Dr. Tracey Hlede & Partners for Healthy Pets

      If you know me (or my writing) you know that I'm dedicated to the Human-Animal Bond, to Education and to Wellness. (I wrote The Angell Memorial Animal Hospital Book of Wellness and Preventive Care for Dogs). I believe a Wellness Program is imperative for every pet, every species. It's much easier to prevent an illness than to treat it, and much easier to treat if it's caught early. Keeping our pets healthy is our responsibility. It's part and parcel of having companions. 

      I recently had the opportunity to do a Q & A interview with Dr. Tracey Hlede of Chicago who is the spokesperson for Partners for Healthy Pets. Partners for Healthy Pets is a committee of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation created to ensure pets receive the preventive healthcare they deserve through regular veterinary visits. Led by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association, this is an unprecedented collaborative alliance of over 100 veterinary associations, colleges of veterinary medicine and animal health companies all committed to a vision of improved overall health for pets.   
      
      Pet health and Wellness is an important topic for every pet owner.  My questions are in black, Dr. Hlede's  answers are in my usual brown type. 

Dr. Tracey Hlede and friends

.       What do you see as the major factors in the decline of pet health today?

In my practice there are two issues that come to mind quickly that I see as big problems on a daily basis.  The first being a reactive attitude to health care.  I am often treating illnesses in my patients that could have been preventable or more easily manageable had we caught the problem sooner.  The decline in preventive healthcare is directly correlated to the decline in pet health.  Having regular wellness exams allows me to assess the real state of health of my patients, make a preventive health plan for my patients, and catch health issues sooner instead of reacting to a crisis or advanced stage of the disease.  Unfortunately when I’m reacting to a health crisis the prognosis tends to worsen as well as the comfort level of my patient.

The other problem I see is an epidemic of pet obesity.  There seems to be a misconception of what a pet’s ideal weight should be as well as the impact being overweight has on the health of our furry companions.  Being overweight is associated with a host of health problems such as arthritis, diabetes, respiratory problems, etc. 

2.     Many owners attribute diet to today’s major healthy problems. Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?

For the most part a diet consisting of an AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) regulated diet which should be on the label of any pet food sold is not going to be detrimental to the health of pets.  There is evidence that speaks to the opposite that as pets are fed carefully balanced diets life spans increase.

I do believe diet is a fundamental part of the Wellness Exam and it is vital to discuss diet with your veterinarian since every pet is different and there is a wide variety of diets available.  There are some conditions that may be created by diets such as dietary intolerances to certain ingredients or diseases in which a medicated diet may be warranted.  One large problem I see is people over feeding their pets leading to obesity which then leads to a host of complications.  As there is no evidence that in general a balanced commercial pet food causes diseases but to the contrary prevents many diseases, I believe a well-balanced nutritional plan overseen by a veterinarian based on the individual pet’s needs is vital to longevity and good health.

3.     Why aren’t pet owners taking their pets to the veterinarian at least once per year?

Most of us lead really busy lives and sometimes veterinary visits just skip the to-do list so it’s forgotten.  Some owners are just not aware of how vitally important an annual check-up can be.  Others may be intimidated by the cost of healthcare.  I have some owners that don’t want to bring their pet regularly because they get very stressed coming to my office.

The statistics show since 2001 dog visits have dropped 21% and cat visits have dropped 30%!  These slips are correlated with a steady increase in preventable diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, obesity, fleas, etc.

These reasons do have solutions for the educated pet owner.  Many pet owners believe that they know their pets better than anyone else, and while that’s true, there are conditions that only your veterinarian can spot.  Veterinarians are trained to detect preventable conditions at the earliest stages so knowing this helps owners prioritize check-ups.  Most clinics offer payment plans and accept pet insurance.   www.naphia.org is a source of information, and www.carecredit.com is another.  Finally, there are solutions to help the stressed patients make it in from calming supplements, to tips for travelling to the vet, to actual anxiety medications to ease the visit.

4.     How do you think these problems can be resolved for pets and their people?

A minimum of a yearly check-up is the best way to keep your pet as healthy as possible- it’s just as important to your pet as food and love.  It’s easier to prevent disease than treat it.  More so it costs less in the long-run to prevent rather than treat.  Pets age faster than we do so missing even one yearly check-up can be like us not visiting a doctor for over five years.  There is often a solution for those concerned about bringing their pet in and anyone who has not taken their pet to a vet within the past year should call their vet’s office and ask for help in ensuring that this important check-up gets scheduled as soon as possible!

Thank you, Dr. Hlede!

