From the SPCA

Dear Friends,
U.S. troops and their beloved animals need your help right now! Very soon it will be too hot in the Middle East to rescue dogs and cats from Iraq.

We only have 2 weeks to save the soldiers’ dogs and cats pictured here – our window of opportunity is closing fast.

If you don’t act today Jasmine, Samantha, Whiskers, Hammer and many more will be lost. Please visit our website right now to see how you can help.

This Memorial Day, please remember those who have served our country selflessly. Support our troops – help us save their buddies today!
Thank you for your immediate action. We cannot succeed without you!
For the animals,

JD Winston
Executive Director
SPCA International
P.S. Help us spread the word! Please forward this email to family and friends.

Please take a moment on this Veterans Day to honor all those dogs, horses and other animals who have passed on in combat, saving lives and all those who were casualties of war.

The following excerpt is from www.wtv-zone.com/infchoice/wardogs

“America’s war dogs prevented over 10,000 casualties in Vietnam alone and bravely served our country in Operation Desert Storm as well as World War II. Yet, many of these K-9 Soldiers were declared “surplus armaments” and were unceremoniously euthanised or left to unknown fates in Vietnam.

America’s war dogs were trained to recognize booby traps, mines tunnels and weapons caches. They were trained for parachutte landings. They warned troops about ambushes. They saved lives by dragging wounded soldiers to safety. These canine heroes lived, bonded and fought side-by-side with our veterans.”

www.MyAcuDoc.com

www.4pawsacupuncture.com

Help save the planet while you re-hydrate in style with an eye-catching BPA-free water bottle from SIGG. Made from a single piece of aluminum, it’s ultra-lightweight yet rugged and crack-resistant. To minimize unwanted tastes and scents, the inside is lined with a water-based, non-toxic epoxy resin that exceeds FDA leaching requirements.

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By the Monks of New Skete

“In this book (and tape) the monks build upon the basic puppy training covered in the “Art of Raising a Puppy”. It covers how to select a dog to fit your lifestyle, how to read a pedigree, how and when to train, and how to properly use praise and discipline with wisdom, compassion the brothers are known for.”

This book is a MUST for anyone who has a dog or is thinking about adopting a dog. The Monks of New Skete are the original Dog Whisperers! I have been fortunate to visit with the monks and their Divine canines on several occasions. Their method of training is simple, compassionate and it works. Your dog will thank you!

You can find it at www.newsktemonks.com

What is the sound of one paw clapping? This Peace Love Paws zen design is one of Planet Calamari’s most recent additions of canine art. Available on t-shirts, totes, buttons, dog shirts, stickers, mugs and other items for the home or veterinary office. A unique gift for all those zen inspired dog lovers.

Visit Planet Calamari’s Tao of Dog Galleria for unique art on clothing and gifts for dog lovers.

This blog was inspired by an unpleasant experience a friend of mine had while walking a rescue dog, whom we now refer to as Kujo. During the walk Kujo encountered a greyhound and lunged at him, trying to attack him. Fortunately neither dog was on a retractable leash and both owners were able to pull the dogs away before contact was made. Nobody was injured, however everyone involved was very shook up. This was a reminder that dogs can be unpredictable at times. I’ve also recently seen a large dog start across my street snarling at a smaller dog on the other side. Fortunately, the big dog’s owner had a strong leather leash to control the dog, and a good thing, too: that lunge across the street would have been right in front of a car.

While researching the pros and cons of using retractable leashes, I came across an excellent article written by Kelly Ryan and Lisa Mullinax of Four Paws University located in Sacramento, CA. They have given me permission to share parts of it in this newsletter. They write:

“Retractable leashes also give a false sense of security. They are sold with indications as to what size dog they are appropriate for. This makes it seem as though they will be able to withstand a good hard tug from a dog of that size. One of our students bought a retractable leash for dogs “up to 50 pounds”; her 30 pound puppy broke it. She bought increasingly sturdier retractable leashes, and her 30 pound puppy broke all of them. The leashes were not frayed or in anyway damaged, her dog just got up enough speed in 20 feet to pop them. After three busted leashes in about two months, she gave them up for good and bought a thin, 6 foot leather leash. Two years later, she is still using the same leather leash.”

The authors summarized their experiences:

“Retractable leashes can be a convenient tool for experienced handlers with well-mannered dogs. However, they are not a substitute for training, they do not give a dog freedom, and there are serious safety concerns for your dog.”

