Paws and Prayers Rescue Blog

Remember Bob Barker’s sign-off at the end of every show?  “Spay or neuter your pets!”  What d’ya know, Mr. Barker was absolutely correct!

Today, February 26, 2013, is the 19th Annual World Spay Day, sponsored by the Humane Society of the UnitedStates (HSUS) and Humane Society International (HSI).  HSUS heralds this special date as “a day to shine the spotlight on spay/neuter as a proven means of saving lives of companion animals, feral cats, and street dogs who might otherwise be put down in a shelter or killed on the street.”  World Spay Day is also co-sponsored by national groups such as ASPCA, PetSmartCharities, and PetFinder, as well as many local animal welfare organizations.

A sad fact is that, according to HSUS, 6-8 MILLION pets are put into shelters every year.  Only half of these are adopted—the other half, sadly, are euthanized because of overpopulation.  Many of these euthanized pets were healthy and adoptable.  Where do all these pets come from?  HSUS states that usually, these are not the result of stray animals breeding on the street; rather, they are companion animals—pets—who owners have allowed to breed, either purposely or accidentally.  By performing spay or neuter, you can 100% prevent unwanted or unintended breeding.  Not only that, but by spaying/neutering your pet, you will help ensure you won’t contribute to already overpopulated shelters.  “The message of World Spay Day is that by spaying or neutering your pet, by supporting spay/neuter efforts in the United States and abroad, and by informing others of the importance of spay/neuter, you become an important part of the solution!”


One of the primary reasons spay/neuter surgery is not performed timely (or at all) is cost.  During the month of February, many national and local organizations are striving to make sterilization affordable for all pet owners.  To find an event near you, click here.   For those in the Akron area, check out this event at One of a Kind Pets.



How much do YOU know about spay or neuter? Quick facts:

• Kittens can (and should!) be spayed or neutered once they reach 2 pounds; dogs can have the procedure completed as soon as 8 weeks of age. 
• One unaltered cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in seven years!! 
• Spaying females corrects many undesirable behaviors associated with heat cycles; neutering males helps correct things like urine marking, roaming, and humping. 
• Spay/neuter lowers the chance of many health problems later in life, including certain types of cancer.
• Purebred dogs make up approximately 25% of shelter populations—don’t let your purebred’s puppies become a statistic!  A litter of purebred puppies is still a litter that has the potential to end up in shelters.   

As always, we have included a list of our sources AND resources for the savvy, knowledgeable pet parent.  Make sure you take full advantage of this month’s spay and neuter deals—your pet will thank you!! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Content By:  Jocelyn Alexander

Jocelyn Alexander is a rescue foster for dogs and cats, as well as a Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS).  She has a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever named Dixie, who is a registered Pet Partners therapy dog and Canine Good Citizen; and Chloe, a 10-year-old tuxedo cat who rules the house with a velvet glove.

Images:  1, 2, 3

Have you ever gotten up in the morning and had your mouth feel “icky?”  Imagine that feeling compounded by days, weeks, and possibly months of going without brushing your teeth.  YUCK!  In our last post we discussed how important your pet’s dental health is, and how many complications poor oral conditions can cause or exacerbate.  Today, we’ll give you all the information you need to get into a healthy, regular dental care regimen.  A good routine can LITERALLY give you many more happy years with your beloved companion!

Things You Will Need:

• A toothbrush made for dogs or cats:  You can use one that fits over your finger (especially helpful for smaller dogs or cats who have little or no experience with tooth brushing), or one with a handle (which can give you better reach into a larger dog’s mouth).  Some handled brushes have a small brush on one end and a larger brush on the other. 
• Pet-specific toothpaste:  This is a must!  NEVER use human toothpaste; it contains ingredients which may be harmful or toxic.  Pet toothpaste comes in several flavors, such as beef, liver, chicken, or peanut butter.  You may need to experiment a little to figure out which one your pet prefers. 
• A favorite treat:  Remember our January blog post?  Using positive reinforcement helps ensure that tooth brushing will be a routinely positive experience, one that your dog or cat won’t mind repeating.   

