How to Tell Your Pet Has a Rabies?

Facts About Rabies
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The virus is usually transmitted by a bite from a rabid animal.

Prompt and appropriate treatment, after being bitten and before the disease develops, can stop the infection and prevent the disease in people.

Human rabies cases in the United States have occurred after close exposure to a bat without an obvious sign or recollection of a bite.

Not all rabid animals foam at the mouth and appear mad. Infected animals can be very calm and tame.

Only mammals get rabies. Birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians do not.

Rabies and Humans
Improved rabies vaccination and animal control programs and better treatment for people who have been bitten have dramatically reduced the number of human rabies cases in this country. The majority of recent human cases acquired in the United States have resulted from exposures to bats.

Dogs are still a significant source of rabies in other countries. Be aware of this risk when traveling outside of the United States.

Most cases of rabies occur in wild animals, mainly skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes. Remember, wildlife is a part of our natural heritage. Enjoy it and respect it from a distance for the benefit of all concerned.

What You Can Do To Help Control Rabies

• Have your veterinarian vaccinate your cats, dogs, ferrets, and selected livestock. Keep the vaccinations up-to-date. Your veterinarian will advise you on the recommended or required frequency of vaccination in your locality.
• Reduce the possibility of exposure to rabies by keeping your animals on your property. Don't let pets roam free. Don't leave garbage or pet food outside because it may attract wild or stray animals.
• Wild animals should not be kept as pets. They are a potential rabies threat to their owners and to others. Observe all wild animals from a distance, even if they seem friendly.
  A rabid wild animal may act tame. Don't go near it. If you see a wild animal acting strangely, report it to the city or county animal control department.

If You Have Been Bitten
Don't panic — but don't ignore the bite either. Wash the wound thoroughly and vigorously with soap and lots of water.

If possible, capture the animal under a large box or can, or at least try to identify it before it runs away. Don't try to pick the animal up. Call the local animal control authorities to come and get the animal.

If it is a wild animal, try to capture it if you can do so safely without being bitten again. If the animal cannot be captured and it must be killed to prevent its escape, don't damage the head. The brain will be needed to test for rabies.

Call your physician immediately. Explain how you were bitten and follow the physician's advice.

Report the bite to the local health department.

If Your Pet Has Been Bitten:

• Immediately consult your veterinarian.
• Report the bite to the local animal control authorities.
• Dogs, cats and ferrets that are currently vaccinated should be revaccinated immediately, kept under the owner's control, and observed for a period as specified by state law or local ordinances (normally 45 days or more).
• Animals with expired vaccinations will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Unvaccinated dogs, cats and ferrets exposed to a rabid animal may need to be euthanatized immediately. Alternatively, the animal should be checked and immediately placed in strict isolation for 6 months and vaccinated 1 month before being released.

If bitten by a rabid animal, other animals should be euthanatized immediately.

If Your Pet Has Bitten Someone:

• Urge the victim to see a physician immediately and to follow the physician's recommendations.
• Report the bite to the local health department and animal control authorities. If your pet is a cat, dog or ferret, the officials will confine the animal and watch it closely for 10 days. Home confinement may be allowed. Immediately report any illness or unusual behavior with your pet to your local health department and veterinarian. Don't let your pet stray, and don't give your pet away. The animal must be available for observation by public health authorities or a veterinarian.
• Check with your veterinarian to be sure your pet's vaccinations are up-to-date.
• After the recommended observation period, have your pet vaccinated for rabies if it does not have a current rabies vaccination.

Your Family Physician
It's extremely important that you notify your family physician immediately after an animal bites you. Your physician can find out if the animal has been captured. Capture and observation of the animal can affect the treatment decisions of your physician. If necessary, your physician will give you the anti-rabies treatment recommended by the United States Public Health Service; and if necessary, will also treat you for other possible infections that could result from the bite.

For more information on rabies, contact your veterinarian or your local health department.

Source: AVMA
www.avma.org

Please Do Not Disturb! Baby Dog Is Sleeping!

Boy, I had a tough day!

Eight Below (Movie Review)

Eight Sled Dogs' Adventure for Survival Teaches Us Courage and
Friendship.

