Winter 2009 â¢ V ol. 43 No. 4 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA

More documents

Recommendations

Info

SP TLIGHT PETS IN THE The following pets are looking for new homes at the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA! Photo: Jen Petit Photo: Chris Travers Photo: Laura Coburn Dehlila American Bull Dog mix Age: 5 years / Sex: Female Adoption Fee: $100 Identification #: 35183 Dehlila is an athletic and fun-loving dog who can’t wait to find a family to cherish! With a playful spirit, she adores getting exercise and exploring the great outdoors. Due to her size and energy level, she will do best in a home with children 8 years and older or adults only. She would also prefer to be the only pet in the home. Dehlila is a special member of the San Diego Humane Society’s “Hidden Gem” program. If you would like to meet this sweet gal in person, please contact our Customer Service Department at (619) 299-7012. Simba Domestic Short Hair Age: 12 years / Sex: Male Adoption Fee: $50 Identification #: 32979 Simba is a handsome blue tabby kitty looking for a special family to love during his golden years! While Simba can be a bit shy at first with his people friends, he has a sweet nature and warms up quickly. Simba was diagnosed with diabetes and requires a special diet. A Humane Society veterinarian will be present during the adoption process to discuss his medical history and explain how to best care for him. He will do well in a variety of homes, but a home with children 12 years and older is recommended. He may be the perfect match for someone interested in our Seniors for Seniors program, which waives the adoption fee for adopters over age 60 who take home a senior pet. Bud Lionhead mix Age: 2 years / Sex: Male Adoption Fee: $50 Identification #: 36171 With long, adorable ears and chocolatecolored fur, Bud is one sensational rabbit! He is a bit shy with his people friends at first, but warms up as he becomes more comfortable in his environment. Bud’s favorite treat is a delicious orange or handful of fresh vegetables. He will do well in a variety of homes, including a home with children and other pets. With a big heart and lots of love to share, Bud hopes to find a home soon! A Tail-Wagging Celebration Dog lovers from around the county visited the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA for Barktoberfest, a unique dog-focused adoption event, held on Oct. 10. In addition to matching adoptable pets with new families, the Humane Society accepted a special honor on behalf of the city of San Diego – for the second year, San Diego was voted America’s most dog-friendly large city by Dog Fancy magazine! The adopt-a-thon event included a Canine Carnival featuring booths with helpful information from the San Diego Humane Society’s Animal Rescue Reserve and Behavior and Training programs as well as the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services. Complimentary treats from Fiji Yogurt and Boudin Bakery, cool prizes provided by the PETCO Foundation, and fun doghouse displays by Marrokal Design & Remodeling made the event a barking good time for all. Thank you to all the dog lovers that made this year’s Barktoberfest a resounding success! Together, we found homes for dozens of pups and a few felines, too! Photo: Laura Coburn LC 8 www.sdhumane.org AnimalFare • Winter 2009
Ask the Doctor Annual Exams: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure Q: Should I take my dog to the vet only when he is sick, or do pets need regular check-ups like humans do? – Pet Parent in Point Loma A: Your question is an important one, one that every pet owner should ask. While many of us think of our pets as having human traits, your dog is still limited by her four paws and non-verbal communication when it comes to letting you know if she is isn’t feeling well. It’s important to regularly monitor her eating and drinking habits for changes, but that alone may not give you the full picture of what is going on inside her body. Most animals, especially cats, have an innate ability to mask very serious issues until the problem has gone on for a significant amount of time, making treating the condition more difficult. So, how do you really know when your fuzzy best friend is feeling good and is as healthy as she can be? The best place to start is a good physical examination with annual checkups to monitor your pet’s health from year to year. What will your veterinarian look at during a physical examination? Just as in humans, the body systems of an animal all work together. It is not uncommon to see manifestations of the same problem in separate systems. Your veterinarian will pool all the information from their examination to form an opinion about the overall health of your pet. An exam essentially starts at the nose and ends at the toes. While the full list is quite long, here are a few things that your veterinarian may be checking for: • Eyes, ears and nose: Problems here can be as simple as an infection, but the state of these organs can also give clues to more serious concerns like liver disease, diabetes, and immune mediated disorders. • Oral examination: In addition to checking the condition of the teeth, it’s important to evaluate your pet’s gums, mucus membranes, and soft tissues of the mouth, which can give valuable information about total body health. • Heart and lungs: There are many breeds of dog and cat alike that develop heart conditions as they get older. Your veterinarian will check for murmurs in the heart, asthma or other breathing difficulties, and fluid in the lungs. • Abdominal palpation: This is where your doctor will physically press on your pet’s stomach to feel for any spots that might be painful to the touch, any organ enlargement, masses, or even bladder stones. Liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder and intestines can all be quite thoroughly screened by this technique. • Skin and hair coat: Your pet’s “wrapping” can tell us a lot about the package inside. Most diseases of the immune system and endocrine systems are expressed by conditions of the skin and nails. Masses, allergies and certain parasites can also be noted on this examination. • Lymph nodes: There are five sets of lymph nodes, an important part of the immune system, that are usually checked during a routine exam. Each set filters foreign particles from specific regions of the body and, if enlarged, can indicate inflammation in that region. Enlargement of multiple lymph nodes can be a clue to the presence of cancer in a pet. • Musculoskeletal: Checking the pet’s muscle and skeletal condition can help pinpoint areas of pain, such as pain caused by arthritis. It can also give us a good idea about your pet’s overall weight, exercise and diet conditions. • Genitourinary: Even if your pet has been spayed or neutered, it is still important to check the reproductive and Photo: Laura Coburn urinary system organs. Checking these structures sometimes finds abnormalities that can be quite serious yet would likely go undetected by the pet’s owner. As you can see, an annual examination is really a combination of 10-12 smaller exams related to multiple body systems. If concerns or problems are found during the annual exam, your veterinarian will likely suggest following up the exam with other diagnostic tools such as blood tests or x-rays. We now know that, just like in humans, early detection and treatment of medical issues can lead not only to preventing less expensive treatments later on but also to extending your pet’s length and quality of life. Cassie Hamilton, D.V.M. San Diego Humane Society and SPCA For more interesting and informative articles on caring for your pet, please visit www.sdhumane.org. Or, if you have a veterinary question or issue you would like to see addressed in this column, email info@sdhumane.org with “ASK THE DOCTOR” in the subject line. AnimalFare • Winter 2009 www.sdhumane.org 9
Page 1 and 2: Winter 2009 • Vol. 43 No. 4
Page 3 and 4: From the Mailbox Dearest Humane Soc
Page 5 and 6: cover story recovery plan. Racing a
Page 7: d 2 d 3 d 4 d 5 d 6 d 7 Photos: 1)
Page 11 and 12: Photo: Laura Coburn Photo: Candice
Page 13 and 14: Bootsie (Kay Adkins) Joanmarie Russ
Page 15 and 16: David & Patti Phair’s 60 th weddi
Page 17 and 18: San Diego Humane Society and SPCA w
Page 19 and 20: WINTER 2009 Calendar of Events The

Winter 2009 â¢ V ol. 43 No. 4 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?

Winter 2009 â¢ V ol. 43 No. 4 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA