Departments:

Staff news p 2

Feature article p3

Doggy Doo Doo p4

Water Play p5,6

Pot Pourri p 7

Humor Page p7

“Tails from the Dog House” is published quarterly by theSardis Animal Hospital 7236 Vedder RdChilliwack,British Columbia, Canada, V2R 5K7Phone 604-858-4415

direct inquiries can be made to:staff@sardisvet.com

website:www.sardisvet.com

Spring 2009Vol 7, No 1, pg 1

Tails from the Dog House The Quarterly Newsletter from the Sardis Animal Hospital

“Organic” and “Natural” Pet Foods - a real thing or just an advertising gimmick?

Hardly a day goes by that we don’t hear about some toxin, contaminant or germ being isolated from food. Whether it’s mercury in fish, melamine in dairy products from China, E.coli in hamburgers or Sal-monella in peanut butter, can we trust our food supply anymore? The spiking of pet foods with melamine scandal from 2 years ago got us all doubting the safety of commercial pet foods. Believe me, the pet food industry learned a huge lesson in trust and outsourcing from all that mischief.

Fear is a great motivator. It protects us from danger and directs us to safety. Politicians use it effectively to get elected. Tyrants take advantage of it to stay in power. History is full of examples of power being gained with fear phrases like “vote for me, only I can protect you from”... some enemy, perceived threat --gangster, terrorist or an ethnic scapegoat who is being blamed for social or economic problems.

The advertising industry also knows the power of fear as an effective selling tool. They use our fear of aging to sell cosmetics, our fear of death to sell insurance, our fear of social rejection to sell diet aids and fashions. The list is endless. It is also fair game in the multi-billion dollar, highly competitive pet food industry.

Keep that in mind when you see the words “organic”, “holistic” and “natural.” These words have an aura about them that implies wholesomeness, purity and goodness. That’s a persuasive message to a consumer that fears contaminated pet food. Do these terms deliver or are they just powerful buzz words that ad-men use effectively to sell product? Are “natural” and “organic” pet foods better or safer? Not necessarily. They might be better if the words meant what we assume them to mean.

The AAFCO (Assoc of American Feed Control Officials) is charged with enforcing laws regulating production, labelling and sale of animal feeds. They define “Natural” as “any ingredient that has not been chemically altered.” This definition makes no judgement on nutritional quality, digestibility or biologic availability of the food. Chicken feathers would be a “natural” ingredient for example. The addition of vita-mins or minerals which are essential for a balanced diet could be seen as being no longer “natural.” Nor can the term guarantee that the food does not have environmental contaminants or pollutants like mercury or PCBs in fish. Fish is a “natural” ingredient as long as it has not been purposely spiked with something. The term “organic” implies that the item was produced without the producer adding chemical fertilizers, pesticides or artificial agents. They may still contain harmful bacteria or traces of environmental pollutants. Organic food labelling regulations for pet foods are unfortunately, vague and confusing at this time. The term “organic” may be put on a label even if only one component is certified as “organic.” The rest of that long list of ingredients can be as non-organic as you please.

“Natural” or “Organic” foods and ingredients can still be subject to bacterial contamination or mycotoxins from moulds and yeasts. This has been documented numerous times in human foods like carrot juice, tomatoes, bean sprouts, peanut butter etc. The risk of bacterial contamination, rancidity and degradation of ingredients is especially likely in foods that are free of preservatives.

The bottom line: “Natural” & “Organic” pet foods? They may be ok, but I take it with a grain of salt !!

Tails from the Dog House

Vol 7, No 1, pg 2

Staff News

Still more Celebrity Look-alike nonsense

Dr Laura Madsen’s friends think she bears an uncanny resemblance to famous songbird Carly Simon. What do you think?

Dr Madsen Carly Simon

Welcome Dr Ron Moller

We are pleased to introduce Dr Ron Moller as the newest member of our professional staff. Ron is a native of Alberta and received his DVM from the University of Saskatchewan in 1971. Ron was the Hospital Director and co-owner of the White Rock Veterinary Hospital for 35 years. A well known and highly respected veterinarian, Dr Moller’s wisdom and experience supplements the skills and level of service we provide at the Sardis Animal Hospital.

Dr Moller has regular hours on Fridays and Satur-days and fills in other days when needed.

Welcome Dr. Ron !

Experience - There is No Substitute

With the addition of our newest DVM, it occurred to us that our professional team has an impressive cumulative wealth of experience in the veterinary profession. Check this out. Dr Moller 38 years, Dr Anvik 34 years, Dr Powell 21 years, Dr Madsen 16 years, Dr Hill 11 years. That adds up to 120 years of practice experience. When you multiply that times the thousands of pet visits and cases managed per doctor per year; well.... there are not a lot of pet related problems that one or the other of us have not faced, often many times. This is a team you can have confidence in!

Tails from the Dog House

Vol 7, No 1, pg 3

Check your doggy parenting skills

See if your dog is spoiled.

Is your Dog Spoiled ?

It is easy for our love for our dog to become misdirected into a relationship that is unhealthy for both dog and owner. It’s common to do the same with children. Most responsible parents work on im-proving their parenting skills so their children will grow up as good citizens with the skills to survive in this complex world. Humans learn their parenting skills from their own parents and families. Chances are if your parents had good skills you will too.

Many of the same principles apply to raising a puppy, but the implementation looks different. If you are a new dog owner who has just got a new puppy, your parenting skills will be tested. You may have some work to do to learn how to be a good doggy parent. There is a wealth of good information in books, on the net, and in handouts from the animal hospital. Obedience classes are highly recom-mended. Puppies do not raise themselves.

The most common mistake is to assume that spoiling a pup (or a child) makes them happy. Not so. Like spoiled children, the over-indulged dog is not happier. Both need healthy boundaries and structure to have emotional security and good self esteem. It is possible to love and even pamper a pooch without spoiling him or her. Here is some interesting information that can help you evaluate your doggy parenting skills and to see if you are spoiling your dog. (This material is credited to Carol A. Byrnes “Diamonds in the Ruff” Training for Dogs & their people)

Characteristics of the over-indulgent owner (parent): • Can’t say no, caters to the dog’s every whim • Can’t set limits • Feels guilty • Is often frustrated and sometimes even afraid of their dog • Plans their life around their dog’s wants and needs • Often says “I can’t, she won’t” and “he won’t let me” (or how about “he’ll only eat human food”- ed.)

Characteristics of an over-indulged dog (child): • can’t accept “no” for an answer, is difficult to live with, talks back • No impulse control, no limits, comes when called only when it suits them • Doesn’t listen. No respect, no manners, demands what it wants NOW! • Intolerant of change - experiences stress when left alone or when a new pet or person joins the family • Is often frustrated - throws tantrums - may act out • Little tantrums can grow into aggression, house soiling & destruction, resource guarding, hoarding, picky eating • The spoiled dog may lack confidence and be shy, or be overly confident and be a bully • Intolerant of handling - difficult to groom, difficult for the veterinarian • Is either intrusively friendly or aggressive to visitors, not trustworthy with children • Doesn’t know who the leader is, so steps into the role. Little tyrants may urine mark

Happy, satisfied dogs know what the rules are and who the leader is. They know how to earn what they want and need in life, and enjoy offering behaviors that please the human they look up to. It isn’t unkind to set rules and expectations. The kindest thing you can do for your dog is provide struc-ture. Order and predictability can be very reassuring to your best friend.

Tails from the Dog House

Vol 7, No 1, pg 4

Doggy Doo Doo

I swear I’m not making this up !

It really Happened !!

A dog gave birth near a road. She was cited for littering

“Dopey Dude of the Day” Award.

