will not pay attention to our cues, they let us
know. We just need to learn to read their communi-cation. A culture
has developed, over the past few decades, of blaming others for our
challenges and problems in life, expect-ing others to fix it for
us. Horses make it abundantly clear we need to own up to our
responsibility in how we respond to what life and each day throw at
us. We might not be able to control what we have to deal with, but
we CAN control HOW we deal with it. There is no baggage, emotional
clutter, or deceit in a horse. They are hon-est. This is what makes
interacting with them so special. There are no hidden messages or
manipulative behaviors. Reading the non-verbal communication of
body language can help us separate out the real from the hidden
messages, in try-ing human relationships. The conflict in
these messages, makes trusting what oth-ers say, so hard to do.
Allowing a person onto their back is a huge sign of trust,
neurologically, something on their back is a threat to sur-vival; a
mountain lion attacking them in the wild. Overcoming that automatic
response shows a high level of trust in us. When we are on their
backs, riding is more like a dance with a partner, the more you
practice together the better you get at responding to your partners
motions. Keeping your focus on your horse shows here, if you are
not focused on them, they will tune you out and take over leader.
If you arent holding up your end of the deal, they will follow
their own agenda until you get back in sync. The rider finds out it
is not about making the horse do what you want him to do, it is
communi-cating clearly what you NEED him to do, and HOW he needs to
do it. If he doesnt do what you have asked, you have not asked
correctly or clearly, in a way he understands. Accept your
responsibility, learn what the horse is communicating to you, this
is why a good instructor is so important; they give you feedback
on
what they see hap-pening. Learning to communicate physically
with a horse is like learn-ing a language, it takes lots of
prac-tice. Riding is like making your way through France without
knowing the language, to start. After living there and using the
language, it
FOUR HOOVES AND A TAIL BRING SPECIAL HEALING TO THOSE WITH
UNIQUE NEEDSDianne Lashoones - Marshfield, VT
becomes second nature. While there are technical skills to
learn, it is not like learn-ing to play tennis or drive a race car,
it is much more than heels down and eyes up. The physical bond The
physical motion of the horse impacts our neurological and
musculo-skeletal systems. It is not a passive experi-ence. Riders
note improved posture, core strength and flexibility. For those
riders with special needs, dealing with issues processing sensory
input into their bodies (sound, smell, touch, sight, movement), or
having problems with coordination of their movement, riding has a
strong neurological impact in helping the brain organize and
coordinate these vital func-tions, making their mobility more
effi-cient. Its amazing how intuitive horses are, they can sense
what their riders abili-ties and challenges are, they shine in the
multitude of therapy settings, and offer their talents to us to
help in healing both physically and psychologically. Working with
horses can help in a number of ways, from the pre-teen with low
self esteem, to at-risk older teens that can benefit from structure
and self responsibility, to those with physical and learning
disabilities, horses add an amaz-ing benefit to treatment options
without feeling like you are participating in a therapy session.
Truly a mechanism to develop practical life skills. Visit their
program at 386 US Route 2 or their website at
www.rhythmoftherein.org
Dianne Lashoones, program manager for Rhythm of the Rein, has
been a physi-cal therapist for 39 years, PATH Intl. certi-
fied riding instructor for 8 years, AHA (American Hippotherapy
Assoc) level I certified therapist. Owner/manager of Water Tower
Farm in Marshfield, VT, host site of Rhythm of the Rein
Therapeutic
Riding and Driving Program a non-profit serving Central Vermont
and the NEK for 8 years. Instructors Libby Hale, (a regis-
tered therapist with PATH and AHA Level II therapist), and Beth
Belote,
driving instructor, help deliver quality equine assisted
activities and therapies
year round.
www.4LegsAndATail.com 21Spring 2015
Rhythm Of The Rein
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Eventing,Six Tough Goalsfor Brave Kids!
Denny Emerson - Strafford, VT
I knew that I was giving two talks at the USEA Eventing Hall of
Fame din-ner-the one the recipients give, and the talk about
Kilkenny, that Jim Wofford asked me to do. As I researched
Kilkennys extraor-dinary record, it made me more aware what had
been lost with the demise of the classic three-day event. I decided
I should slant my remarks toward you kids who are just coming up
the ladder of event-ing. Those who may feel shortchanged by what
has happened to a sport which used to test speed and endurance, in
addition to the various technical skills, but which no longer does
so. Forty-some years ago Jim and I were in our early 20s, we were
facing an 18 to 19 mile long second day, with a 5:30 steeplechase,
and roads and track at 240
Continued NEXT PAGE
meters a minute. We had to work back-wards in our horse
selections, our horse had to possess enormous stamina, endur-ance,
soundness, speed, and generosity of spirit. Those were musts. Then
we added in as much dressage and show jumping ability as we could
afford. That sport, like the cavalry tradition that inspired its
creation, has vanished. It may never exist again except in memo-ry.