Walt Disney did it again! Unlike cartoon animated movies, this film doesn’t have a smarty animal character but it tells the story about true and unusual animal behavior and adventures. Throughout the movie it makes you feel heartwarming compassion and gives tears in your eyes. Anyone, who loves dogs, this film is just made for you and your family.

The movie Eight Blow is inspired by a true story, which took place in Antarctica. It directed by Frank Marshall and presented by Walt Disney Pictures.

The story begins with Jerry (Paul Walker) and eight amazing sled dogs are ready to take a journey to guide an archeologist, who is looking for a special rock for his research in somewhere in Antarctica. Along the way, Jerry and Sled dogs go through a variety of difficult situations together. When the archeologist fell into water fighting his life in the freezing water, Jerry and his guided dogs dramatically saved him and safely brought him back to the base. Jerry almost lost his fingers from the frostbite to save him.

During the most dangerous winter, the research base has to evacuate until spring. Jerry was forced to leave the dogs behind but promised to come back to get them. However, Jerry couldn’t find the way to go back and rescue them despite of his determination.

Mean while, eight-stranded sled dogs must to learn to survive together in the most vulnerable winter on the planet until Jerry rescues them. Survival instinct of these dogs brought by their friendship and courage to survive together under Maya’s, lead dog, guidance. Their journey for own survival during unforgiving winter lasted over six months.

I wonder what could have happened with humans in that situation. Probably, we tried to kill each other rather than help each other to survive together. We think we are civilized and that makes us human beings, but is it? It teaches us to think through them.

Built in unforgettable bonds of friendship and belief in one another, which make an incredible journey to reunite both Jerry and his beloved dogs in different ways. I felt compassion throughout their adventure to reunite and cheered for their triumphant with tears of joy and happy ending.

Like any other Walt Disney pictures, there is undertone of family theme and happy ending. This is an adventure film the whole family can enjoy.

How to Tell Your Pet has Parasites?

Internal and External

Internal - Parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and heartworms can make a home inside your pet and rob your animal of vital nutrients, leading to poor appetite, loss of energy, serious anemia, and even death. Puppies and kittens are especially susceptible. Parasite infestation can be controlled and prevented. Your veterinarian can tell you about the extent of the parasite problem in your area. Simple diagnostic procedures can be performed.

Toxoplasmosis is a related disease. (Visit avma.org to read detail info for Toxoplasmosis.)

General Information

External Parasites-From time to time most pets have parasites such as fleas, ticks, lice, or mites. It's simply in the nature of things, parasites being parasites. The pests abound everywhere; therefore, their presence is not a disgraceful reflection on one's living habits. It is, of course, not necessary simply to accept such a state of affairs. Because external parasites can be extremely irritating to a pet and cause serious skin disorders or even disease, you have an obligation to rid your pet of these unwelcome guests if they are infested with them.

Yet external parasites, like squatters, are tenacious and difficult to "evict." They are not always discernible to the unpracticed eye and are therefore sometimes present in great numbers before you become aware of them. If you find your pet scratching frequently, or if you discover bald spots or inflammation of his skin, chances are your pet is playing host to an army of non-paying boarders. And it's high time for you to take him to the veterinarian.

The Adaptable Flea
The flea is an acrobatic pest that is adept at finding a warm place to live, jumping readily from dogs to cats or even human beings. The life cycle of the flea is about 30 days. The eggs are dormant in cool weather, but, with the advent of milder days, they hatch into worm-like larvae which eventually become fleas. The best way to rid your pet of fleas is to see a veterinarianfor advice. They may recommend powders, sprays, dips, specially treated collars, or even tablets to be taken internally — whatever the veterinarian's prescription, you should take care to follow their instructions exactly.

It will do little good to rid the pet's body of fleas if you don't simultaneously cleanse their sleeping quarters and other equipment. Aerosol sprays can be used for this purpose with excellent results. Regular and thorough vacuum cleaning of the pet's living area also helps to remove eggs, larvae, and pupae. Getting rid of fleas not only makes your pet more comfortable, it also reduces their chances of acquiring tapeworms since many fleas harbor tapeworm eggs.