We hear some pretty amazing things in our work. Some can be very funny, some comments perk our interest, and some are just plain stupid. This edition’s “Dopey Dude of the Day” award goes to the goon whose dog flipped out of the back of his open pickup truck and was creamed by the car following. Severe injuries required humane destruction of the dog. A tragic but preventable event. The owner was mad at the guy who hit the dog and blamed the loss of his dog on him because he was following too close. “My dog would have survived if this S.O.B. hadn’t been tail-gating me” was his comment.

Hey dopey dude, take responsibility yourself and don’t blame others for your plight! Dogs do not belong unsecured in the back of an open truck!

Another Open Pickup Tragedy

I’m on a roll - a mission to get people to stop transporting dogs in the back of an open truck. Maybe a little shock value from a veterinarian will wake up those people who think their dog is so well trained and used to the open truck that he is in no danger.

A few years back a large breed dog was brought to me with severe injuries of all four legs and feet. His hind feet and lower legs looked like they had been pushed into a grind stone. Skin and muscle were missing and leg bones exposed and filed away to half of their diameter. Both hind feet were severely mangled. One of the feet was essentially missing. The dog was in shock and in severe pain. The injuries were beyond repair and the dog was euthanized.

The story was that the dog was tethered by the collar to a ring in the middle of the front of the box of an open pick-up. The line extended to a point just beyond the sides of the box. The dog was standing at the side of the box when a sudden movement unbalanced the dog and he flipped out of the box, hanging from his tether on the passenger side with his feet dragging on the pavement of the Coquihala at 100km. The owner was unaware of the event until a car following saw the dangling dog and caught up and signalled the driver to stop. The driver of the car following thought the dog was dragged for at least a mile before he was able to stop the truck. A true story. There is no need to editorialize.

Tails from the Dog House

Vol 7, No 1, pg 5

Water play is good exercise

Safety First !!

avoid rivers - use a leash when near a fast moving stream

stay away from ice

Beware of Hypo-thermia

consider a life jacket on boats and piers

Transporting a wet dog

stay away from crowded beaches

respect the space of others

carry a poop bag

The Wet Dog - a Guide to Water Play and Exercise

Many dogs love to swim or play in the water, particularly large dogs like retrievers. Going to the lake and throwing a stick in the water for Rover to fetch can be great fun for both owner and dog. Some dogs love it so much that they repeatedly swim out to fetch and keep doing it until they drop from exhaustion. There are several things to consider when playing in water with your dog.

The first consideration is safety both for you and the dog. Dogs that love the water seem to learn how to swim on their own, but when you first introduce your dog to water make sure it is in a location that has a gentle slope so he can touch the bottom easily. Let him find his way into deeper water on his own once he is comfortable with paddling around in the shallows. Consider a life jacket for the dog or a harness with a line on and swimming or wading with the dog at first. A small lake or pond is best. Avoid rivers with a current at all times. There are many horror stories about dogs being swept downstream never to be seen again. If your dog is crazy about water and you are hiking by a river, keep your dog close, preferably on a leash. Be careful about ice in the winter. Rescuing a dog that has fallen through thin ice is very dangerous for all concerned and may not even be possible. Use common sense and a leash when walking around ponds and lakes in the winter.

Hypothermia is a very real danger in our Canadian waters. Some dogs with thick coats will do better, but thin coated dogs will get cold very easily.

When boating, use a life jacket for your dog. A sudden wave or motion of the boat can tip a dog into the drink unexpectedly. Some dogs are poor swimmers, particularly small long haired dogs and obese dogs. They can become exhausted and hypothermic very quickly. Rescuing a dog that has fallen overboard can be very difficult. Most doggie life jackets have a pickup handle on the back that you can grab with your hand or a boat hook.

Be particularly cautious with power boats and outboard engines if you have a dog on board. Pooch-es watching water skiers at the transom can get thrown overboard when the engine engages. One of the worst injuries I have seen in my career was a spaniel sized dog that got chewed up in a propeller at Cultus Lake. Deep cuts and multiple fractures required euthanasia. Very sad.

