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Covering Southeastern, Mass and Cape Cod Published by Clipper Press E-MAIL: editor@petgazette.net Advertising: 781-934-2811 x23 or ads@petgazette.net
Volume 14 No. 1 “Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends.” –– Alexander Pope january 2011

HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR

FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT J.M. PET RESORT!
$OGGIE$AYCAREs0REMIUM"OARDINGFOR$OGS#ATSs-OTIVATIONAL/BEDIENCE#LASSESs&ULL3ERVICE'ROOMING3ALONs2ETAIL3TORE
)TgSNOTTOOEARLYTOCALL,ETYOURPETVACATIONWITHUSWHILEYOUAREONVACATION
Where your pet is part of our family 1014 Pearl Street, Brockton, MAsjmpetresort.com • Phone:508.588.5661

516 Washington Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Sunday Appointment
Hours Available!
Full surgical and
diagnostic services,
including ultrasound
and specialty services
by our Board Certified
Cardiologist and Internist
.. . . . . . . . . . . .
“A Lifetime of Veterinary
Care”
HOURS OF
OPERATION
URGENT CARE/EMERGENCY
Monday thru Sunday 8AM-10PM
SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS
Monday thru Friday
8:30 AM until 8:30 PM
Saturdays & Sundays
8:30 AM until 4:30 PM
WALK-INS WELCOME
Call 781/826-2306
or 781/749-4551
Fax 781/829-9270
24 HOUR NURSING CARE
............
STAFF
VETERINARIANS
Charlie Patterson, DVM
Brad Moses, DVM, DACVIM
(Cardiology)
Mary Reynolds-Callahan, DVM
Pamela Martin, DVM
Laura Fong, DVM
Joseph Martinez, DVM
Alice Hadden, DVM, DACVIM
(Internal Medicine)
Mary Clark, VMD
Maria Tehrany, DVM
Emily Howe, VMD
............
www.VCARoberts.com
VCA ROBERTS IS LOCATED
2.5 MILES SOUTH OF THE
HANOVER MALL ON RTE. 53
TAKE EXIT 13 OFF RTE. 3
2
This Month’s Cover
A
nimal Oasis
a watercolor
by Tawny
Norden. Tawny is an Il-
lustration senior at Mas-
sachusetts College of Art
in Boston. She wanted
to depict a fun variety of
lovable creatures exist-
ing in the same environ-
ment and interacting in
their own characteris-
tic ways. This is a fun
painting that she hopes
the readers of Pet Ga-
zette will enjoy. Prints
are available upon re-
quest. Please contact by
e-mail at tnorden@mas-
sart.edu,
For further viewing,
more art by Tawny can be found at artsforme.blogspot.com
2011 Dogs of
Cape Cod Calendar
Cape Cod photographer Stacey Hedman of Cold Nose Photo unveils
her second annual canine calendar this month, showcasing local dogs
across Cape Cod and neighboring towns.  The 2011 Dogs of Cape Cod
Calendar features stunning professional photos of dogs on beaches and
parks from Provincetown to Plymouth — each dog clearly relishing in
the laid-back Cape Cod lifestyle.  Proceeds from this year’s calendar sales
will benefit the Friends of the Plymouth Pound organization.
The 2011 calendar depicts a variety of dogs enjoying the coastal land-
scape and most of who were adopted through Friends of the Plymouth
Pound itself. January kicks off with the Fitzpatrick’s own adopted pups,
Heaven and Peaches. Locations include the boardwalk in Sandwich, cran-
berry bogs in Plymouth, and old boats in Onset. Each of these dogs is
using its 2010 photo session with Cold Nose Photo as a way to now smile
and support their canine friends in need.
Based in Barnstable, Hedman specializes in photographing both dogs
and weddings. She is also a regular contributor for Cape Cod Life publica-
tions. Hedman volunteers her time photographing fundraising events for
Friends of Plymouth Pound, as well as adoptable pets at the Animal Res-
cue League of Boston’s branch in Brewster.  
  The Friends of the Plymouth Pound is a private humane organiza-
tion with programs that include low cost spaying and neutering for both
homeless animals and pets that are owned by people who cannot afford
the surgery; foster care for our cats and dogs available for adoption; and
educational outreach.  The Friends do not have a shelter facility, but they
find homes for many animals through local volunteers and its affiliation
with PETCO.
 The 9 by 12 inch, full color calendars are $18 each with discounts
for multiple orders ($30 for the purchase of two, $65 for the purchase of
five). Calendars can be purchased online at ColdNosePhoto.com and at
local retailers including Hot Diggity in Mashpee Commons and Healthy
Appetites in Plymouth.  Additional retail locations will be listed at cold-
nosephoto.com as they are added.
For more information contact Stacey Hedman at stacey@coldnose-
photo.com or 508-737-2558 or Gayle Fitzpatrick at GFitz0204@aol.com
or 508-224-6651.
The Pet Gazette
The Pet Gazette is published by Clipper Press, a family-owned company
based on the South Shore since 1950.The Pet Gazette covers all of
southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod.
The Pet Gazette is a registered trademark.
Pet Gazette Staff
Publisher: Josh Cutler Editor: Lindsey Gardner Advertising: Robin Nudd
Contributors: Becca Manning, Justin Graeber, George Sommers, Danielle Hennessey, Diane
Donovan, Rick Larsen, Dr. Bruce Indek, Dr. Gregory Mertz, Sarah Bruno
DELIVERY ADDRESS: 11 So. Station Street, Duxbury
MAILING ADDRESS: Pet Gazette, P.O. Box 1656, Duxbury, MA 02331
Contact US:781-934-2811, ext. 23 • ads@petgazette.net
Pet Gazette January 2011
 Top Dog of the Month
Luna Bars the Invincible
H
Underwater Treadmill Spa Pool
er official name is
Luna Bars the In-
For Treatment of:
vincible — but she s/RTHOPEDIC.EUROLOGIC3URGERY
goes by a few other names as s#ONDITIONING3TRENGTH"UILDING)MPROVE&UNCTION
well: Luna, Luna Bell, Looney
Tunes and Luna Viton, just to
s7EIGHT-ANAGEMENT
name a few. This yellow lab Now offering Chiropractic Services!
deserves to be top dog this
month because she is the most 7ASHINGTON3T3TOUGHTONs


