Presidential Pet Stories Make the Holiday Even Better

Parrots, sheepdogs, foxhounds, Newfoundlands, canaries, lovebirds.  Goats, alligators, ponies, and many many cats, including a Siamese named Misty Malarky Ying Yang.  Since our nation's founding, we've always had presidents, and the presidents have always had pets.  

Read more:

http://shine.yahoo.com/pets/presidential-pet-stories.html



Photo Credit:  White House by Peter Griffin

For Valentine's Day (and every day!), Dr. Plantz suggests how we can bring the love...

With Valentine’s Day coming up, we all like to show our dogs how much we love them.  We don’t have to buy new toys or give them calorie- rich treats, though.  Here are some ways to show your dog how much you love him without adding unneeded calories or breaking the bank:

Be Mine

**Take off her collar and spend a few minutes scratching her fur and skin where her collar normally sits.  She will love getting scratched in an area that doesn’t normally get any attention.

**If your dog shows interest in the TV, rent some movies with nature animal themes (maybe wolves).  Turn the volume up, sit on the floor with her, and see how she responds to various animal noises and images.

**Try dancing with your dog.  Turn on a fun song, put your dog’s paws on your waist and dance away!  

**If your dog likes car rides, take him for a long car ride in the country with the window part way down so he can smell all the good scents of the country.

**When your family exchanges Valentines, wrap up one of your dog’s toys and let her unwrap it with the family.  She will feel included and probably find new joy in an old toy.

**If your dog likes ice cubes, add a little chicken or beef stock to the water and make delicious, low calorie treats.  You can also drop one kernel of his food into each compartment.  As your dog licks the ice cube, he will eventually get a tasty surprise.

**Speak to your dog through an empty paper towel tube.  Your voice will sound funny to her and will get her excited

**Give your dog a massage.  When he is laying down relaxed, rub his back, legs and head.  He will enjoy the feeling as much as we enjoy our massages.

**Play hide and seek with your dog.  Distract her, then run and hide.  See how long it takes her to find you (try places like a closet or the bath tub).   When she finds you, give her a lot of praise.

For more ideas on how to show your dog how much you love him, check out the book “97 ways to make a Dog Smile” by Jenny Langbehn

Little Momma, Little Prince, and Little Lord Feducci

We've heard people say that one of the things they enjoy about our website is the scrolling, rolling gallery of pets that enter our doors and, in particular, the names of those pets.  We take these shots in our reception area (and there's a tremendous archive on the website);  at this writing, the gallery starts with a Bernese Mountain Dog named Walter and a sweet-looking kitten named Monster, and includes a rat named Faust.  We have our share of more conventional names, though.    It has recently been reported that, for the fifth consecutive year, Buddy has been the most popular dog name for adoptable dogs, and Lucy was most popular for adoptable cats.   We have 26 Buddys currently in the practice -- five avians, fifteen canines, two felines, one bearded dragon, one iguana, one tortoise and one guinea pig.  And our Lucys are one ferret, five felines, one guinea pig, and fifteen canines.  

It's fun to just pick a word and see what turns up.   In the first name "Little", for example, we take care of

Little Lord Feducci, dachshund

Little B,  parakeet

Little Bear,  Australian Shepherd

Little G,  rabbit

Little Linda,  cockatiel

Little Momma,  cat

Little One, pit bull

Little Prince,  hamster

Little Smokers, cat

Little Rhino, King Charles Cavalier

And in a related category.... a chinchilla called Tiny Puff!  

DR. BAILLIE WILL LEAD STATE-WIDE VET ORGANIZATION

In February, Dr. John Baillie will be appointed president-elect of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, taking his place in the leadership of the 1979-member state-wide group, which is the professional association for all veterinarians in the state.   The MVMA names, among its missions, goals of advocating effectively for animal welfare, enhancing the knowledge and skills of veterinary professionals, and identifying and mentoring future leaders of the veterinary profession.  Dr. Baillie will assume its presidency in February 2013.  
 
At the same meeting next month, Dr. Baillie will be inducted as a Life Member, having joined the organization shortly after his graduation from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1972.   

 "It wasn't easy to come up with the dues at that point, as I recall", he laughs, "but I think I already knew that the MVMA was in synch with my own commitment to supporting the human-animal bond.  And so I've stayed a member for forty years.   I'm glad for the opportunity now to give back something to the organization and particularly for the opportunity to support and encourage students and new graduates into the field state-wide, as we've always done in this practice."   Cedar Pet Clinic Lake Elmo, and Dr. Baillie, have launched staff members into veterinary school over the years;  both current associates Drs. Anna Ulfeng and Noemi Plantz began work as junior staff members with Dr. Baillie, went to vet school, and came back to work for him after their graduations.  

 "For the MVMA, I had the opportunity a few months ago to participate in a 'white coat' ceremony at the University, welcoming new graduates into the profession.  It was very rewarding for me," said Dr. Baillie.  He also recently attended the Leadership Development Conference for the national veterinary professional organization, the American Veterinary Medical Association,  in Chicago.  