Another consideration is transporting the wet dog. It’s best to be prepared ahead of time with towels and blankets if you transport your dog in a car. It’s less of a problem if you have a truck where a wet dog isn’t going to mess up the upholstery. BUT, be sure and use a secure crate or canopy. DO NOT TRANSPORT YOUR DOG IN THE BACK OF AN OPEN PICK UP TRUCK

Be sure and respect hygiene issues at the beach. If you take your dog to crowded public areas keep your dog on a leash and carry a poop bag or two. Many beaches have signs forbidding dogs com-pletely at beaches. This is for hygiene reasons and to curtail interactions between unleashed dogs. Not every one at the beach is a dog lover and they have a right to enjoy the beach without some wet mutt shaking himself off next to their picnic blanket or chasing a child or otherwise being a nuisance. Be considerate of others if you take your dog to the beach and obey the local rules. If you are going to swim your dog, find a quiet stretch of beach or a designated area such as the one shown on the following page.

Tails from the Dog House

Vol 7, No 1, pg 6

Respect nesting wildlife

dry off, watch for wetness in ears

Hydrotherapy pools

Just who is that “old dog” snorkelling around up at Cultus Lake? The parks board has very thoughtfully desig-nated an area for dogs to swim at the lake. The swim area is located at the east end of the beach at Sunnyside Campground. Note the dispenser of Poop Bags provided. Nice going Cultus Lake Parks Board, 5 stars from Dr Jack

If you are hiking in wetland areas please be respectful of the the local wildlife. Dogs off leash can be a threat to nesting birds.

Health considerations I have often been asked if dogs get “Swimmer’s Itch” in our local lakes. This condition occurs in humans swimming in places like Main Beach at Cultus. Other shallow waters that warm up in summer are also a problem. The condition is caused by the larva of an aquatic snail attaching itself to human skin and causing a rash. To the best of my knowledge this condition does not oc-cur in dogs. The haired skin of dogs seems to prevent the larva from attaching. I have looked for this condition, but have never been able to document a case.

Chronic wetness can lead to bacterial and yeast infections in the ears and skin, especially in densely coated dogs. Be sure and dry your dog well any time he gets wet.

If your dog suffers from arthritis or is recovering from an injury or leg surgery, swimming can be very therapeutic. Cold water however, may not be such a good thing. Arthritic joints and stiff muscles can seize up with prolonged exposure to cold water. Retrievers and other large breeds can also develop an unusual condition called “Cold Tail” after swimming in cold water. The tail becomes limp and will extend horizontally for the first third of the tail then hook downward and just hang. The condition lasts for a day or two then disappears as the tail warms up.

Hydrotherapy is best done in a warm pool with a person swimming with the dog. There is a pool in Abbotsford that is maintained for just this purpose. It is privately owned and there is a fee for the service. Lynn Burks who is on our staff can give you details.

Swimming pools and hot tubs can be a hazard to pets. We have seen several drownings of cats and dogs caught under hot tub and pool covers.

Water Play continued

Tails from the Dog House

Vol 7, No 1, pg 7

Hydrotherapy for Dogs

Featured Product

Dr Jack’s Wisdom “Give a man an inch and he thinks he’s a ruler”

The best way to perform water physio-therapy on an arthritic dog or an ortho-pedic surgery patient is to be in a warm pool with the dog.

Lynn Burks, one of our Animal Health Technologists swims her dog Kona regu-larly at a pool for dogs in Abbotsford.

Biodegradable Poop Scooping Bags

In keeping with our philosophy to promote responsible pet ownership, neighbourhood hygiene and a green planet we have started stocking “Scoopies”

They are biodegradable, portable enough to fit in a pocket and can even be looped onto a leash.

Taking Bowser for a walk? Don’t leave home without “Scoopies”