EDITORIAL

Nancy Belknap, DVM

Thousands of years ago man domesticated wild species to serve us by hunting, protecting and providing companionship to our own species. In doing so we selectively bred for certain characteristics and inhibited many of the natural instincts found in those animals. Through this process of changing them, we became responsible for them. We changed them for our own gain, and we must assume the responsibility of our ancestors and provide for the creatures we humans created.

When we accept a pet into our home we are making a lifetime commitment to take care of that animal. That doesn’t mean that you accept the part of pet ownership you like or when it’s convenient to you. It means you are morally bound to the total package – the good and the bad whether it is convenient or not. Absolutely nowhere is it written that you must own a pet, so if you are unwilling to accept that total commitment, I contend you should not have an animal as a pet. One of the true frustrations in my position is the irresponsible owner who selfishly does not consider the needs of their pet that totally depends on them. I wonder why they ever got an animal!

The clients who read this newsletter are obviously interested and informed pet owners. However, there are so many part-time pet owners, based on their own time and energy. They consider their pets as they do many things…disposable…if there is a problem with it, get rid of it and get a new one. This is so very unfair to a dog or cat. I talk to these people and try to instill a sense of responsibility and understanding of what pet ownership really means. Providing the essentials of life-food, water, shelter-is not enough. Dogs and cats have an emotional life and we must acknowledge and celebrate this. They know loneliness, boredom, pain, hunger, fear and a wide range of other emotions. And certainly we are responsible for their emotional life as well. But this realization must come before these people become pet owners, so if they are unwilling to accept this responsibility they won’t ever get a pet.

The number one reason adult dogs and cats are taken to humane societies are behavior problems. Owners are unwilling to work with their pet and find a way to change the behavior that often they have ignored or actually encouraged. So education is essential if we are to reduce the number of pets taken to humane societies or dumped by uninformed or uncaring owners and save the lives of these animals. Our office provides a full behavior library and offers consultation on behavior problems. We have an excellent client education article that we distribute in our puppy packs entitled “Being a Dog Ain’t Misbehavin’”. Its theme is that dogs have basic instincts, which if left unchecked or unchanneled will become or be construed as poor behavior. As dogs evolved humans bred and selected certain traits that were considered helpful to our own existence. In some situations, the selections we made through evolution were not wise choices for a companion pet. For instance, Chow-chows were bred and selected for their aloofness and territorialism. This is not a good trait for a family that wants a housedog. Herding dogs such as the Australian Shepherd were bred and selected for chasing moving objects such as sheep, yet in a neighborhood situation this could become car chasing or child chasing. Certainly not acceptable unless these instincts are channeled in another direction. Barking loud and strong was a good trait as the terrier group evolved into hunters of small prey, yet now we consider this annoying in a home. They aren’t being bad; they are doing what we selected and bred them for. Our responsibility is to override these instincts and provide a chance for what we consider good behavior.

Based on my experiences with adults, opinions once formed are difficult to change. Certainly you could never convince me not to love animals or to treat them with disrespect. I have found young minds to be most receptive to learning and if there is one legacy I wish to leave on this earth, it is to teach all children that each life is valuable and deserves our respect and humane treatment. Children who grow up in homes that regard pets as inconvenient or disposable are destined to grow up with these same values unless we teach them otherwise. Our doctors and staff actively participate in schools and civic organizations to spread the word of responsible pet ownership. But we need the help of every animal lover out there…first of all, tell people not to own a pet unless they fully understand the responsibility of that life, and secondly, if they have a problem with that pet, find help-it’s available! If you can’t change the mind of the adult, work on their children.

PFIZER SPONSORS PAIN MANAGEMENT TEAM

Pfizer Animal Health is allowing two of their sedation and pain management specialist, Dr. David Martin and Dr. Steve Fox to visit New Hope Animal Hospital on March 24 and 25 to offer their expertise and guidance in our hospitals management of pain in our patients. Veterinarians are now more aware than ever of the subtle clues of pain in our ‘suffer in silence’ friends. And we are equipped with more medications than ever to minimize that pain. Dr. Martin and Dr. Fox will host a get to know you dinner for our staff (food always catches our attention) and on the next day, they will be at our hospital observing, teaching and helping us learn the newest concepts in anesthesia and pain management. We are excited to have this opportunity and thank Pfizer, makers of Revolution and Rimadyl, two products many of our clients are familiar with.

BENTON COUNTY RABIES AWARENESS WEEK

The week of April 6^th through April 13^th a county-wide series of Rabies Vaccination Clinics will be held. Rabies is a deadly virus that poses a very real health threat to humans. There have been no positive cases of rabies in domestic animals in Benton County since 1999 (there were two in 1999). Our wildlife serve as a constant source for rabies in our domestic animals. Yearly vaccination for rabies is a state law for domestic animals. To support the Benton County effort, this year our hospital will discount the rabies vaccines given during that week at our facility. In addition, we will be providing discounted vaccinations at the following locations and times:

April 6^th 1:00-2:00 p.m. Avoca Volunteer Fire Department

2:15-3:00 p.m. Garfield Elementary School

These vaccines do not include a complete physical examination and are designed to help the rural community who have a difficult time transporting their pets to town. We always use this opportunity to educate people and encourage responsible pet ownership. The money from these clinics is distributed to the Avoca Fire Department, Garfield Elementary School and the staff who volunteer their time and energy to provide this service to our rural community.

OPEN HOUSE AT NEW HOPE ANIMAL HOSPITAL

New Hope Animal Hospital will host its third annual Open House to coincide with National Pet Week on Sunday, May 5^th. If you have never been to our open house before, it is a chance to see the hospital inside and out. We all work hard to make displays and to provide demonstrations designed to entertain and educate you. In addition we invite different animal related groups such as obedience clubs, rescue organizations and working pets to set up booths or displays at our Open House. It is a lot of work for our staff, but we are delighted to honor and promote pets in our lives. We enjoy sharing our passion with you so make plans now to attend our Open House on May 5^th from 1-4 p.m.

NATIONAL NOTICES

MARCH 2-8 National Professional Pet Sitters Week www.petsits.com

MARCH 17-23 National Poison Prevention Week www.aspca.org

APRIL Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month www.aspca.org

APRIL 6 Tag Day www.americanhumane.org

MAY 5-11 National Pet Week www.avma.org

MAY 5-11 Be Kind To Animals Week www.americanhumane.org

MAY 19-25 National Dog Bite Prevention Week www.avma.org

JUNE Adopt a Cat Month www.americanhumane.org

JUNE Adopt a Shelter Cat Month www.aspca.org

THIS QUARTER WE HIGHLIGHT:

THE MORNINGSTAR WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER

The purpose of this center is to treat and rehabilitate injured, disabled, and orphaned native wild life in order to return healthy members of a breeding population to its natural habitat. In addition the goal is to foster respect, appreciation and compassion for wildlife and to teach a sense of stewardship for all wildlife through educational programs.

Located in Gravette and managed by Lynn Sciumbato, the Center has treated and released over 5,000 injured or orphaned wild life to their natural habitat since opening in 1981. The Center has a hospital building for confining the injured until rehabilitation and release is possible, several flight cages to build strength and agility in weakened raptors, as well as mammal cages designed to teach foraging and survival skills to orphans.

This center is funded solely by donations and the manager, Lynn Sciumbato, receives no compensation for her time and energy. The devotion of this woman to the wildlife of NW Arkansas has made an incredible impact on the lives of so many animals that no one claims. In addition to her duties at the Center itself, Lynn donates her time and gives talks and demonstrations at many meetings and schools to educate and inform the citizens of our community about the importance of wildlife in our world.

New Hope Animal Hospital has been honored to assist this organization and the wildlife of NW Arkansas through offering our services and support at no charge. If you can make a contribution of time or money, please let Lynn know at (479) 789-1515.