Official Greeter, Kitty, Moe~

Wishing you and yours good health and great happiness throughout the season and coming year. From all of us at Cedar Pet Clinic Lake Elmo (and from our Official Greeter Kitty, Moe!)

AAHA Suggested Pet Gifts!

AAHA Suggests Pet Gifts

Cedar Pet Clinic Lake Elmo is proud to be accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, and we're happy to pass on the annual AAHA list of suggested pet gifts.   We especially approve of Number One!

Special edition: AAHA's top 10 holiday pet picks 

With Santa’s reindeer gearing up for a sleighful of deliveries to pets and their people, pet owners are hitting the stores to do their own shopping for their furry friends. From stainless steel water fountains to Angry Birds toys, pet gifts this season will have pets (and humans) drooling and howling for more.
Here are some staff favorites from the team at AAHA that are sure to get tails wagging and paws pouncing this holiday season.

1. Time:

For the owner on a budget or for the pet who has everything, the gift of time is the top gift for any pet this year."  According to my cats, the best present I can give them is my time," a staff member says. "They would like nothing better than for me to spend hours petting them and brushing them and scratching them and just loving them."

2. Thundershirt:

The holidays can be a stressful time for anxiety or stress-prone dogs. A Thundershirt can help reduce anxiety by creating a snug, comfortable fit that comforts dogs when in stressful situations.

"Everyone is talking about how these can help dogs that exhibit behavioral issues when stressed," one staff member says. "They’re most often applied to calm thunderstorm fears but I hear of people using them in situations they know their dog finds stressful."  For a stressed pooch, a Thundershirt may be the perfect gift that can keep on giving all year round.

Thundershirt Dog Anxiety Treatment Wrap


 







 
3. Through a Dog’s Ear (CD series):

This series uses music to help calm anxious dogs in stressful settings like shelters and hospitals. Instrumentation on each album is carefully chosen to relax dogs by gradually slowing their heart rates. Many of the albums have been tested for effectiveness on dogs in shelters, clinics and homes.  Through a Dog’s Ear

　　

For Fun Loving Pets!

4. Hartz Angry Birds cat toys: Don’t forget that cats love Angry Birds, too! The Angry Birds Running Bird toy stimulates your cat’s predatory instinct by shaking and vibrating its catnip innards, driving cats crazy and tempting their paws to pounce.
Angry Bird Cat Toy
 
　

 

 

 

 

 

5. Hartz Angry Birds dog toys:

Angry Birds = happy dogs. Based on the popular mobile game app that pits birds against greedy green pigs, the double-sided Angry Birds flyer will have your dog chasing it down just so that he can get his teeth on this toy’s ballistic nylon.

Angry Bird Dog Toy

6. Homemade dog treats:

If purchasing special goodies from bakeries isn’t your thing, make your own doggie treats.

"You can always make dog biscuits with cookie cut-outs," one staff member says. "I recently made a disgusting liver bar recipe. I liquefied chicken livers in a food processor, added corn meal and flour, and then baked them. After, I cut them up into bars. It was gross to make and smell while they were baking but my dogs LOVED them."
Other recipes include mixing baby food, corn meal and dry milk. Peanut butter is always a good add-in, staff says.

7. Baked doggie goods from local doggie bakeries:

Fancy doggie goodies from specialized bakeries can whet your pet’s palate in a way that everyday treats can’t quite do.

"Christmas and his birthday are the only times my dog gets to indulge with these!" says one AAHA staff member.



For the sophisticated pet

8. Stainless steel water fountains:

Upgrading to a stainless steel water fountain this year may be a popular choice for pet lovers who want to add some class to their pets’ drinking style.

"I think crowds will love it this season since stainless steel is so fashionable in many kitchens and it is easy to clean," one staff member says.

Drinkwell 360 Stainless Steel Pet Fountain

9. Travel carrier:

Take your pet to grandmother’s house in comfort and security this holiday season. Travel carriers help to contain your pet while riding in the car, making it a safer and more comfortable drive for both you and your pet.

 For the safety-conscious pet

10. Car seat harness:

There is no better gift than taking your pet with you when you travel - provided that your pet can travel securely! Buying a car seat harness will ensure that your pet receives the same level of safety that you do when you travel.

FROM OUR VETS: FDA issues warning on chicken jerky for dogs

Government Agencies

FDA Issues Warning on Chicken Jerky for Dogs

by News Desk | Nov 20, 2011

Pet owners should be aware that chicken jerky products from China may be associated with reports of Fanconi-like syndrome in dogs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned.

The FDA issued the following alert:

Unbearably Cute Puppy by Douglas Gray

Chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be fed occasionally in small quantities.

FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs that may occur within hours to days of feeding the products: decreased appetite; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; increased water consumption and/or increased urination. If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product. Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine). Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.

FDA, in addition to several animal health diagnostic laboratories in the U.S., is working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs. FDA's Veterinary Laboratory Response Network (VLRN) is now available to support these animal health diagnostic laboratories. To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. FDA continues extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified a contaminant.

The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem and its origin. Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky. Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their state or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Our vets urge you to call the clinic if your dog is experiencing these symptoms, and  with any concerns about the health of your pet.