Lice Not Nice
Lice are not just aesthetically unpleasant, and therefore, not "nice" but, they can become a source of danger for your pet — especially to puppies. Often dogs with just a few lice are very "itchy," while those harboring thousands of lice may not scratch themselves at all. So small they escape notice, some lice penetrate the pet's skin and suck the blood. The females will lay eggs which in just three weeks will hatch and develop into adult lice.

The constant blood-sucking, if extensive, can cause severe anemia in puppies and greatly weaken mature dogs, particularly females with nursing puppies. The pest can also be a source of irritation to cats and kittens.

Your veterinarian is your best resource to detect and eventually eliminate this dangerous parasite.

Mites and Manges
Mange is caused by another type of external parasite — the mite. Fortunately, mange is rare in the well-fed, well-kept cat.

In dogs, two types of mange are the most common: DEMODECTIC mange or "red mange," and SARCOPTIC mange or "scabies." They may be present at any time of the year.

Dogs suffering from demodectic mange usually do not scratch. This mange is most common in young short-haired animals and is marked in the early stages by small areas of hairlessness, accompanied by a red, irritated appearance. In sarcoptic mange, a severe itching is usually observed, with consequent skin irritation and loss of hair. This type of mange is contagious to people as well as to other dogs and therefore should be checked as soon as possible.

It should be remembered that mange is more serious than a simple skin irritation or abrasion or a source of discomfort to your dog — though it certainly is that. Both of these manges are serious skin diseases that can lead to complications such as severe skin infections. Veterinarians usually treat mange by clipping, medicated baths or sprays, as well as oral medication or injections.

The Tenacious Tick
The hardiest and perhaps the most "pesky" of the external parasites is the tick which has the innocent appearance of a small wart or seed. Hosting the tick is the price the dog or the cat must pay for investigating the mysteries of the shrubbery or wild undergrowth, for that is where your pet most likely acquires these pests.

Be sure and look for ticks during the daily grooming of your pet and pick off any you see — a trick that can be mastered with a little practice. Ticks are most apt to bed down in the neck area, between the toes, in the ears, and in the folds between the legs and the body.

To remove a tick, use small tweezers to firmly grip the tick's mouth parts as close to the skin as possible and pull it straight outward. Apply an antiseptic to the bitten area. After removing, destroy the tick by immersing it in alcohol. Save the tick, marking the date it was found on the body, in the event that symptoms arise and identification of the tick becomes necessary.

If your dog has been in an area where the tick is found, or if you have found a tick on its body and it develops any of the symptoms mentioned above, make an appointment with your veterinarian for an examination, blood test and possible treatment. The blood test may have to be repeated several months later. It would be wise, whether or not you have found a tick on your dog, to have it tested in the spring and fall to assure yourself that your pet does not have Lyme Disease.

It is not as easy to detect ticks on horses and cows, particularly in herds, but horse owners and farmers should be alert to any sudden onset of fever, lameness, abortions, laminitis-like signs or chronic weight loss in their animals and should consult with their veterinarian for evaluation.

If you have been in an area where the tick is found, or if you have found a tick on your body and develop any of the symptoms mentioned above, you should see your physician for evaluation and treatment.

Enlist the aid of your veterinarian in your tick eradication campaign. Dipping your pet at frequent intervals in a medicated compound is the most common method of getting rid of ticks.

Spraying the grass and bushes with a chemical solution recommended by your veterinarian is often very effective in eliminating ticks, as is a frequent cleaning of your pet's belongings and sleeping quarters. Ticks as well as fleas may infest the home and become a major nuisance.

Allowed to thrive unchecked, ticks may cause serious skin infections or paralysis. Some ticks serve as carriers of serious diseases to pets and humans.

Ear Mites
Ear mites can be a source of severe annoyance and disease. They are common in dogs and cats. These mites spend most of their life in the ears. Often an animal can be severely infested with the pests before there is any outward sign of their presence. It is a good idea to have your veterinarian regularly examine your pet's ears.

If an ear mite infestation is ignored it will almost always be followed by a bacterial infection because the bacteria find easy access to living tissue through the holes left by the mites. Such an infection can spread deep into the ear and eventually penetrate the brain causing convulsions and death.

Ear mites are very irritating. They often cause the animal to scratch to the point where it tears out all of the hair and creates bleeding sores around the ears. Scratching can result in reinfestation with mites from the paw or tail. Consult your veterinarian about methods for treating infested animals.

Source: AVMA
www.avma.org

Pooch, Scratch, and Other Friend

Don't we look alike?

Cat doesn't bother me.

My best friend.

How to Tell Your Pet Has a Disease?

Lyme Disease

What Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is an infectious disease syndrome spread primarily by a tick no larger than the head of a pin. It is caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called a spirochete that is transmitted to animals and humans by the bite of the tick. In people, Lyme disease can appear similar to other diseases such as flu or Alzheimer's disease. If untreated, it can lead to joint damage and heart and neurologic complications. In animals, the disease can mimic flu-like symptoms and can lead to joint damage, heart complications and kidney problems.

What Are The Symptoms?
Lyme disease is not easy to detect for there are a variety of symptoms. Clinical signs may not appear for a long period after initial infection.

Animals seldom develop the rash that commonly occurs in people with Lyme disease. The common clinical signs in animals are fever, inappetence, acute onset of lameness with no history of trauma, and arthralgia. These can develop within weeks of initial infection. Recurring lameness, lymphadenopathy, glomerulonephritis, or myocarditis can develop weeks to months later. In addition to these signs, cows and horses may have chronic weight loss, abortions, and laminitis-like signs.

How Is It Diagnosed?
Diagnosis is based primarily on recognition of the typical symptoms of Lyme disease and by blood testing. It should be noted that early in the disease, the blood test can be negative even though the disease is present. Only with later disease does the test become reliably positive.

What Is The Treatment?
Antibiotics — tetracycline, penicillin and erythromycin — have been shown to be effective in treating the disease in both animals and humans in the early stages. If detected early enough, there is almost complete relief of pain and lameness within 24 hours of initial treatment in animals. Chronic cases of the disease respond much slower and require longer periods of treatment.

How Can It Be Prevented?Knowledge of where these ticks are found, avoidance of such areas, and, if bitten, prompt removal of the tick are the primary preventive measures. Vaccines are available to protect dogs. Consult with your veterinarian for advice regarding vaccination of your animal.

Parasites

Internal Parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and heartworms can make a home inside your pet and rob your animal of vital nutrients, leading to poor appetite, loss of energy, serious anemia, and even death. Puppies and kittens are especially susceptible. Parasite infestation can be controlled and prevented. Your veterinarian can tell you about the extent of the parasite problem in your area. Simple diagnostic procedures can be performed.

Source: AVMA
http://www.avma.org

Three Some and More Pooches.

Bunch of Pooches:
We should be on the Queen's Album Cover.














Relaxing Three Pooches.












Three Trend-Setters.













We are four sisters.








Summer Days of Three of Us.













Our Sleeping Habit
'Sleeping Together; Stays Together!'

Colorful Three of Us:
'Aren't We Adorable?'

How to Tell Your Pet Has a Cancer?

Signs of Ill Health

Only a healthy pet is a happy companion. Assuring your pet's daily well-being requires regular care and close attention to any hint of ill health. The American Veterinary Medical Association therefore suggests that you consult your veterinarian if your pet shows any of the following signs:

• Abnormal discharges from the nose, eyes, or other body openings
• Loss of appetite, marked weight losses or gains, or excessive water consumption
• Difficult, abnormal, or uncontrolled waste elimination
• Abnormal behavior, sudden viciousness, or lethargy
• Abnormal lumps, limping, or difficulty getting up or lying down
• Excessive head shaking, scratching, and licking or biting any part of the body
• Dandruff, loss of hair, open sores, and a ragged or dull coat.
• Foul breath or excessive tarter deposits on teeth

Cancer

How Common is Cancer?
Cancer is common in pet animals, and the rate increases with age. Dogs get cancer at roughly the same rate as humans, while cats get fewer cancers. Cancer accounts for almost half of the deaths of pets over 10 years of age.

How is it Diagnosed?
Strong circumstantial evidence of cancer can be attained from x-rays, blood tests, the physical appearance of the cancer, or the physical signs caused by the cancer. Most cancers, however, will require a biopsy (removal of a piece of tissue) for confirmation.

Is Cancer Preventable?
Some cancer, such as breast cancer, is largely preventable with early spaying. Unfortunately, the cause of most cancers is not known and therefore prevention is difficult.

Common Signs of Cancer in Pets

• Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
• Sores that do not heal
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
• Offensive odor
• Difficulty eating or swallowing
• Hesitance to exercise or loss of stamina
• Persistent lameness or stiffness
• Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating

Many of the above signs are also seen with noncancerous conditions but still warrant prompt attention by your veterinarian to determine the cause. Cancer is frequently treatable, and early diagnosis will aid your veterinarian in delivering the best care possible.

Common Types of Cancer in Pets

Skin - Skin tumors are very common in older dogs, but much less common in cats. Most skin tumors in cats are malignant, but in dogs they are often benign. All skin tumors should be examined by your veterinarian.

Breast - Fifty percent of all breast tumors in dogs and 85% of all breast tumors in cats are malignant. Spaying your pet between 6 and 12 months of age will greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer. Surgery is the treatment of choice for this type of cancer.

Head & Neck - Cancer of the mouth is common in dogs and less common in cats. A mass on the gums, bleeding, odor, or difficult eating are signs to watch for. Many swellings are malignant, so early aggressive treatment is essential. Cancer may develop inside the nose of both cats and dogs. Bleeding from the nose, difficulty breathing, or facial swelling may occur.

Lymphoma - Lymphoma is a common form of cancer in dogs and cats. It is characterized by enlargement of one or many lymph nodes in the body. A virus causes most of these cancers in cats. Chemotherapy is frequently effective in controlling this type of cancer.

Feline Leukemia Complex - The feline leukemia virus is contagious among cats and will occasionally cause true cancer. There is no proof that it is contagious to humans. While a great deal of research is ongoing, no consistently effective treatment is presently available for virus-positive cats.

Testicles - Testicular tumors are rare in cats and common in dogs, especially those with retained testes. Most of these cancers are curable with surgery.

Abdominal Tumors - Tumors inside the abdomen are common. It is difficult to make an early diagnosis. Weight loss and abdominal enlargement are common signs of these tumors.

Bone - Bone tumors are most commonly seen in large breed dogs and rarely in cats. The leg bones, near joints, are the most common sites. Persistent lameness and swelling of the leg is an early sign of disease.

How is it Treated?
Each cancer requires individual care. Your veterinarian may use surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, cryosurgery (freezing), hyperthermia (heating) or immunotherapy to effectively treat cancers. Combination therapy is commonly employed.

What is the Success Rate?
This depends strongly on the type and extent of the cancer as well as the aggressiveness of therapy. Some cancers can be cured, and almost all patients can be helped to some degree. Your veterinarian will have a better chance to control or cure your pet's cancer if it is detected early.

Source: AVMA
http://www.avma.org

Smiling Pooches' Funny Faces

'Stop Making Me Laugh! You're killing me!'

What you should know about heartworm disease

August 2005

Heartworm disease is a preventable, but serious and potentially fatal, parasitic disease that primarily affects dogs, cats and ferrets. It also infects wild animals such as foxes, wolves, coyotes, and California Sea Lions. There are documented human infections, but they are thought to be rare and do not result in clinical disease.

How is heartworm disease transmitted and what does it cause?
Heartworms are transmitted from animal to animal by mosquitoes. When an animal is bitten by an infected mosquito, young heartworms (called microfilariae) are transmitted to that animal. In about two weeks, the microfilaria develop into larvae. The larvae, as they mature, move through the animal's body and eventually enter the heart and blood vessels. Over the next several months, the growing heartworms reach adult size (female worms can reach up to 14 inches in length) and reproduce. In time, the worms cause injury to the pulmonary vessels and heart. This can lead to severe lung disease, heart disease and damage to other organs. Heartworms may survive for 5 to 7 years in dogs.