LOCAL EVENTS TO ENJOY

AVIAN AGENDA

March 9 Tulsa OK: Oklahoma Avicultural Society’s “Spring Fling” Bird Fair. Tulsa Convention Ctr. 6^th and Houston. Contact Barbara (918) 245-1270 macawcorner@aol.com; www.okbirds.com

March 16 Kansas City, Mo.: Beak n Wings Pet Bird Club’s Spring Bird Fair. Benjamin Ranch; Info: Dean (913) 722-2632

April 20 Joplin, MO., Mo-Kan Cage Bird Club Spring Bird Fair and Sale. John Q. Hammons Trade Center; Info: Ramona (316) 389-2305 monybird1@ckt.net

June 1 Oklahoma City, OK. Bird and Pet Expo. Fairgrounds (Made in OK Building); Info: Morning Star Expositions (337) 725-6365 or fairs@birdsandpets.com

CAT CALENDER

March 9-10 Kansas City KS. Mo-Kan Cat Club, Woodlands Horse Track, Kansas City, KS. Contact: Ray Edwards (573) 364-6583 ray@soesthill.com

March 16-17 Tulsa, OK. Oil Capital Cat Club, Tulsa Convention Center, Tulsa, OK. Contact: Belinda Ernest (918) 488-8346 elfstone@tanglebox.net

March 30-31 Kimberling City, MO. Kacod Cat Club, American Legion Hall, Kimberling City, MO. Contact: v. Dickson (417) 793-1260

March 30-31 Springfield, MO. Lakes Country Cat Fanciers, University Plaza Trade Center, Springfield, MO. Contact: Gail Rothman (417) 883-0923 leclubfur@aol.com

I am unable to find listings nearby in April and May, but check the calendar at catfancy.com for show listings later in this quarter.

DOG DAYS

March 16 Kansas City, MO. Leavenworth Kennel Club, Bartle Hall, Kansas City, MO. Obedience Trial.

March 23-24 Sherwood, AR. Little Rock Dog Training Club, Sherwood Forest, Sherwood, AR. Obedience Trial.

March 29-30 Claremore, OK. Claremore Kennel Club of Oklahoma, Claremore Expo Ctr. Conformation.

April 13-14 Kansas City, MO. Greater Kansas City Dog Training Club, Serenity Farms, Belton, MO. (816) 587-5023 karen.nenow@am.sony.com Agility Trial only.

April 20-21 Harrison, AR. North Arkansas Kennel Club, NW Arkansas District Fairgrounds, Harrison, MO. Conformation with Obedience.

April 26 Grove, OK. Bartlesville Kennel Club, Grove Civic Center, Grove, OK. Conformation with Obedience.

April 27 Grove, OK. Tri-State Kennel Club, Grove Civic Center, Grove, OK. Conformation with Obedience.

April 28 Springfield, MO. Ozarks Kennel Club, Ozark Empire Fairgrounds Arena, Springfield, MO. Conformation with Obedience.

Again, I was not able to locate listings for May, but check out dogfancy.com for May shows later in this quarter.

REPTILE REFERENCES

March 24 Kansas City, MO. 5^th Annual Midwest Breeders Spring Expo; Info: (816) 468-5609

April 13-14 Tulsa, OK. Tulsa Reptile, Insect and Exotic Mammal Expo, Holiday Inn Select (I-44 and Yale) Info: (903) 862-2291 www.texasreptiles.com

May 11 Ozark, MO. Greater Ozarks Reptile Expo, Ozark Community Building Info (471) 581-3093

Relaxed and Happy: Ears at normal position, tail relaxed or upright, whiskers standing straight out from face, purring.

Aggressive: Narrow pupils, ears flat and rotated backwards, tail swishes or thumps the ground, hair on tail bristles, hissing or screeching.

Frightened: Eyes and pupils wide-open, hair on tail and back standing up, ears pulled back against head.

Annoyed: Tip of tail twitches, whiskers pulled back tightly against face, ears flat against head.

Sick: Eyes in half-closed position, tail between legs, whiskers and ears remain in abnormal position for extended period of time, may purr loudly when comforted.

Ø A steady diet of dog food can cause your cat to go blind because of the lack of taurine in dog food, which cats need for good eyesight.

Ø The ancient Egyptians were the first to tame the cat about 2500 B.C. The Pilgrims were the first to introduce cats to North America.

Ø The first cat shows were organized in Britain. The first cat show in the United States was at Madison Square Gardens in New York City in 1895. The American Cat Club, the first U.S. cat registry was founded after the second cat show in 1896. In 1906 the Cat Fanciers’ Association formed and is now the largest cat registry in the U.S.

