Happy Holidays!

  • Halloween party pictures
  • Separation Anxiety: What Is It?
  • More interesting research
  • From the Desk of Einstein and Emmy

 

 


Halloween Party Photos
Humane Society Dog On October 30, 2005 we had our 2nd Annual Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Contest. Proceeds from the party went to The Capital Area Humane Society. The party was very well attended – luckily we held it outside! We had many terrific costumes (including some humans), fun games, lovely weather, delicious snacks, an entertaining DJ, and great door prizes.

First, I want to thank our sponsors – we couldn’t do it without them. Avery Rd. Florist, Butler Animal Health, Canine Companion Club, Columbus Serum Company, Dog Talk, Fort Dodge Animal Health, The Iams Company, Drs. Tom and Sue Klein, Merial, MWI, Midwest Veterinary Supply, Pfizer Animal Health, Purina, Royal Canin, Starbucks, and Virbac. Thanks also to Hilliard Family Practice and Tomorrow’s Child Day Care for allowing for overflow parking. Special thanks to Chris Johnson our DJ, Curtis Blue for the use of the tents (and setting up and tearing down), Brown Township for the loan of the chairs, and Live Radio Tour for the DJ equipment.

Sammy and Simba The costume contest was won by Sammy and Simba Reiser who were dressed as Dorothy and the Tinman. (Dorothy’s ruby slippers really made the outfit.) Second place went to Izzy Loesch as an alligator (actually it looked a bit like Izzy was being eaten by the alligator). Sugar Comstock won third place dressed as a Barbie Doll (sorry - she wasn’t wearing her blond wig in the photo). We had so many great entries we added a fourth place winner and two honorable mentions. Fourth place went to two Beagles dressed as a herd of Holstein cows. Our apologies to the Beagles and their owners but we lost the list of winner’s names – if you see this newsletter, please give us a call. Honorable mention prizes went to Jordan Gall and her toy dog, Spot, and to Trevor Maynard and his dog, Izzy.

Minnie and Mom The tail-wagging contest was won this year by Minnie Hutchisson. She doesn’t have much of a tail but what there is of it was really wagging! The best trick contest was won by Jo Dotson. She did a terrific “Bang, You’re Dead” trick. The cat raffle basket was won by the Gandee family. The name of winner of the dog raffle basket was also lost in the clean-up process that day. Again, our sincere apologies. Please let us know who you are so we can put your name in the newsletter.

Separation Anxiety: What Is It?
Bad Dog Separation Anxiety is a preventable behavioral condition. We will discuss prevention recommendations in another newsletter. As a responsible pet owner you should familiarize yourself with the signs of separation anxiety. This condition is most commonly seen in dogs but is occasionally seen in other pets. Here are some of the most common symptoms:

  • Undesirable behavior (destructive behavior, excessive vocalization, house-soiling, etc) that occurs only or primarily when your pet is left alone.
  • “Velcro” dog – clinginess, a dog that follows you constantly from room to room whenever you are home.
  • When you come home, the greeting you receive is frantic.
  • When you are preparing to leave, your dog becomes either nervous or depressed.

    There can be medical reasons for some of these behaviors. Before a diagnosis of separation anxiety is made, the pet should receive a complete physical examination and diagnostic workup. Then a consultation with an animal behaviorist is recommended.

    Separation anxiety is a true phobia; an illogical fear of a particular situation. It can be seen in any breed and at any age and they can suffer from different levels of distress. Some pets may simply act a little nervous about their owner leaving while others may “lose it” completely. Extreme cases of separation anxiety have been compared to a human having a panic attack. If that has happened to you or anyone you know, you may better understand what is happening to a pet that is suffering from separation anxiety. Most commonly the undesirable behavior occurs within a short time of the owner leaving. Whining, panting, destructive chewing, barking, howling, trembling, house-soiling, digging, and scratching at the doors and door frames are all behaviors seen in pets with separation anxiety. At the highest levels of distress, dogs have chewed their way out of kennels and even broken through doors and windows sometimes causing serious injury to themselves.

    We will address treatments for separation anxiety in next month’s newsletter but we will tell you now, it can be a long and intensive process. The goal is to reduce your pet’s level of anxiety by training it to become comfortable in your absence. There are training aids which we will review and there are medications available that can be used to decrease your pet’s anxieties.

    Interesting New Research
    A British team at Cambridge University has helped nine paralyzed dogs regain partial function of their rear limbs. The veterinary surgeons transplanted certain cells from the dog’s noses, olfactory ensheathing glia or OEG cells, into their damaged spinal cords. Some improvement was noted within a month after the procedure. Slowly they have regained enough strength to support their own weight. The researchers reported some risks with this procedure and have been looking for an alternative. They say they have found a type of stem cell in the nasal mucosa that can be turned into an OEG cell. Harvesting these stem cells is done simply by swabbing the nasal cavity. This is exciting new research and we’re looking forward to hearing more.

    From the Desk of Einstein and Emmy
    From the Desk of Emma and Einstein The winter weather and the winter holidays bring new potential hazards for your pets.

    • Many seasonal plants are poisonous including Poinsettia, Mistletoe, English Ivy, and Holly. Call your veterinarian immediately if your pet chews on any of these.
    • Ornaments, ornament hooks, tinsel, ribbon, even the tree itself all present new possibilities for play for your pets. Be sure they are supervised when around the holiday decorations.
    • Take care to make sure your pet does not get sick on “human” food. They do best when they are kept on the regular food and are fed on their regular schedule.
    • Antifreeze is extremely toxic to pets but its sweet flavor makes it attractive to them. Ingestion of antifreeze is a medical emergency. Get your pet to a veterinarian immediately.
    • Sidewalk ice melting products can be irritating to your pet’s feet and can be hazardous if swallowed.
    • Wintertime inactivity can lead to weight gain. If you can’t keep up the usual activity, consider reducing the number of calories your pet takes in each day during the winter. That excess weight goes on much more quickly than it comes off!
    Happy Holidays!

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