Break the chain, unleash the love

Break the Chain, Unleash the Love

“Man’s best friend” is sometimes considered a cliché but it is a very true statement.  Dogs are loyal, protective, trusting and forgiving.  So why would you want to keep them on a chain?  You can ride around city streets and even the countryside and see dogs tethered to a chain 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  They get no socialization, no exercise, are vulnerable to weather conditions and in many cases, injuries can occur.  But if they at least have a fence it gives them area to exercise and can decrease their chances of injury and change their attitude for the better.   Here are some reasons why:

Dogs are very social animals and need contact with people for more than a few minutes when their food or water bowl is being filled.  Imagine lugging a huge chain around your neck every day all day.  Dogs are pack animals and want to be a part of your pack.  When they are left alone all the time it can lead to personality problems like biting.  A lot of times they are so starved for attention that they jump up and down on a person when they are near them.  Many dogs tend to bark quite a bit because they want to be with their person, but in many cases, they are just yelled “shut up” to.  How would you feel?  

                                   

Their exercise is very limited to a circular area around where they are chained.    Dogs need to run and jump and play.  Being chained is a type of imprisonment for just being a dog.  They knock their food and water bowls over with the chain which can be very dangerous given a very hot or cold day.  Often times there is very little cover for the animal to get away from weather.  What if you had to be outside in the blistering heat, freezing cold, rain, sleet, snow?

I am a veterinary technician and have seen what kind of injuries can happen to a chained dog.  Being on a chain, another dog/dogs or wildlife can come into the chained dog’s yard and it has nowhere to escape.  Other injuries I have seen include imbedded collars (the collar/chain has grown into the dog’s neck), chains causing wounds on their leg or body, and sometimes broken legs where the dog has tried to run with the chain wrapped around the leg and snapped it in two.   They are also subject to fleas and ticks especially if they are near a wooded area.  

          

I know a lot of people chain dogs because that's all they know - their family has always done it that way.  I volunteer with an organization called The Coalition to Unchain Dogs and we are hoping to change this mindset.  I have seen firsthand the change in a dog’s demeanor when it goes from being chained to running around in a fence.  I have seen them go from barking and scared to receptive and happy once the chain is removed and they are released into their new fence.

   

        

The Coalition to Unchain Dogs’ mission is to educate people about the dangers of chaining a dog and to help improve a dog’s life.  Dogs love us no matter what and they have no ulterior motives.  I often feel they are more than what we deserve.  Please help improve the life of a dog on a chain.  If you would like to volunteer your time with The Coalition to Unchain Dogs or learn more about them, you can go to their web page for more information: www.unchaindogs.net.   

We at TVRH are also raising money to build a fence for a dog in September.  We have T-shirts available for $20.00 a piece or for a donation of any amount, we have a bracelet that you could wear as supplies last.  Our goal is to raise at least $500.00.  The dogs that receive a fence are also provided with vaccines and a mandatory spay or neuter which helps with population control.  Anything you can give is appreciated.   Please make checks out to Coalition to Unchain Dogs.  Together with your help, we can change the life of a dog.  So please help us to break the chain and unleash the love.

Michele Kendall, RVT

On the loss of a Friend

On the loss of a Friend...

As a referral and emergency clinic, we see a lot of loss. I wish that we had happy endings for all the cases that we see but unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the way it works. All of us can empathize with the losses we see, but some hit closer to home than others. Maybe it's that Jack Russell that you can relate to because you have a “terror” at home too. Maybe it's that grey cat that looks just like your first cat you had as a child. Maybe it's that biting dog that you could barely pet when it came to the clinic but you just couldn't help falling for because of her gumption and zest for life. Many of our patients are not just a cat or a dog, but a family member. We understand their loss because we've lost some of our own families too. Sometimes it's time for our friends to go and sometimes, it just doesn't make sense.

I remember when I lost my first cat –  my parents got me a book to help me understand and grieve. The book was called The Tenth Good Thing about Barney by Judith Voirst.

“Barney was brave, and smart, and funny, and clean;

also cuddly and handsome.  And he only once ate a bird. 

It was sweet to hear him purr in my ear. 

And sometimes he slept on my belly and kept it warm.”

I think about that book a lot. I don't remember all of it but I remember that it helped me cope with the loss of my Bruno. He was hit by a car – we lived on a busy street and he was an indoor/outdoor cat. It didn't seem fair that I lost my friend so soon (it still doesn't). I remember when we first got Bruno – we were told he was a girl and my mom had named him Maggie. That changed at the first vet visit. It's funny the way that pets shape your life – Bruno helped me perfect my cat wrangling techniques when I was only five. Thanks Bruno.