Ø The American Kennel Club recognizes 148 breeds of dogs all descended from wolves. Each breed was developed for a specific purpose. There are seven distinct groups according to the AKC-Sporting, Toy, Terrier, Working, Herding, Hounds (scent and sight), and Non-sporting.

Ø The number one breed in 2001 based on number of puppies registered is the Labrador Retriever. Number two is the Golden Retriever. In order from there are the German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Dachshund, Beagle, Poodle (all sizes combined), Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, and Pomeranian.

Ø Dogs have the greatest variation in size and weight of any species of animal!

Ø Dogs were believed to have first been domesticated in the ice age (14,000 to 10,000 B.C.)

Ø Introduced in 1957, Purina Dog Chow was the first pressure-cooked dog food available for consumers. This revolutionized the dog food market and made hard kibbles a popular dog food choice.

In 2001 our hospital documented 43 cases of canine heartworm disease and 2 cases of feline heartworm disease. While we routinely check dogs for heartworm disease, veterinary medicine is only now realizing the extent of this disease and the variety of symptoms that heartworms in cats can present. As we are gaining in recognizing the signs of heartworm disease in cats, we anticipate an increase in diagnosis of this devastating disease.

Parvovirus was definitively diagnosed in 34 of 80 dogs tested at this hospital in 2001. This disease is so easily prevented that we find it disturbing to continue to see cases. Several of the positive cases we saw were dogs vaccinated with pet store or feed store purchased vaccines. Please talk to our staff about this risky protection of your dog if you still use these vaccines on your pet!

In 2001 we diagnosed 17 new cases of Feline Leukemia Virus and 14 cases of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus at our practice. Cats can appear very healthy even when they are infected. These are diseases that are spread by direct contact and cats that roam are at high risk. Cats that are not neutered or spayed can easily pick this up as they search for a mate…another good reason to spay and neuter.

Canine b/d, developed by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, was released to veterinarians and clients last fall. The dog food—which includes dried fruits and vegetables like spinach, tomato pomace and grape pomace—includes antioxidants, essential fatty acids and vitamins. Canine b/d has been clinically proven to improve the learning ability and alertness of older dogs. Results have been seen within 30 days. The dog food is promoted for dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, which is similar to Alzheimer’s or dementia in humans. Symptoms of cognitive dysfunction include disorientation or confusion, interaction changes, changes in sleep cycles and defecating in the house. This dog food has added ‘life’ to many older dogs so far. The really good news is that Hill’s is offering a 10# bag FREE! We have lots of rebate forms available, so stop in and buy a 10# bag of b/d, then get your money back from Hills.

Interceptor ® (Novartis Animal Health) is now approved for use in cats for heartworm prevention. The tablets may be administered to cats as young as six weeks of age and weighing more than 1 ½ pounds. While heartworm disease in cats is not common in this area, the doctors at New Hope Animal Hospital have diagnosed several cases of this usually fatal disease in our clients’ cats. Mosquitoes carry the larvae (immature form) of the heartworm and there is no treatment for CATS (not dogs) once they have the disease. Certainly this is a time that prevention is better than being one of our uncommon cases. Interceptor is given year round in Arkansas.

Ralston Purina has been ‘acquired’ (i.e., bought) by Nestle S.A., the parent company of Friskies PetCare. They will call the new company “Nestle Purina PetCare Company” and will continue to produce the Purina Veterinary Diets line. The big get bigger….I hope it means better!

The number one reason adult dogs and cats are surrendered to humane societies is behavior problems. Many of these start at puppy or kitten hood and are not recognized or treated. It is our responsibility at New Hope Animal Hospital to educate our clients and prevent the problems that lead to euthanasia of healthy adult animals due to behavior. We have a wide variety of client education resources available to help you with any behavior problem you may encounter, so please let us be of service! Several of our doctors and nurses have a special interest in this area and are willing to consult with you and resolve those behaviors that are unacceptable. In fact, one of our nurses Angie has asked to have a column in this newsletter to keep our clients informed and educated. Thanks, Angie, the critters appreciate your time and energy and the fact you care about them.

