If temperatures are dropping and snow is in the forecast,the ASPCA recommends the following tips to keep your animal companions safe and sound:

• Never let your dog off leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm. Canines may lose their scent in winter weather, and can easily become lost.
• Provide your companion animal with a warm place to sleep, far away from drafts and off the floor. Dog and cat beds with a warm blanket or pillow are especially cozy.
• Please keep cats inside! Felines who spend time outside can freeze, or become lost or injured. And some outdoor cats seek the warmth under the hoods of cars — so if there are any such kitties in your neighborhood, remember to bang loudly on the hood and wait a few seconds before starting your vehicle.
  
• Wipe off your dog’s legs and belly when she comes in out of the elements. This will remove any salt, antifreeze or other harmful chemicals that could hurt your dog should she ingest them when licking her paws.
• Puppies can’t handle the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be more difficult to housebreak during the winter.
• Electrically-heated pet beds are great, but only with human supervision. Animals will chew on cords, leading to electrocution and house fires.
• Remember exercise for your pets; it is too easy for everyone to stay inside, but they still need to walk and run.
• If your pet is outdoors, provide a warm place to shelter, and ensure unfrozen water to drink.

For many senior citizens, the days seem empty and endless. Many seniors, whose children live far away, and are busy with raising their own families, may go long periods of time without any contact with other people. But one thing that is almost certain to shred that veil of loneliness, is a dog or cat who needs companionship too.

Purina recognized an ideal match-up 20 years ago – seniors need companions and shelter dogs and cats need homes. Purina developed Pets for Seniors, an initiative to make it easier for seniors and shelter animals to come together. Purina donates $50 for each pet adoption through the program, to defray the cost of spaying or neutering and vaccinating, making pet adoptions at little or no cost to seniors. Around 200 animal shelters across the nation participate in the program.

A dog or cat in the home gives a senior a friend to love, care for, and interact with everyday. A pet’s unpredictability breaks up stale routines and creates joyful moments of spontaneity, and provides something delightful to look forward to each day. A pet can dig up satisfying feelings that were buried – feelings of being relevant, needed and useful. The physical benefits are as important as the emotional ones. Seniors who have pets have significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures*. And those with dogs tend to walk longer each day than their peers without dogs.

Seniors Show Their Love for the Pets for Seniors Initiative

The Pets for Seniors initiative, originally called Partners for Pets, had remarkable and surprising success right from the beginning. Soon after it launched, three different senior citizens were so moved by their pets and this initiative that they left money in their wills to support it, so that other seniors could experience the same joy.

“We were honored and humbled that people would trust us so much to leave money to support this program,” said Brenda Bax, Brand Director of Purina Pets for People®, “We’ve kept it going for 20 years and I think that reflects the values and principles of Purina. We are a company of pet lovers and we know it’s the right thing to do. It’s our longest-running program, and it has been viable all these years regardless of company profits or buy-outs.” Purina’s partnership with ARF can help any senior with pet adoptions.

Anyone over age 60 is eligible to adopt a dog or cat at little or no cost through Pets for People, even if they do not live near a participating animal shelter. Through Purina’s partnership with Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), all you need is to complete a form, and pet adoption fees can be reimbursed.

If you know of a senior adult who is living alone, consider enriching his or her life by suggesting adopting a furry companion through Pets for Seniors. We say suggest, please do not purchase. Often times they won’t say, “No” but don’t want or can’t handle the responsibility.

*Source: Animal Rescue Foundation

 (ARF)

Scientists avoid the subject because part of what sets humans apart from the animals is our ability to experience feelings. To say that animals actually have feelings, in the same way we do, would change everything – perhaps disrupt our entire position and standing in the animal kingdom.

However, any dog owner knows that dogs love completely and have a greater capacity for love than most people. If one were to describe the main characteristics of a dog, they would have to be:

1.   strong affection

2.   warm attachment

3.   unselfish loyalty and benevolent concern for others

Wait a minute – those are the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions of love. So there isn’t a question of whether dogs love, the mystery is how they have such an enormous capacity for it.

