FR
EE
Winter 2021
The Difference Between Cats & Dogs
Helping Pets in Need
When to Call the Vet Abe Lincoln’s Dog Winter Horseback
Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail
®
3. Find Joy in Your Pets This Holiday Season Marina Kinney
Seasons greetings from the Upper Valley Humane Society
4. Special Needs
Susan Tarczewski
Your forever feline friend may be waiting for you at the Sullivan County Humane Society
6. Castaways – The Story of Wilson and Chuck Jackie Stanley
From the streets to stardom, meet the dogs of the short film from Lucy MacKenzie
Pg. 6
8. Helping Pets in Need
Carol Laughner
How an animal neglect case inspired a family to take action
10. The Four-Legged Friends Behind the Co-op’s Products: Abby Rose of Cheshire Garden Jen Risley 12. A Day on the Green for K9s
Karen Sturtevant
A look back at the benefit golf tournament for the Vermont Police Canine Association and Lacey’s Fund
14. A Grooming Trend Gone Wild
Aimee Doiron
How pet grooming has changed during the pandemic
16. Helmet Awareness
Sue Miller
A look at the impact of technology on riding safety
20. Caring for your Senior Horse During The Cold Weather Jennifer Roberts-Keating
Pg. 12
23. Not So Cold, After All
Dorothy Crosby
Expert tips for a winter ride with your horse
24. Everything was going so well…,
Pg. 23
Paula Bergeron
What to do when your dog has a behavioral set back
26. A Pet Lovers Guide to Burns and Freezes Ingrid Braulini 28. Help Monarch Butterflies By Building A Migration Waystation Catherine Greenleaf 29. Mass(achusetts) Migration
Winter 2021
Scott Borthwick
www.4LegsAndATail.com 1
Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail
®
Pg. 32
30. What I Told My Kids
Donna LeClair
Sage advice before you adopt your next pet
31. How cats’ nutritional needs are different from those of dogs? 32. Plant-Based Dogs
Meg Hurley
An argument for a canine vegan diet
34. When Should You Call the Vet?
Catherine MacLean
Expert advice as to what constitutes an emergency
36. Take Time to Check Your Home for Poisons! M. Kathleen Shaw DVM 38. Alternatively Speaking: The ABC’s of Vitamin D
Dr. Anne Carroll DVM, CVA
Give you pets immune system a boost this winter
42. I Am Afraid of Anesthesia for My Pet Part II Sandra Waugh, VMD, MS
It’s a fear many of us have, but is it really warranted?
Pg. 38
Pg. 46
44. The Light of the Memory Tree
Tanya Sousa
This is the best time of a difficult year to re-connect with an old friend
46. Meet Joe Biden’s Dogs Champ and Major, Set to Become the First White House Pets in 4 Years Corinne Heller 48. Abraham Lincoln’s Dog, Fido
Kate Kelly
As we celebrate Presidents Day, we look back at one of our greatest leaders and a renowned lover of dogs.
4 Legs & a Tail Volume L.420 P.O. Box 841 Lebanon, NH 03766 603-727-9214 TimH.4LT@gmail.com 2 4 Legs & a Tail
Publishers: Tim Goodwin, Tim Hoehn Graphic Design: Kristin Wolff Sales: Karyn Swett, Scott Palzer
If you have a tale about a tail or a photo that will make us smile, we’d like to hear from you. 4 Legs & a Tail is published quarterly and distributed free of charge throughout Centeral & Southern VT & NH. 4 Legs & a Tail, Inc. is locally owned and operated and acts as a moderator without approving, disapproving or guaranteeing the validity or accuracy of any data or claim. Any reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.
Winter 2021
Find Joy in Your Pets This Holiday Season Marina Kinney
T
his year, t he hol id ay s will be different; there will be fewer parties and more cozy moments in front of our fireplaces. Our sparkling holiday dresses and those oh-so-veryugly-sweaters may remain on their hangers for 2020. This year, instead of our annual company party, cookie swaps, and white elephant gifts, we w i l l w ish our loved ones a happy holiday over Zoom. Over the next couple of months, we are invited to focus on those with whom we share our homes and who have endured with us during quarantine - our pets. There is so much joy to be found in our furry friends this holiday season. During this difficult year, the pets, who we call family, have provided us with solace, comfort, and joy. They have seen us at our worst, joining work conference calls in our sweatpants and binge-watching TV shows we’ve already seen. And yet they love us unconditionally and do their best for us. They know nothing of the pandemic - only that we are worried and that we are comforted when they lay their heads in our laps as we watch the news. They know nothing of flattening the curve only that we are joyful when they catch the ball we toss around in the backyard or skitter after a toy mouse. Our pets make us smile when they proudly walk around in their holiday sweaters (or even when they are just humoring us by wearing silly reindeer headbands). They warm our hearts Winter 2021
when we know they feel safe and loved, cuddled in front of a fire. They make us swoon at how gorgeous they are when they pose perfectly for a picture that we can show off on our social media pages. Th i s holid ay season is about Charbonneau our closest conwaits for Santa nections and our pets are a huge part of our lives. As the holidays approach, we want to share with you some of the pets who have found loving homes through UVHS. We are grateful to be able to help bring joy to the lives of so many families and animals. We hope that these photos bring a smile to your face. This December, our staff and volunteers will pause to celebrate the hundreds of animals who have found a home for the holidays. For those who are still waiting for their new homes, we snuggle them, offer them gifts of toys and treats, and all the ear scratches they ask for. At UVHS, all animals experience love, some for the first time. On New Year’s Eve, let us toast to the joys of 2020 - the closeness, security, and comfort of those with whom we shelter. Let’s also toast to the hope for a new, healthier, and brighter 2021. Most of all, let’s toast the dogs and cats and other animals we love and who bring us boundless joy. Thank you and happy holidays to all the people and businesses that make what we do possible. www.UVHS.org PO Box 789 Lebanon, NH 03766 www.4LegsAndATail.com 3
Special Needs Susan Tarczewski
O
ne of the challenges of animal rescue is dealing with the many types of special needs that come up. Situations ranging from animals with chronic illness to cases of neglect or abuse can arise with no notice. Staff and volunteers at Claremont’s Sullivan County Humane Society are ready to handle such situations urgently. Here are just a few stories of cats with special needs who received the help of SCHS. A neighborhood stray, Balboa was brought to the shelter when a member of the public realized he needed help. Like many strays, he had to fight for survival and has the scars to prove it. Another unfortunate relic of his time on the streets was his diagnosis of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). This virus is spread primarily through bite wounds. With good veterinary and home care, an FIV+ cat can live a long and good quality life. Once considered unadoptable, it is now known that FIV+ cats are highly adoptable. Lucky Balboa found his furrever home and is now ruling the roost with his new family!
Sugar and Her Babies
The story of Sugar and her babies gained a great deal of publicity during the summer of 2020. A woman found a box on the side of the road in hot summer weather. Inside the box was a mother cat who was actively in labor and in distress, and several newborn kittens. The mom, a beautiful tortie, was rushed to the vet and had an emergency c-section. The vet removed three more babies, only one of whom survived.
The surviving kittens were moved into an experienced foster home to be bottle-fed, no small task. The mother, named Sugar, was given care including a blood transfusion until she was able to be reunited with her babies. Sugar and her surviving kittens ultimately healed and did well. Sugar’s story generated an outpouring of generosity from the community, and in fact from across the country! Reggie, an elderly male cat with gorgeous gray fur and regal posture, was brought in the SCHS recently as a stray in rough shape. A visit to the vet determined that he has advanced kidney failure, not uncommon in older cats. He also has a growth near one eye, rendering it nearly useless. The vet estimates his remaining lifespan to be no more than six months. While he would be safe and well-cared-for at the shelter, it wouldn’t be the warm and affectionate home environment that such a lovely boy deserves. Fortunately for Reggie, his sweet nature struck a chord with one of SCHS’s dedicated volunteers. He has left the shelter to live out his remaining time with an experienced “fospice” provider. Fospice is a combination of foster care and hospice for cats with a terminal diagnosis. Reggie will be loved and cherished for whatever time he has. The mission of the Sullivan County Humane Society is to preserve, protect, and provide for stray, neglected, and abused animals in Sullivan County, NH. As we’ve seen, there are many ways that this mission is carried out. The common thread in all these stories is the devotion of volunteers, shelter staff, and the public to provide a safe harbor for these animals, whose terrible situations are no fault of their own. The Onyx Fund at SCHS was established shortly after the shelter doors opened and exist to provide medical care for cats with special needs. Donations to the fund are always needed, always welcome, and can be mailed to PO Box 111, Claremont NH 03743. SCHS is a no-kill shelter, and provides many other services to the public, including regular low-cost spay and neuter clinics, and a pet food bank. For more information about SCHS, please visit their website at https://sullivancountyhumanesociety.org/, or their Facebook page, Sullivan County Humane Society of NH.
Balboa chills at his new home.
4 4 Legs & a Tail
Winter 2021
Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 5
Castaways –
The Story of Wilson and Chuck Jackie Stanley
O
n February 15, 2020, in the midst of a frigid winter, Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society received reports of two stray dogs that were running injured and scared in the town of West Windsor, VT. Both dogs were malnourished and were riddled from head to paw with porcupine quills. It would take three days for the first of the two dogs to be humanely trapped. Staff at Lucy Mackenzie named him Wilson. Six days later, the second of the two dogs was also successfully trapped. The staff named him Chuck. Amid the pandemic that struck the world a few weeks later, both Wilson and Chuck received their rehabilitations at Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society. As the days and weeks passed by, each of these beautiful creatures grew in confidence and recovered to full health. During that time, each of their unique spirits also began to flourish, and the days of them having to rely on each other for
6 4 Legs & a Tail
Chuck before better days
Winter 2021
survival were now long left behind them. In late April, Wilson was the first of these two plucky, little adventurers to be adopted. A few weeks later, Chuck, too, would start a new chapter in his life alongside his new, loving family. Both went from the icy-cold temperatures of roaming stray outside to the inviting warmth of newfound families and homes. This past summer, Wilson and Chuck both dropped by Lucy Mackenzie again to participate in dog training classes – both, of course, graduating with flying colors! During their amazing journey, though, something else special had occurred – both dogs had now unexpectedly become the stars of a short film called Castaways. When Lucy Mackenzie’s largest fundraiser of the year – the Paws for the Cause Auction and Dinner – had to be canceled due to the pandemic, a longtime supporter who is a writer and filmmaker donated the film as an online alternative. To date, Castaways has raised over $32,000.00, all of which has gone directly towards the care of the animals at Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society. Wilson and Chuck’s amazing, transformative journey may have once been their own, but in going through it – and coming out successfully on the other side – they have now selflessly helped all other animals at Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society who are desperately in need. To see more of Wilson and Chuck’s amazing story, watch the short film “Castaways” on Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society’s YouTube channel, or visit lucymac.org for more information.
Chuck with his new family
Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 7
Helping Pets
in
Need
How an animal neglect case inspired a family to take action Carol Laughner - Keene, NH
I
n July of 2018, Monadnock Humane Society (MHS) answered a call from the Cheshire County Sheriff’s office to help remove a number of pets in an eviction situation in Marlborough, NH. They had no idea what was in store or the deplorable conditions they would face. 52 Labrador Retrievers and a cat were taken into protective custody at MHS that day. It was the biggest case of hoarding/neglect in the organization’s 145-year history. From the moment MHS was called to assist, Sharon and Wes Wratchford were there and were part of the group of staff and volunteers who put everything into ensuring that the animals were safe and well cared for. “We joined in to help with the initial intake, helped in the following months by walking and playing with the Labs, and were present during court proceedings,” said Sharon. “It challenged all of us in many ways but, for the next 18
8 4 Legs & a Tail
months, MHS never lost focus on helping these animals. Ultimately, these pets were adopted by loving families. It inspired us.” The Wratchfords, who moved to New Hampshire from Massachusetts after retiring in 2016 from careers in the fast-paced world of for-profit business, decided that they wanted to do something meaningful with their time – something that would align with their passion for animals and the bond animals share with humans. They began volunteering at MHS and quickly recognized what an incredible organization it is - made up of people who work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of at-risk animals. “We had quite a bit of previous animal welfare experience, working with different organizations over the years, and when we came to MHS in 2017, we immediately knew we were in the right place,” Wes said. “MHS is the main resource in the Monadnock Region where critical, lifechanging, and often lifesaving, services are available to the animals and people of this community. We feel privileged to be a part of that.” Since then, Sharon and Wes continue to be involved in many ways as volunteers, including dog training, event planning, and fundraising, and various committee work. Sharon is also a Board Member and Wes serves as the Chair of MHS’ Board of Directors. The idea to start a fund began with an unshakable belief that all pets deserve to be treated with love – they give us so much and ask for so little. “We both grew up with pets in the home: dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, fish, … and more,” said Wes. “We now have 2 dogs and 4 cats who were rescued…and they’re family to us.” Sharon continued “When we hear about or see situations where animals are abused, neglected, or abandoned, it’s heartbreaking and we want to do whatever we can to help prevent this.” With a combination of passion for animals and a conviction that they deserve love and good care, Sharon and Wes made a commitment to launch a new anti-cruelty fund at MHS to make a difference in the future for animals in our community – The Wratchford Family Anti-Cruelty Fund. The Wratchford Family Anti-Cruelty Fund (WFACF) was officially established in September of this year – a fund dedicated to supporting MHS’s anti-cruelty work, the prevention of abuse and neglect, and assistance with animal hoarding Winter 2021
The Wratchfords - Honey, Sharon, Wes & Maddie
cases. Kathy Collinsworth, MHS Executive Director says that “the fact that Sharon and Wes want to ensure MHS has the resources necessary to care for these animals is inspiring. This fund will help us give medical, emotional, and physical support to animals in our care – especially those who have come from difficult situations. It will also help fund special equipment so we can document cases for potential prosecution, and transport abused animals safely and securely.” In fact, a few weeks ago, the fund was used for the purchase of equipment that will help with animal cruelty/neglect investigations. Collinsworth said, “Our staff was called in to remove multiple cats from a home. Their eyes and lungs were burning from the level of urine toxins in the air. Thanks to the WFACF, we had the funds available to purchase an ammonia gas level monitor, a PH meter, and a specialized thermometer that will help us document situations should there be a need to record unhealthy living conditions.” Emily Kerylow, MHS Director of Shelter Operations, is extremely grateful to the Wratchford family for their gift to MHS and the animals of our community. “Their generosity will allow MHS to continue expanding the work of preventing cruelty and neglect to local animals. This fund will allow MHS to acquire resources to assist in the investigation as well as financially provide care for the animals which is often an obstacle in these cases.” Collinsworth and her team continue to seek funds to support the work of animal neglect/cruelty investigations. “Having financial resources available to cover special equipment and cost of care for these situations is a huge help and a significant gift not only to MHS but to the 44 communities that we serve,” she said. The Wratchford Family Anti-Cruelty Fund compliments two other special MHS funds that were established to meet the unique medical needs of cats and dogs - the Jazzeubelle Fund for dogs (founded by a longtime volunteer and supporter) and the Madden Fund for cats (also founded by a longtime volunteer and supporter). For more information about these MHS funds, and to join in supporting them, please visit our website (www.monadnockhumanesociety.org) or contact Kelly Brigham-Steiner – kellys@humanecommunity.org, 603.354.4005. Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 9
The Four-Legged Friends Behind the Co-op’s Products:
Abby Rose of Cheshire Garden Jen Risley - Keene, NH
I
love shining a light on all the farmers and producers who provide a bounty of local food and locally made products to our community. In this article, however, I move the spotlight over and down, from the business person to their four-legged friends -- the working dogs, cats, and other animals who also make these local products possible. In this issue, we highlight Abbey (short for Abbey Rose), an eight-year-old golden retriever from Cheshire Garden in Winchester, NH. Abbey provides regular comic relief to farmer Patti Powers as Patti creates preserves, mustards, and vinegars using her own organically grown heirloom berries, fruits, and herbs. Now, back to Abbey’s role on the farm. “Her favorite and most important job is making us laugh,” shared Patti. “Usually by stealing something -- like my kitchen towels if I’m working in the kitchen, or our pots if we’re working in the greenhouse, or a stack of berry baskets if we’re picking fruit. She’s a natural-born comic and mischief-maker.” In between her mischief-making, Abbey fills her day with other ‘tasks.’ Patti explained, “Abbey’s days begin with stretches and lov-
10 4 Legs & a Tail
ing rubs (and tick checks!) followed by breakfast and walks with [my husband] Ralph. She checks the perimeter of the farm several times a day with both of us, ensuring that the old folks get some exercise and don’t miss taking some time to just enjoy being here. When the girls come to help pick berries, she follows them everywhere, often digging a hole where they’re working just to get a little more attention.” Abbey does have a serious side. “She considers her most important job to be scaring away bunnies, chipmunks, and squirrels,” added Patti. “But she’s not really very good at it because they’re always still here.” While some might be perplexed by Abbey’s roles as a working dog at Cheshire Garden, Patti finds it perfectly suits her. “We’ve had many, many dogs over the years, usually strays or rescues, who worked or hung out alongside us,” continued Patti. “ None were officially working breeds, but they all stayed by our sides as we worked and kept us company, and took us hiking or skiing to keep us fit, and made our lives richer by helping us take a little time to take deep breaths and look around and enjoy that very moment.” How did Abbey Rose get her name? “From Abbey Road and our last female dog, Rosie,” explained Patti. “Abbey’s lucky since we’re older now and can’t work quite as hard as we once did. She usually gets her way and gets more attention than the others. And since we know the pain of losing our friends, whose lives are too short, we’re happy to give her all the love she deserves.” Learn more about Cheshire Garden at cheshiregarden.com. Also, be sure to pick up a jar of her preserves the next time you shop at our co-op. If you stop by Patti’s Farmstand, be sure to wave to Abbey. Know of a farm animal I should highlight in a future article? I’d love to hear from you! Please email me at marketing@ monadnockfood.coop. Winter 2021
Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 11
A Day on the Green for K9s Karen Sturtevant
Argus was hoping to see more birdies.
I
magine a picturesque autumn day in Vermont. With rolling fog lifting to allow the sight of vibrant oranges, scarlets, and yellows, the sunshine warming the crisp air and drying of dew on the almost-dormant grass, I was privileged to experience such a day in September surrounded by canine-loving, law enforcement officials and enthusiasts.
12 4 Legs & a Tail
Sugarbush Resort Golf Club was the host to The Vermont Police Canine Association’s (VPCA) 14th Annual Canine Classic. The VPCA is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance and training to police service dog (K9) teams in Vermont and New Hampshire. From leashes, collars, medical care to training, and custom-made bullet/stab-proof vests, the VPCA plays a major role in the success and safety of the K9 teams. On this particular morning, organizer Emily Leinhoff instructed volunteers and welcomed participants. Skillfully moving through the throes of people, Emily answered questions, checked registration status, and swiped credit cards as the air of excitement was palpable. Along with my little dog Chia, I shadowed Emily holding raffle tickets, awaiting instruction, and handing out mulligans. As a non-golfer, I was introduced to golf speak and learned a mulligan was an extra tee for a ‘do-over’ shot. Mulligans were quite popular that day. Over 90 players (both police officers and those of other professions) were assigned carts and holes in which to begin the day. As everyone zoomed to their beginning destination, Chia and I walked to our assignment: Hole 10. Our role for the day (other than bee-bopping around the course in the golf cart attempting to appear we knew what we were doing) was to stake and record the longest drive. A hammer-shaped sign with the caption, “You Hammered It!” was moved out five times that day. Impressive results for any group. Participants also vied for champion bragging rights for the shortest drive, closest drive to the pin, and corn hole board winner. Plaques were to be awarded to the top three teams for the lowest scores. As the sun rose higher, the whine of the cart motors continued. Teams of two and Winter 2021
four, trash-talking each other, took turns swinging. Nothing was off-limits: be it an innocent maple tree or unsuspecting team working on an adjoining green, the balls were free-flying. Beyond the bravado banter, I sensed a great deal of respectful cohesiveness within each group. We’ve all experienced disruption—for some, heartbreak—in one way or another, to our schedules and norms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Essential workers, such as these, have had more than their share. Apart from the goal of raising funds, coming together for amicable one-upmanship while enjoying a piece of an unspoiled Vermont landscape was a much-needed reprieve from the unprecedented climate of current events. By late afternoon the teams had finished and turned in their carts satisfied with a day on the course. Volunteers collected sponsorship signs, checked in with the most-hospitable Sugarbush staff, and loaded up for the next stop: Sugarbush Resort for dinner and prizes. Donning required masks when away from tables, folks sipped cold drinks and enjoyed a barbecue. The raffle prize table offered a variety of items and services including an overnight stay at Trapp Family Lodge, Sugarbush gift certificates, golf clubs, candles, works by local artists, a wooden flag donated by Fabian Earth Movers, and gifts for pampering and spa-type treatments. A portion of the event’s proceeds will be designated to help cover medical expenses for one of the retired K9 teams. K9 Argus worked with the Vermont State Police for ten years. He was the first K9 to be assigned to a state police tactical team in New England. He spent his entire career protecting Vermont and was involved in many high-risk situations, including helping New York troopers with the tracks from the escapes in 2015 at Dannemora State Prison. Argus retired in June of 2020 and in August had emergency surgery due to a blockage. He is recovering, however, is now battling cancer. Lacey’s Fund, an organization established through the VPCA, with its mission of providing financial assistance for retired K9s, was founded in 2008 by Shelburne, Vermont residents, Kirk, and Loretta Walters after their dog Lacey passed away. Lacey was not a police dog, but the Walters family wanted to honor her in some way after she died. All expenses––including medical–– which can reach into the thousands of dollars, typically are the responsibility of the handler when the K9 retires. With Lacey’s Fund, the Vermont Police Canine Association is able to relieve some, if not all, of the financial obligation needed for these deserving canines and their families. With a decade of faithful service, K9 Argus will now have an Winter 2021
opportunity to retire in comfort. The backdrop for the day was scenic; the company, lighthearted. When all the t-shirts were packed and the final prize given away, the day was deemed a success both on and off the course for the dedicated, hardworking police dogs of Vermont and New Hampshire. To learn about the Vermont Police Canine Association and Lacey’s Fund, please visit www.facebook.com/ VermontPoliceCanineAssociation and wwwVtK9.com. To donate to Argus’ care: www.vtk9.com/store/p82/ Lacey%27s_Fund_Donation.html
www.4LegsAndATail.com 13
A Grooming Trend Gone Wild A
new grooming trend emerged this year. Since Covid-19 hit the states, many of us faced unprecedented challenges, focusing on essentials and re-prioritizing. Of course, for many our beloved pets are a top priority. During New Hampshire’s 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, essential businesses were able to stay open. The animal care industry was a gray area including grooming. Is grooming essential? What makes grooming a necessity for pets?
14 4 Legs & a Tail
Aimee Doiron - Swanzey, NH Some groomers and local governments banded together to come up with a plan to help pet owners with grooming services for pets in our community. Our industry was soon after listed as essential, here’s a brief outlook on why. As a professional pet groomer, I used to get calls for grooming appointments, nail care, skin therapy solutions, brushing, new pets, and the occasional at home DIY grooming gone wrong. From a pro-
fessional groomer and animal advocate perspective, I saw groomers as essential workers without question. From a pet owner and animal lover perspective, I saw possibilities for owners to be able to stay at home and do the bare necessities to avoid exposing themselves to the potential exposure of Covid-19 while our industry was in the “gray area of essential versus non-essential. I began thinking about how many pet owners do not know how to properly brush their pets, owners with disabilities or limitations, and pets that dislike aspects of grooming. More concerns dawned on me. Owners are cutting mats out with scissors, using dad’s hair clippers, mom’s shampoo and the pet may not be fully rinsed. Some breeds can get by with regular or emergency DIY grooming. Pets that are not properly groomed (too frequent, infrequently, or using wrong products) can be a recipe for a disaster. Skin irritation, hot spots from the coat not drying properly, injuries from cutting out mats, overgrown toenails among many more scenarios have occurred by accident from pet owners trying to help their pet but do not have proper training or experience. If a pet does not naturally file their nails or have regular trimming it can lead to pain, nails growing into paw pads, or nails curling. Many pets shed which can lead to packed coats, excessive shedding, itchy skin, painful matting, fur pulling, and prevents the pet from being able to regular their body temperature properly. Pets with long hair or fur of all textures can develop mats that can pull the skin, cause pain and irritation. Cats on the other hand are typically great DIYers. They are constantly washing up and priming themselves. However, that undercoat has to go somewhere. It’s often found on your bed, on your clothes, in the corner of the room as dust bunnies, and ultimately a big hairball. Some cats cannot groom themselves properly. This leads to those skin and coat conditions which can be prevented with help of a groomer. So yes, professional pet grooming is essential! The number of “DIY grooming gone wild” has soared nationwide. “Emergency”, frantic calls outweighed the calm, excited, routine calls by far in the spring of 2020. Before this pandemic, occasionally worried pet owners called all hours the day and night still but it was more of “Help, my dog got sprayed by a skunk” or “My dog just rolled in something stinky and gross. I don’t know what it was but he needs a bath asap.” Recently it has been Winter 2021
a new wave of emergency calls such as “Can you help me? I tried getting these mats out and I accidentally shaved my dog bald” or “I can’t believe I attempted this but my dog looks like he got a lawnmower haircut, can you fix my oops?” and “Fluffy now goes by Patches”. I’ve heard so many DIY grooming oops stories in recent months. If you did this, you are not alone and we will give you an honest A for effort, schedule your pet for a professional grooming visit, and ta-da! All better, with a few laughs at the end of course all in good fun. Covid-19 changed our industry hopefully only temporarily. At Aimee’s Grooming Boutique, for everyone’s safety we switched to curbside drop off and pick up (services and products). This allows us to safely social distance. Upon entry, pets are immediately wiped with waterless shampoo or bathed to prevent possible exposure in the salon. We follow all CDC guidelines and properly disinfect everything between use. We now offer virtual grooming consultations, training, and demonstrations to help those in need of DIY grooming assistance or maintenance care at home between grooming visits. If you were a DIY at home grooming gone wild during the Covid-19 pandemic we would love to hear your story and see the before and after pictures.
Winter 2021
To enter our DIY Grooming Gone Wild Contest submit your story and photos to: aimeesgrooming@gmail.com Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 finalists. For complete details and prizes visit our website www.aimeesgrooming.com. ~Stay well and enjoy having your pet pampered. Aimee Doiron opened Aimee’s Grooming Boutique, LLC with over 15 years in the animal field, over 12 years in the grooming industry, a lifetime of love for all animals, animal behavior, and providing options or solutions for clients and their pets with their individual needs in mind.
www.4LegsAndATail.com 15
H
Helmet Awareness Sue Miller - Sharon, VT
elmet awareness days were September 12 & 13, 2020. I had the opportunity to sit in on a few zoom meetings to learn more about helmets and how they protect us. I was intrigued and did a bit more research on the subject and wanted to share my findings. A little history on the evolution of the hunt cap to riding helmet. When I first started riding horses, we rode with “hunt caps” that were held on with a flimsy piece of elastic. They were really designed to help the rider be more aerodynamic while fox hunting and they did offer a bit of protection in the case of a fall, but not much. Hunt caps were originally tailor-made to fit each individual rider using an apparatus called a conformature. After the shell was made it was covered in velvet, usually black & had a
16 4 Legs & a Tail
bow at the back called ribbons. The cap fits so snugly that a small air vent was added to the top of the cap so that it would slip on easily, the vent was covered by a small velvet cover, the “bump” is called a Collette. Some modern helmets doff a nod to the traditional hunt cap by shaping many of the plastic shelled helmets of today with the small collette bump at the top of the helmet. It is important to understand that no riding helmet can prevent serious injury in certain circumstances. Equally the safest helmet in the world will be useless if it is not fitted correctly. The safest helmet is one that is tested to the appropriate standard, is most suitable for the intended riding activity, and most importantly of all is fitted correctly. Modern technology has enabled manufacturers to reproduce helmets that are very strong, lightweight, and extremely comfortable to wear. The part of the helmet that does the work of protecting your head is the protective liner, made of high-grade polystyrene which is in turn protected by a hard (fiberglass or plastic) shell. On impact, from a fall the helmet does two things. Firstly, the shell diffuses the impact over a large area. Secondly, the liner reduces bruising to the brain by increasing the length of time it takes for the shock wave to meet your skull. The bigger the impact the more layers of polystyrene will burst so it is basically the helmet liner that collapses, instead of your head.
Winter 2021
It is for this reason that if the helmet suffers a severe impact, it should be thrown away and a new one purchased. If you fall and can remember everything about landing, hopefully on your feet, but may have lightly hit your head – you may not need to replace your helmet. If you can’t remember what happened in the fall, replace the helmet. You can’t always tell by looking at the outside of your helmet if it’s been damaged. Many helmets are made well and take the impact without an obvious sign from the outside. If you are at all unsure, replace the helmet. It is easy to purchase a helmet, but impossible to replace the damage your brain/head could sustain! Helmet standards continue to evolve, as a result of improvements in technology and developments in methods of testing together with an increased understanding of how riders fall and the injuries that they sustain in accidents. All helmets must be fitted with an integral adjustable 3-point harness and if there is a helmet visor or brim it must be flexible or breakaway. Chin cups are no longer allowed in any current standards. Helmets should be replaced every 3-5 years as the material the helmet is made from will break down over time and use due to weather conditions and hair products used. When equestrian sports advocates needed a helmet, standard tailored to the unique hazards of their sport, F08.53 (the subcommittee for ASTM responsible for horseback riding sports among other sports) adopted a test method that includes an innovative equestrian hazard anvil that reproduces conditions found when a helmet is impacted by fences or horseshoes. The ASTM F1163 standard specified for protective headgear used in horse sports and horseback riding is used throughout the U.S. equestrian community. Since 1998 this is the American standard for riding helmets, although it does not include a lateral rigidity (crushing) test nor a penetration test, meaning these helmets often have quite large ventilation holes or slots. There is much debate about the ventilation holes and whether they do help to cool the head or put the rider at more risk of penetration type injuries. There are many helmets on the market however with ventilation holes that do pass the (UK testing) PAS and EN1385 penetration tests as well as the ASTM standard. The label ASTM/SEI certified has become commonplace in safety helmets over the past several years, but few riders know what those acronyms stand for, let alone what’s required to earn that seal of approval. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is an organization that was formed in 1898 by chemists and engineers from the Pennsylvania Railroad. At that time, the organization was known as the American Section of the International Association Testing and Materials. Mr. Charles B. Dudley, PhD., a chemist with the Pennsylvania Railroad was the driving force behind the formation of the Society. In 2001, the Society became known as ASTM. The ASTM Mission Statement is to promote public health and safety, support the protection and sustainability of the environment, and the overall quality of life… There are different tests designed for specific sports but to earn the equestrian riding helmet certification, there are four tests the helmet must pass. These tests are performed by the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) to ensure that helmets are being manufactured to standards that meet or exceed the ASTM standards. Continued Next Page
Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 17
ROUND ANVIL TEST Objective : To verify the even distribution of the shock wave in order to limit the risks of traumatism. POINTED ANVIL TEST Objective : To verify that a sharp object will not pierce the helmet HELMET RETENTION TEST Objective : To verify that the helmet stays on in the event of a fall and that the harness strap system is not too long. VISOR TEST Objective : To verify the flexibility of the visor to prevent nasal fracture in the event of a fall. During the Round Anvil Test, the helmets are dropped onto a flat anvil from a height of about six feet from several angles and directions. “Computer sensors measure the shock from the fall that is transferred to the inside of a helmet in terms of gravity force (g). The threshold at which the most serious head injuries occur is 300g.” The Pointed Anvil Test simulates the impact of the side of a jump or a horse’s hoof. During the Helmet Retention Test, all straps must hold the helmet on the head without stretching beyond a certain amount. Then, all helmets are retested again for concussion and retention after being frozen to minus 20 degrees, heated to over 120 degrees, and submerged in water overnight. If the helmet still transfers no more than 300g and the strap is still effective, it earns the ASTM/SEI seal of approval. The questions I get asked the most are: Can I use my bicycle helmet for riding? The answer is no. Bicycle helmets are not designed with the same ASTM standards that horseback riding helmets are and should not be worn while horseback riding. Can I purchase a helmet a bit big for my child to grow into? Again, the answer is no. The importance of a properly fitted helmet cannot be overstated. To be effective, the helmet must fit firmly, but comfortably. A helmet that is too loose may slip, possibly reducing its protective capabilities, and one that is too tight may cause discomfort. The helmet should not easily roll forward or backward and should not be removable without unbuckling the retention system. The retention system that holds the helmet in place is extremely strong and essential to the protective function of the helmet. Proper placement on the head is also essential. The helmet should sit just above the eyebrows not tipped back to the hairline. I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the evolution from hunt cap to riding helmets and learning how modern helmets have been developed to protect the human head from injury on impact in a fall and their importance to the sport of horseback riding. Remember that technology is always advancing and to purchase a new helmet every 5 years or so, even if you haven’t experienced a fall, as the material can break down during normal wear and tear. Now, grab your helmet and get out to enjoy time with your horse, happy riding! 18 4 Legs & a Tail
Winter 2021
Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 19
By utilizing a heated bucket or deicer, you can avoid ice and keep your horse’s water flowing freely. Be sure that you inspect the heater daily to verify that it is functioning properly and safely. Learn more about the importance of water during the winter on our blog post, Bottoms Up! Encouraging Water Consumption in Cold Temperatures. Meal Planning Jennifer Roberts-Keating Your horse’s nutritional requirements will change as the mercury drops. Many t is natural to wonder how you senior horses already have a decrease can keep your senior horse comfortable in their digestive efficiency, so they with a forecast of snow, sleet, wind, and require more calories than their youngsub-zero temperatures. As our friends er counterparts. According to Marsha age and enter their golden years, there Hathaway, Ph.D., Professor Muscle are additional health considerations Growth Biology and Equine Nutrition that must be made. Generally, a senior at the University of Minnesota, horses horse is considered a horse over 15 years require an additional 1% of energy for of age, since this tends to be the point each degree below 18° Fahrenheit. To at which changes in their metabolism provide these calories, she explains and immune system can be noticed. that it is beneficial to provide more hay We have compiled some quick tips to since “there is the heat generated from help you keep your senior horse content microbial fermentation of forages that and cozy in the frigid weather. Hopefully occurs in the hindgut during digestion.” knowing that your horse is at ease will When the temperatures drop to an make it easier for you to enjoy another exception, but it may be harder to keep extreme level, it is suggested that you winter season in New England. your horse drinking consistently. Horses provide your horse with free choice hay who do not have adequate water intake so that they can eat as much as they Drink Up! Water is an essential part of keeping are at an increased risk for impaction want. If your senior horse has trouble your senior horse healthy, whatever the colic, dehydration, and decreased body chewing their long-stem hay, consider weather may be. Winter is certainly no condition and bodily functions. a chopped hay product or hay cubes to
Caring for Your Senior Horse During the Cold Weather
I
20 4 Legs & a Tail
Winter 2021
supplement or even replace their forage requirements. In addition to increased forage, many equine nutritionists also recommend slightly increasing the amount of senior grain that you feed during the winter to add more calories to their diet. Be sure to monitor their body condition and adjust the amount of grain you feed as needed. As always, all changes in your horse’s feeding regime should be made gradually so their digestive system has time to adapt. If your horse drops weight during the winter, even with increased forage and grain consumption, consider adding a weight gain supplement to your horse’s rations to help them build their fat stores. Home, Sweet Home Providing your senior horse with adequate shelter is essential to their wellbeing. Hathaway explains, “We estimate that a horse with a healthy winter coat will be comfortable at temperatures down to 18° F; but if the horse has access to a shelter, it can tolerate temperatures as low as -40° F.” Keep your senior horses warm and dry by keeping them in a pasture with a suitable runin shed or bringing them into the barn during times of inclement weather and extreme temperature drops. Because your horse will most likely be spending more time than usual in their stall or run-in, consider using rubber mats to add cushion to their flooring which helps keep your horse’s joints comfortable. Some horses prefer to spend the majority of their time in a stall, while others like the freedom of turnout to keep their muscles moving and warm and prevent their joints from stiffening. If your horse prefers to be in a stall,
ammonia levels will be on the rise and can reach harmful levels quite quickly, especially in a closed barn environment. Put a stop to odor issues by treating the area with a stall deodorizing product to effectively remove ammonia from the environment and maintain respiratory health. Remember Your Coat Not all horses need to wear blankets in the winter; and depending on your horse’s breed, age, and workload, you may or may not need to blanket. However, many senior horses benefit from blankets so that they do not need to expend as much energy to stay warm. If you choose to blanket your horse, you need to watch the weather and adjust their blankets accordingly. Horses should never be sweaty under their blankets, but the blankets must provide adequate insulation since they impede a horse’s natural insulating abilities. Many equestrians utilize a combination of waterproof turnout sheets and warmer turnout blankets to adjust for changing temperatures when their horses are outside. When in their stalls, stable sheets and stable blankets are a popular choice. Our blog post, Understanding Horse Blankets, can provide you with further informaContinued Next Page
Jackson, a 2 1/2 years old Great Dane, enjoying some fresh air! Rescued on Christmas Eve, 2019 by Justin Farnham
Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 21
tion about selecting the right blanket(s) for your horse depending on the forecast. If your horse wears blankets, you should periodically remove them to keep tabs on their weight and check on the condition of their skin and hair coat. Keep Warm If your golden oldie suffers from insulin resistance (IR) or is prone to laminitis, there are additional factors that should be considered. Many studies suggest that in this senior horse population, blood flow to the extremities may decrease in the cold weather due to constricted blood vessels. This may cause soreness and an increased propensity for laminitis. Tackle this issue by adding an additional layer to your horse’s legs which will insulate their legs and support healthy circulation. Standing leg wraps and fleece polos are a popular way to keep your horse’s legs warm, or you might also consider a set of Back on Track Exercise Boots or Professional’s Choice VenTECH Elite Sports Medicine Boots. Know Your Horse The most important tools that you can use to keep your horse healthy are your own intuition and a close relationship with your veterinarian. You know your equine companion best and are aware of their normal behaviors. Keep a close eye on changes in their personality and daily habits, since this may indicate that something is awry. It can also be helpful to take periodic photos so that you can keep close tabs on your horse’s weight and body condition. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your horse’s behaviors are changing as it may signify a larger problem. As old man winter bears down, do all you can to keep your senior horse warm, healthy, and comfortable. But it is important to remember that unlike us, they were made for this weather and are often able to handle it, provided we do our part to provide them with the necessary nutrition and equipment. Remy Cooper Yona
Best friends, playing in the snow.
22 4 Legs & a Tail
Winter 2021
cooperative effort and reinforcing the human contact that can be so important to their attitudes when I really need cooperation. It has become a game my guys appear to look forward to; if I’m Dorothy Crosby - Stoddard, NH in a hurry and attempt to skip it, the horse will linger in the barnyard, waiting for the attention - and, of course, the expected treat. Still, when a said treat he cold season seems to have already is delivered, they sometimes follow me begun, a welcome break for some and a for a second or two as if wondering why dreaded reality for others. Our equine we are not dancing today! Ok, so it could friends generally fare well in the cold - no be in hopes of another treat, but this is bugs, no overheating, and a natural coat fairly consistent, always at the same time to keep their temperature regulated. They of day - and as routine is so important, legally must have shelter in NH and VT I suspect I am at least partially correct! from approximately November through Regardless of your plans for winter, May, but are none-the-less contained in the reality of your situation, or the prefhuman-designed pastures or paddocks; erences you have, I wish for you a safe still, ample space to move around helps and healthy season including plenty of them stay warmer, as they are wired to memorable moments: learning moments, move about when cold. bonding moments, growthful moments….. Just like their people, many horses enjoy your critters, large and small, and enjoy some time off, while others conrelish the moments that help you find tinue to happily work through the cold yourself, your purpose, and your loves. months. Both emotional and physical Take care to make every one of those benefits come with work: increased moments count in some way. Even the circulation and improved temperature frustrating and stressful moments have regulation, fitness, relief from boredom, variation in schedule, improved mood, yield for several steps. Sometimes I move value and teach us much. And just cherand attitude. Any season-related extra their shoulders or create some sort of ish those equine moments that can’t days off must sometimes be a boost to variation, combining maneuvers. In help but bring a tear to your eye, a smile them as they are to us. Weathering the each thing, they have to respond to my to your face, or a chuckle to your voice. weather can be a challenge even with a quiet hand and body aids, and they usu- There’s no greater blessing than sharing huge fur coat! ally do their best to try. As I utilize the 4 those moments and memories. For those who may not have enough Basics of Centered Riding® – Centering, time or sufficient daylight or even a place Breathing, Soft Eyes, and Building Blocks for a lengthy ride, but do have a place to – even on the ground, we both become get out of the elements, it’s sometimes centered and relaxed; it becomes more fun to dabble in something different for fun and increasingly easier each day. a few minutes here and there, perhaps They learn new things, literally stretch a few times a week: learn and practice their bodies, learn to cross-over their legs, some bodywork techniques or groom and improve their overall movement those long coats until they are rid of through this simple practice; moving winter dandruff, try out the idea you the parts is, after all, how we keep them saw in a video or read in a book, learn supple and flexible. a skill you’ve never spent time on (leg Yes, they do turn it into a game and no wraps, braiding, banding, ground driv- doubt are often motivated and rewarded ing), pamper your horse – or yourself by the treat they know is waiting in my - with a new tradition. pocket for when we are done! For me, One of my favorite traditions – it’s this is an opportunity to connect with been years, I think – only takes a very each horse on some level, requiring some short time (maybe 15-30 seconds, though certainly more is ok.) It’s simple, but beneficial to both of us for the long term. It doesn’t take much space, and in inclement weather we have successfully done this in the barn aisle, using our space creatively and partnering together! Every morning as I turn the horses out, I practice a simple in-hand maneuver with each in turn. Generally, it is along the lines of a turn on the forehand or haunches out on a circle to help me assess their stiffness, help them move and loosen up the tight spots, and refine my applied aids. Working on each side, once we’ve accomplished a full circle, it’s often turned into a side pass or leg Winter 2021 www.4LegsAndATail.com 23
Not So Cold, After All T
Everything was going so well… What to do when your dog has a behavioral setback
B
Paula Bergeron - Grafton, NH
ehavioral issues in dogs are more common than one might think, everything from counter surfing, and sock eating, to lunging, barking, snapping, and biting. Most dogs develop some habits in their lives that cause their families to look for help to solve the probem. But what do you do when after a training success story you suddenly experience a setback? After an incident of old unwanted behavior most owners feel emotional. Whether it be anger, frustration, fear, or sadness it is important not to discipline your dog while under the influence of big emotions. Give you and your dog some space from one another and take time to understand what led up to the behavioral “incident” To understand your dog’s behavior, begin by asking some questions about your own.
1. What action plan helped solve the original problem and have I been consistently following that plan? It is very common for all of us to slack off when things begin to go well, but just as returning to eating junk food can cause one to regain weight, returning to old patterns with your dog can cause old unwanted behaviors to return. 2. Has there been any major changes in my dog’s routine, or pack? A change in the daily routine or adding a human or animal to your household can cause your dog to feel insecure and anxious, and anxiety is never helpful when striving to maintain good behavioral management. 3. Have I recently suffered an illness or emotional crisis? A human in crisis is not an effective leader. Your dog feeling an absence of solid leadership may not be able to maintain newly learned skills or behaviors. 4. Have I been consistently providing my dog with the exercise and structure needed to maintain good emotional balance? Pent up or frustrated energy make it very difficult for any dog to be able to follow commands or resist impulsive behavior. 5. Did I unwittingly place my dog into a situation they were not ready to handle? Did I move too fast, expect too much, or just forget to pay attention? These questions are all directed towards the actions of the human because most often the set back with your dog has been the result of human error, or even more common human fatigue. (believe me, I am very familiar with both). So before you hand out discipline for an upsetting behavioral incident make sure that said discipline is headed in the right direction. :) Keep your chin up folks, and keep at it! And as always, Happy Training!
24 4 Legs & a Tail
Winter 2021
Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 25
A Pet Lover’s Guide to Burns and Freezes Ingrid Braulini
W
ith the winter season coming on strong and the use of stoves, fires, and radiators to keep us warm, as well as electric decorations and hot liquids, it might be the time to chat about burns. All pets may become exposed to a heat source that is conducive to causing a burn. Heat burns can happen to pets who get too close to an open fireplace, a radiator, a wood stove, an oven,
26 4 Legs & a Tail
a candle, a hot pot, a pan, or any other source of heat. Birds who can fly freely in the home can land on a hot stove or hotplate or be singed by a candle. The visible signs of a burn may not always appear immediately. So, it is important to learn the different degrees to react accordingly. In 1st degree burns the pet’s hair is singed, and the skin is red or discolored. This needs little or no care and will generally heal on its own. All you can do is to cool the skin with lots of tepid (NOT COLD) water. Do not rub the area and do not bandage it. Beware of ointments or creams because they may be poisonous if your pet starts licking the wound In the case of 2nd-degree burns, the hair is burned off and the outer layer of skin is burned, blistered, red, and sometimes oozes a yellow plasma. In this case, the risk of infection is high. You should flush the area with tepid water, bandage lightly, and transport her to a vet immediately. With 3rd degree burns in addition to the hair being burned off, the skin is
charred or white. The risk of infection is very high and vet care is necessary. You may flush the burned area with tepid water for 5-10 minutes. Then cover her wound with a dry dressing and transport the pet immediately. Please keep your eye on her until you get to the vet and watch her for shock. Do not apply any ointment, ice, or remedy without your veterinarian’s consent. When a heat burn is the cause of death in a pet it is often due to a secondary infection that can happen as the burn is healing. So, keeping an eye on your pet’s burn until it is healed is essential. Although chemical burns are not usually a problem unless the animal comes in contact with a corrosive liquid, they are usually more serious than heat burns. Protect yourself first by wearing rubber gloves and goggles if possible and try to identify the source of the chemical burn. You should always read the label on the product for treatment instructions and DO NOT apply water without knowing how the chemical reacts to water. Call SAVES, the Poison Control Center, and/or a veterinarian immediately. If you know what caused the burn, until you get to the vet, you can neutralize an alkaline burn with a vinegar and water paste or in the case of an acid burn, a paste with baking soda and water. If there is an electrical shock or burn, first make sure you and others are safe. Turn off any power source before attempting to rescue your pet or use a wooden or plastic pole (mop or broom) not metal, to remove any hot wires near the injured animal. Although electrical shock is not always fatal, it may cause burns. Usually, the animal has bitten into an electrical cord so burns in her mouth may show as blisters on the lips, gums, and tongue. TAKE ALL ELECTRICAL SHOCKS SERIOUSLY! YOU MUST TAKE YOUR PET TO THE VET. An electrical shock can stop the heart, cause paralysis, or even death. Even minor electrical shocks can damage blood vessels of the lungs causing fluid buildup. Your pet may be unconscious, but often serious symptoms may be delayed a few hours, so keep an eye out for an irregular heartbeat or any breathing difficulties that may appear. An animal may have a loss of appetite and remain lethargic so check In with her regularly for the next few days and follow-up with your vet if any negative changes occur. To do justice to our time of the year, I Winter 2021
have added a short section on the opposite problems of burns: hypothermia and frostbite. Your pet’s general age, health, and build may make them more susceptible to hypothermia. When the wind, water, and snow can lower the body temperature of an animal to a temperature below 95 degrees causing shivering, decreased heart rate, confusion, pale gums, collapse, and a coma it is called hypothermia. In the case of mild hypothermia, you can move your pet to a warm area, dry him immediately with a towel without rubbing the skin, and apply a warm water bottle to raise his body temperature. Then wrap him in a blanket or dry towel. Continue checking his body temperature every 10 minutes. Do not use a heating pad and do not rub the animal’s body or limbs. In the case of severe hypothermia, when the body temperature reaches 90 degrees or less you have an emergency. At this point, the animal should be warmed by the veterinarian from the inside out with warm fluids. So make sure you get there quickly. Please do not apply external heat. You can apply a bit of corn syrup (Karo®) or honey to his gums to elevate his blood sugar (this helps with shock). Frostbite occurs as cells freeze and
Winter 2021
expand much like water freezing and overflowing in an ice cube tray. Frostbite may be hard to detect because of an animal’s hair or fur. The damage usually appears on the pet’s ears, tail, toes, and scrotum because blood and heat are diverted to the torso instead, to keep it warm. Your pet’s skin might be hard and inflexible, red, white, or blistered. If the ears are affected, they may also flop. The skin damage is usually permanent in frostbite. Many dogs love to play in the cold so you need to be careful when letting them romp outside. Be certain that your pets have adequate shelter during adverse weather. Dogs
and cats have a good shiver ref lex to generate body heat which the fur traps. However, if they are wet and/or matted, they may be unable to stay warm. If your pet does become frostbitten, DO NOT rub the areas of possible frostbite. The skin may slough off. Instead, warm the affected area for 20 minutes with WARM water on a cloth pressed gently against the location. You need to take him to a vet for a follow up after the initial first aid because antibiotics are often prescribed to prevent infection. Please keep all emergency vet numbers handy and close to your phone. Happy and safe holidays to all!
www.4LegsAndATail.com 27
Help Monarch Butterflies By Building A Migration Waystation I
Catherine Greenleaf
magine walking outside to find dozens of Monarch butterflies fluttering over the native plants in your backyard next summer. A beautiful sight, indeed! With a little planning over the winter, you can create a migration waystation in your garden and help Monarchs as they make their long journey south to Mexico in the late summer and fall. When helping Monarchs, it’s always wise to take a three-pronged approach. Step One is to make your garden attractive all season long to any meandering Monarchs by offering ready sources of nectar from plants. Some good choices include Echinacea, bee balm, mountain mint, spirea, boneset, and hyssop. Step Two: once you have attracted Monarchs to your yard, you will want to provide them with the ideal spot for egg-laying and chrysalis formation. Prepare a large, circular gardening bed and plant native perennial flowers to feed the Monarchs with nectar once they emerge from the chrysalis along with any Monarchs that are already migrating. This is your way-
station. This spot should provide plants with full sun (6-8 hours a day). Scientific studies show a large circle of colorful nectar-filled native flowers of 15-20 feet in diameter will successfully grab the attention of Monarchs flying overhead. Step Three is to surround the perimeter of this circular area with at least 2-3 dozen milkweed plants. The milkweed should not be more than 20-25 feet away from the waystation. Stay away from nonnative Tropical milkweed and instead stick with the plants native to the Northeast, like Common milkweed, Swamp or Rose milkweed and Poke milkweed, to ensure the quicker establishment and a higher survival rate. Milkweed also prefers a sunny spot with 6-8 hours of sun each day. Why is milkweed so important? The Monarch will only lay her eggs on milkweed plants. You will find these eggs on the underside of the leaves. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae start munching on the leaves and stems of the milkweed, basically chomping them down to stripped stems. The larvae grow as they eat and once they
have developed into a caterpillar then journey to find an appropriate spot to form a chrysalis. Once the Monarch emerges from its chrysalis as a full-fledged butterfly, it dries off in the sun and then immediately looks for native perennial flowers that provide the nectar they desperately need to survive. If your circular bed is nearby, they will find it. In your circle garden plant several dozen native Joe Pye Weed plants. These native perennials can reach a height of eight feet, and their bright pink flowers serve as a homing beacon for Monarchs. Monarchs have a strong preference for the nectar of Joe Pye Weed and will flock to the area where you have planted them. It’s not unusual to see 50-60 Monarchs clustered on Joe Pye Weed in a single afternoon. Alongside the Joe Pye Weed also plant large clusters of fragrant and showy longblooming pink and white Phlox. Another vital plant is native yellow Goldenrod, along with native Aster, especially New England Aster with its pretty purple and pink flowers. Goldenrod and Aster are irresistible to Monarchs and essential to their survival. All of these plants resow quite readily from seeds every year, so you will only have to buy the plants once and watch nature do the rest. It’s also important to plant native trees near your waystation that offer nighttime roosting sites and help shelter Monarchs from strong winds and torrential rains. The flat evergreen leaves of Eastern Red Cedar provide crucial protection and are highly recommended by butterfly experts. The time to order native plants and seeds is now. Most native growers take their orders for the coming spring during the winter months, so you’ll want to get on the catalog mailing list of your favorite native plant provider. Be sure the seeds or plants you buy have not been treated with insecticides like deadly neonicotinoids. Stick with organic mail-order seed companies like Wild Seed Project in Portland, Maine, or organic plant businesses like Northeast Pollinator Plants in Fairfax, Vermont, or Bagley Pond Perennials in Warner, New Hampshire. If you’re planning to start native seeds for the spring, do so in January. Fill plant pots with organic potting soil and plant seeds thickly at roughly the depth of the size of the seed. Cover the soil with a layer of coarse horticultural sand and place outdoors for the winter. Cover the pots with screens to keep away critters. Starting your seeds outside will allow the scarification process to take place which occurs due to a winter’s many freezes and thaws. Catherine Greenleaf is the director of St. Francis Wild Bird Center in Lyme, N.H. If you find an injured bird, please call (603) 795-4850.
28 4 Legs & a Tail
Winter 2021
Mass(achusetts) Migration Scott Borthwick - Canaan, NH
I
n March of 2020 when the full brunt of Covid 19 hit all the work we had lined up for the next few months came to a screeching halt. No one wanted strangers in their house, except for squirrels and bats of course, and some not knowing what the future would bring just didn’t want to spend any money. The phone just stopped ringing. The bank worked with me and helped me apply for the PPP loan so I could keep my employees going with the minimal amount of work we had. The moment the PPP check was deposited the phone started ringing. It seems that people from out of state started “Heading for Hills”. Opening summer camps two months earlier and discovering uninvited squatters already occupying the home. We were driving all over the place dealing with squirrels, bats, skunks, lots of chipmunks, and even snakes. One gentleman from Connecticut discovered a woodchuck was living under his woodshed. He called and told me if his wife found out she would sell the house and move back to Connecticut. Not only were people moving up here in droves but they weren’t going out and were working from home. At first, the noises were only a minor annoyance but eventually became unbearable. Similar to the Chevy Chase movie Funny Farm. When he moves to the country to write a book and the bird chirping outside his window at first was pleasing to him but eventually became an annoying distraction. Years ago when I worked in construction I was eating breakfast at a restaurant frequented by other building contractors listening to them talk about this “flatlander” they were doing a project for. None of the conversation was complementary to the “flatlanders” until I pointed out to them that if it wasn’t for “flatlanders” they wouldn’t have any work. I was particularly annoyed by being a “flatlander” myself. I would like to thank everyone who helped us through these tough times. Both “flatlanders” and locals alike. Because of you, we were able to survive and hopefully will be able to service the communities nuisance wildlife issues for a long time to come. Scott Borthwick owns Estate Wildlife Control. He lives in Canaan, NH with his wife Donna, two dogs, a couple of horses and one tough old chicken named Henrietta. Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 29
What I Told My Kids Donna LeClair - Grand Isle, VT
30 4 Legs & a Tail
S
itting at the supper table that night, I looked at my teenaged daughter and son and thought, “Oh! I’ve got to tell them this. Right now!” It was one more of the myriad bits of information and wisdom parents feel duty-bound to impart to their children. My daughter was a high school senior, and my son was a freshman. They were both old enough to receive, understand, and heed, the information I felt an immediate need to provide. In fact, I wondered how it could have escaped me that they had not been told this information before. The trigger that prompted my talk was that our dog had died, and we were without one. I was grieving the loss. Suddenly I thought my children might want to ease my heartache with another. “Don’t ever buy me a dog. And don’t buy anyone else a dog, or a cat, either. Even if someone’s dog or cat has died, people have preferences. I’m partial to poodles or poodle mixes because of my allergies, but I would always want to choose my own dog and, as a family, we decide together. People often want to feel a ‘connection’ when they choose a pet. Some people like big dogs; others, little ones; some want a short-haired dog; others want one with long hair.” “You might think someone is so devastated when their dog or cat dies that
they will surely want another one. But maybe not. They are grieving because that one was so special to them. They might need time to adjust to that loss. Maybe they want to consider whether they will have one at all. Sometimes their love is so great for the one they lost that they never do get another one. Those should be their choices, over time.” “Okay, that’s for me and my feelings. This is for yourselves. Never get a dog, cat, or any pet, without thinking through how you will take care of it. You need to think about how long it might live so you can plan to take care of it for all of its life. Where might you live? If you live in an apartment, the first question is: Are pets allowed? How long might you live there? Will you have a job that requires traveling, or might you want to take extended trips? What about your pet? Who will take care of it if you’re away? Doggie Day Care can get expensive over a long period of time, and would that be fair to your dog?” “Suppose you do live in an apartment, and your landlord says it’s okay to have a dog. What is the apartment like? Is it four floors up? Because if you have a dog, there could be a serious number of flights to go up and down to take your 4-legged buddy outdoors. All these things should be considered so you can properly take care of the pet you will love.” “Then there is the cost to have a pet. You need to license your dog with the town you live in. There will be shots needed to keep it healthy, and if it gets sick or is hurt in some way, you need to know you can afford the care it needs, and that can sometimes be very expensive.” This conversation and the questions were asked many years ago. My children are now adults with their own children. They took my advice, and both waited to have their dogs when they had homes of their own. When Hurricane Katrina was forecast to hit New Orleans, people were being evacuated and told to leave their pets behind. My son told me he watched on TV as one man was the last to board a bus to be taken to a safe place, and when the bus doors closed, his dog wildly, insistently, jumped up and down against the doors of the bus as it pulled away. My son is like a dog whisperer. He loves dogs. He said to his wife, “I would never leave my dog.” His wife replied, “You would have to.” “Read my lips—I would NEVER leave my dog!” That is the depth of love my family feels for our dogs. Winter 2021
How cats’ nutritional needs are different from those of dogs?
T
he cat is considered by scientists to be a strict carnivore and the dog is considered to be an omnivore. Both species are in the Class Mammalia and the Order Carnivora, but here’s the difference: the cat cannot sustain its life unless it consumes meat in some form. Dogs, however, can survive on plant material alone; they do not have to consume meat. But always keep in mind that dogs do best and by nature are primarily meat-eaters. Just because by definition they are omnivores (can digest and utilize plant and animal food sources) does not mean that plant material alone makes a good source of nutrition for the dog. Far too many dogs have been undernourished by those cheap grain-based dog foods. And grain-based cat foods are even worse. A good way to think of it is that cats are carnivores, dogs are omnivores, but they both have evolved as hunters of other animals in keeping with their nature as meat-eaters. Numerous chemical substances are required for a cat to remain alive. These substances, some very complex chemical molecules and some very basic and simple must be provided along the internal chemical reaction pathways at all times. Like other living plants and animals, the cat can manufacture most of its own required substances within its own body’s chemical factory. For example, vitamin C is a requirement for lifesustaining processes for us Mammalia, and dogs and cats make plenty of their own within their body’s chemical factory -- the liver. We humans don’t make enough within our body chemical factory. To keep ourselves alive we have to find some vitamin C already made (preformed) somewhere in our environment, gather or capture it, then eat it. Without vitamin C, we’d die. Dogs and cats don’t have to worry about gathering, capturing, and eating another preformed vitamin C. They don’t care where their next grapefruit will come from because they make all the vitamin C they need inside their own personal chemical factory. On the other hand, there are numerous nutrients and chemicals that cats need that they can only acquire if they Winter 2021
eat animal-derived tissues. That is, they need to prey on other living creatures that do make the essential chemicals that cats don’t! Out of necessity, the cat has evolved ways to hunt down, capture, and eat this prey in order to “borrow” the prey’s nutrients. For example - Vitamin A also called retinol, a vitamin required at the cellular level by both cats and dogs. Cats – Process little or no enzymes that will transform the plant-produced carotenoids. Must eat preformed active vitamin A (that is, vitamin A that already has been converted from carotenoids to its active form by some other creature such as a mouse or rabbit). Dogs – Have enzymes in the lining of the intestine that can transform plant carotenoids and convert these into active vitamin A.