Where is heartworm disease found?
Geographically, heartworms are a potential threat in every state except Alaska, as well as in many other countries around the world. All dogs, regardless of age, sex, or living environment, are susceptible to heartworm infection. Indoor, as well as outdoor, cats are also at risk for the disease. If you plan to travel with your dog or cat to a different part of the country, ask your veterinarian about the risk of heartworm disease in the area where you are going to relocate or visit.

How can I tell if my pet has heartworm disease?
Dogs: If your dog has been recently or mildly infected with heartworms, it may initially show no signs of disease. However, as the disease progresses, your dog may cough, become lethargic, lose its appetite or have difficulty breathing. You may notice that your dog seems to tire rapidly after only moderate exercise.

Your veterinarian will test your dog's blood for the presence of adult heartworms. Further tests, such as chest x-rays and an echocardiogram, may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis and to help determine the severity of the infection.

Cats: Signs of possible heartworm infection in cats include coughing, respiratory distress, and vomiting. (In rare cases, a cat may suddenly die from heartworms.)

The diagnosis of a heartworm-infected cat is more difficult than with dogs. A series of different kinds of tests may be needed to help determine the likelihood of heartworm infection being the cause of your cat's illness and, even then, the results may not be conclusive.

How can my pet be treated?
Dogs: As with most medical problems, the best defense is prevention. However, if your dog is infected with heartworms, there is an FDA-approved treatment available. Although there is some risk involved in treating a dog for heartworms, serious complications are rare among dogs that are otherwise in good health and if the disease is detected early.

The goal of heartworm treatment is to kill the adult worms that are present in your dog's body. While your dog is hospitalized and for a period of time afterwards, it will require complete rest and may need additional medications to help limit inflammatory reaction as the worms die and are absorbed by the body.

Cats: There is currently no effective and safe treatment for heartworm infection in cats. If your cat is diagnosed with heartworms, your veterinarian may recommend medications to limit the inflammatory response and the resulting heartworm disease.

Can heartworms be surgically removed?
Some veterinarians are equipped for surgical removal of heartworms from dogs and/or cats. This procedure, however, is typically reserved for severe cases.

Can heartworm disease be prevented?
Heartworm disease is almost 100% preventable in dogs and cats. There are several FDA-approved heartworm preventives available in a variety of formulations. Your veterinarian can recommend the best method of prevention based upon your pet's risk factors and lifestyle.

A blood test for existing heartworm infection is recommended before beginning a prevention program to confirm that your pet is not already infected with the disease. In addition, annual re-testing is recommended to check your pet's status and ensure that the appropriate medication is being prescribed.

Heartworm infections are preventable.
Check with your veterinarian today to help ensure that your pet is protected.

The AVMA appreciates the assistance of the
American Heartworm Society
www.heartwormsociety.org

The American Pooch Idol?

Duo Dancing Pooches





















Singing Pooch

Dancing Pooches

Safe Travel With Pets

by Tara Copp
Scripps Howard News Service

If you plan to take Flossie or Fido along on a trip that requires flying, be prepared to get to the airport extra early and before you embark, go for a healthy romp with your pet. He'll be spending a lot of time in a cage and you'll be standing in endless lines.

Although Northwest, like many airlines, stopped accepting pets in the immediate days following the Sept. 11 attacks, it has resumed animal services with slightly different guidelines. Pet owners who need to fly with animals need to arrive even earlier than before, said spokesmen for all the major air carriers--United Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, TWA and Northwest Airlines.

After Sept. 11, the nation's airports recommended passengers arrive two hours before their scheduled takeoff. But pet owners have two check-ins. Most of the airlines have a separate ticket counter for pet check-in and passengers still must wind through the main check-in and ticketing line afterward.

"At least an extra 30 minutes is a good idea," said Kathy Peach, a spokeswoman for Northwest Airlines. That means an extra half hour the pet will be stuck in its carrier while traveling. The American Animal Hospital Association recommends giving the pet a long exercise session before the trip.

All the major carriers allow specific small house pets to fly in the cabin, as long as the animal and its carrier fit under the passenger's seat. If the animal is too big, it is checked as baggage or shipped in the plane's temperature and pressure-controlled hull as cargo. In either circumstance, the airlines charge at least an additional $75 each way to fly the pet, and reservations for a pet need to be made in advance. Two to three days before the flight, passengers need to call the airlines and confirm the pet's reservations, too, Peach said.

And pet owners should be keeping an eye on any changes in airline policy, which could change suddenly if new threats are perceived. "In light of every thing that's happened since Sept. 11, we strongly urge pet owners to check with their airlines to see what the current regulations and restrictions might be with their pets," said Derek Woodbury, a spokesman for the American Animal Hospital Association.

The major carriers all have specific guidelines on pet travel on their Web sites. In general, they require that animals have food and water, have a veterinarian's certificate of health and current rabies vaccination no more than 10 days before the flight, fly in a carrier that has at least two sides open for ventilation and is big enough for the animal to stand up and turn around in.

Woodbury also advised pet owners to use the time with their veterinarian to discuss whether the pet is well-suited for travel, because that could also create problems for the pet and its owner. "Some animals don't do well in those surroundings," he said.

Article Source: hgtv.com
(Reach Tara Copp at coppt@shns.com or visit Scripps Howard News Service, www.shns.com.)

Puppy Etiquette

Veterinarian Bernadine Cruz provides lessons in puppy etiquette. She demonstrates the essential trainer commands for teaching puppies at home. By teaching puppies "manners," bad behavior can be prevented.

• The two most important words for a puppy to understand are "no," and the puppy's name. Stay consistent with those words, and use them repeatedly.
  
• The tone of voice is important. If a puppy misbehaves, it should be corrected in a stern tone. Trying to coddle a puppy with a soothing tone of voice while trying to correct it won't get many results.
  
• Repetition is the key for the next two basic commands: "sit" and "stay." Tone of voice is important here as well. A short, firm "sit," will eventually get results, while varying the command to an extent, such as "Please sit for mama," and "Would you sit? Come on," will only confuse the puppy.
  
• "Sit" for the beginning puppy can be accompanied by coaxing the puppy by hand. Repeat "sit" while gently placing a hand under the puppy's chin and lifting, and at the same time gently pressing the dog's lower back to give it the idea that the hindquarters should go down.
  
• There isn't a specific time frame for a puppy to learn a command. Some puppies are just faster studies than other puppies, but the key element is consistency in training.
  
• "Come" is usually the next command to teach a puppy. It is as simple as squatting down and in a positive tone of voice calling the puppy's name and saying "come." If the puppy is distracted or shy, a gentle tug of the leash can communicate the idea while repeating the name. When the puppy comes, use positive reinforcement such as petting and vocal praise rather than treats. If a puppy isn't responding to "come," resist using a stern tone of voice--this is reserved for "no." Intertwining the two words with the same stern tone can confuse a young puppy.
  
• There are some differences in puppy treats on the market. Pig ears can be delicious, but they also carry the risk of transferring salmonella. Cow hooves are also fun, but for some puppies, and even older dogs, hooves are too hard and can crack teeth. Among the better treats are nylon bones that have small, massaging ridges. A little peanut butter on one end of a nylon bone will keep most any puppy satisfied.
  
• Housebreaking a puppy can be somewhat of an ordeal, but pet crates can go a long way to aiding that routine. Historically, dogs have found comfort in caves, and a pet crate can represent that safe, warm, enclosed area special to a dog. Crates should not serve as a place to put dogs only when bad. Allow the door to remain open when in the house with the puppy, allowing it to go in and out. When away from the house, the puppy can be kept in the crate, but if the crate is too big, a puppy might be tempted to potty in the corner. The idea is for the crate to be comfortable, but small enough to give the reason to "hold it" until it's able to go outside.
  
  Article Resource: hgtv.com
  
  Dr. Bernadine Cruz
  Veterinarian, Laguna Hills Animal Hospital
  Laguna Hills, CA
  Phone: 949-837-7333
  Website: lagunahillsanimalhospital.com