Dogs Give Unconditional Love
Dogs taken from abusive situations hold no grudges toward the human race. A half an ounce of kindness from a new person results in an abundance of affection from the formerly mistreated dog. Humans rarely have the capacity to so completely forgive and love under those circumstances.

Probably the biggest reason the dog has become man’s best friend is because we know that when it comes to love, a dog can always outdo us. The highest form of love, agape love, which is completely unconditional, is something that people often have to work at or grow into. Agape love seems to come naturally between parent and child, but it’s more difficult between husband and wife, and harder still between friends. To love someone regardless of what wrongs they have done you is very difficult for humans.

A dog, however, is born with an endless capacity for unconditional love, and doesn’t even have to work at it. You can be a complete grouch, ignore your dog, and refuse him your love. When you decide you’re ready to be sociable again, your dog doesn’t pay you back by ignoring you too. He’s just happy you’re there. More amazing still, is that the love that dogs and owners feel for each other lasts a lifetime. This is the ideal love humans strive for, but often fail at.

This is why we need dogs. They do something for us that rarely a human companion can do. No matter how much you mess up your life, or how much wrong you do, no matter how many mistakes you make or how often you make them, regardless of your looks, income or social standing, your dog never judges you. He always thinks you are wonderful and loves you with all his heart.

Anyone who has spent time with a disabled dog or cat knows that a disability detracts little from a pet’s ability to live a normal happy life. Puppies and kittens who are born with a disability, or acquire it early in life, have no idea they’re different. They simply adapt. The most common pet disabilities are deafness, blindness or loss of a limb.

Deaf Cats and Dogs
Since dogs and cats normally have such a tremendous sense of hearing, it would seem that a loss of this sense would be devastating. But, dogs and cats adapt quite well, and become more sensitive to vibrations they feel. And like all dogs and cats, they are excellent readers of body language, so communicating with them is not as difficult as you may imagine.

Deaf pets may not respond to their owner’s spoken words, such as announcing dinnertime, but they read the signals like any other pet. The owner may call their pet by clapping their hands or stomping their feet. Some use a flashlight for visual commands. If you have trained your dog to respond to hand signals, deafness is no barrier to good behavior.

Blind Dogs and Cats
Often, when people adopt a puppy or kitten, they don’t realize their pet is blind or deaf right away. Puppies and kittens tend to be a little clumsy and distracted anyway, so bumping into things or not responding when called may be chalked up to normal infantile behavior. Then they adapt, and learn to navigate the house and communicate with their owner so well, it may take closer observation to discover the disability.

Owners of blind pets usually are careful to keep all furniture in the same place at all times, and even pad sharp edges of furniture. Food and water bowls, litter box, pet bed, and toy stash all need to be in the exact same place for the pet to easily find what she needs.

Three-Legged Dogs and Cats
Seeing a three-legged dog or cat may make you feel sad, but most of them are perfectly adept at doing everything four-legged dogs and cats do. Rather than sad, feel glad these animals are still here in spite of whatever caused the loss of the limb. These guys are survivors!

Most three-legged dogs and cats don’t need any special accommodations to live normal lives – other than making extra sure they maintain a healthy weight. Their body weight has one less leg to bear it, which causes more stress on the other leg joints.

Love a Disabled Pet
Why are we telling you all this? Because we think every dog or cat deserves to have a good life in a loving home, and should not be overlooked in animal shelters because of a disability. When you go to a shelter or breeder to find your next perfect pet to love, we hope you’re open to the idea that your perfect pet may have some imperfections!

As kids head back to school, many pet parents may wonder if their four-legged family members could also benefit from mental stimulation.

Fortunately, many products now feature interactive elements, giving pets the chance to enhance their curiosity and imagination during playtime.<

Here are some of our favorites:

The Leo Dog Toy from Canine Genius sharpens your pooch’s problem-solving skills through its unique treat-release system. Shaped like a bowling pin and made of rubber, your dog will enjoy teasing out the treat locked inside. As a bonus, you can combine multiple Leo toys to create a maze of puzzles for your dog. The toy is also available in miniature versions for smaller breeds or younger dogs.

