FALL 2002 NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the New Hope Animal Hospital Newsletter. It is only a sample of the information and educational material we have available for you on many subjects! This newsletter is a means of education and entertainment for you. We hope it provides both.

If you have any comments or suggestions for future newsletters or if we can help you in any way, please call or e-mail us.

At New Hope Animal Hospital we celebrate the human-animal bond and cherish our furry and feathered friends as family. We understand how important your pet is to you and we are always striving to provide the best care possible. We love our pets, too!

Greetings

The Meaning of Face Rubbing

Does your cat greet you by rubbing her face against your leg? If so, you should feel welcomed. Your kitty has just given you his version of the warm greeting.

When cats that are friends greet each other, they typically rub faces. Because you’re a lot taller than the average cat, your cat makes contact with your leg instead. You may notice that your affectionate feline begins by rubbing the top of his head or the side of his body against your leg. He’ll then rub the length of his body against you and will wrap his tail around your leg. If you reach down and stroke her, she’ll grow more insistent. She may rub the side of her mouth against your hand, nudging your hand upward with her head.

While there’s no doubt your kitty loves you, his actions have an ulterior motive. Cats have scent glands in the temples, near their mouths and at the base of their tails. Cats touch those parts of their bodies against us because they want to h leave behind their scent—a result of substances called pheromones—as a mark of their high regard. Conversely, the contact leaves some of your smell on him. After the scent exchange, your cat I likely to retreat, sit down, and begin licking his fur. It’s his way of experiencing you scent—tasting your smell, so to speak.

Reprinted form Cornell Feline Health Center Newsletter

SEASONAL SUBJECTS

Halloween is right around the corner and the things we like most about it can scare and even harm your dog or cat. Here’s some helpful reminders of what we pet owners must remember about this scary season!

v Keep your dog or cat inside away from pranksters who target pets. In fact keep your dog and cat away from the door and preferably in another room to avoid fear biting or dashing out! And make sure your pet has proper identification in case it does happen to escape.

v Keep the candy out of reach of your dog…remember chocolate can kill and cellophane wrappers can be swallowed by fun-loving cats.

v Do not use candles or fire in any of your decorations. Many pets have been injured by curiosity! Burned whiskers and candles accidentally knocked over are never enjoyable.

v If you dress your pet up in a costume, make sure it enjoys it as much as you. Being laughed at isn’t fun unless you are laughing too.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION…

KIDNEY TRANSPLANT SUCCESSFUL

Rosebud a 4-year old Bouvier des Flandres became the fifth successful canine kidney transplant patient thanks to the kidney transplant team headed by Lynda Bernsteen, DVM, at The University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. Kidney transplants are difficult in dogs because of lack of donors and compatibility problems. However Rosebud’s only offspring Uno proved to be a perfect match and on June 27^th, 2002 Rosebud got one of Uno’s kidneys thus saving her life. The cost of kidney transplants in dogs is $9,500-$11,000 and only offered at a few institutions. Rosebud truly is a miracle dog!

WEST NILE VIRUS IN THE NEWS

As you all know (unless you live in a cage, and many of my friends do) the West Nile Virus has been reported in birds and humans in Arkansas. It is not a threat to our beloved dogs and cats. Since it is spread by the bite of a mosquito, it is important to minimize mosquitoes in your area by spraying for adults and removing the breeding grounds (standing water) of mosquitoes. The CDC (Center of Disease Control) and Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission are carefully monitoring this situation and keeping the public well-informed and updated through press releases.

LOCAL EVENTS

Please refer to the following websites

for information regarding

upcoming local shows and events:

Ø The Delta Society began as an organization that funded research on pets’ impact on human health and well-being, then began training and certification programs for volunteers and their pets. Delta’s Pet Partners Program now matches people in need with pet partners. The organization offers home-study and workshop training throughout the United States.

Ø Therapy Dogs International, a volunteer-run organization, certifies dogs for animal-assisted therapy work and matches qualified handlers and dogs with institutions seeking volunteers. TDI requires that registrants pass an enhanced version of the Canine Good Citizen test. The organization has chapters throughout the United States.

Information” Therapy Dogs International, 88 Partley Road, Flanders, NJ, 07836; (973) 252-9800;

Ø Paws With A Cause- nonprofit organization that trains assistance dogs and pairs them up with people with severely limiting disabilities. www.pawswithacause.org

Ø Canine Companions for Independence- nonprofit group that trains assistance dogs and places them with people with disabilities. www.caninecompanions.org

Ø Assistance Dogs International, Inc.- membership organization of groups and individuals that train and place service dogs. www.assistance-dogs-intl.org

New Hope Boarding and Grooming located next door to us has doggy daycare on weekdays. This service is invaluable to many that have to leave their dog or puppy home alone during the day. It provides a safe and loving environment for your pet and allows them to have a social outing and exercise. Please talk to one of the

staff members at 936-8044 if you are interested. They also have many toys, collars and accessories for your pet that we are not able to stock. And they carry a full line of Eukanuba and Royal Canin foods.