Lots of todays riders dont miss it, and many seem actually relieved
that roads and tracks and steeplechase are gone. Dachshund
Eventing, I call this new ver-sion. Short, slow, and German! If you
are a young rider who loves a chal-lenge and want to measure
yourself against a historic standard of toughness, you can still do
it. You will just have to find some of those challenges outside of
eventing.
So, here are six challenges or goals, whatever you wish to call
them. I man-aged to achieve five of them, but failed miserably with
my first one. My very first goal, at age 10 or 11, was to chase a
chicken on a bareback pony, lean down, catch it, and come back up
onto the pony. It sounds pointless, I read that American Indian
kids had to learn how to do it, so that some day they could rescue
fallen comrades from the battle-field. If you try this, and get
hurt, which you probably will, I warned you. When you get down low
enough to reach the chick-en, assuming you can even get near the
blasted little thing, gravity takes over. You will fall under the
pony and get kicked all over your body by all four of his feet. I
only tried this a half a dozen times and got hurt every time, so I
chickened out of my first major riding goal. Goal number two: Ride
in timber or steeplechase races. Lots of event rid-ers used to do
this, but not many do these days. A good Thoroughbred can gallop
about 1,100 meters a minute, and point to points are run somewhere
around 800-850 meters per minute. Want to see if you have what it
takes? Dont wait until youre in your 30s for this one; its too
scary and too dangerous. Do it while you are still young and
immortal. Goal number three: Jump six feet. I picked that magic
number because it was a nice round number, and five feet was too
easy, seven feet was too hard. Once youve jumped six feet, 43 will
never look so big again. Goal number four: Go clean in a CCI14*
event. You are event riders, so you know what that goal entails.
Goal number five: Horses dont mag-ically appear from under cabbage
leaves, you should learn all the steps along the way. Choose a mare
and choose a stallion, and breed a foal. Bring that foal through
all the stages until you are riding your home grown horse in
advanced three-day events. In many ways this is the hardest of the
goals, it takes nine to ten years to achieve, and so much can go
wrong along the way. Goal number six: If endurance is gone from
eventing, go find the challenge elsewhere. The Tevis Cup 100-mile
one-day race in California up and over Squaw
Spring 201522 4 Legs & a Tail
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A Feline Friend(18 Wheels Later)
If you listen closely, the sound of the road can tell you where
you are. For example, the low pitch roar of interstate blacktop
says New England. The distinctive whining of concrete is the
stretch of I-95 south of the Mason-Dixon Line, while the Cross
Bronx Expressway in New York produces a slow tribal drum sound,
thanks to constant gridlock and neglected potholes. As a truck
driver of almost twenty years for a moving company, Ive heard these
and most of the roads and highways from coast-to-coast and until
recently, made the runs solo. Several of my buddies will travel
with their spouse or dog. Since I have nei-ther, mine was a life of
peaceful solitude with only a responsibility to myself. It was June
when I pulled up to a home just outside of Lebanon, NH. A young
cou-ple was relocating to North Carolina in pursuit of a milder
winter and new opportu-nities. My job was fairly simple. I was to
move the larger items such as furniture and appliances, and they
would be following a few days later with a pickup of personal
items. The truck loaded quickly and I was on the road in no time.
Just outside of Trenton, my dispatcher called with a strange
request. It seemed the young couples cat had turned up missing,
with a search in the obvious places, coming up empty. They asked if
I could check the truck to see if I had a stowaway. On the next
stop I shut down my rig and listened intently for any sound in the
box. Even when I opened the side doors there was still no sign of
the cat, but just as I was about to hop into the cab, I heard the
faint meow of my new passenger. As I relayed the good news to the
relieved couple, the plan was to proceed to North Carolina, unload
furniture and cat, get food, water and litter and back on the road.
Then a funny thing happened. I didnt know the cats name, so I
called him Buddy. Whenever the radio would call out breaker-breaker
good buddy, Id smile at the cat and say, Theyre talking to you. To
be honest it was actually nice to have some com-pany for a change,
and I found the independent nature of a cat was not all that
differ-ent from my own. My sad farewell to Buddy was tempered a few
weeks later when it turned out Buddy was actually Miss Phoebe, with
a litter due at the end of the month. I called down to North
Carolina a short time later with the offer to take one of the
kittens. Several months later, I pulled out of Durham with 18
wheels and my new four-legged Buddy.
www.4LegsAndATail.com 23Spring 2015
Peak, is the oldest and toughest endur-ance race in the world.
