May 17, 2010

By Nancy Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

The 2nd Annual Canines for a Cure, held on Sunday May 16th, was a wonderful success. Over 200 owners and their dogs were in attendance, and many of the pups dressed up for the “best dressed” dog contest. The walk raised awareness and funds for the Long Island Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society who hosted the event. The day started out with a very curious goose greeting the vendors setting up and went to each table to check out what was going on. It was joked that the goose needed a bandana for the walk.

As you can imagine the goose took off when many of the dogs started to show up. Smart bird!

At 10:15am everyone got ready for the kick-off and drum roll for the walk around beautiful Belmont Lake State Park. The crowd started with cheers, and a couple of ‘woofs’ and off they went. The entire day was filled with great music from the band, Checkered Past, who rocked out and there was even some dancing going on! The event was a special day for many people and teams of walkers who were there with survivors of this disease or in remembrance of a loved one lost. A meaningful and fun way to show their commitment to show support of anyone afflicted.

All the dogs were having a great time, were incredibly well behaved and loved the attention they were getting.

Vendors from across LI were offering some outstanding raffle prizes and giveaways for the attendees. Walk participant Cathy Speranza and her two daughters were lucky enough to win a dog bed filled with all sorts of treats for her bulldog. This free raffle prize was generously donated by Cozy Pet of North Babylon, (www.cozypettlc.com), a member of Long Island Pet Professionals.

Elena Huber, the Coordinator of the Long Island Chapter said, “We are so happy with the turnout today, it’s even bigger than last year, and everyone had a really great time. We are looking forward to next year!”

If you couldn’t make this pawsome event or would like help, donations can still be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, for more information on how to do so go to: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page.adp?item_id=551081.

Or Contact Elena Huber by email Elena.Huber@lls.org or call 631.752.8500 x13.

May 15, 2010
By Nancy E. Hassel of LIPetPlace

Did you know that today, Satuday May 15th, you can go to a beautiful winery on the North Fork and enter your mutt into the 3rd Annual Cutchogue Canine Classic? Held at Castello Di Borghese Vineyard and Winery, 17150 County Road 48/North Road in Cutchogue. Anyone can enter their dog in a variety of unique & silly competitions, including: ‘Best Mutt,’ ‘Best Purebred,’ ‘Best Rescue,’ Best Kisser,’ ‘Best Lap Dog over 60 lbs,’ Best Pet & People Look-alike,’ and a lot more categories! Of course prizes will be awarded!

The event is a fund raiser for local shelters and the Guide Dog Foundation. There are also doggie demonstrations, education, food, raffles, and craft vendors, and of course delicious wine inside the winery.

This event is a lot of fun, and a great way to get out with your dog and enjoy the beauty of the North Fork. For more information you can go to the official website: www.cutchoguecanineclassic.com.

The event is all day from 10am – 5pm and it is $10 to enter your dog! General Admission: Adults $5 Children $3. No admission to visit craft vendor booths. Woof!

By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Baby it’s HOT in here!

Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime! Summertiiimmmme! Okay so it may not quite be summer yet, but on beautiful warm spring days that hint that summer is coming, our minds turn to the beach, boating, bbq’s and more. One thing many people tend to forget or not even think of is pet safety and heat. It’s seems like common sense to many responsible pet owners, but there are often people who for some reason disregard pet safety in the heat of the summer or maybe they are new pet owners and just don’t know better.

One major concern is pets left in cars. It amazes me year after year, that I still see people on a warm day leaving the windows open a crack and leaving their very furry dogs in the car – while they go into a store. According to a study done by San Francisco University, and another study listed on www.MyDogIsCool.com shows how quickly temps rise during a heat wave. (One of the thermometers used in a study was an actual oven thermometer – that should tell you something). Not to mention if it is humid outside, it doesn’t help matters.

Why not try it yourself, without the dog or any pet for that matter of course. Next time it is a beautiful 75 -80 degrees, go sit in your parked car crack the windows a bit and sit in there for 10 -15 minutes. Don’t cheat and drink water or put the AC on. Now imagine yourself in a fur coat without the ability to sweat. Are you hot yet?

Pet owners should also know if you are caught doing this or someone reports your car with a pet in it to the police, the police have the right to break into to your car with whatever means necessary, call animal control and have your pet seized. You may be issued a summons, arrested for animal cruelty, or more. So the next time you are running up to the supermarket on a hot day, please, please, please leave your pets at home in the AC!

See our next article in a series on other safety issues and tips to keep your pet safe, healthy and happy during the summer months.

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.