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An Animal House Regular |
114 S Sporting Hill Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
AnimalHouseCo.com
SERVING DOGS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 10 YEARS
JUNE NEWS
 SKUNKED !! by Sharon Eckenrode, President, Animal House & Company, Inc. There are few things more heart stopping than the realization that a skunk and your dog have just had an intimate conversation. Don't panic - call us at the Animal House. We consider neutralizing a 'skunked' dog a priority because the smell can permeate every part of your home and environment. Call us as close to the time of the actual event as 'open hours' permit ... TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! The sooner a neutralizing shampoo is applied, the better the chances of removing the odor. If you prefer to bath (or neutralize) the pet yourself, we'll share our expertise with you. An 'official' skunk deodorizing shampoo can be purchased at your local pet store ... or do what we do. The following recipe can be made from ordinary household items and in our experience, works better than any commercial product.
After mixing the ingredients, wet your pet down and work the mixture through the pet's coat, being careful to avoid the face area. Let stand 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly. Repeat, if necessary. For the face, we spray the area with a 100% natural deodorizing solution. CAUTION: Throw any excess mixture away; if capped for any period of time, the mixture will explode. As stated earlier, the sooner the dog is bathed in a neutralizing solution after being 'skunked', the better chance of totally erasing the odor. In some cases, for about 6 months after being 'skunked', a slight odor can be detected if the dog becomes wet. top  CANINE COUGH (aka: KENNEL COUGH)Infectious Upper Respiratory Disease in Dogs This article taken in it's entirety from Pet Services Journal (A bi-monthly magazine published by the American Boarding Kennel Association (ABKA) for members only.) Canine infectious tracheobronchitis (canine cough) is a highly infectious upper respiratory disease that is easily passed from dog to dog, much like a cold is passed between children. Canine cough can be caused by a number of different bacteria such as Bordetella bronchiseptica, and viruses such as canine parainfluenza. The disease-causing agents are air-borne, spread by exhalation, sneezing, or coughing. In the initial phase, a dog will show no signs at all, but will be contagious. This incubation period lasts 5-7 days before he shows symptoms of infection. Symptoms include a dry hacking cough and possibly nasal discharge or sneezing. The cough may last a few days or even several weeks. Since it is a viral infection, there is no treatment, although some veterinarians will prescribe an antibiotic for secondary infections or a cough suppressant for excessive coughing. As a self-limiting disease, it will go away in its own time, just like any other cold or flu. Tracheobronchitis tends to be epidemic, that is to say it can infect an area rapidly - and it is seasonal. When an outbreak occurs, generally many dogs in the neighborhood are infected. As the disease limits itself, another outbreak may not occur for months or years. The disease is frequently referred to as 'Kennel Cough'. However, a dog can be exposed at the park, grooming shop, walking on the street, or in a veterinary office ... any place where dogs congregate or pass through, and therefore, the more appropriate term is 'Canine Cough'. Your dog's yearly distemper/parvo vaccine provides protection against some forms of coughing, and most kennels will also require a Bordetella vaccine. This is usually given intranasal (inhaled through the nose) rather than as an injection, and provides more protection against other viruses that cause coughing. However, there is no vaccine that protects against all forms of pathogens causing Tracheobronchitis, so the possibility exists that even a vaccinated dog can come down with canine cough. For more info, visit the following website: top  RECIPE OF THE MONTH - DOG BISCUITS Taken from RecipeSource.com.