Indulge your cat’s mousing instinct without worrying about rodents in your home–courtesy of the Playables cat toy by Toy Shoppe. These catnip-scented toys mirror the look and feel of real mice, including a rattling sound to entice and satisfy cats even further. Cat owners will also appreciate the handy packs of multiples, ensuring that your felines won’t completely rid the house of these “mice.”

The Busy Buddy Bouncy Bone, by Premier, combines three elements that stimulate a dog’s natural hunting and retrieving instincts — a mobile ball, a bone shape, and a rawhide taste. As with similar interactive toys, the parts of the bone can be replaced, providing lasting entertainment for your pooch.

Felines show natural curiosity about almost anything — even an empty cardboard box! — but cat owners looking for more engaging toys should investigate the Turbo Track for cats. Like the Leo dog toy, the pieces of the Turbo Track can be combined into different shapes to give cats new racetrack variations on which to chase the toy’s ball. To excite your cats even further, try switching the ball with a catnip toy, guaranteeing that they will stay focused on the track longer.

By Zootoo Pet News Staff

(Statistics based on submitted insurance claims with Trupanion Pet Insurance.)

Mosquito Concerns in Dogs: general discomfort from bites especially for dogs with allergies, Heartworm (three confirmed cases at Dogwood Pet Hospital), West Nile (one confirmed case in West Linn).

Recommendations:

• Deet Wipes — lightly wipe ears, nose, and underbelly.
• Avon Skin So Soft
• Give a monthly heartworm preventative:  Sentinel (tablet), Heartgard Plus (chewable treat form), and Revolution (topical). We recommend Sentinel since it has the added benefit of flea and certain intestinal parasite prevention.

Cats

Mosquito Concerns in Cats: general discomfort from bites  especially for cats with allergies.  Although hearmworm in cats is extremely low in this area, it does exist.

Recommendations:

• Deet Wipes — lightly wipe ears, nose, and underbelly.
• Avon Skin So Soft.
• Monthly heartworm preventive available:  Revolution (topical).

Related Articles:

• Natural Mosquito Treatment
• Mosquitoes Spread Infectious Disease in Dogs: Q & A
• What are Heartworms?

If anyone in your family has experienced flu-like symptoms, we recommend minimizing contact with your pets and scheduling a veterinary exam if your pet develops any respiratory symptoms.

Please visit the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association  to read full article.

At just 9 weeks’ old, Mader a normally spunky boxer developed acute pain all over his body and trouble walking. His concerned parents brought him to Dogwood Pet Hospital for a comprehensive examination and diagnostics. We took x-rays (also known as radiographs) and ran full bloodwork. Diagnostics such as radiographs and bloodwork give us a better understanding of what’s happening inside the body, but in Mader’s case, his condition remained a mystery!

Mader was later diagnosed with probable corticosteroid responsive meningitis, a rare disease causing inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cords. This disease can be very painful, but manageable. Today, Mader’s parents are giving him a low dose of oral steroids and monitoring his temperature. We are happy that Mader is recovering and wish him the very best!

For the month of June, we are honoring a beloved Golden Retriever, Cassie! Cassie’s breed originated in the Scottish Highlands in the late 1800s and was predominately used for hunting. Although Cassie doesn’t hunt, she does enjoy spending time at home with her most loving family!

Cassie has several medical conditions that require routine testing and medications. She has a condition called Cushing’s Disease which is an overproduction of cortisol (the stress-steroid). Cushing’s causes excess thirst, muscle pain, hair loss as well as a myriad of other symptoms. In addition to her Cushing’s Disease, she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and recurring nosebleeds.

In her youth she had a bout with cancer. Our doctors found a mast cell tumor that required surgical removal and radiation therapy by an oncologist. After recovery, Cassie began taking cancer supplements such as high potency fish oils, mushrooms, and antioxidants.

Interestingly, Cassie’s littermate, Jessie, is also a patient of ours! We all wish you the best of health!