The Purrfect Nanny & Purrfect Pet Health Blog

As the economy has many of us tightening our belts, it is great to know that we do not need to sacrifice the health of our pets!

Atlanta Animal Alliance is pleased to announce that they will now be offering low-cost rabies, vaccination and microchip clinics with the City of Griffin, Spalding & Cherokee County Animal Controls!

September 18, 2009

9 am - 2 pm

Elks Lodge (across from Animal Control)

1512 Williamson Road
Griffin, GA

October 2, 2009

9 am - 2 pm

Cherokee County Animal Control

1015 Univeter Drive
Canton, GA

Pets can receive an annual rabies vaccination for only $10, with no office visit charge! Dogs, and cats who are 12 weeks of age and older are required by Georgia State law to be vaccinated against rabies annually as it is a fatal virus transmissible to humans and pets.

Annual vaccination packages including a 1 year rabies vaccine, DHLPP-C (dogs) or FVRCP (cats) annual booster & de-worming treatment for round and hook worms is only $35!! That’s a savings of nearly $70 when compared to other metro Atlanta prices. And we’re just getting started on the savings…Microchips INCLUDING lifetime registration are only $25!

Annual cat & dog boosters, treatment for parasites, heartworm tests, Feline AIDS and leukemia tests and microchip ID’s will also be available. Cash and credit cards will be the only accepted method of payment. No appointment is necessary.

Animal Alliance encourages all pet owners to keep their dogs and cats up-to-date on vaccinations. Annual boosters are essential to keep pets healthy and prevent the contraction of deadly diseases.

For more information about the Atlanta Animal Alliance’s other programs such as the low-cost spay & neuter clinics and WellPet Humane - our low-cost veterinary clinic, go to www.AtlantaAnimalAlliance.com.

Wow!
Looking over our pet event calendar this weekend, you could plan a very busy Saturday!

Start out the day at 7 AM in at Riverside Park in Roswell with the 2nd Annual Hoof and Woof - 5K Run/Walk Event. In conjunction with That Dirty Dog, this fun 5K run/walk is for the “entire” family. Family members and dogs of all sizes welcome. Only pre-registered participants will receive a T-shirt and their dog will receive a bandana. Children ages 15 & under can sign up for the 1.5 mile fun walk. There will be prizes, fun activities, adoptions and more. Concessions available for purchase.
Check in begins at 7 a.m.
Start time is 8 a.m. for 5k
Start time is 8:15 a.m. for 1.5 Mile Fun Walk

Follow that up with an afternoon wine tasting from 2 PM to 4PM in Marietta at Marietta Wine Market. This charity wine tasting will benefit Adopt a Golden Atlanta. The tasting features Laetitia Winery which is located in the Arroyo Grande Valley in southern California. This winery is well known for producing award winning Sparkling Wines,Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays.The cool climate and excellent soil conditions produce wines that are rich,supple, and complex. Stop in and see for yourselves why this winery is a must see when you’re in the Santa Barbara area.

Finish out your evening in Alpharetta at the 5th Annual Bark & Boogie Ball! to benefit The Forsyth County Humane Society.

Doors open at 7 pm at The Metropolitan Club off of Windward Parkway. This year’s main entertainment with be provided by BandX. All funds raised will aid the Humane Society of Forsyth County. We face new challenges due to the economy. Foreclosures have forced some families to give up their pets. Veterinarian costs for illness, shots and spay/neuter are a large part of our budget. All animals are spayed/neutered and receive medical care, all paid by the shelter. Please keep in mind that we receive no public funding; only generous donations from caring folks like you.

Hope to see you out and about this weekend!

Two years ago we adopted a one year old Goldendoodle. His previous owners warned us that he was not fond of riding in the car. His car sickness might not have been an issue except that we needed to drive him from Pensacola Florida to Atlanta Georgia! As soon as I found out about his car anxieties, I started researching solutions; when I was 11, I’d had an eight hour car ride in the company of a car sick puppy and had no doubts that I did not want a repeat of that! The idea of drugging a dog that was new to us really didn’t appeal to me so I looked for alternatives and found lots of positive stories about Bach’s Rescue Remedy. I don’t know alot about homeopathic remedies or flower essences, what I do know is this product worked for us.

On our 7 hour car ride, our new puppy did not get sick once! I’ve since read differing opinions on the effectiveness of Rescue Remedy for pets and understand it may be effective on a case by case basis, but it is definitely worth looking into. I recommend it every chance I get.
Read more about flower essences and their indications at Bach’s.

Every year, for the past 30 years, children have been submitting art to the Atlanta Humane Society’s Be Kind To Animals art contest. Over the years, they have seen the submissions change from cats and dogs, to lemurs and camels. Check out AHS’s site for more information on how your child can enter the “Be Kind To Animals Week” Annual art contest.