Start Small!

If your dog or cat isn’t familiar with tooth brushing, you may need to start in small steps.

First, in keeping with positivity, ensure that you do not take a threatening stance or restrain/ hold down your pet.  WebMD recommends kneeling or sitting in front of or beside him.  Rub your finger along his gums and teeth, applying light pressure.  Getting your pet to accept this may take a few days.  Then, you can apply toothpaste onto your finger and repeat the process.  Once this has been achieved, you can generally begin to use the toothbrush along with the toothpaste.


The Brushing Technique

Gently brush your pet’s teeth in a circular motion, ensuring you are hitting the gum line to help remove the plaque.  Make sure you don’t brush too hard—if you see bleeding gums, this could be either an indication of gingivitis (gum disease) or that you are applying too much pressure.  If it happens regularly, be sure to ask your vet.

Even if your pet only allows brushing for a few seconds, it’s important to reward the behavior with a treat.  You can keep trying the next day, and build up time as you go!

Helpful Hints:

• Talk to your pet in a soothing manner; be calm 
• Give treats regularly during brushing activities to build positive response to dental care 
• Schedule tooth brushing following physical exercise, when your pet may be a little more tired and more likely to cooperate calmly 
• Ask your vet which chewy items are good for maintaining dental health (some recommend Greenies, types of rawhides, or raw marrow bones) between brushings. 

As always, here is a list of useful resources to help you make your pet’s “smile” dazzling and kisses sweet! 

Paws & Prayers Adoptable Dog, Hennesy

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=997 

http://pets.webmd.com/healthy-dog-teeth-10/slideshow-brushing-dog-teeth 

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/essential-grooming-brushing-your-dogs-teeth.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Content By:  Jocelyn Alexander

Jocelyn Alexander is a rescue foster for dogs and cats, as well as a Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS).  She has a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever named Dixie, who is a registered Pet Partners therapy dog and Canine Good Citizen; and Chloe, a 10-year-old tuxedo cat who rules the house with a velvet glove.

Images:  1, 2

*peek*  H-hi.  I-I'm Cady.  I've been hanging out here at Paws & Prayers since September.  Almost six months now they've been trying to help me find my furever home.  I think my longer stay with them is due to my reserved nature.  While everyone's visiting with the kittens and more playful kitties, I like to relax in the shadows and observe my surroundings.  Some times you have to look real hard to even see me in my enclosure, I love to get into hiding spots!  

Paws & Prayers volunteers are very patient and caring with me.  They've even said I have started coming out of my shell a little bit.  Within the last month or so I have started to come out of my beloved shelter box to sit and watch people coming and going.  Now, I don't like lots of noise but I am curious and will peek out to see what's going on.  Speaking of coming out of my shell, Paws & Prayers volunteers have even 'caught' me playing and cuddling with one of my favorite toys - a squishy sock toy.  And I do love being petted by my Paws & Prayers caretaker friends.  One my friends I've seen on at least a weekly basis since I came to Paws & Prayers and she gives the best ear scratches and muzzle rubs.

*peek*

So if you can't tell, it will take me a little bit to settle in to a new home.  I'll need to be given plenty of time to adjust to new surroundings.  And started out slow in a new home - most likely in my own little room for a bit and gradually add more and more space as I get used to things.  Oh and I'll need lots of nooks and crannies to tuck away into, too.

I cannot wait to have a warm cuddly spot of my own to stretch and lounge in.  And I dream of a window to look out on the world.  If you can give me the patience and loving furever home I deserve, I will reward you with quiet love, affection and gratitude for a lifetime.

I love my hide n seek box!

Cady is listed on Paws & Prayers Adoptable Cats.  This sweetheart is about five years old and up to date on her vaccinations.  Cady's adoption fee is $25.00.  To meet and/or adopt Cady please fill out a Paws & Prayers adoption application for her today.

• 57% of dog owners say their dog has bad-smelling breath.
• 59% of pet owners did not know that dental disease is the most prevalent disease in dogs and cats.
• 62% of pet owners aren’t taking action to address their pet’s dental health, and only a third take their pet to a veterinarian for professional cleaning.