To visit the Partners for Healthy Pets website, point your browser to: http://tinyurl.com/kysu3pn

Hairball Awareness Day & Pet Grooming!

Photo of Neezie by Darlene Arden

Grooming your pet is an important part of pet care. It doesn't just make your pet look and feel better but it also gives you a chance to bond together and relax. It can be a rather zen-like time. Start when your puppy or kitten is small, don't pull, don't let knots develop. It's just as horribly painful for a dog or cat as it is for a small child to have tangled hair that's being pulled.  If you have a coated dog or cat, daily brushing and grooming is a good habit to get into.

I speak from experience. While my own hair is an eternal bad hair day, I learned to groom a Yorkshire Terrier in full Specials Coat. You know what that is - it's that long flowing coat you see on television when they're broadcasting dog shows. In order to keep the coat from breaking and have that flawless look, the dog is bathed once a week.  That's followed by a detangling cream rinse and then (oh, yes, there's more) the coat is oiled and wrapped.  Back in the day when I learned to do it, we used bakery wrappers.  Each bakery wrapper was folded in half and then in thirds. The coat is sectioned off so it doesn't pull and each section divided. The hair is put in the middle of the third, the other parts are folded over and than it's secured with an elastic band. Don't pull it tightly. Don't put a topknot up tightly, either, or your dog could end up with alopecia (baldness) from the hair being pulled from the roots. It's painful and you don't want to cause pain.  The wraps are redone either every day or every other day.

Dogs without a hair coat can do well with a chamois cloth.  Short or medium coats will need a brush and comb.  

Dogs with hair don't shed any more than we do but dogs with fur will certainly shed and this is the time of year when our dogs and cats are shedding profusely as they lose their Winter coat in preparation for Summer.  It actually is the sun that helps this process along.

Whenever you bathe your cat or dog, be sure to rinse out the shampoo and conditioner thoroughly. Leave no traces behind.

When we think of hairballs - and today is National Hairball Awareness Day - we think of cats. Why?  Well, they tend to cough up hairballs and usually leave them someplace where we are bound to accidentally step in it.  The reason they cough up hairballs is because they ingest their own hair when they groom themselves. Those rough little tongues that give up sandpaper kisses feel like that because they have little hook-like structures on the tongue, set backwards, and that helps pull the hair out when grooming. We need to help them along so they won't have so many hairballs. Daily brushing and combing can go a long way in this regard.  At its worst, the dog or cat's coat will mat and you don't want to go there.  Mats will have to be very carefully cut out. Don't let it progress that far!

Photo by Darlene Arden

A bath will cut down on the amount of shedding but shed they will.  A veterinary dermatologist who worked at Boston's famed Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, told me to put on old screen at the bottom of the sink before bathing a cat. The cat's claws grip onto the screen and there's less chance of you being scratched.  It also gives the cat something to hang onto.

The type of brush or comb will depend upon the length of the coat, just as it does with a dog. With my Chartreux, Aimee, who is double coated, all she really needs is a good combing but I go a little further. At the suggestion of the breeder from whom I got her, I bought a ZoomGroom.  This is a rubber brush and it helps loosen dead hair that can them be combed out. It also gives a nice massage so Aimee just loves it!

I have heard a great deal about the Furminator, a tool for grooming pets that gets rid of dead hair.  Unfortunately, I've never been given the opportunity to test one so I cannot tell you anything about it from personal experience. It's on my "wish list."

I can tell you that for distributing oils, and for a healthy skin and coat, grooming is very important.  Use it as a bonding time.  Relax and enjoy your special companion.  And do your best to eliminate hairballs and tangles before they start!

Photo of Alana by Claire Clayton

WayFounder and Nontrepreneurs with GREAT Pet Product or App Ideas

Damon D'Amore

Most of us sit at home and wonder how people can come up with great pet products, pet care, or apps for pet owners.  And then there are those who have the idea but don't know where to go next.  They aren't in a position to start a business, or wouldn't know where or how to begin to bring their idea to the marketplace.  Apparently, those people are called nontrepreneurs.  If you're one of those people, I have some very interesting news for you.  

Sandy's photo by James Stagg

WayFounder is a new company founded by Damon D'Amore.  Who's he, you may well be asking yourself.  You're not alone, I didn't know, either.  D'Amore is a former Wall Street Trader who was a broadcast producer for The Apprentice and Undercover Boss, two popular business-related television programs.  WayFounder has just - and I mean literally - just launched to help those of you who have the idea but not the means for making that dream come true. 