But if you can’t make it to doggy day care at New Hope Boarding and Grooming, here are some tips for you!

HOME ALONE: TEN TIPS TO KEEP YOUR DOG OCCUPIED

¨ Hire a dog-friendly neighbor to visit your dog even if it is only for fifteen or thirty minutes a day.

¨ Treat your dog to daycare (at New Hope Boarding and Grooming right next door!)

¨ Record 20 minutes of family time at dinner or a friendly get together then set it on continuous play or on a timer.

¨ Set boundaries by closing doors and using see through gates to reduce temptations.

In the first completed canine lifetime diet restriction study, conducted by Nestle Purina PetCare, researchers proved that maintaining a lean body condition in dogs increased their median life span by 15 percent (that’s 1.8 years for a Labrador!). These dogs were fed 25% fewer calories than dogs fed ad libitum (all they want) in15 minute daily feedings. The ad libitum dogs exhibited more visible signs of aging and required treatment for chronic disease 2.1 years before the lean body condition dogs. The 14-year study took place at he Purina Pet Care Center and compared 48 Labrador retriever dogs from seven litters.

FREE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR CAT OWNERS

The third annual Purina Cat Chow Way of Life Tour will be traveling the country providing free education, information and training to cat owners. The traveling exhibit will visit an estimated 30 cities and will include free training demonstrations regarding kittens, cats and senior felines, and interactive area where owners can assess their cats’ health, a cat adoption center and a team of Purina Cat Chow mentors who offer advice to visitors. For more information visit www.catchow.com.

BEHAVIOR BITS:

Here’s How To Read Your Dog From Head To Tail

If you want to be skilled at understanding what your dog is telling you, study this list explaining what different canine body parts convey. Remember not to rely on only one body language cue when 'reading' your dog and that some of these signs may not be so easily noticed among some breeds:

Ears: Challenging or assertive dogs keep their ears erect, tense and leaning forward. Calm, contented dogs tend to relax the muscle tension around their ears. Fearful or worried dogs often pull their ears back against their heads.

Eyes: Direct staring by a dog means confidence and possibly dominance. Dogs that look at you and then look away are indicating they are yielding power to you. Dogs that greet you with soft eyes are contented. Dogs with dilated large pupil either fearful or aggressive.

Mouth: Lip curling and exposing teeth may be a sign of aggression or, in the cases of certain breeds like Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, a sign of pure happiness. Tongue flicking often means a feeling of uncertainty and uneasiness. Yawning usually symbolizes stress, not fatigue. Yawning helps lower a dog's blood pressure to help it stay calm. Dogs that mouth your hand without using their teeth are delivering a friendly greeting, but dogs that use their teeth are challenging your authority.

Torso tension: Muscle tension is your barometer to the emotions a dog conveys. Tightened muscles, especially around the head and shoulders, often indicate a dog is scared or aggressive

Gestures: Play bowing (front torso down, front legs extended, back torso up and tail wagging) is the universal canine sign for happiness and an invitation to play. Nose nudging is a plea for affection or a cue that you're in his chair and please move. Paw lifting often means 'let's play’ or 'pay attention to me.'

Haircoat: A calm dog displays a smooth coat from his shoulders to his hips. Hair along the spine of a scared or challenged dog will stand on end (his 'hackles’ will raise) and that will make him appear larger in size than he actually is. This is an involuntary, automatic response to an animate threat.

Tail: An alert dog's tail will be held tail and erect. A fearful dog will tuck his tail between his legs. An excited dog will hoist his tail up and wag it quickly from side to side. A cautious dog will hold his tail straight out and wag it slowly and steadily. A contented dog keeps his tail relaxed and at ease.

"Whenever in doubt, always read the most fearful or aggressive signal," says Dr Nicholas H. Dodman. “If the back end looks friendly and is wiggling, but the front end of the dog looks mean, read the most dangerous end," he says. "If fear is indicated by any one body language sign, then fear is in the equation.”

Watch For These Classic Signs

Here's a guide to understanding signs of a dominant, submissive, happy or anxious dog.

REPRINTED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES

PET RELATED WEB SITES

The following is a list of some of our favorite sites and fun places to visit on the web. Keep this reference guide handy and use them as good sources of trustable, valuable information.

www.mypetstop.com offers easy-to-understand info on pet nutrition, ownership, health, and behavior.

www.avma.org offers practical information and animal-related activities for children

www.cfainc.org the site of the largest cat organization and breed registry, the Cat Fanciers Association

www.netcat.org internet cat club with educational items, chat rooms and fun things to do