• Bad breath (YES, a dog or cat’s breath isn’t always sweet as honey, but any especially offensive odor should be cause for concern; this can also be accompanied by loss of appetite, or vomiting or excessive drinking and urinating)
• Excessive drooling
• Inflamed gums
• Tumors in the gums
• Cysts under the tongue
• Loose teeth

• Pink gums (not white or red) which are not swollen
• Teeth should be clean and without brownish tartar
  
  

  

  
  

What health problems can dental disease cause?

Jan Bellows, DVM, from Weston Florida, writes to PetMD.com that “toxins from periodontal disease are absorbed into the dog’s bloodstream. As the kidneys, liver, and brain filter the blood, small infections occur, causing permanent and at time, fatal organ damage.” Shocking? Most definitely! Once dental disease is treated and pet parents continue a healthy regimen at home, pets often improve and do not suffer from further discomfort or illness. Dr. Bellows goes on to state that, thanks to circulation, these bacterial colonies can “set up shop” in the pets tissues, such as the heart and its valves, kidneys, liver, and brain. Exactly HOW important is dental health? Dr. Bellows says, “When a client asks me how long their puppy will live, I usually respond 15-17 years if you brush their teeth daily….11-13 years if you don’t.”

Hopefully this blog post has given you some food for thought with regards to your pet’s dental health. We have listed helpful resources below, as well as sources used to write this article. Stay tuned for our next installment on dental health, including easy and effective at-home dental regimens!

http://www.petmd.com/dog/grooming/evr_dg_oral_hygiene_and_your_dogs_health?page=show#.URLtRx3LSSo

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/how-to-tell-if-your-dog-has-dental-disease/page1.aspx

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1112778940/banfield-sinks-its-teeth-into-pet-dental-health/

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-care-dental-health.aspx

http://www.healthypet.com/PetCare/PetCareArticle.aspx?title=AAHA_Dental_Care_Guidelines

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Content By:  Jocelyn Alexander

Jocelyn Alexander is a rescue foster for dogs and cats, as well as a Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS).  She has a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever named Dixie, who is a registered Pet Partners therapy dog and Canine Good Citizen; and Chloe, a 10-year-old tuxedo cat who rules the house with a velvet glove.

Images:  1, 2

For 2013, we are reinvigorating Paws & Prayers' Volunteer of the Month recognition.  January's Volunteer of the Month recognition goes to not just one volunteer but a much appreciated duo - Scott and Zac S.  This father/son team is coming up on a year of service with Paws & Prayers.  Every Saturday morning these great guys show up for their Feline Care and Office Angel shift and knock it out of the park!  Thank you, Scott & Zac, for your reliability, you really brighten up the office and cat room!  All of the kitties say 'thank you' too! 


We can't reinvigorate our Volunteer of the Month recognition without YOU, our supporters!  Have a volunteer you'd like to nominate?  (Yes, fosters are volunteers, too!)  Hop on over to complete our quick, easy survey with your nomination and why they deserve to be Paws & Prayers Volunteer of the Month!  Please have all nominations in by the 20th of the month you're nominating them for.  Winners are announced at the start of the following month.  Thank you!

January is National Train Your Dog Month and to celebrate, Paws and Prayers is giving its blog readers a treat. Have you recently adopted a dog? Would you like to learn more about what makes your 4-legged kid tick? How to improve the bond between you and your furry friend? Look no further—we have compiled a list of “DOs” and “DON'Ts” to help give you the tools to make you a perfect pet parent!

DO develop and keep a consistent routine in your household. Involve everyone in your family when working on obedience training. Dogs need everyone to be on the same page (kids included, as much as they are able) when learning, as dogs need to generalize behavior across a variety of settings. For example: if you have been training your dog to stay off the furniture and someone allows the dog up on the sofa to nap, the dog will begin to assume she can always nap on the sofa. If you are attending obedience classes, make sure everyone in your family attends when they’re able—that way, everyone gets a chance to bond with the dog and learn what she’s learning. A consistent routine will also help your dog acclimate to her new home and allow her to learn when she may expect to be walked, pottied, fed, or given play time.

