by: Richard Delgado



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Welcome to all our new subscribers! We hope you enjoy

this publication.



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In this issue:



1) "Mark Your Calender for July 29! Join The Woof Pack

at the Niles Dog Show"



2) "Who Won Our Contest?"



3) "Bird Flu: A Danger to Felines?"



4) "Listen to your dog when they tell you they are too hot"



5) "Tell Us What You Think!"



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1) "Mark Your Calender for July 29! Join The Woof Pack

at the Niles Dog Show"



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Would you like to spend a day at the park with your dog(s),

and a whole lot of other dogs? Saturday, July 29th is the

"Pooch Pow Wow Canine Convention," otherwise known as the

Niles Dog Show in beautiful Niles, CA. This has been an

annual event, and features a dog show with many categories.

There are information and product booths, things to do with

your dog, presentations, a raffle, and just plain fun for

dogs! Mixed breeds are very welcome, and in fact, are

encouraged.



The Woof Pack will have a booth at the event as well, so

come by and visit us. Then, just walk around with your

dog(s) and enjoy yourselves. You may even want to enter them

into one of the categories at the dog show. Why not? There

is minimal cost involved, and you get the chance to show

everyone your pride(s) and joy. Then, enter the raffle and

take home a prize. We will be raffling off a prize, so

maybe you can take home ours.



For those of you who know him, my dog Storm will be there,

and he would love some company.



Having a booth at the show is a great way for us to get some

name recognition in the community. If you know anyone who

needs pet sitting, bring them along and we can help answer

any questions they may have. We can also schedule consultations

for any new clients, or schedule pet sitting for your own

pets. And remember, with our referral system, you will get

paid for the referral.



The dog show is at the Niles Community Park at Third and "H"

street in Niles, CA. It is easy to get to. Off of Mission

Blvd, turn onto Niles Blvd (right or left depends on what

direction you are coming from), and follow the road under the

overpass, and bear right into town. Turn left on "H" street

and take it all the way to the end. You will run into the

park.



From the other direction, you can come down Alvarado Niles

Blvd. straight into town. You would then turn right onto

"H" street.



The show runs from 10AM to 3PM. Come along and have a great

time!





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2) "Who Won Our Contest?"



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If you are a new subscriber, then let me inform you that we

held a simple contest for a $25 Gift Certificate to Sweet Tomatoes

restaurant. All you had to do was to email us your pet's birthdays.

This was a very easy contest.



For those of you who knew about the contest, I want to thank all

those who did enter. There was a great response to our contest. It

ended at 7PM on July 10th. And... WE HAVE A WINNER!!!



Kelsie and Brandon sent in their entry for their beautiful black

lab named Brinkley. Brinkley is featured on our website and can be

seen at www.thewoofpack.com/job.htm. Brinkley is Kelsie and

Brandon's pride and joy, and I love this energetic and charismatic

boy. For their entry, they won the gift certificate, and will be

enjoying a fun night and good dinner on The Woof Pack.



Keep your eyes open for future fun offers.



 

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3) "Bird Flu: A Danger to Felines?"



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Everyone has been hearing about the avian bird flu in the news

lately. The media has been telling us that it is coming this

way, and how devastating the disease is. As a fellow cat owner,

I found an article that put some light onto the matter regarding

the danger to felines. Reading the article, I feel safer

because I have an indoor cat.



But, I know some of you have indoor/outdoor cats, and some of

you may be feeding a raw diet to your kitties. This article gives

a good summary of the dangers from several studies, and I wanted

to let you read it for yourself.



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Begin

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Bird Flu: A Danger to Felines?

Cornell Feline Health Center

March 3, 2006



Reports from Germany of a cat found dead due to a highly pathogenic

avian influenza virus infection have fueled concerns about the risk

this emerging virus poses to cats and, subsequently, to the people

who care for them. Can cats catch the bird flu? These reports, along

with recent studies, say "yes." But might it also be possible for

cats to get the flu from us- or for humans to get the flu from cats?

The short answer is "no." None of the known strains of influenza

virus are transmissible between cats and people. But these viruses

are very changeable by nature, so the long answer is a bit more

complex.



Avian Influenza



Of the three types of influenza viruses- A, B, and C-type A viruses

have the most significant implications for human and animal health.

There are many subtypes and countless strains of influenza A viruses,

but all of them can infect birds (wild waterfowl and migrating birds

are the natural hosts), so they're commonly called avian influenza

viruses. These viruses vary tremendously in their ability to cause

disease; some subtypes and strains even jump species and infect other

animals, including humans.



Although infected wild birds don't usually get sick themselves, they

can spread these viruses to domestic fowl, with devastating consequences.

One highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (the H5N1 subtype) has been

spreading from Asia to Europe and Africa, most likely through wild bird

migrations. This virus has resulted in the deaths of approximately 200

million domestic commercial birds to date, due to either direct infection,

or the culling of flocks done to keep infection from spreading. Some

humans have become infected with H5N1, and a high percentage of them have

died as a result. It's believed that most, if not all, of these people

became infected by direct contact with infected birds. According to the

World Health Organization, "All available evidence indicates that the

virus does not spread easily from poultry to humansÖAlmost all cases have

been linked to close contact with diseased household flocks."



Health officials in the U.S. carefully monitor avian influenza outbreaks

in domestic fowl flocks, partly due to concerns that viruses that don't

often cause disease in birds-so-called low-pathogenic viruses-might evolve

into highly pathogenic, rapidly spreading forms that would necessitate the

destruction of entire flocks. Such losses, along with resultant trade

restrictions, would have a tremendous economic impact on the poultry

industry. But monitoring is also important because of the possibility that

a particular avian influenza virus could directly infect people-or evolve

into an even more dangerous virus by genetically mixing with ordinary human

influenza viruses.    



What about Cats?



Several studies have investigated cats. The first, "Avian Influenza H5N1

in Tigers and Leopards" (Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 10, No. 2),

reported on exotic cats becoming infected by eating H5N1-infected chickens

obtained from a local slaughterhouse. A second report, "Avian H5N1 Influenza

in Cats" (Science, Vol. 306, Issue 5694), showed that domestic cats, too,

can be infected if fed uncooked meat from H5N1-infected chickens. Perhaps

even more disturbing, this latter study showed that infected domestic cats

were capable of spreading infection directly to other cats. A third report,

"Influenza A Virus (H5N1) Infection in Cats Causes Systemic Disease with

Potential Novel Routes of Virus Spread within and between Hosts" (American

Journal of Pathology, Vol. 168, No. 1), published in January 2006, more

fully described the disease in cats. It further confirmed that domestic

cats can be infected by eating infected birds, and that infected cats can

spread infection to other cats, most likely through feces, urine, and

secretions from the respiratory tract. As noted before, there is currently

no evidence that influenza-infected cats can in turn infect humans.



The German cat mentioned earlier is believed to have eaten one of the

H5N1-infected wild birds recently found in the same part of the country.

At the time of this writing, the H5N1 virus is not present in North America.

If H5N1 or an equally harmful influenza virus were to appear, the safeguards

established by governmental agencies should help prevent the kinds of outbreaks

that have occurred in other parts of the world. For these reasons, the risk

to cats in this country is considered very low.



Other Safeguards



Two additional safeguards can reduce the already-low risk of feline infection.

First, don't feed uncooked poultry to cats. Since the H5N1 virus is destroyed

at 70∫ C, the high temperatures required to manufacture commercial cat foods

eliminates the risk of infection in cats exclusively fed these foods. Second,

keep cats indoors to prevent them from eating infected birds; because

cat-to-cat infection is possible, this measure has the added advantage of

preventing exposure to potentially infected outdoor cats.



For continuously updated information on avian influenza, see:

  the CDC website on influenza and

  the USDA web site on influenza



Dr. James Richards

Director, Cornell Feline Health Center







Article taken from:

Cornell Feline Health Center

College of Veterinary Medicine

Cornell University, Box 13

Ithaca, NY 14853-6401



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End

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I hope this helps clear things up for you about the avian bird flu

and your cats. I want to keep you up to date on sensitive issues

such as this.



The virus is not in the United States yet, so your outdoor cats are

still relatively safe. I would say not to panic, and let your outdoor

cats be free and do what they do. I will keep you updated on this as

things change.



If you are feeding a raw diet to your cats, there are a lot of

benefits to this. I have been looking into this, and I am still

undecided about going this route. Salmonella and toxoplasmosis are

genuine concerns. You may want to consult your vet about a raw

diet.





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4) "Listen to your dog when they tell you they are too hot"



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I want to make sure that you are thinking about the

health and safety of your dogs during these warm months. If you have

not noticed, it is getting hot out there. And if you are out

there walking your dog in the heat, you will need to listen to them.

They are talking to you, but you just need to hear them.



You need to carry water with you at all times for your dogs when you

are walking. This is very important, because you do not want to cause

your dog any harm. Remember, your best friend wants to please you, and

they will do what ever you ask of them. This may mean pushing themselves

to do what you ask. But they will give you signs of thirst and

overheating.



Of course, heavy panting is a big sign that your dog may be thirsty.