There will be a quarterly online competition and pet-related products are slated for the first quarter's competition.  WayFounder will provide the winner in each category (there are a  few in the quarter) with a cash prize of $10,000., a commitment to spend up to $50,000. to bring the product idea to market, and royalties.  If a product that's selected exhibits the promise of scaling up into a product line of its own or even spawning an entirely new category of its own, WayFounder commits $250,000. to hire an "Executive Entrepreneur" or a Founder/CEO with experience in that specific category, to take the business to the next level. 

Sam & Alana's Photo by Claire Clayton

TheWayFounder Team consists of an impressive Advisory Board:

• Jeffrey Hayzlett: CEO of The Hayzlett Group, Contributing Editor and Host of Bloomberg TV, and former Fortune 100 CMO
• Justin Lewis: Former President of the Global Retail Marketing Association and Fortune 500 CMO
• Jamie O'Hara: Founder and Managing Partner of Grise Global Ventures
• Jeff Pulver: Founder of #140 Conference, Co-founder of Vonage
• Sasha Strauss: Founder and Managing Director of Innovation Protocol
• Bill Wilson: Founder and President of ClickxChange (Not related to Ryan Wilson)

WayFounder is built on the idea that ideas come from everywhere.  Could a great one come from you?  This may well be your opportunity to find out.

Here's the link:  http://www.wayfounder.com  Follow it if you have a dream you hope will come true....

The competition is currently limited to residents of the United States.

Moving with Your Pet & Winners of "The Art of Purring," by David Michie

Alana - Photo by Claire Clayton

Moving can be exciting, exhilarating, exhausting and an adventure. If you're moving and you're reading this, then of course your taking your pet(s) with you. What would life be without our companions?!    

Moving with pets requires some special consideration because it will definitely interrupt their routine and they will be in an unfamiliar place. However, they will have you and that's what really counts!

Dogs and cats need to make the adjustment to a new home.  How you will go through this process depends upon some factors:  are you moving far away or in driving distance of your old home?  Closer is easier for you dog.  Easy move and cat takes a little more preparation because cats don't like change and really love their homes.

Neezie - Photo by Darlene Arden

if you're within driving distance of the new home, take your dog alone on a few casual visits to the new place.  Let him sniff around, get to see the outside and the inside, become familiar with it even though none of the furniture is there yet. Before you move in, bring something familiar for him to smell and/or play with so it doesn't all seem so strange.

Wherever you go, short or long distance, do not tranquilize your pet. It will only make travel that more difficult and suppress the animal.  Before you go anywhere your cat and/or dog should be familiar with their carrier.  Keep it out all the time and pop some treats in there and a comfy bedding as well as a toy or two. Make it the best, safest place. It will be easier to get your friend into the crate if it's familiar and feels safe and cozy.  

Before moving into the house, set up a separate room for your dog or your cat (or one for each, if possible).  With all of the hassle and noise of strangers bringing furniture and boxes, it can be very upsetting for your pet and there is always the chance for an inadvertent escape.  Be sure your pets re microchipped as well as having collar or harness and tag.  And register the tattoo. It won't help to reunite you with your lost pet if they can't find you to notify you!!

In that separate room, put a bed or the carrier with the door open, a litterbox or place to eliminate if you won't have time to walk your pup - wee wee pads, for example.  Scratching post for kitty, toys for either species, water, food and a radio or TV turned on to relaxing music or a familiar TV show. Don't forget to go into the room periodically to "visit" and reassure your pet.  You can slowly begin to let them have access to more of the house after the movers have gone.  Don't forget to use bottled water as water changes from place to place, and be sure to take along your pet's normal food. This is no time to upset the digestive tract!

Photo of Kitten by Darlene Arden

Try to keep things as normal as possible.  Put things in handy places for your pets - Cat tree near a window, for example.  Decide where they will be fed, where you want them to spend time with you at first. The family room?  Your bedroom?  The kitchen?  The choices are yours.  

Be sure everything seems normal to your pet.  Speak in a normal voice. Relax.  Soon your favorite companion(s) will, too!  

Before you move, don't forget to locate a good veterinarian.  And do make an appointment for a get-acquainted visit before you actually need to see the veterinarian to begin that relationship on a good footing.    

Remember to relax and enjoy your new life together with your pets!

And now for the announcement you've been waiting for.....  The 2 winners who will each receive a copy of "The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Art of Purring," by David Michie.  The copies provided by Hay House for our contest!  A big Thank You to the publisher!!

Drum Roll Please!  The Winners are:

Cary Hillman

and

Leopardlady

To claim your book, please send me an e-mail via my website (www.darlenearden.com) using the link to contact me.  Please include your name and mailing address.  Thank you!  You must claim your prize by this weekend or it will go to someone else via another drawing.  Thank you!!  And Congratulations!!

"The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Art of Purring," by David Michie. Book Review and Contest!

When I read The Dalai Lama's Cat, a novel by David Michie, I was beyond pleasantly surprised. I was moved.  I not only reviewed it here but told friends that they had to read the book. Why is this such a big deal?  Because I'm not a fan of books written from the animal's perspective since so few writers can really pull it off. it usually ends up treacly or "cutesy."  But in David Michie's hands it was something else, something wonderful. And then I heard that he was following it up with a sequel. Would it live up to its predecessor?  Would it stand on its own?  I finally got my hands on a copy of Michie's sequel.

The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Art of Purring picks up pretty much where The Dalai Lama's Cat left off and yet you can read it as a stand-alone book, although I don't recommend it. For the real experience, read both books in order to better appreciate all of the characters, including the cat who goes by many names, depending upon who is interacting with her. Mainly she's known as HHC for His Holyness's Cat.  

In this delightful sequel, the Dalai Lama is leaving for a teaching tour in the U.S. for several weeks and he leaves his cat with a assignment: discover the true cause of happiness.  This is no small feat and the delightful feline takes to it with a seriousness and aplomb worthy of her position.  

The cat is the observer of life in McLeod Ganj and her life becomes far more interesting as a result of her quest to find the answer to His Holyness's assignment. A race through the streets as she's chased by two boisterous dogs,encounters with all manner of people, especially during her daily visits to the Himalaya Book Store Cafe where she observes the comings and goings of the people who work there as well as the customers.  The Yoga Class, science Buddhism, and self-discovery all play into the novel which is written with a keen eye to observation that is, at times, almost lyrical.

Author David Michie

I highly recommend this book!  And wonder if Michie has planned another book starring this wonderfully insightful creature. There are messages here for each of us. And they're explored with wisdom and respect. 

And now, dear readers, I have a wonderful contest for you!  Thanks to the publisher, Hay House, I have two copies of the book to give away.  Just leave a message on this post to enter the contest!  The winners will be announced mid-week!

If you are anxious and can't await to read it, you can purchase a copy here:

http://tinyurl.com/kosjybl

Published by Hay House, The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Art of Purring is a paperback book, 208 pages.

NOTE:  Other than a review copy and two copies of the book to give away in a contest, I have received no compensation for this review. The review and all views expressed in it is completely mine.

Domestic Violence and Pets

Photo: URI

For years now it has been no secret that domestic violence victims stay with their abusive spouses because of the spouse's threat of violence against the family pet. Studies show that nearly 48% of victims of domestic violence stay because of this threat. It has not been a threat a victim was about to take lightly, having been the object of that person's abuse. How likely is it that the spouse would actually kill the dog or cat? I'd say the chances are pretty good. At the very least there would be a serious injury.  This threat has hung over far too many women and their pets as well as their children. The abusive spouse also tends to blame the victim for the abuse. 

There should be shelters where the family can bring the pet. It wouldn't be much of a leap for the abuser to go from abusing the pet to abusing the children. Such a shelter would make the family feel safe and certainly more intact with the pet very much welcome. And something new has been added.

This week in New York City the very first dog park in a domestic abuse shelter was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Hosted by Urban Resources Institute (URI) and Nestle Purina. Nestle Purina's generous support made it possible for URI to expand their URIPALS - People and Animals Living Safely.  It is New York's only shelter to allow families fleeing abuse to bring their pets with them. The program launched in 2013 as a pilot program. Originally, it allowed families to bring their cats and other small animals but with the opening of the Purina Play Haven and Dog Park, families can now bring dogs with them.

Sponsored by Purina, the company contributed funds for the design and construction of the dog park. It was so carefully thought out that overhead trellises allow for the privacy and security of the shelter residents. Purina is justifiably proud of their support of this worthy endeavor.  "At Purina we share the belief that when pets and people are together, life is truly better," said Lindsey Hogan, Brand Manager for the Purina Brand.

Photo: Jordan H. Star

The collaboration between URI and Purina will surely bring positive results.

"When my children and I found out that we could bring our dog, Sparky, with us into shelter we were overjoyed," said one domestic violence survivor who is currently in URI's shelter.  "Sparky has always been there with us to comfort and even protect us from the abuse, and having him there with us as we work to put our lives back together makes our recovery process so much better.  I'm so grateful to Purina and URI for helping me and other families with pets stay together."