Please read the entire article by clicking on the Four Paws University website below.

www.4pawsu.com
please note that 4 Paws University is not connected to Four Paws Acupuncture

The Poodle according to Wikipedia:

The Poodle is a breed of dog, and is regarded as one of the most intelligent breeds of dog.[1] The poodle breed is found in small, medium, and large sizes, and in many coat colors. Originally bred as a type of water dog, the poodle is skillful in many dog sports, including agility, obedience, tracking, and even herding. Poodles are elegant in the conformation ring, having taken top honors in many shows, including Best in Show (BIS) at the Westminster Kennel Club show in 2002 and BIS at the World Dog Show in 2007.

History

Poodles are retrievers or gun dogs, and can still be seen in that role. The breed’s English name has German origins. (The name poodle comes from the German word short for pudelhund or, reflecting the breed’s development from a water dog; the word pudel is related to the English word puddle.) However, most sources concur that the French are responsible for developing the modern breed into its current form, and developing the different sizes. The French name for the poodle is caniche, referring to ducks and the poodles’ water dog origins.

Poodle sizes

Unlike many breeds, poodles come in a variety of sizes, distinguished by adult shoulder (withers) height. The exact height cutoffs among the varieties vary slightly from country to country. Non-Fédération Cynologique Internationale kennel clubs generally recognize three sizes, standard, miniature, and toy, sometimes as sizes of the same breed, and sometimes as separate breeds. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognizes four sizes of one breed, standard, medium, miniature, and toy.[5] Only the Fédération Cynologique Internationale describes a maximum size for standard poodles.

The terms royal standard, teacup, and tiny teacup are marketing names, and are not recognized by any major kennel club.

Health
With proper care and nutrition, many enjoy life well into their teens.

The most common serious health issues of standard poodles (listed in order of the number of reported cases in the Poodle Health Registry (as of August 20, 2007) are Addison’s disease, gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV = bloat/torsion), thyroid issues (hyperthyroid and hypothyroid), tracheal collapse, epilepsy, sebaceous adenitis, juvenile renal disease, hip dysplasia, and cancer. Standard poodles are also susceptible to some health issues usually too minor to report to the poodle health registry. The most common of these minor issues are probably ear infections. Ear infections are a problem in all poodle varieties. Ear problems can be minimized by proper ear care. A veterinarian should be consulted if the dog shows signs of an ear infection, lest a minor issue turn into a major issue.”

Acupuncture and traditional Chinese Medicine can help the symptoms of canine hip dysplasia, renal disease, arthritis and other canine pain related ailments. Visit FourPawsAcupuncture.com for more information on veterinary acupuncture for your poodle.

For more information about poodles visit the American Kennel Club site www.akc.org/breeds/poodle

To rid your home of fleas, spread a box of Mule Team Borax (available in your store’s laundry soap isle), over your carpet. Use a broom and sweep it into the carpet. Wait a couple of hours then vacuum. The residual borax that remains in the carpet will kill the fleas and their larvae simply by drying them out.

Make sure your pets do not walk on the floor while the Borax is there. It can be absorbed into their feet.

April showers bring May flowers with fleas, ticks and other bugs that attack our pets.

Ticks carry the dreaded Lyme disease as well as yellow-spotted fever disease and others. Fleas are annoying to both humans and animals as well as dangerous.

Many people have asked me about recommendations for natural pest repellents for their dogs. There are a few essential oils that can help combat ticks and fleas, however there is no guarantee that these aromatherapy mixtures will completely protect your dog. Always err on the side of caution when bringing your dog into an area that is known to have ticks.

Please note that certain aromatherapy oils are toxic for cats. The following essential oils are for human or dog use only.

Here are a few essential oils to make your own Pest Away Repellent.

Geranium oil is said to be one of the best oils to repel ticks and fleas. It can also be used as a hair and skin conditioner.

Lavender oil is soothing, calming and repels most bugs, ticks and even scorpions.

Lemongrass repels ticks, fleas and mosquitos.

Sage and thyme are also used with other oils to repel ticks.

To make your own essential oil repellent, take about 4 drops of one or more of the above oils mixed into 8 ounces of pure water in a dark glass spray bottle.

You can use this mixture on your dog, the dog’s bedding and even yourself! Please be careful not to spray near eyes or any orifices.

May your spring and summer be pest free!