Win a Tevis Cup buckle by completing the race within 24 hours.
There are six good, solid challeng-es. Achieve all of them, and you
are a pretty darn good rider. Youll also be a good horseman, the
goals are so varied that you will have to learn hundreds of
different pieces of the horsemanship equation. Unless you really
expect to rescue a wounded buddy from the battlefield, you can
probably skip goal number one. But, if you do figure out how to
catch the chicken, let me know so I can come watch. Achieving goals
is probably less important than setting them in the first place,
and then being brave enough to get up every day to go try. If you
dont like my six goals, set your own. The only person they must
have meaning for is you.
One of the 50 most influential horse-men of the Twentieth
Century (The
Chronicle of the Horse, 2000), Denny Emerson is the only rider
to have ever won both a gold medal in eventing and a Tevis buckle
in endurance. In 2006, Denny was inducted into the United States
Eventing Association
(USEA) Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Dartmouth
College
Athletic Hall of Fame and of the Vermont Academy Athletic Hall
of
Fame. www.TamarackHill.com
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24 4 Legs & a Tail Spring 2015
Is it a spot or a stain? Spots can be removed but stains are
usually perma-nent. Living with a pet often goes hand-in-hand with
occasional household spots/stains. New, young, or untrained pets
might need time to learn where and when its appropriate to do their
busi-ness. Nervous, ill pets or pets under stress might forget old
lessons and make a mis-take now and then. Its all part of being a
pet guardian, and we know its worth it for the loving companionship
our pets offer. If you notice changes in your pets bathroom
behavior that isnt eas-ily explained, visit your veterinarian to
make sure no underlying health problem is involved. With the help
of your vet, good clean-ups and good training, you should be able
to solve any problems and enjoy a happy, companionable, clean and
healthy life with your pet. But what should you do when the
occasional pet issue soils your carpet or upholstery? Pet stains
are notoriously difficult to clean, because of the combina-tion of
stubborn discoloration and odor.
Pet Accidents on YourCarpet or Upholstery: Now What?
Its important to eliminate issues com-pletely and as soon as
possible, to prevent pets from getting in the habit of using the
same place due to their natural marking behavior. Pet issues can be
such a challenge, whatever your pet eats or drinks and even
medications they may be on, can all affect your ability to remove
the soiling. Also, knowing what type of carpet you have and the
fabric of your upholstery will assist in your ability to deal with
problems. Wool carpets or area rugs are more of a chal-lenge than
the more standard synthetic carpet most homes have, due to the
nature of the fibers, and special care should be taken on many
types of upholstery fabric.
Here are some basic steps to remove new soiling that is still
wet:
Soak up urine with a thick layer of paper towels or white cloth
towels. Removing as much of the liquid as pos-sible before it dries
will make it easier to also remove the odor. If possible, place
white cloths under the soiled area, as well. For rugs, stand on
this padding for about a minute, remove it, and repeat the process
until the area is almost dry. For upholstery, blot as carefully and
thor-oughly as possible. Carefully Rinse the accident zone with
clean, cool water, being care-ful not to over-wet upholstery and
then remove the water as soon as possible through blotting or with
a wet vac. Use a cleaning product that is approved for your type of
carpet fiber or upholstery fabric. The Humane Society of the United
States suggests putting the urine-soaked paper towels in the area
where you want your pet to do its business, such as your cats
litter box or your dogs outdoor bath-room area, to teach your pet
that elimi-nating is perfectly OK in the right place.
For stains that have alreadydried and set into the carpet or
upholstery: Use a high-quality pet odor neu-tralizer (such as
Natures Miracle) after the area is really clean. These products are
available at most pet supply stores. Follow the cleaners directions
carefully, and as always, test the cleaner first on a small, hidden
portion of carpet or uphol-stery to be sure it doesnt stain. Also,
remember that neutralizers wont work
Continued NEXT PAGE
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www.4LegsAndATail.com 25Spring 2015
until youve rinsed every trace of old cleaners from the carpet.
Any trace of a non-protein-based substance weakens the effect of
the enzymatic cleaner, which will use up its energy on the old
cleaners instead of on the protein stains. Also be aware that the
product has to contact the ENTIRE area affected and often the spot
you see on the surface can be as much as a third smaller than the
area that needs to be treated. Hot water will also kill the enzyme
which will need to stay damp for an extended time to work (up to 24
hours). Try any good carpet/upholstery stain remover that is
approved for the fiber of your carpet/upholstery if the area still
appears to be stained. Always test first, and best to avoid oxy
products! Avoid using household cleaners that are not meant for
carpet/upholstery,