Beat egg with 1 Tb milk. Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Add to chicken stock. Combine all dry ingredients. Add chicken stock mixture. Knead on a floured surface for about 3 minutes, working into a stiff dough. Roll out to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Cut into bars or with a cookie cutter. Brush with egg/milk wash and place on cookie sheets. Bake in 300 degree oven for about 45 minutes. Turn off heat and leave biscuits in oven overnight. Makes 4 to 5 dozen bars. top  WHY GROOM YOUR PETArticle by Sharon A Eckenrode, President, Animal House & Company, Inc You ask, "Why should I groom my pet?" Why groom yourself? Why do you shower and shampoo? ... to keep from stinking to high heaven, ... to prevent bugs from infesting your hair, ... to keep diseases at bay ... must I continue? We groom our pets to keep them healthy member's of our family. Pets are not like wild dogs ... they have been altered by selective breeding and their coats are unlike anything found in the wild. With these 'designer' coats comes the burden of coat care. As guardians of these domestic breeds, it is up to us as their guardian to make sure these coats are kept in good condition. And I am not only referring to the dogs that need their hair cut ... All dog breeds require a regular grooming schedule. If you are unsure as to what that schedule is and what is involved, do research on your particular breed and talk to a groomer. Grooming is all a part of loving your pet. Dogs come into our lives and join our 'pack' ... our family unit ... but like children, they cannot care for themselves and it's up to us as 'alpha' parents to make sure their needs are met in all areas of nutrition, comfort, and hygiene. Unfortunately, many people don't see dogs as family members. They see them more as objects or toys. People do not realize exactly how much care actually goes into caring for a dog. And since dog's can't speak for themselves, much neglect and abuse happens. We have seen coats so matted that it is shaved off in one piece, much like shearing a sheep ... so matted that the ears are matted to the head and/or the limbs are matted to the body limiting mobility and causing pain with each movement ... so matted that once the coat is shaved off, there are numerous sores on the body because the skin was unable to breath and moisture was kept against the skin. We've seen coats with any number of parasites ... well, I think you're getting the point. The bottom line is common sense ... if you comb or brush your hair every day why don't you think your dog would require the same. Ok, perhaps not every day, but adopt a schedule based on your dog's coat and stick to it. That shouldn't be asking too much. Dogs are living, breathing creatures who are able to feel just like you and me. They do not speak our language and do not know how to speak up for themselves. It is your obligation as their guardian to ensure that all of their needs are taken care of to include their grooming needs. top GRIEF AND PET LOSS by Margaret Muns DVM GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A PET Grief is the normal response to any important loss in life. It occurs regardless of whether death followed a prolonged illness, or a sudden accident. Grieving people experience both physical and emotional traumas as they try to adapt to the upheaval in their lives brought about by the loss. Psychologists have long recognized that the grief suffered by pet owners after their pet dies is the same as that experienced after the death of a person. The death of a pet means the loss of a non-judgmental love source. There is no longer anything for the pet owner to nurture and care for. Furthermore, the owner looses his or her contact with 'the natural world'. These feelings can be particularly intense for the elderly, single people and childless couples, (for whom the pet also is a child substitute). THE STAGES OF GRIEF In truth, the process of grief is not a cut and dried process that can be subdivided into strict categories. Rather, the grief process is a continuum, with each person experiencing it in a different way. Dividing the grief process in to 'stages' helps the grief stricken person to understand that their experiences and emotions are normal. Some people will quickly progress through all the phases, while others appear to get 'stuck' in a particular phase. Briefly, the stages of grief are as follows:
The depth and intensity of the mourning process depends on many factors. The age of the owner, circumstances surrounding the death, relationship of the animal to the owner and to other family members, are all significant. Recently experiencing the death of a significant person in the owner's life can also affect how the pet's death is handled. Usually, children recover more quickly, while the elderly take the longest. Sometimes, the death of a pet will finally enable the bereaved to mourn the loss of a person, whose death had not yet been accepted. PET LOSS AND CHILDREN Many people do not realize how traumatic and confusing death can be on a child. Although children tend to grieve for shorter periods of time, their grief is no less intense than that experienced by adults. Children also tend to come back to the subject repeatedly; so extreme patience is required when dealing with the grieving child. Some helpful tips for helping the grieving child include:
DO PETS GRIEVE? What many people find hard to believe is that animals can form very firm attachments with each other. Even pets that outwardly seem to barely get along will exhibit intense stress reactions when separated. In fact, grieving pets can show many symptoms identical to those experienced by the bereaved pet owner. The surviving pet(s) may become restless, anxious and depressed. There may also be much sighing, along with sleep and eating disturbances. Often, grieving pets will search for their dead companions and crave more attention from their owners. How can an owner help the grieving pet? By following the following recommendations:
Should the owner let the surviving animals see and smell their dead companion? There is no evidence that doing so will help the surviving pet(s), but some people claim that it does. Usually, all it accomplishes is to make the owner feel better. Therefore, if the owner wants to have the surviving pets 'say good-bye', then it should be allowed. HEALING Given time, healing will occur for the bereaved owner. However, there are several things that the grief-stricken owner can do to help speed up the healing process:
CONCLUSION Grief is probably the most confusing, frustrating and emotional thing that a person can experience. It is even more so for pet owners. Society in general does not give bereaved pet owners 'permission' to grieve openly. Consequently, pet owners often feel isolated and alone. Luckily, more and more resources are becoming available to help the bereaved pet owner realize that they are NOT alone and that what they are feeling is entirely normal. Margaret Muns DVM is the staff veterinarian on the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary forum. (http://bestfriends.org) There are many excellent website on this subject .... a web search on "pet loss" will return a long list of helpful resources. Some suggested sites are as follows:
Books:
Books for children:
top DOGGIE TRIVIA ... Bassets can't swim. Their legs are too short to keep their heavy, long bodies afloat. For more dog trivia, visit the following website: top  KIDS, DOGS, and ALLERGIESArticle taken from Pet Age Magazine, June 2004. (A trade magazine for the pet service industry) Man's best friend also may be man's best defense against allergies. Exposure to dogs in the Child's first year of life enhances the development of the immune system, which in turn reduces allergic sensitivity, according to researchers at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. James E. Gern, M.D., and colleagues followed 285 infants from birth through their first birthday, comparing pet exposure in the home with allergy indicators. Infants exposed to pets were less likely to exhibit atopic dermatitis, an itchy skin rash common in allergic families. They also showed reduced levels of the allergic antibody in the bloodstream. After a year, the prevalence of eczema - often the first sign of allergy - was 12 percent in children exposed to dogs, compared with 43 percent in children with no exposure. Additionally, exposure to dogs enhanced the production of an immune system hormone with potent anti-inflammatory properties by 48 percent. Researchers hope their findings will enhance our understanding of the mechanisms that promote allergy tolerance and lead to new preventive strategies for allergic disease. For more information and articles on other studies, visit the following website:
top LIGHTEN UP .... HOW TO CLEAN YOUR TOILET.
Sincerely, The Dog top  DOG BITE PREVENTIONThe American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the United States Postal Service (USPS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have joined forces to educate Americans about dog bite prevention. May 16 - 22 was declared Dog Bite Prevention week, and even though the event is in the past, I came across an article worth repeating. The guidelines apply to every day existence. NATIONAL DOG BITE PREVENTION WEEK This article is taken from the National Prevention for Injury Prevention and Control web site. Man and woman's best friend bites more than 4.7 million people a year, and key experts believe that public education can help prevent these bites. Each year, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites; half of these are children. Of those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about a dozen die. The rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years, and the rate decreases as children age. Almost two thirds of injuries among children ages four years and younger are to the head or neck region. Injury rates in children are significantly higher for boys than for girls. (See CDC MMWR article.) CDC is committed to reducing this public health problem by working with state health departments to establish dog bite prevention programs and by tracking and reporting trends on U.S. dog bite injuries. Dog bites are a largely preventable public health problem, and adults and children can learn to reduce their chances of being bitten. THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE GETTING A DOG.
PREVENTING DOG BITES Teach children basic safety around dogs and review regularly:
For more info, visit the following website:
top  PET ASTROLOGY - GEMINI
May 21 - June 20 These pets are intelligent, entertaining, and quick to learn. Don't expect a quiet moment with these animals as they are generally chatty, and when not talking, tend to rip around the house just for fun. Bored quickly, at least leave the TV or radio on for them when you are gone or they might eat your couch while waiting. They are independent creatures that will come to you for affection on their own time. Chances are, dogs with shining, curious, wandering, intelligent eyes are Geminis. When surrounded by activity, Gemini eyes seldom stay fixed on the same object. Yet one to one, they can stare humans down. Not many dogs engage in the human activity of sustained eye contact. The mission of a Gemini dog is self-expression. They are highly versatile, intelligent, and adaptable pets. To humans who value these qualities, Gemini dogs are loyal, loving companions. top REFLECTION FOR THE MONTH In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely train him to be semi-human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly dog. - Edward Hoagland |
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