Available this fall, Peace. Love. Paws: The Art of Being Kind, is a 158-page hardcover book will benefit the work of the Atlanta Humane Society. The publication is being sponsored by local and national businesses and individuals – all of whom share a common goal to be kind to all beings. Look for it at local retailers and Amazon.com.

Check out a great preview of
Peace. Love Paws: The Art of Being Kind.
(it may take a minute to load)

If you are interested in more information on how to become a sponsor, please contact Jules Hermes, publication coordinator at 404-846-4308 or juleshermes@hotmail.com.
Cathy Sleva, VP Advancement AHS, can be reached at 404-974-2877 or cathys@atlantahumane.org.

Cancer frequently effects our furry friends. It can be quick and deadly but if you know the early signs and are able to act it can help increase your pets chance of survival. Check out these signs and symptoms so you will know what to look for.

Types of Canine Cancer

Dogs get many of the same types of cancer as humans, frequent physical exams and diagnostic tests help detect cancer before it is too late for treatment. Some common types of cancer in dogs are:

Skin tumors, melanomas, lipomas, basal cell tumors and mast cell tumors are the most often diagnosed. All lumps or masses of any sort should be examined by your veterinarian.

Lymphoma can affect the digestive system, resulting in lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea. It can also affect the liver resulting in lethargy, vomiting and a yellow tinge to the gums and skin. Lymphoma can also affect the chest, causing coughing and difficulty breathing.

About 50 percent of all tumors in dogs are mammary gland tumors and are most common in older female dogs that have not been spayed. Typically, a lump is felt in the breast tissue.

Abdominal tumors are common, but it is difficult to make an early diagnosis. Some examples include hemangiosarcoma, mast cell tumors, lymphoma and prostate cancer. You should be aware of any weight loss, weakness, pale gums, protracted vomiting, continual diarrhea, and/or abdominal enlargement and see your veterinarian if these signs occur.

Testicular tumors are the second most common tumor of intact male dogs. Usually one testicle will appear larger and one normal sized testicle. If malignant, the cancer can spread throughout the body, resulting in weakness, lack of appetite and weight loss.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, consult with your veterinarian. If found early, most of these cancers can be cured with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of the three, and early diagnosis will aid your veterinarian in delivering the best care possible.

Signs to watch for:

Any lump or mass that appears to be increasing in size
Any sore that does not heal
Change in bowel or bladder habits
Difficulty urinating or defecating
Unexplained bleeding or discharge from any body opening
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Difficulty breathing
Persistent lameness or stiffness
Offensive odor
Difficulty eating or swallowing

By understanding the warning signs of cancer we can all help keep our pets healthy, happy and long lived!

In recent weeks, the popular micro-blogging site Twitter has received extensive coverage in the media. If you haven’t signed up for an account or have yet to check out the site, it’s helpful to think of Twitter like an enormous pool of instant text messages.  Once you join, however, the number of tweets (that’s what the individual messages are called) are restricted to only those you “follow”, or those who you sign up to watch.

While non-users may presume that Twitter simply enables narcissists to become more self-involved, Twitterers praise the benefits of participating in unique communities, without any of the borders of traditional communication.  The site has demonstrated particular utility in helping people foster relationships with others who share similar interests. 

Read the rest of this entry »

In the summer of one of the most turbulent economic periods in a lifetime, Americans are rediscovering simplicity and frugality.  These days, it’s not uncommon to see a small group playing an impromptu game of Frisbee, or a couple enjoying a nature hike through a local park, or an extended family spending an afternoon in the backyard barbecuing.

The summer months provide ample opportunities for outdoor fun, whether your idea of open-air enjoyment is a power-walk with your dog or watching an afternoon storm roll in from the safety of a back porch with your cat.  These activities help us brush away the winter cobwebs, shedding new light on our daily life.  But sometimes, we make discoveries that are not altogether pleasant.  Too often, the thinner, summer coats of our pets can reveal what winter coats have hidden from plain view – reddened skin irritations, possibly the sign of a seasonal or chronic allergy.

Read the rest of this entry »

For those who watched their companion animals suffer more than two years ago, after the worst pet food recall in American history, the pain is still fresh.  A resolution of sorts, however, is near at hand.

Two of the individuals central to the contamination that afflicted thousands of dogs and cats submitted guilty pleas to numerous misdemeanor charges and a single felony charge.  The married co-owners, Stephen and Sally Miller of ChemNutra, were originally scheduled for sentencing on June 16th, but that was postponed and, as of the date of this newsletter’s submission for publication, has yet to be rescheduled.