Whatever the reason (or lack thereof), pets must leave our lives at some point. I feel fortunate to have cared for the ones that I have had in my life – whether they belonged to me or not. I have learned something from all of them. Ella taught me that Jack Russells never give up – never. Kitty taught me that she was in charge and she could take care of it. Daisy taught me that a positive attitude is always the best outlook on life and you can never have enough friends – that's a golden for you. I've learned a lot from having pets in my life. I can't say I enjoy crying at work but I'm glad I'm at a place where I can be there to help someone when they've lost their own friend. I know it hurts, but we hurt with you. In time, I hope you remember all that your friend has given to you and what lessons you can learn from them. Here's to all our furry friends – may they rest in peace and watch over us from across the Rainbow Bridge.

submitted by Sarah Ignelzi

Getting choked up.....

Ok, we're going "old school" now.  

Jimmy Stewart reading a poem that he wrote about his dog "Beau" on the Johnny Carson Show.

http://www.wimp.com/poemdog/

So sweet.

Spiders and lizards and frogs, oh my!

 (that's a scalpel handle in the front for scale)

Have you ever wondered where your kids put all their toys? Apparently our friend Darwin was trying to help his children out and picked up after them. His owner noticed that Darwin wasn't feeling very well and he was seen by his regular veterinarian.  After physical exam and some bloodwork, his regular veterinarian recommended an ultrasound. Ultrasound findings were consistent with gastric and intestinal foreign bodies and emergency surgery was recommended. Our surgeon, Dr. Grafinger, did Darwin's surgery and said it was one of his most interesting foreign body surgeries yet. We removed many hard plastic toys, including three frogs, a spider, a lizard, a dinosaur, a barrette, and multiple hair scrunchies, all from Darwin's stomach. His intestines did not have any foreign bodies but did have some scar tissue that may have suggested that this wasn't Darwin's first time cleaning up around the house but escaped surgery that go 'round. We hope Darwin has learned to let his children clean up their own toys and just enjoy playing with them instead.

Submitted by Sarah Ignelzi

Bet you thought only kids did that!

One of the things that we love about emergency medicine is that it's so unpredictable.  Just last week, we saw something that a pediatrician more commonly experiences.  You hear about it in kids, but in dogs?

That's right.  It's a peanut.  And it was lodged deep in the nose of a maltipoo.  Mom had seen the dog playing with a peanut, and not long after he developed loud, stertorous breathing.  When Dr Reid, our Internal Medicine specialist, checked his upper airway with an endoscope, this is what she saw:

Once she located the peanut, it was no big deal to push it caudally toward the mouth, and then manually remove it.  Our patient had an uneventful recovery, and went home the same day, none the worse for wear.  We love happy endings!

A little hair in your tea?

 

Did you know that there are cafes in Japan that you can visit where you pay to sip tea and pet cats??? They are called Cat cafes and they are extremely popular.

The first cat café opened in Taiwan in 1998. In Japan the first cat café opened in 2004. Now there are over 30 different cat cafes in Japan. 

Some of the cafes cater to a certain type of cat like black cats or fat cats.  The popularity of these café’s is due to most apartments forbidding animals, people working long days and not having time for their own animals. People tend to get very lonely so they will head over the cat cafes for a little 4 legged interactions.

All cafes must obtain a license and comply with strict requirements under the Animal Treatment/Protection laws. The cat cafes adhere to strict guidelines regarding cleanliness and the treatment of their cats. They have rules like letting the cats approach you, no children, and not disturbing the cats while sleeping.

Coming soon near you?

Submitted by Beth Bardell

Cold Weather Safety for Dogs and Cats

 

T he average temperature at night in North Carolina during the January month is 27 degrees Fahrenheit.  Most dogs and cats stay inside during the cold nights but here are some helpful tips on how to protect them if they do have to go outside.  

Small dogs and dogs with thin hair coats should wear coats when going outside for walks during very cold temperatures.  The best type of coat should be one that has a high collar and covers from the base of the tail on top to the belly underneath.  Sick or older dogs should only be walked outside to do their business and then they should come right back in.  During winter months, if possible keep pet beds away from cold drafts and make sure older animals have warm cozy beds or blankets to sleep on. 

Here are a few tips if you take your dog on longer walks in the winter months. Some dogs can have dry and sensitive paw pads. These become irritated when walking on cold concrete. You can spray a little cooking spray on your dog’s paw pads just before you take them on a walk. Keep a bucket of warm water and clean cloths by the door for when you get back. You should always wipe down paws when coming back from a walk. This will get any chemicals off paws that were picked up during the walk. Make sure to clean any snow or ice out of your pet’s paws also when they get back so their feet do not become irritated. 

 

Please remember that antifreeze and the salt that melts sidewalk ice is extremely toxic to animals. Pay very close attention to what your pet is doing while outside and do not let them drink any melted snow or water.

The winter months can be a great time for animals. Remembering the above safety tips can make sure great months do not turn into deadly months. 

Submitted by Beth Bardell, TVRH