www.4LegsAndATail.com 31
PLANT-BASED DOGS Meg Hurley
32 4 Legs & a Tail
F
or the past 15 years, the Boxers and the mixed-breed rescue who lived and do live with us have eaten only plants— no meat, fish, eggs, and no dairy. In 2005, when we started feeding the dogs organic plant-based meals, exclusively, this was uncharted territory, mostly, but we were determined to figure it out for three reasons, one being that Boxers have high cancer rates. Eating an organic whole-foods, plantbased diet ourselves, we knew that nutritional scientists (who are biochemists) have proven that humans eating whole-foods, plant-based (WFPB) diets can prevent, stop, reverse, and even cure several deadly and debilitating diseases, including many cancers, heart disease, diabetes, ED, osteoporosis, obesity, arthritis, and psoriasis. Much of their research is done with animals, such as turning off cancer cell production with plant foods. So we wondered whether WFPB meals for dogs could minimize—even prevent—cancer so prevalent in many breeds and other issues like skin problems. Before we began their new diets I read everything I could find about WFPB diets for dogs. Also, I called Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Cornell University’s Jacob Gould Sherman Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry, founder of the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, and author of The China Study, a New York Times bestseller on how eating animal protein makes humans sick, contrary to popular beliefs. Dr. Campbell trained in veterinary medicine before earning his Ph.D. in biochemistry/nutritional science. Although he knew of no research to support the health benefits of plantbased meals for dogs, he said it made sense. Our supportive veterinarian joined us on the sharp learning curve. Since then the dogs have thrived as vegan dogs. All of them have been and continue to be healthy and vigorous and live beyond Boxers’ 8 to 10-year lifespan. They eat cooked vegetables, a mix of grains, a mix of beans, and fruits, excluding those that are not safe, such as grapes, avocadoes, and some nuts. We add in small amounts of organic vegan kibble, nutritional yeast, ground flax and sunflower seeds, and Vegedog for a full complement of vitamins and minerals. They eat with gusto! Yes, they have had cancer, but tumors were very small and the lowest grade. Healing has been quick and without complications. Today, there are more and more veterinarians who are supportive of plant-based diets for canines and willingly undertake the necessary Winter 2021
education. That said, I stress that the fresh plant foods fed dogs should be either cooked or pureed because dogs do not have the enzymes for breaking down plant cell walls. Also, the pesticides and insecticides used on crops cause several deadly and debilitating diseases, so it is important to feed them organic food. I have not found any veterinary clinics that sell plant-based foods, but there is an abundance of vegan dog kibbles and wet foods available online and in pet stores, but most are not organic. We buy an organic kibble from Minnesota that is made fresh every three weeks, does not sit in warehouses, and is shipped directly to us from the manufacturer. At the beginning of this article, I said that there are three reasons why we feed the dogs an organic WFPB diet, their health being foremost. The second has to do with the fact that raising animals for food is the leading driver of global warming and environmental destruction. In 2010, the United Nations issued a report calling on the world to transition to plant-based diets as the only way to stop Global Warming and to end hunger and starvation. Our third reason is compassion for animals. Since no health needs exist to eat animals—plants have more than adequate protein—then there are no needs to breed and to kill them; animals want to live full lives free from harm just as you and I do. All this may sound far-fetched, so I encourage you to watch Netflix documentaries such as: Cowspiracy, What the Health, Forks Over Knives, and Game Changers. We can end the suffering— ours, the animals’ and the planets’ by eating WFPB diets and feeding dogs the same. If you want to read a quirky and witty book on the subject, then my new novella The Dog Who Ate the Vegetable Garden & Helped Save the Planet (Guernica World Editions 2019) might appeal to you; it’s narrated by a charming and opinionated vegan dog—a real dog. The book’s a quick read, and won a Canadian literary award for “exceptional internationally published books.” The book’s website is vegdogsavesplanet.com and there you will also discover more about how we feed the dogs a WFPB diet. You can email me through the site with your questions and concerns. I hope you and “your” dogs join the “kind diet” movement, too, for the sake of all life on the planet! Winter 2021
Bella & Buck sticking together
www.4LegsAndATail.com 33
When Should You Call the Vet? Catherine MacLean - Grantham, NH
S
ometimes it can be hard to tell when you should call your veterinarian or when you should wait and see. The following information is a general guideline, but if you are at all concerned about your pet, you should always call your veterinarian. Lethargy (tiredness) If your pet has non-specific lethargy and is not showing any signs of pain, and seems to be acting fine otherwise (i.e. still eating, drinking, going to the bathroom normally), you can usually wait 24 hours. Make sure your pet has nice pink gums. If their gums are pale or white/grey in appearance, then do not wait and call your veterinarian right away. Vomiting If your pet vomits one time but is acting fine otherwise, this is usually not cause for concern. If your pet vomits and has diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite, or has gotten into something and/or is just not acting liking themselves, you should call your vet. If your pet vomits more than once in a 24 hour period, you should call your veterinarian right away. The exception to this is if you have a cat that is bringing up a hairball. They will often vomit up more than one hairball in a 24 hour period. Diarrhea If your pet has one episode of diarrhea in a 24 hour period and is acting fine otherwise, you can usually sit and wait. If your pet has more than one episode of diarrhea in a 24 hour period, you should call your veterinarian. If you see blood in the diarrhea or the diarrhea is black in color, call your veterinarian right away. If your pet has diarrhea and is vomiting, lethargic, has a decreased appetite, has gotten into something, or is just not acting like himself; call your veterinarian. 34 4 Legs & a Tail
Winter 2021
Decreased Appetite or Anorexia If your pet has decreased appetite for less than 24 hours and is acting fine otherwise, you can usually wait 24 hours. If your pet is not eating at all, do not wait and call your veterinarian right away. If your pet is acting abnormal and has a decreased appetite, call your veterinarian. If your pet has a decreased appetite or has not eaten for more than 24 hours, call your veterinarian. A decreased appetite or lack of appetite is very serious in cats since they can decline quickly. Increased Frequency of Urination If you notice your pet in the litterbox more frequently, asking to go out to potty more frequently, or seeing them urinating more frequently, you should call your vet. If you notice blood in the urine, call your veterinarian. It is also helpful to bring a freshly collected urine sample with you to your appointment. Make sure your pet is producing urine, especially in cats. See decreased urine volume for more information. Decreased Urine Volume If you notice your pet trying to urinate more frequently and very little urine is coming out, call your vet. If you notice no urine, call your vet immediately. This is especially true in cats. If you notice a few drops of urine or no urine production, call your veterinarian immediately because your pet could have a urinary obstruction which is a life-threatening emergency.
contact your veterinarian. The biggest mistake I see pet owners make is taking a sit and wait attitude when it is really something that should have been seen days or weeks before. Cats in particular are great pretenders. They often don’t show how ill they are until they are in dire straits. If you are ever on the fence about whether or not you should call your veterinarian, trust your gut and call. I would much rather tell a pet parent that their furry friend is ok than that we’ve waited too long. Dr. MacLean completed her Bachelor of Science from Penn State University, her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Atlantic Veterinary College, and her pet acupuncture certification from Chi Institute. Her areas of special interest include general practice and acupuncture. She opened Sugar River Animal Hospital in 2013, and she has been practicing veterinary medicine since 2010. Dr. MacLean’s family consists of her husband Matt, her daughter Katarina, son Alexander and their three pets: Jack and Misty, two cats, and Arrow, a dog.
Increased Appetite If you notice your pet has an increased appetite, especially in cats, this can be a sign of an underlying problem. If your pet has an increased appetite for more than a few days and it is not due to increased activity, call your veterinarian. Changes in Weight If you notice that your pet is losing or gaining weight without any changes in activity or diet, you should take your pet to the veterinarian. Many conditions cause weight loss that can become life-threatening if not diagnosed and managed properly. There are also medical conditions that cause weight gain that may need to be managed. Our pets bring a lot of joy to our lives. They are also very good at hiding illness, pain, etc. If you are at all concerned about the health of your pet, Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 35
Take Time to Check Your Home for Poisons! M. Kathleen Shaw DVM - Vermont Veterinary Medical Association
M
arch 18-24 is Animal Poison Prevention Week, and veterinarians are spreading the word about some common poisons for our animals large and small (including exotic animals). While many of us believe our homes are safe from toxins that animals would ingest, you might be surprised at what can cause serious illness. Garden products such as fertilizers, herbicides, and fungicides are highly poisonous to our animals. Certain plants, both indoor and outdoor can be dangerous too. Take an inventory of your indoor and landscaping plants and go to the ASPCA Poison Control website (see below) to make sure they are not toxic to your animals. This includes in and around the pastures, where horses and livestock can reach over and sample them. For instance, Japanese Yews, commonly used in landscaping, is extremely poisonous, resulting in rapid cardiac arrest and death if consumed. Bouquets of flowers and plants may contain lilies, which are highly toxic to cats in particular. Just sniffing the pollen or chewing on a leaf can cause kidney failure and death if not
36 4 Legs & a Tail
incontinence are now flavored for ease of administration. The problem lies with the fact that these new flavored pills taste so good the dog wants to eat the entire bottle, leading to serious illness. Ibuprofen remains the number one over the counter pill ingested by dogs and human prescription medications of all types can cause illness in our pets. Common sense precautions can prevent the poisoning of our pets. Keep all human and animal medications in a cupboard up high and out of reach of pets. Simply pushing them back on the kitchen or bathroom counter is not good enough. You may think your pet can’t or won’t get up on the counters, but it happens all the time. Store garden products in a shed away from pets. Read the labels and follow precautions on insecticides, fertilizers, and rodenticides. Do your research on the plants you already have and before purchasing any new ones to make sure they are not toxic to your animals. If you think your pet got into something potentially toxic, call your veterinarian or Poison Control right away. Some poisons, don’t show signs for several days, but prompt treatment before so may save your animal’s life.
treated promptly. It’s not surprising that the products formulated to kill pests can be toxic to our domestic animals. Rodenticides (rat and mice poison) and insecticides are highly toxic to dogs and cats and can lead to death if not detected early. Always read the label and follow the instructions. If your pet gets into rat poison or an insecticide, have the package or bottle with you when you call and take your pet to the vet. There are many types of these poisons, and knowing the active ingredients in what your pet ate will help your veterinarian to determine the treatment to save your pet. Large animal owners should follow label precautions carefully when using insecticides around the animals and in pastures. Many foods that people love are highly toxic to pets. The ASPCA Poison Control Center receives on average 39 calls per day of dogs who have ingested chocolate! The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Brownies, candy bars, and especially dark Center (https://www.aspca.org/petchocolate are highly toxic to dogs. Healthy care/animal-poison-control or phone foods for people such as onions, garlic, (888) 426-4435) is your best resource grapes, and raisins can cause serious trouble in pets. Veterinarians are seeing for animal poison-related emergencies more pets who become seriously ill from 24/7. Last year they helped pet owners eating food or gum containing Xylitol, with over 180,000 cases. On their website, you can learn about poisonous an artificial sweetener. Xylitol is used to plants (by name or picture), people sweeten certain brands of peanut butter: foods to avoid, household products, pet owners can unwittingly poison their dogs while trying to give medication hid- and you can even download a mobile app for Poison Control. Keep the phone den in it so check the label. The top three poisons reported by Poison number handy, along with your veterinarian’s, in case you ever need it. Control for small animals include veterinary products, over-the-counter human medications, and human prescription medications. We’ve all had the joy of trying to get a dog or cat to accept its pill: Brady - enjoying the winter twilight rays! it often turns into a circus. In response, Proud owners - Fabio Costa & Brittney many veterinary joint supplements, pain Stoddard of Lebanon, NH medications, and medication for urinary
Winter 2021
Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 37
Alternatively Speaking: The ABC’s of Vitamin D Dr. Anne Carroll DVM, CVA
A
38 4 Legs & a Tail
h, winter. Time for glistening snow-covered landscapes, ice skating, snowmen… and for those of us indoors by the fire more than out in the little sun we have, time to think about our Vit D levels! This discussion may be especially pertinent this year, since among its many benefits Vit D promotes a healthy immune system for avoiding infectious disease, or reducing symptoms and duration of illness. Researchers are still investigating what this may mean for COVID, and while cases of COVID in dogs and cats are astronomically rare, and ‘one-way’ from people to pets when they do occur, Vit D is equally important for them in many other ways. So now seems a good time to talk about the role this vitamin plays in our pet’s health, and how we can ensure they have sufficient levels of this very important nutrient. Why do we care so much about Vit D? It is most well-known for its role in calcium regulation and bone growth, with deficiency causing Rickets in growing children. But there are more than 2000 genes in tissues and organs in the body that are influenced by Vit D, and it has been shown to play a role in human cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheuWinter 2021
matoid arthritis, and asthma. Growing animals can get Rickets too, and Vit D has as far-reaching effects for them as in people. Low Vit D has been associated with chronic kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, infection, dental erosions in cats, allergies, and yes, cancer. In fact, a good deal of research focuses on low Vit D and cancer for us and our pets. Vit D’s actions are anti-inf lammatory. When Vit D is low, measures of inflammation like C-reactive protein are high. Inflammation is a known risk factor for cancer since it contributes to its development, progression, and prognosis. Beyond being anti-inflammatory, this vitamin impacts genes controlling cell growth, reproduction, and most other functions cancers need to spread and change tissues. Low Vit D has been associated with the risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancer in people, while in our skin it helps reduce skin cancer by decreasing susceptibility to UV rays. In animals, deficiency has been associated with mast cell, hemangiosarcoma, and lymphoma cancers. While it’s true that the benefit of Vit D is similar in pets and humans, things start to be different when we compare where our Vit D comes from. Humans, sheep, and cattle can produce Vit D3 in the skin. However enzymes in dog and cat skin convert Vit D precursors to cholesterol, not Vit D, so photosynthesis provides them very little. For a fun fact, chickens don’t make Vit D in their skin either, but sunlight does make it in the feather’s oil which the birds ingest while grooming. No matter how Vit D is obtained, it is stored in body fat including in muscles and organs, and that fat is the natural source of Vit D for predators including dogs and cats. However, In modern times pets eat more commercial foods than fresh prey. The process of converting ingredients into pet food destroys so many of the original nutrients, supplements like Vit D must be added. Unfortunately, AFFCO guidelines for Vit D, like many nutrients, require pet food to have the minimum to avoid clinical disease (like Rickets during growth), but not so much as to cause toxicity. Survival is great, but there is far too little research to show what amount is actually ideal for adult animals to thrive. Even in people guidelines are constantly being revised, as studies are now looking at many mineral and hormonal levels in the body to decide how much supplementation is needed for optimal blood levels of this very important nutrient. Continued Next Page
Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 39
So how can you optimize the Vit D in your pet’s food? In our practice, we discuss adding some fresh foods to try to mimic the content of a natural diet. As always, discussing your individual animal’s needs with your veterinarian is the place to start before adjusting their food, but in general, it is safe to divide your pet’s meals so they include some less processed choices besides their dry food, such as homemade, dehydrated, or frozen. If using ‘toppers’ or unbalanced additions of fresh foods, less than 20% of an adult animal’s diet can usually be replaced without creating issues, but talk to your veterinarian so you are choosing valuable additions. In the case of Vit D, the richest natural sources are fish and fish oils. If your pet eats mostly homemade, it is hard to avoid supplements to get enough while keeping in balance with inter-related nutrients like calcium. Whole foods tend to have more co-nutrients to prevent imbalances, and it is harder to give too much of any one nutrient compared to individual supplements. Always talk to your veterinarian about proper supplementation and Vit D testing before and after switching to homemade diets to verify they are getting the correct amounts.