Time for a spring-cleaning? Theresa and Deb, the full-time groomers at New Hope Boarding and Grooming Kennel, are ready for their busy season! Their aptitude and attitude set them apart from the rest! Additional staff is now in-training to give your best friend the perfect haircut. Call now (936-8044) for your spring appointment…they even have Saturday groomers!

Did you know training experts now recommend your puppy meets 100 people by the time it is 3 months old? Early socialization is crucial to a mentally balanced pet! The puppy parties and obedience classes that New Hope Boarding and Grooming Kennel provide are a perfect opportunity to socialize your puppy with people and other dogs. Classes start March 26^th and they will certainly give you and your puppy a great foundation. Call Scotty at 936-8044 to register.

Speaking of socializing, Doggie Daycare is another great way to provide your puppy with mental and physical stimulation while you are away. One of my great pleasures is to visit Doggy Daycare and watch the puppies and people interact! I know they make a positive difference in the lives of these pets. No reservation is required…just stop in to give your dog a day of fun.

Dr. Deedee Moore, Dr. Lori Brown and Laura Clute, CVT, attended the Western States Conference in Las Vegas in February. This is one of the “Big Three” continuing education conferences, and they returned full of information and inspiration. We are proud that our staff is committed to staying current in the ever-changing world of veterinary medicine!

Janet, one of our surgical assistants, had a little boy, Eli, on December 27^th. They are both doing great and Janet is back now monitoring and assisting in surgery. We missed her a lot but the joy of a new baby helped us survive her absence.

Now another nurse is going to add to our baby count- Megan is due with her first child in May! We have had our water checked, and all is safe there. Must be the weather!

In May we will have a new associate, Katie Ealey, DVM! She is a 2002 graduate of Oklahoma State and a Rogers native. We are excited to have her fresh knowledge and enthusiasm as part of our team. Since she worked as a preceptor here during her senior year, we are confident of her abilities and devotion to animals.

Dr. Nancy and her son Kyle are back in Arkansas…for awhile at least. Kyle has been undergoing treatment for cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, NY. Unfortunately, treatment had to be delayed because of complications, so they are home. They hope to return to NY in the next few months to complete the protocol. Meanwhile it’s great to have her back!

Many of us begin the spring and summer season by planting our gardens of vegetables and flowers and getting our lawn in shape for the year. As we all get our shovels and seeds, we would never intentionally harm our pets. But it can happen, so a quick review of things not to plant is in order.

Many more plants and plant parts can cause reactions when dogs or cats eat them. A complete list can be found at the Web sites of the ASPCA (www.aspca.org) and the Humane Society of the United States (www.haus.org). Please review these lists before you go to the greenhouse for your spring plantings!

Another spring danger are lawn and pool chemicals, which are rarely ingested in great quantity, yet can be a severe oral and esophageal irritant even in small quantities. Lawn chemicals (fertilizers, weed inhibitors, and the like) and pool chemicals (chlorine) can also cause contact irritation and rashes on the belly and paws. Keep your pet off recently treated lawns (until it has been thoroughly soaked and allowed to dry) and away from any pool chemicals!

Insect and snakebites can also cause spring distress. Bee stings can be painful and annoying and, just as in humans, cause death in certain individuals. Fly strike is common in dogs kept outside and can lead to sores and infection usually on the ear tips. Mosquito bites can lead to heartworm disease. Topical insecticides are essential to keep these insects off your pet. Snakebites can lead to infection and death of tissues in the area of the bite, and again, can cause death from secondary complications. The snakes found in Northwest Arkansas are rarely venomous enough to cause death from the venom itself.

We have available at no charge excellent client education articles on first aid and the essentials of a first aid kit. Please e-mail our office or stop in for a copy of this information. It is better to read it and become familiar with first aid procedures before an emergency!

BREED REGISTRIES

New Hope Animal Hospital has available lists of several animal related web sites including every AKC dog breed site. We also have web sites for every cat registry in the United States. We would like to make those available to you if you want them. If you would find these useful, we can snail mail or e-mail them to you; just ask! We also have a wide variety of other animal web sites including service dogs sites and sites designed to teach more to kids about animals. If you want to surf the web with animals in mind, let us share our lists with you…and if you have a favorite site not on our list, please let us know!