Since launching URIPALS, we've seen how transformative it is for families in domestic violence situations to go through the healing process together with their pets," said Nathaniel Fields, President of URI.  "As we open our doors to families with dogs and celebrate this critical milestone for URIPALS, we hope to continue the momentum and inspire other organizations in major cities nationwide that this initiative is possible.  We are grateful to Purina for helping URI make this dog park a reality, and for their shared commitment to keeping people and pets together, especially in times of crisis."

This should certainly be an eye-opener for major cities across the country. 

Photo: Jordan H. Star

"I applaud URI, Purina and GEPPAUL ARCHITECTS for their unique and innovative collaboration to create the City's first-ever dog park in a domestic violence shelter and for appreciating that a pet is more than just an animal in your home," said Commissioner Rose Pierre-Louis of the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence.

Cecile Noel, Deputy Commissioner of HRA's Office of Emergency and Intervention Services said, "As providers of emergency shelter and other vital services to victims of abuse and their children we know quite well that those who fear for their own safety are often worried about leaving their pet family member to escape abuse, unless there's an opportunity to preserve the pet's welfare. With initiatives like this we are establishing effective models for domestic violence and animal protection programs not only in New York City but across the State and Nation."

As part of its sponsorship of URIPALS, in 2013 Purina also donated much-needed welcome kits tailored for cats that included food, toys, crates and other pet supplies as well as educational materials designed to guide families entering URI's largest domestic violence shelter in best practices for caring  for their pets.

Photo: Jordan H. Star

If you would like more information about URIPALS and tips for keeping the entire family together in domestic violence situations, please visit: www.urinyc.org

Re: What You Should Know About Toys for Dogs and Cats & Contest Winner!

Alana

Who can resist buying toys for their pets? We love our dogs and cats; they're much-loved family members and we want to make them as happy as they make us.

Here's a quick run-down of some of the things you should know before you make that impulse buy.

If you think some toys for pets look like toys for babies there's a good reason: at least one company has hired designers who had previously worked for companies that designed toys for babies.  For some people their pets are child substitutes or one more child in the family so the appeal is understandable.

The industry has no watch-dog group (any pun intended)  unlike the groups that test toys for children. The industry is expected to police itself. What does this mean? It means that you will have to shop carefully to insure the toys you're buying are safe for your pet. Is it sturdy? Are there parts that can easily be removed and swallowed? Eyes sewn onto a toy are one such example.

Does your dog love to chew? Is he really tough on toys? Be sure that the toy is well-made and you may even see on the packaging that it's made for chewers who are hard on their toys. 

Fuzzy

Be careful when choosing what size toy. Many pets will manage to swallow a toy that will need to be removed surgically.

If you're buying a wand toy for your cat, stay away from those with mylar.  That shiny silver might look attractive to you and your cat but did you know that when playing with a wand toy with mylar a cat can get the equivalent of a paper cut on his mouth? If the interactive toy has string, for example a feather toy, put it away between play sessions. Kitty might get tangled in the string or might find a way to chew through and swallow it, necessitating surgery to remove it.  And it's so much more fun when you make those interactive sessions special by announcing that it's time to play and then the game ends with the toy being put away.

Not all cats react to catnip. They have to have the catnip genes which isn't apparent in very young kittens and usually interest fades when cats are elderly. If your cat loves catnip you should know a few things about the toys. Do not buy the cheapest.  If you take those cheap toys apart they either don't have catnip in them or have a teeny amount. Look for a toy that's refillable so you can keep adding fresh catnip. As for the catnip bolster toys and little squares of fabric filled with catnip, as with any catnip, don't leave it out all the time and be sure to put it away before the cat gets too excited. They also don't need to play with it every day; it should remain special. The best way to store these toys between play sessions is in a sealed plastic bag in the freezer so it will remain fresh longer.

Laser toys aren't always safe. If you're going to play with one with your cat or dog, start the game with the light coming from inside your shoe and end it with the light returning to the inside of your shoe. Why?  Because dogs especially can develop behavior problems looking for that red dot. 

One final note: always supervise your pet with a  new toy to be sure of safety.

I hope you and your pets have a lifetime of fun together!

Now for the winner of the contest posted earlier this week.  

The winner of the dog poetry book, Throw the Damn Ball is:

Elaine Faber.

Elaine, please e-mail your address to me via my website: www.darlenearden.com  There's a link to contact me.   Congratulations!!