The Miller’s were indicted for their actions of knowlingly distributing more than 800 tons of melamine-laced wheat gluten imported from China in more than a dozen shipments.  The couple passed off these tainted goods as high-grade protein ingredients, selling it to several of the largest producers of canned pet food and ultimately resulting in the recall of over 150 different brands of pet food.

While the maximum sentence would be two years in prison without parole and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, those who have wished for a punishment equal to the crime may be disappointed by the upcoming decision.  Prosecutors handling the case have signalled their openness to leniency, recommending that the court impose a $25,000 fine against ChemNutra, $5,000 each against the Millers, and sentence the Miller’s to three years of probation each.

It is worth noting that ChemNutra is just one of the 20-plus companies required to contribute to a $24 million compensation fund, the outcome of a class-action lawsuit brought by families affected by the recall.  How much ChemNutra paid into this fund is not a matter of public record, and may never be made known.

Shared from the Healthy Pet Net Newsletter

Another working dog story! Once again a dog goes far beyond being just a family pet. These creatures are so amazing, such perfect companions to humans. As they parent of a child with a food allergy I can sympathize with the extraordinary measures we must take to keep our children safe. I can only imagine if my child had such a severe allergy- these animals are truly angels in disguise!

From the CBS “The Early Show”-

All dogs have powerful noses, but some canines are saving lives with their heightened sense of smell.

Remy, is trained to sniff for any trace of peanuts to help his 9-year-old severely allergic owner, Billy Gensel, live a normal life.

Billy is one of the nearly two million Americans who have an allergy to peanuts but Billy’s allergy was acute, keeping him from many activities.

“I couldn’t go to the carnivals. I couldn’t go to the hotel rooms. I couldn’t do some restaurants,” he said. “It was really, really harsh.”

But that all changed when Remy, a black Labrador retriever joined the family. Remy is trained to detect even the smallest trace of peanuts in food and the environment.

“Without Remy, I probably wouldn’t be here right now,” Billy said. “…She saves my life every day.”

When Billy came into contact with anything with the tiniest amount of peanuts on it, he would have an allergic reaction, and could have been sent into a potentially fatal anaphylactic shock.

Billy’s mother Karen said, “My job was to follow him around at a distance where I knew I could get to him with an EpiPen, if he touched something and all of a sudden he was touching his throat or couldn’t breathe.”

But now, Remy can smell anything in a room that may have peanuts on it and warns his owner. Bell reported Remy sniffs everything and everyone Billy may touch.

Dogs like Remy, Bell reported can be trained to sniff for peanuts in about six months. Each dog costs about $10,000.

But the price was worth it for the Gensels.

“I feel like Remy and the people who trained her are heroes,” Billy said.

“This dog has changed our life,” Karen said. “This dog is a brand new life. A totally different life. Of normal. It’s a life of normal, and for us that’s a really big deal.”

Two centers are training these dogs to sniff for peanuts the Florida Canine Academy and the Southern Star Ranch.

Bell added dogs have a real health and therapy application now, with the ability to sniff out certain life-threatening illnesses, such as epilepsy and cancer.

MILITARY WORKING DOGS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

By ABC-7 Reporter Daniel Marin

EL PASO, Texas - Living near Fort Bliss, El Pasoans have seen the happy celebrations when soldiers come home from war. But what about our heroes with four legs?

Take Benny, for instance. Benny looks like any other German shepherd, but he’s not. He’s a retired Air Force veteran.

Benny’s owner Debbie Kandoll says a lot of people don’t know retired military dogs can be yours, adopted just like any other pound puppy.

“It’s a well-kept secret,” said Kandoll. “My other German shepherds were magnificent, but there’s just a difference you can’t quantify in words.”

These dogs have seen a lot; most spending time overseas with soldiers either sniffing for drugs or car bombs.

In the past, when a dog reached a certain age they were simply euthanized. But now, they’re given what are called ‘adoption suitability tests.’

“It’s to test their level of aggression and whether they’d fit in well in civilian life,” said Kandoll.

The dogs that pass the test, like Benny, are then put up for adoption.

Kandoll says she knows Benny would give whatever he could for her, and that’s why she’s doing whatever she can to help other dogs just like him. She runs a website that walks people through the process of adopting these ‘hero’ dogs.

“I’m Benny’s 13th partner but he calls me ‘lucky number 13,’” laughed Kandoll. “he’ll be with me until he goes to the rainbow bridge.”

To adopt a military working dog, visit the links below:

Lackland Air Force Base Dog Adoptions

Http://www.lackland.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-080317-045.pdf

Debbie Kandoll’s Military Working Dog Adoptions

http://www.militaryworkingdogadoptions.com/