Which brings us to the question, when should you test your pet’s Vit D level? In our practice, we certainly test to confirm if we have any questions about dietary content, even for pets on commercial foods. Up to 40% of people have low Vit D levels, despite eating ‘properly’, and unlike our pets, we can augment our dietary sources with sun exposure. However, we most commonly recommend testing pets when they are experiencing an issue related to Vit D deficiency. Skin diseases and allergies, cancers, and cats with erosions in their teeth are probably the most typical diagnoses that would trigger a Vit D test. Not all pets with these issues have low Vit D, nor can we say for sure that supplementation will improve their condition, but there is enough evidence to support treating a pet if their levels are low, and we do see improvements in Vit D levels when pets are appropriately supplemented. We also test animals routinely while taking Vit D supplements. Supplementation should never be used in people or pets unless a test shows a deficiency. Then monitoring is needed since too much Vit D can be toxic. The FDA has had to issue diet recalls due to Vit D toxicity in pets, as recently as 2019, but four other times in the last 10 years. Possible symptoms of excess Vit D are high calcium levels, slowed growth, bone pain, digestive upset, increased urination or thirst, and kidney problems. So now that you are mindful of all the wonders of Vit D, talk to your vet about your pet’s diet and whether adding a sardine a few times a week, or some fresh fish or organ meats would be appropriate as a side treat to their main meals. If they are experiencing a medical condition, especially cancer, consult a holistic veterinarian regarding nutritional supports that can augment your pet’s care which may include a Vit D test and supplementation. Maybe best of all, get moving! Exercise and preventing obesity goes a long way to maintaining optimal Vit D levels for us and our pets, so whether you can make Vit D from sunlight or not, get outside and have fun! Dr. Anne Carroll is the owner of the Chelsea Animal Hospital where she and her associates practice conventional medicine and surgery as well as several alternative modalities including traditional Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. For more information on alternative veterinary medicine visit their website at www.chelseaanimalhospital.com .
40 4 Legs & a Tail
Winter 2021
Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 41
I Am Afraid of Anesthesia for My Pet - PART II Sandra L Waugh VMD, MS
I
n the first article I discussed what anesthesia is and the need for pain medications as anesthetics provide little pain relief by themselves. In this article I will go over some of the equipment we use to make anesthesia as safe as possible. Let’s take a broader view of this process. Miley, one of our clinic cats, is clearly not intimidated by all of the equipment! She likes the dental tables because there is a circulating warm water pad underneath her and it is turned on so it is warm when our patient arrives. Cats love warm spots! In the first article I mentioned giving a pre-anesthetic dose of a narcotic and
a small amount of a tranquilizer. These drugs make the pet somewhat sleepy and decrease their anxiety. An IV catheter is then placed in a vein, usually a front leg but sometimes a hind leg is used. The fur is clipped to allow us to clean the skin thoroughly. The IV catheter has multiple uses: to give the drugs that induce anesthesia, to give fluids during the procedure to maintain hydration and blood pressure, and to give any other drugs needed during the procedure. After anesthesia has been induced an endotracheal tube is placed into the windpipe (trachea) and a balloon on
the tube is inflated to insure that the pet is not breathing room air, but only the oxygen and gas from the anesthesia machine. The pet is placed on the dental table on its back and the endotracheal tube is connected to the anesthesia machine. If the pet is not breathing we can “make him/her breath” by pressing on a breathing bag. Many pets breath fine during anesthesia, but some don’t. If the pet is not breathing well we use a ventilator (we have heard that term with COVID!). The IV fluid line from the IV pump is connected to the IV catheter and fluids are started.
Anesthesia machine Vaporizer. This holds the anesthetic gas, isoflurane in this case.
Pump for IV fluids
Syringe pump for pain relief medications
Breathing bag (black)
42 4 Legs & a Tail
Anesthesia circuit - brings oxygen and isoflurane to the pet, takes away exhaled gas.
Forced warm air blanket, not yet turned on
Winter 2021
ECG Dots are placed on the chest to monitor the heart. The fur must be clipped away first. Then we make a “burrito wrap” to keep the pet nice and warm. If you have had a dentist drill on your teeth, you know that a lot of water is sprayed during the drilling. That water can make a pet cold, and a cold pet does not do as well under anesthesia as a warm pet. We don’t want out patients getting cold while under anesthesia.
1. ECG Dots are placed on the chest and belly to monitor the heart.
2. The Forced Warm Air Blanket, already filled with warm air, is placed over the pet.
The black pad is the circulating warm water pad. The green pad has a mesh to help prevent the pet from getting wet.
Endotracheal tube - goes down the windpipe to deliver gas to the lungs
Temperature probe. Goes down the esophagus to the level of the heart. Continuously measure body temparature.
3. First wrap of the hairdresser drape
4. The other side of the drape is wrapped This tube is used to fill the balloon on the endotracheal tube with air. Anesthesia circuit attached to the endotracheal tube.
A continuous sample of the gas going in and out is drawn through this tube. It goes to a monitor that measures the amount of carbon dioxide in the gas. More on this in a later article.
5. And the whole thing is held together with clips.
The Warm Air comes out of the underside of the blanket and provides a continuous stream of warm air. The layers are: Table, Circulating warm water pad, Special pad with mesh to prevent the pets back from getting wet (water can “wick up” the neck and go down the back.), a hair dresser drape (!), pet’s body, Forced Warm Air Blanket. The hair dresser drape is then wrapped around the pet and the warm air blanket to contain that warm air around the pet. We call this a “Pet Burrito”. A fleece blanket is then placed over everything. We maintain a normal body temperature during the entire anesthesia. In part three of this series anesthesia monitors will be discussed. Dr. Waugh is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She also holds a Masters Degree from Washington State University of Veterinary Medicine and is owner of Windsor Pet Dental, PLC. Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 43
The Light of the Memory Tree Tanya Sousa
T
roubles in all shapes and sizes befell many people in 2020. “These are dark times,” a friend wrote to me. “Dark times indeed.” I wrote back. My life also had its share of challenges and darkness in the last year. What do you do when the lights go out and you temporarily lose your ability to see
44 4 Legs & a Tail
clearly? You light a candle, that’s what. Everyone’s “candle” is as individual as s/he is, but it will fall into one of many categories. I spent a lot of time in my profession as a counselor working with children who already had so much sadness that they needed to find their light in the worst way. For some of them, it was getting lost in music or in a sport. For others it was being outside, sometimes among trees, sometimes near water. Some needed the calm understanding of animals – a good cry with the St. Bernard’s head resting in the lap, or with their own heads buried in the warm safety of fur and the rhythm of breath that tells them at least something is sure. I have no doubt that your candle (at least one of them), as mine, f lickers with the beauty and souls of your dogs or cats, or rabbits, or whatever other beings share your life. Remembering back, the severity of my life in 2008 meant I needed even more than my living and beloved border collies and cats. I needed to have the presence of all the wonderful creatures that have graced my years; I searched through four decades of photo albums and pulled out the best pictures I could find of my fur-bearing guardian angels from birth to the present and gave them
to a kindred spirit who would understand what to do with them. “Sarah, I want to hire you to paint me ornaments. I need to have a memory tree this year.” I said. We discussed how I wanted them to appear. Did I want snowflakes or candles or anything seasonal in the image, she wondered? I decided against that. By having them neutral, I could use them on the Christmas tree this year and then display them in different ways at any time of year. I chose small pieces of slate as the canvas. Sarah was not only a dog trainer for most of her adult life, but she showed and bred dogs as well. Once retired, she painted dogs with the breath-taking detail of a person who knows them so well she can catch the personality of any individual dog with tiny strokes of her brush. After months of work, Sarah presented me with the images of animals that have graced my life. I have never cried with happiness before in my life, but I did when I looked on those familiar faces so beautifully portrayed by Sarah’s hand. When my family and friends gathered with me for the holidays that year, it was magical, and much of that stemmed from the Memory Tree. “That was Simba, the dog we grew up with.” My sister said, and hugged her fiancé as if in joy from a reunion. My father guided his new wife to the tree to show her another dog. “That’s Tasha.” He told her, and began telling her stories of her neverending appetite and heart that was just as vast. There were so many stories to tell. The more that were shared, the more warmth seemed to enfold us. The holidays ended, but there was no reason for the light of those candles to go out. I found other ways to display them; I can look at them every day, and they continue to help me see and hope when it seems impossible hope can be found. If a Memory Tree or Memory Ornaments sound like a good idea to you, remember they don’t have to be painted images. Make some good copies of your favorite photos and decoupage them onto plain ornaments, eggshells, or create ornaments in any other crafty way you can imagine. I’ve seen people who make memory quilts from photographs of people, so why not have a memory quilt of images of special dogs? There is power from the bracing images of those creatures that have loved us well. What is your candle in the dark? Don’t hesitate to light it. Find Tanya Sousa’s novel, “The Starling God”, her art and photography note cards and much more at Etsy.com/market/ NatureArtsExpressed Winter 2021
Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 45
Meet Joe Biden’s Dogs Champ and Major Set to Become the First White House Pets in 4 Years
P
resident-elect Joe Biden will be the first U.S. President to have a pet at the White House in four years. Find out more about his dogs and see pics of them and former Presidential pets. For the first time in four years, and in a move that restores a centuries-old tradition, the White House is set to gain a First Pet. Actually, two. Former Vice President Joe Biden, whose victory in the 2020 U.S. Presidential election was announced on Saturday, and wife Jill Biden have two German Shepherds, Champ and Major. The latter is also set to become the first rescue dog to live at the White House. After the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, Joe kept his promise to Jill to get a puppy if President Barack Obama won, gifting his wife with Champ, a threemonth-old pooch purchased from a Pennsylvania breeder. Obama made the same promise to his daughters and fulfilled it, bringing home their first dog, Bo. The Bidens’ granddaughters were the ones who named Champ. The name also has sentimental significance for the Facebook / Delaware Humane Association Joe Biden and Major The Vice President and President-elect appears with his rescue dog at the Delaware Humane Association headquarters in 2018.
Twitter / Jill Biden Jill Biden, Champ and Major Vice President and President-elect Joe Biden’s wife Jill Biden appears with their German Shepherds in a 2020 election campaign photo
46 4 Legs & a Tail
President-elect. In his 2008 Vice Presidential campaign speeches, he recalled how his father would tell him, “Any time you get knocked down, champ, get up!” Joe later said his family planned on getting another dog, this time from a shelter. In November 2018, the Bidens adopted Major from the Delaware Humane Association. “Today is Major’s lucky day!” read a post on the group’s Facebook page at the time. “Not only did Major find his forever home, but he got adopted by Vice President Joe Biden & Dr. Jill Biden! The Bidens have gotten to know Major while fostering him and are now ready to make the adoption official.” The group said, “Major was 1 of 6 puppies who were brought to DHA after Winter 2021
coming in contact with something toxic in their home. Their original owner was unable to afford veterinary care so they surrendered them. With the help of our friends at VSCD, together we provided lifesaving care, shared their story here and that we were looking for fosters for them. Once we posted about them for your help, Joe Biden caught wind of them and reached out immediately. The rest is history!” With the addition of `Champ and Major to the White House, the Bidens will revive a tradition that dates back to the days of the Founding Fathers. Donald Trump was the first President to not have a pet at the White House in more than 120 years. The first President to have a pet while in office was the first President, George Washington, although he did not live at the White House, as construction on it was not completed until 1800, three years after he ended his final term. His successor, John Adams, owner of two dogs, was technically the first President to have a domestic pet call 1600 Pennsylvania home. Since President William McKinley’s administration, which began in 1897, every single President except Trump has had a dog at some point, according to the Washington Post.