Dogs usually start panting as soon as you begin your walk, but of course

they are not thirsty yet. This is just the way their system works. So it

is your responsibility to just stop at regular intervals to see if they

will drink some water, and allow them to cool off in the shade. These

intervals will vary depending on a number of factors that I will talk about.



Temperature is the main issue here. If it is really hot outside,

simply do not walk your dog in the heat. Instead, walk your dog

at cooler times of the day, such as early morning, or later in the

evening as the temperature and the sun goes down. If you must walk

your dog during the day, keep it short. Try to walk in shaded areas.

Allow your dog to do their business, and go back inside to cool down.

Exercise is key to a dog's health, but give them exercise when it is

cooler.



Now, back to the water issue. What I do is I carry a large water bottle

in a carrying case with a long strap, and I sling it around my neck and

over my shoulder. This keeps it out of the way, but handy when I need it.

I also carry a collapsible water bowl that folds up in my pocket when not

in use. You can get these at any pet store, and they are a cheap but

important investment.



So, whenever I feel a dog needs a water break, I find a shady spot and

take a break to get the dogs out of the sun and let them cool off. I fill

the bowl with enough water to offer the dogs enough water for this little

break. If I need to fill more water in the bowl, this is fine. I do suggest

not filling it too much, because you can always add more. It is hard to put

water back into the bottle, and you will end up throwing out the excess water.

And if you end up wasting too much water, you may run out during the walk.



You may have a different system that you want to use for providing water

during a walk, but it is vital that you do.



Another thing you need to think about is they color of your dog's coat, and

their breed. Dogs with black or dark coats will get hotter than lighter

colored dogs. This is elementary science that everyone knows, but bears

repeating. Black absorbs heat, as will darker coats. Your darker colored dog

can become overheated very quickly in the heat and sun, and you may not even

realize it. Dogs with heavy coats will also heat up quickly.



Does this mean lighter dogs do not have to worry about the heat? Of course

not. Lighter colored dogs can get overheated very easily too. A lighter coat

means that they will be slightly cooler, but believe me, not by much. And,

dogs with light colored coats also have to worry about getting sunburn. A

dog with a lighter colored coat also has lighter colored skin, and can easily

become burned. You can apply sunscreen to those areas where skin is exposed,

as long as your dog cannot reach to lick it off. This also applies to dark

colored dogs.



Also, dogs with short muzzles, such as pugs, bulldogs, Boston terriers, etc.,

can get overheated quickly too. As you know, dogs (and cats) cool themselves

by panting. Short muzzle dogs have a harder time bringing in enough air to

help displace heat from the dog's tongue. Just a note, dogs also dispel heat

through their feet (cats too).



Overweight dogs, and dogs with limiting physical conditions cannot keep up

in the heat and sun. Of all these cases, your dog may need more frequent

water and shade breaks during a walk.



Do you walk on grass, concrete, or blacktop? Try to walk your dog on surfaces

that do not get heated up. Grass surfaces are the best to walk on during a

hot, sunny day. Even dirt surfaces get pretty hot. Concrete gets hot too, but

not as hot as blacktop. And there is a lot of asphalt surfaces out there.



Watch your dog as they walk. If your dog speeds up on any particular surface,

their feet may be burning. If you stop walking, and your dog looks like they

are jogging in place, lifting their feet alternatively, then the ground is

too hot. Get moving to a cooler surface. If your dog suddenly starts limping,

this can be another sign that the ground is too hot. Try to get to a cooler

surface quickly, then check your dog's feet for any objects that may be

causing the limping, just to be sure.



Other ways your dog may be telling you they are too hot is a drooping head,

tail, or both. Excessive panting, drooping ears, redness on the insides of

the ears, a tongue hanging out of the mouth which may be enlarged or redder

than normal, labored breathing, unwillingness to move, redness of the mucous

membranes, or excessive salivating.



To cool down your dog quickly, get them out of the heat and sun. You can

spray them with cool water. when using a garden hose, run it for a few

minutes until the water coming out is cool. You can place soaking wet towels

aroung the head, chest, feet, neck, and abdomen. You can also place a fan

directly at your dog.



Please listen to your dog when they are telling you they are hot and need

water. If you do not listen, and they start vomiting, have diarrhea, or act

confused or drunk, then they have entered the danger zone and should call

your veterinarian immediately.



The signs of an overheated dog also applies to cats. Although cats do not

generally get taken out for walks, a hot home can have the same effect on

both dogs and cats.





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5) "Tell Us What You Think!"



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We'd love to hear what you think of this issue! This is

just one issue, with much more important information

coming in future months.



Please send your comments, questions, and ideas for

upcoming issues to us at:



rdelgado@thewoofpack.com



Your feedback matters to us!





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Copyright 2006 by The Woof Pack.

All rights reserved.



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