DO use positive reinforcements. Remember the old saying, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar?” It’s true! Dogs learn best by operant and classical conditioning: perform a behavior, get a reward; lather, rinse, repeat! Positive reinforcers include yummy treats (use high value treats like pieces of chicken, liver, or hot dogs for “important” behaviors or to make sure your dog is paying attention to the best of his ability). They also include affection and excited, high-pitched praise (“GOOD BOY!”).
Once this behavior is well learned, the food reinforcements may be able to be weaned; however, verbal praise and affection is always valuable! You CANNOT reward good behavior enough!

DO practice obedience training in short bursts of time. Just like children, dogs have short attention spans and can be easily frustrated when presented with difficult or repetitive tasks over a long period of time. It is more helpful to practice basic commands, for example, several times per day in 10 minute increments.

DON’T become angry at your dog for something you didn’t see them do. Dogs are not able to deduce WHY they are getting in trouble for chewing the furniture when they were home alone; rather, they do figure out that when their human comes home, they are yelled at. The dog therefore learns to fear their human, which can lead to other undesirable behaviors. Dogs do not possess the same human powers of reasoning, morality, or the ability to do things “out of spite.”

DON’T use physical punishment to modify your dog’s behavior. This includes “dominance theory.” Such approaches have been proven by research to be ineffective and is very likely to escalate unwanted behaviors. Remember, we want the dog to associate WONDERFUL things with behaving properly! The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) strongly recommends against any trainer who:

• Advocates the owner to assert himself as “alpha” or to make the dog “submit”
• Focuses training on the use of choke, prong, or shock collars
• Recommends “alpha rolls,” “scruffing,” “helicoptering,” “choking,” or any other painful or physical methods of “training” or modifying behavior
• Instructs owners to yell at their dog, knee him in the chest/abdomen, yanking the collar constantly, or hitting the dog

DON’T give your dog more responsibility than she’s ready to handle. Set her up for success! Some puppies and dogs do best in smaller spaces, especially when left alone. Especially while your dog is going through the familiarization process with her new home and learning what is expected of her, it is helpful to utilize crate training or baby gates to contain the dog to a smaller area. When you are home, it can be helpful to utilize an “umbilical cord” approach: leash the dog inside the house and keep her with you as you go about your day. She will always be within your eyesight and can be immediately stopped from undesirable behaviors and redirected to expected, “proper” behavior. This approach is also very useful for potty training. As the dog becomes more successful, you can then modify the size of the contained area and length of time you are away. You can also incorporate this with positive reinforcements by using VERY special treats such as stuffed Kongs for when you go away for the day.

Training your dog is one of the most important steps you can take to have a happy, healthy, and well-socialized dog. Obedience classes, whether private or in a group, can be a wonderful way to bond with your dog as you learn and grow together. Asking your vet for a recommendation or going to www.apdt.com can assist you in finding a qualified trainer in your area.

To help you accomplish your training goals, we’ve included some helpful resources to arm you with the knowledge you need. We hope your 2013 will be a happy one for you and your furry friend!

Donaldson, Jean (1996). The Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way to Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Domestic Dogs.

McConnell, Patricia (2007). For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend.

McConnell, Patricia and London, Karen (2011). Love Has No Age Limit: Welcoming an Adopted Dog Into Your Home.

American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB): www.dacvb.org

Rugaas, Turid (2006). On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, 2nd ed.

Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT): www.apdt.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Content By:  Jocelyn Alexander

Jocelyn Alexander is a rescue foster for dogs and cats, as well as a Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS).  She has a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever named Dixie, who is a registered Pet Partners therapy dog and Canine Good Citizen; and Chloe, a 10-year-old tuxedo cat who rules the house with a velvet glove.

Images:  1 2 3 4

Uh, hi.  He-hello there.  I am Yama.  Pa-Pa-Paws and Prayers is featuring me this month so you can learn more about me.  I, uh, I'm not too sure what all to tell ya.  They, they told me you might like to know what my favorite things are and what my typical day is like.  I hope you like my story.  My foster mom says we're, uh, we're working on my conf-confidence.  Well here goes . . .