Winter 2021
www.4LegsAndATail.com 47
Abraham Lincoln’s Dog, Fido Kate Kelly in most communities. The strays scavenged for food around local eateries and found barns where they could sleep. These dogs were generally called “tramps.” (This may explain the Disney title, “Lady and the Tramp.”) Only a lucky few of the dogs found themselves with a home to live in and a family to love. Fido was one of them. Lincoln had not had an easy childhood, and his hardscrabble background gave him a soft spot for children and for animals. He rarely disciplined his sons, and of course, if a cat or a dog found their way n the 1850s, the Lincoln family to the Lincoln household, they were not acquired a yellow mixed-breed dog they turned away. (His wife Mary did not feel named Fido. Fido often accompanied Lin- the same way. Springfield streets could coln to his Springfield law office or around be very muddy, and Mary did not like all town on errands. Fido also loved being with the dirt tracked in by the children, and the Lincoln boys, Willy and Tad, and he later, the dog.) Robert Lincoln was away during much was known to most people in Springfield. of this time. He was older than his brothFido’s Story In the mid-19th century, few families ers (born in 1843). In 1859, he was sent to could afford pets, but dogs were plentiful boarding school, Phillips Exeter Academy.
I
48 4 Legs & a Tail
The Lincolns Adopt Fido Rough-coated yellow dogs like Fido were common at that time. (Lincoln had owned another “yaller dog” named Honey when younger.) Fido must have arrived in the household by 1855 as historians can produce an invoice for vermifuge, a “de-wormer,” from the Springfield drugstore. Whether the family found him, or whether he chose them, is a story we do not know but certainly by the mid-1850s, the Lincolns had Fido living with them. While today the name “Fido” is so common that it’s used generically to refer to canine “pets.” Fido is from the Latin “fedelitas” for faithful, so naming the dog Fido was likely very high praise for the dog. At the time, the most popular name for dogs was Carlo, according to Matthew Algeo, author of the book, Abe & Fido. The name “Carlo” was popular among the well-read, as it was the name of the faithful pointer in Jane Eyre. Family Dog Fido was very much a “house dog.” The streets of Springfield were often muddy, so between Willy and Tad and Fido, the house must have been difficult to keep clean. Over Mary’s protests, Fido sometimes climbed into bed with one of the boys. He amused the family by chasing his tail in the drawing room. At dinner, Abe and the boys were happy to pass him scraps from the table. Before Lincoln became president, Fido’s days were generally spent out with one family member or another. If Lincoln was doing errands, Fido went along with him and was sometimes given the responsibility of carrying Lincoln’s purchase. Fido was also well known at the barbershop. Billy the Barber was an institution in Springfield, and since Abe went in regularly for shaves (he was clean-shaven until late 1860), Fido often went, too. When Lincoln went to his law office, Fido could have accompanied him, but chances were good that he went to find Willy and Tad instead. He could wait for them at school, or Willy and Tad were often out and about with friend. Fido liked joining them. Like other dogs of the same time period, there was no particular effort at training Fido. He came and went as he pleased, and because Lincoln tended to indulge both his children and their pets, no one ever broke Fido of his habit of jumping up on people to cheerfully lick hello. With the muddy streets of Springfield, Fido did sometimes annoy. Presidential Campaign During the mid-19th century, it was considered unseemly for presidential candidates to campaign. Instead, party representatives traveled on a candidate’s behalf, and as many people as possible were asked to write letters in support Winter 2021
of one candidate or another. In 1860, Lincoln faced a four-way election: Stephen Douglas represented the Northern Democrats, John C. Breckinridge ran on the Southern Democratic ticket, and John Bell represented the Constitutional Unionists. The election was unlike any other. Lincoln knew that the country was at stake. Lots of planning was taking place with advisors and campaign managers traveling to Springfield to meet with Abraham Lincoln. Most meetings were at Lincoln’s law offices, but Lincoln sometimes brought men home to continue their talks. Fido was restless and anxious from all the activity around his master, but there wasn’t much Lincoln could do about it. When the election results were announced in November (still months from when the family would depart for D.C. in March), Springfield erupted in excitement. Cannons were fired, fireworks set off, and bands played. The town was filled with a cacophony of sounds, all of which sent Fido to hide behind the drawing room couch or upstairs under the boys’ bed. What To Do With Fido In observing how upsetting all the noises were for Fido, the future president had to consider what the family faced in Washington. He knew the capital was louder than Springfield, and he couldn’t imagine Fido feeling comfort-
Winter 2021
able traveling by train with the family. With difficulty, he discussed with Willy and Tad that there was just no way for Fido to come along. With protests from the kids and tears from them all, Lincoln got the boys to focus on where Fido could stay until the Lincolns returned to Springfield. After considering various possibilities, the Lincolns all felt that The Roll family would be the right place for Fido. John Roll was one of Lincoln’s oldest friends. Roll was just 16 when Lincoln, age 20, hired him to help build a flatboat that Lincoln planned to use to haul goods down the Mississippi. Since that time, John Roll became a contractor in town, and he and his wife had boys about the same age
as Willy and Tad. The Rolls family also lived near the Lincoln home on 8th Street, so the boys all played together. Fido was often with them and always greeted the Rolls boys with big licks on face and hands. Roll Family Agrees When Abe pitched the idea to John Roll, he had several requests concerning Fido: -They were never to tie him up in the backyard by himself. He was a house dog, so he should be allowed inside when he scratched at the door. -He was not to be scolded for having muddy paws. -He should be permitted to join the Roll family at dinner. Fido was accustomed to Continued Next Page
www.4LegsAndATail.com 49
being fed by everyone at the table. Lincoln also had one other thought. Would the family like their couch that was specially made for Abe? It was green horsehair—7 feet long to accommodate the president’s height. Fido loved being on or near the couch, too. John Roll and his family were honored to help, and they agreed to all the points that were specified by the Lincoln family. Also included in the plans were the fact that when the Lincolns returned to Springfield, Fido would come back to live with them. The Family in Washington In March of 1861, the Lincoln family made the move to Washington, D.C. to live in the executive mansion. Despite the war, Willy’s and Tad’s lives proceeded the way the lives of most young boys do with school and playtime. Pets continued to be welcomed by Abe Lincoln and his sons. The boys had ponies, white rabbits, and two goats that kept them endlessly amused. Willy and Tad liked hitching Nanny and Nanko to a cart—or even a kitchen chair—to be pulled around. The goats, however, were not always popular with the White House staff as they tended to chew up things they weren’t supposed to. Tad became very attached to a turkey that was being raised for Christmas dinner. At Tad’s behest, Lincoln had little choice but to spare the turkey. The turkey lived on with the Lincolns as a pet, and Tad gave
50 4 Legs & a Tail
him full run of the mansion. (Lincoln’s own childhood was filled with fear and disappointment, so he chose to raise his boys with much more leniency.) There is also mention of a dog at the Executive Mansion. A visitor recalls a “very beautiful little dog” who could stand up on his back feet quite comfortably. The person referred to the dog as “Jip” or “Gyp.” Lincoln Loved Cats Another visitor talked of a chair pulled up to the dining table by the president. A cat sat by the president enjoying a meal with the family. Perhaps Mary Lincoln was away at that time? Lincoln himself was particularly fond of cats. According to the staff at Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace, if Mary Lincoln was asked about whether her husband had a hobby, she was very likely to answer “cats.” In March of 1865 as the Civil War was coming to a close. All the requirements of rebuilding the country were being presented to the president. He frequently sat at the telegraph office in Washington so he could send and receive messages easily. While there one day, Lincoln became distracted by three stray kittens. When he was informed that the kittens’ mother had died, he sat with them on his lap for a few minutes and then before he left, he made certain someone there committed to taking care of them. News from Springfield The Lincoln family did not have opportunities to return to Springfield. Travel at that time was arduous, and with the ongoing war, President Lincoln remained in Washington except when the war called him elsewhere. However, the family received reports from townspeople. One of the best correspondents reporting to the Lincoln was Billy the barber. Billy, of course, knew all about what was going on in town, and he often reported a bit about Fido. At the end of a newsy report about the town, Billy added: “Tell Taddy that his (and Willy’s) Dog is alive and Kicking, doing well, he stays mostly at John E. Roll’s with his Boys who are about the size now that Tad and Willy were when they left for Washington.” Lincoln’s Funeral Fido was still living with the Rolls family when Lincoln was assassinated. When the funeral was held, mourners stopped in at the Lincoln family home in Springfield to
Winter 2021
pay their respects. The Roll family brought Fido to say good-bye to his master, too. In 1853, Abe Lincoln bought a horse that he called Old Bob. When the family departed for Washington, Lincoln sold Bob to an Irish drayman. Old Bob pulled one of the fellow’s delivery wagons. When the body of the president arrived in Springfield to be buried, the deliveryman provided Old Bob for the funeral procession, Old Bob wore a mourning blanket with silver fringe, and he walked immediately after the hearse carrying the President’s body. Fido Meets His End During the year following Lincoln’s death, Fido continued to live with the Roll family. One day he didn’t come home. The family looked for him for several days before one of the boys heard that he might be over in the community churchyard. When they arrived there, they found Fido curled up and motionless. He had a knife wound. He must have crawled to a spot where he could find shelter to die. Later the story was pieced together by community members. Like other towns, Springfield had its share of drunks. One of them was sitting on a curb downtown when Fido must have greeted him, perhaps with the muddy paws that he was well-known for. The fellow pulled a knife and stabbed him. Because Fido got away, no one realized a serious wound had been inflicted until the family reported that Fido hadn’t come home. It was too late to save Fido but the Rolls family saw that he had a loving farewell. First Photo of a Presidential Pet Today we have two similar images that show us what Fido looked like. (See below to read how these were found.) Up until recently, most historians felt that the photograph was likely taken before the Lincolns left Springfield. More recently, however, it has been speculated that it is more likely that Fido’s photo was taken after the assassination. (The clue to that has to do with the photographer, “Ingmire” who is identified as having taken the photograph. When more town history was researched, it seems that Ingmire did not have a photo studio in 1860.) For the funeral, the town was overrun by people. Visitors wanted to buy items related to Lincoln. A townsperson may have decided that that a photo of Fido would sell well. At the time, photographs were sometimes copied and made into carte-de-visite (calling cards of a sort which were very popular during the Civil War when family members wanted to be remembered). Shortly after Lincoln’s death, the photo of Fido was reproduced as a carte-de-visite and sold to souvenir collectors. Either explanation leaves us with the undeniable fact that we have the first photo ever taken of a Presidential dog. Winter 2021
How the Photo of Fido Was Found Until about the 1940s, no one knew the story of the Lincoln family and Fido. However, thanks to an avid photo collector and his daughter, the two images of Fido led to details of the story.
Frederick Hill Meserve (1865-1962), a well-to-do executive in the textile industry, had a hobby that became all-consuming. His father fought in the Civil War and left behind a diary. Meserve wanted photographs to further tell the story of where his father fought. He began collecting photographs from the Civil War, and as he shopped, he saw that there were many Lincoln-related images that were available. He began adding those and expanding his collection of photographs from the last 40 years of the 19th century. He eventually amassed the largest collection of Lincoln and Civil War Continued Next Page
www.4LegsAndATail.com 51
photographs in private hands. At the time of his death, he owned some two hundred thousand images including at least ten thousand glass negatives of photographer Matthew Brady. Daughter Shared Passion His family came to share this passion. His oldest daughter, Dorothy Meserve Kunhardt (1901-1979) became an author. One day in the 1930s, she was researching a book on Lincoln’s sons, Tad and Willy. She found two collodion negatives of an images that surprised her. The picture was of a scruffy dog positioned on what must have been a photographer’s table. The dog was paying close attention and clearly trying
52 4 Legs & a Tail
to please someone ordering him to stay quiet on the table. In 1940, she traveled to Springfield and tracked down friends of the Lincoln boys. Isaac Diller (1854-1943), was son of the drugstore owner who served the Lincoln family. Isaac Diller was a boy when the Lincolns moved away. When he grew up, he took over the family business. Dorothy Meserve Kunhardt arrived in Springfield and found Isaac, who was 86 at that time. Diller was able to identify the photograph as being that of Fido, the Lincoln’s beloved dog. Isaac Diller then referred Kunhardt to another Springfield fellow, John Linden
Roll, one of the young boys who played with Willie and Tad and whose family cared for Fido when the Lincolns moved to Washington. From John Roll, she learned more of the story. On February 15, 1954, Life magazine published Dorothy Meserve Kunhardt’s story of Fido. Forty years later, she and one of her sons published Twenty Days: A Narrative in Text and Pictures of the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln. If you are convinced her name sounds familiar, you’re right. Dorothy Meserve Kunhardt was also the author of the bestselling book for babies, Pat the Bunny, first published in 1938.
Winter 2021
FR
EE
Winter 2021
The Difference Between Cats & Dogs
Helping Pets in Need
When to Call the Vet Abe Lincoln’s Dog Winter Horseback
