May 13, 2010
By Nancy E. Hassel of LIPetPlace

Did you know that May 13 – May 19, 2010 is National Dog Bite Prevention Week? This is an important topic for any dog owner or anyone working with dogs. Dog bites can be prevented, and dog owners should know some basics in order to prevent a bite.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) there are:

• About 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year.
• Almost one in five of those who are bitten :a total of 885,000: require medical attention for dog bite-related injuries.
• In 2006, more than 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs.

The most common people inflicted by a dog bite are children, adult males and families with dogs in their house. To knowlegdeable dog trainers, handlers and pet sitters, dog bite prevention seems like an easy thing to avoid, but the every day or new dog owner should learn about warnings and signals a dog may give before they bite. Dog owners and parents should also learn ways to avoid a bite. To help you and your family, especially children avoid being bitten by any dog keep these tips in mind:

• Never leave a infant, toddler or child unattended with a dog. Even if it is your own family dog who you trust, a bite can occur. Sometimes that bite may be out of self-defense, i.e. baby pulls on a tail or ear, tries to take a toy or bone away from the dog, etc. Supervision is best.
• Teach your children not to go up to strange or stray dogs, and if they do see a dog loose, to not run from it. Kids should remain still, or “make like a tree.” Running and screaming from a dog can cause a dogs prey drive to kick-in, or start a game of chase, and the dog can knock the child down and hurt them. Even if it’s not out of aggression on the dogs part.
• Tell your children to always ask before petting a dog. Teach them to ask their parent or guardian, first then the dog owner. Some dogs are not used to kids, or can be fearful of chilren – and do not like being petted by a stranger or child. A simple, “Can I pet your dog?” can save a lot of trouble. (Some owners may say, “No I’m sorry,” teach children to respect that.)
• Children should never pet a dog as it’s walking by. Children tend to grab at or pet the mid-to tail portion of a dogs back as they are passing by and that can very easily spoke a dog.
• Teasing a dog at any time should not be acceptable by parents. Kids should be taught to respect and care for the dog.
• Consult a dog trainer to come and teach your children how to properly greet a dog, how to pet it, etc. The one at a time rule should also apply. In other words, one child at a time petting the dog. Some dogs can get overwhelmed with too many kids petting it at once. (Of course we all know dogs who love it, but safety first!)
• Some dog warning signs may be slight, a curl of the lip, a quiet growl, hackles on end, and guarding food or a toy. Some fearful dogs may have their tail between their legs, a dog trying to hide or get away from the situation, (backing behind an owner), and could result in a fear bite. Understanding a dogs’ body language and what they are saying is very important for dog owners.

A well socialized, trained and healthy dog is less likely to bite. Training, exercise and regular veterinarian check-ups are very important in a dogs life. Any breed and size of dog can bite so don’t be fooled by breedist statistics. Dogs are a wonderful part of our lives, and children benefit immensivley from having a dog in their life, but keep them safe by knowing how to avoid a bite.

May 10, 2010
By Michel Selmer, DVM of www.AdvancedCareForPets.com 

Parasites, Pets, and Kids

Know the facts:  Don’t expose your children! 

• Hookworms and roundworms can be harbored by your dog or cat and transmitted to children who are living in homes with pets.  In some cases these parasites can cause blindness in humans.  It is thought that 30% to 50% of dogs and cats carry gastrointestinal (GI) parasites and that 1 to 3 million people in the U.S. have infections from the same parasites carried by pets.  Children, the elderly and immunocompromised people are at high risk.
• Dogs get infected with hookworms and roundworms by walking places where other dogs have defecated.  The microscopic roundworm eggs and hookworm larvae end up on your dog’s feet.  Your dog then licks his feet and infects him or herself with these GI parasites.  Three weeks later, your dog is shedding hookworm eggs and larvae from his GI tract.  If your dog licks his anus and then licks your child, or if your child pets your dog, he or she can become infected with these parasites.
• Dogs can get ticks that spread Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and tularemia, which can affect people if the ticks detach from the dog and attach themselves to your child.  This could be a risk factor for your children if the family dog or cat sleeps in their bed.
• Cats get infected with hookworms and tapeworms by hunting prey.  Even if your cat lives indoors, the ingestion of one house mouse can expose your cat to GI parasites.  Cats with a flea infestation can spread cat scratch fever to children, elderly people, or immunocompromised (AIDS, cancer patients, organ transplant recipients) people.

How Can You Prevent the Risk of Spreading Parasites to Your Children? 

• Keep your dog on monthly heartworm preventative all year.  This medication helps to prevent hookworms and roundworms in your dog.  Keep your dog on topical flea and tick control all year.
• Scoop the yard where your dog defecates at least weekly, ideally daily, as worm eggs and larvae are found in stool and can contaminate the environment.
• Bring your pet’s stool sample to your veterinarian at least twice per year and ideally four times per year.  You do not have to bring your pet into the veterinary hospital for this service.  The stool should be fresh.  Many veterinarians will provide a special cup that allows specimen collection without touching the stool.
• Keep your cat on heartworm prevention once per month all year.  This medication eliminates hookworms that could be potentially spread to humans in the household.  It also kills fleas, which can be culprits in spreading cat scratch disease (cat scratch fever).
• Teach your children to wash their hands before eating, especially if they have recently handled their pet.