So, well, I'm with my Pa-Paws and Prayers foster family - a great family with th-three kids and two d-dogs of their own.  I LOVE my foster mom.  I hear her alarm clock go off  and I'm up, I'm up and ready to start the day.  I help my foster mom get up and ready for the day, too.  She'll reach for her snooze button as I nuzzle her neck.  She ends up mumbling something about me not having a snooze button and gets up to let me outside on my tie out.

I love to be outside and like my tie out.  A fenced yard would be great and all, but uh, well, I uh jump four-foot fences like it's no big deal.  Well it isn't a big deal for me, I can jump it real good.  But as mom says, the tie out is safest for me.  And I'm fine with it, I can still play with the other dogs.  I LOVE playing with other dogs so much.  We either take the play back inside or I wear myself out and take a break on the love seat.
Now after all that play I've worked up my appetite.

While I may not be confident and as sure of myself as I should be, there's one thing I know for sure - I cannot have my breakfast without warm water.  If my foster mom forgets to put warm water on my food I won't eat it until there is.  After 3 months so far with her, I've uh, I've got her trained pretty well, she almost never forgets anymore.

When I've finished my breakfast, it's back outside before everyone heads off to work and school for the day.  This is def-definitely my least favorite part of the day.  Because I have some uh, some separation anxiety I do need to go in a, a crate.  When left out I get into stuff I know I'm not supposed to, chew on things that are not supposed to be chewed on . . . Well, I don't let a crate stop me from trying to relieve my stress like that.  I am very crafty and am able to move my crate to get into stuff.  My foster family has outsmarted me now though and keeps my crate on carpet so I can't move it.

Everyone eventually d-does come back home and I get to go back outside!  I play and play the night away with the other dogs.  Sometimes I'll rest on the love seat but usually I'm playing!  With everyone running around doing the evening things they do, I typically stay out of the way and keep to myself when I'm not playing with my dog friends.

Things start settling down as the night goes and once the kids go to bed I get some one-on-one time with my foster mom.  I get to cuddle up and lay beside on her the couch.  I'm, uh, I'm not too sure about my f-foster d-dad still.  For the first couple months, I avoided him at all costs and would run the other way if I saw him coming.  I'm a lover not a fighter.  I do not show any signs of aggression when I'm afraid.  No s-snarls, growls, or c-curled lips.  N-nothing like that.  I'll just work to avoid whatever it is.  I don't know why I'm scared around my f-foster dad, I just am.  N-now, I'm a little more comfortable being around him but still not comfortable enough to approach him.

My lover not a fighter take on things makes me a good watch dog too.  If I hear someone at the door, I bark to let you know.  But my job ends there.  If they come in, I hide.

Well, anyway, after a day of playing and eating and then cuddling with my foster mom, it's time for bed.  I get to sleep in my foster parents bedroom.  S-sometimes I'll try to squeeze into bed with them but I have a bed of my own in there that I love.

This, this h-helping you learn more about me isn't as hard as I th-thought.  What else . . . Um oh, my favorite toy is, uh, another dog . . . I uh I really, really like to play with other dogs.  Usually dogs say their favorite toy is a ball or a bone.  I uh, I do like to chew on Nyla bones from time to time, but that's uh p-pretty much it.

I do like to go for walks.  I get very excited.  But loud t-t-trucks and cars p-passing by or, uh, a stranger walking by frighten me some.  My foster mom is always giving the reassurance I need to know that everything's okay, that I'm allowed to be there and so is everyone else and everything will be alright.

My mom says I have p-po-potential for the right family.  We'll keep working on my confidence but I, uh, I need a family with patience.  As you've learned I do, uh, I take a while to warm up.  So at first you may not find me to be cuddly and loving.  But as I settle in and you work with me on my terms, you'll earn a best friend for life.

If you would like know more about and/or meet Yama please see his listing on Paws & Prayers Adoptable Dogs and fill out an adoption application for Yama today!