Sunday, May 9, 2010
By Nancy Hassel, LIPetPlace.com 

In one week from Sunday, on Sunday, May 16, hundreds of dog lovers will gather at beautiful Belmont Lake State Park to have a dog-gone good time, while walking to raise funds to find a cure for Leukemia & Lymphoma. “Canines for a Cure” www.lls.org/lidogwalk is the Second Annual dog walk for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and will once again be an awesome time for both the dogs and their owners. The event will have contests for the best owner/dog look-a-like contest, “Pawject Runway” – the Best Dressed Dog Contest, pet vendors, goody bags for the first 100 attendees, music and more! The registration fee for all dogs who pre-register (by April 30) is $30 and includes a free parking permit for the day. Each dog registered will receive their own fundraising webpage where they can ask for or woof for donations from family, friends, co-workers, and fellow dog park canines, now how cool is that? 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is thrilled to have local pet photographer, Michael Korol of Furry Paws Pet Portraits, www.furrypawspetportraits.com, as the Official Photographer. Michael will be taking photos of the dogs, the walkers, candid photos of the event and will be offering free keychain photographs at his booth, while supplies last. 

Registration for the dog walk starts at 9am and the walk starts at 10:15am, so be sure to get there early. Belmont Lake State Park is in North Babylon, off of Southern State parkway. The event is held rain or shine. So gather up Lucy, Buster, and Max and don’t miss this, not-to-be missed dog walk of the season!  (And stop by and see our table, we will have giveaways and a raffle too!)

HorseAbility’s program has been relocated from the facility that they have been housed on. The riding rings they spent many years developing for use for their programs are no longer available for HorseAbility to use. Without a ring they cannot continue to function and offer the amazing programs they do. HorseAbility will be unable to provide the safest and most beneficial therapuetic riding lessons and hippotherapy treatment sessions for children and adults with special needs. By building a new ring for their program, approximately 60′ x 120′ or larger, constructed with proper drainage with all weather footing for their horses, this will ensure their programs can run year-round. HorseAbility needs your help, and all you need to do is vote, once a day until the end of May. To have this incredible grant awarded to them, they need to be in the top ten of the voting. They are currently in 15th place, and are competing with 288 other organizations nationwide. 

With the new ring they can ensure saftey for the horses, riders and volunteers. This ring will provide a place for their beautiful equines to be turned out to roll, run and play with the herd when they are not at work. 

HorseAbility’s founder Katie Kilcommons McGowan said, “I am very excited to have this opportunity from Pepsi. I am thrilled to have the community be a part of this by voting everyday. We offer programs to people with special needs in the surrounding communities. It is wonderful for the communities to give back and help us be successful. Vote for HorseAbility!” 

HorseAbility is one of the only North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) Premier Accredited Centers on Long Island. This prestigious title is awarded to centers that demonstrate excellence in providing quality, professional equine assisted activities. This voluntary process recognizes NARHA centers that have met established industry standards. 

So the next time you crack open a can of Pepsi or pour a glass to enjoy, think about how easy it is for you to help a local, much needed organization just by the click of a mouse. HorseAbility needs your vote! Simply click the link below to vote and ask your friends and family to do so also. Come on Long Island we can do it! 

http://www.refresheverything.com/connectpeopleofspecialneedswithhorses 

May 7, 2010
By Nancy E. Hassel of LIPetPlace 

Did you know that FEMA has declared May 8 as National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day? 

With the current oil spill in the gulf coast, recent failed terrorist boom scare in NYC, it brings awareness to Long Island pet parents that they need to be prepared.  It is smart to have a plan for your family and your pets in case of a disaster or emergency situation.  If you have to leave in a hurry or are forced out, are you prepared for your pets to come with you?  

On Long Island most human disaster shelters don’t take pets, mainly in Nassau County – Suffolk does have shelters prepared to take you and your pet in case of an emergency (http://suffolkcountyny.gov/departments/firerescue.aspx).  But you still need to be prepared, regardless of what county you live in. Where would you take your pet if it happened to you? How would you get him there? Did you know that a pillow case could be used to transport your cat safely in an emergency though it is better to accustom your cat to a carrier.  Did you know if your pet is housed with other animals they must have their rabies paperwork? A rabies tag will not suffice since sometimes people transfer dog collars from one pet to another. If your pets take any medication, having the paperwork with you is important. Even better is a file of your pets medical history, special needs, food fed to the pet and any other pertinent information is vital if you have to house your pet somewhere you are not.  Always have extra leashes, collars and a first aid kit ready to go, in case you need to grab it and run. 

“Sheltering plans in disasters will accommodate only a fraction of the pet population in Nassau County so the most important thing an individual pet owner can do is to make plans for their own pets,” said Nancy Lynch President, of Pet Safe Coalition. For ten years Pet Safe Coalition http://www.petsafecoalition.org/ based in Locust Valley, NY, has been helping pet owners in disasters across Long Island. 

Lynch also stated, “Disasters are as tough on animals as on their owners. Pet owners who fail to include pets in their plans to evacuate or shelter-in-place are putting themselves, their pets and rescuers at risk.”  

Contact the Pet Safe Coalition, Inc. for more disaster tips then send us your plan and you could win a prize in this month’s Pet Safe Families contest while helping others plan. FEMA has declared May 8 National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day and hurricane season kicks off June. Now is the time to plan. Call 516-676-0808 or log onto www.petsafecoaliton.org. Check out Pet Safe Coalition on Facebook for weekly tips and updates.  Pet Safe Coalition, Inc., is a recognized “501 c (3)” non-profit organization.