well-behaved pup I know. WWWANIMOTIONANIMALREHABCOM
For being only four months
old, she is just about house bro-
ken with only a few minor ac-
cidents when she gets excited.
Luna spends most of her time
sleeping, and when she’s not
doing that she is either look-
ing for food or tormenting her
dear friend Ammo, who you
may remember being top dog
earlier this year.
Luna is growing so fast
every day. I remember the first
time I saw her how little she
was. She is about 40 pounds
now, and I think another
growth spurt is coming soon.
In the top picture, she is
with her older brother Gardin-
er when she first came home,
and the bottom picture is a
more recent picture of her do-
ing what she does best. If you
ever met this precious little
pup, you couldn’t help but fall
in love with her. She is always
ANGEL VIEW PET CEMETERY & CREMATORY
up for cuddling and shows Because We Care, We Share In Your Compassion, Love & Grief
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I feel so lucky to have her in SERVICES:
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471 WAREHAM STREET, MIDDLEBORO, MA 02346
WWW.ANGELVIEW.COM
Do you have a great pet friendly recipe? We will feature a new 508-947-4103 OR 800-287-0066
recipe each month! Send your recipe to lindsey@petgazette.net. AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY - 7 DAYS A WEEK

H E A LT H Y V E T E R I NA RY
Blueberry Dog Treat with Bananas A LT E R NAT I V E S
and Oats Acupuncture and other natural & holistic
Ingredients treatments to promote healing,
1/4 cup blueberries 2/3 cup rolled oats wellness and longevity
1 small banana 1 1/4 cup rye flour
1/2 cup milk
Dogs Serving the
Method Cats South Shore
Preheat oven to 400° F. Peel and slice the banana. Place the banana, blueberries and milk
& Horses and Cape
in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a medium bowl. Add rolled oats and rye flour.
Stir until thoroughly combined. Drop rounded balls onto a greased cookie sheet (I used Cod
a 1” cookie dropper). Bake for 16 minutes. They will be crispy and browned on the out-
side. Yield: Using a 1” cookie dropper, I was able to bake 20 cookies. You could easily
increase the quantity by using a smaller dropper, or rolling into smaller balls. Storage:
Since these dog treats use fruit, they will not last as long as other treats. I would recom- Dr. Mark E. Russo, V.M.D.
mend one week in a dog treat jar, 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator and 2 months in the
KINGSTON ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC.
freezer. Look over our tips on storing your homemade dog treats for more information.
192 Main St. Kingston, MA 02364
Recipe courtesy of dogtreatkitchen.com 781-585-6525
www.healthyveterinaryalternatives.com
January 2011
Pet Gazette 33
 Pe t p o u r r i
!(EALTH&OOD3TOREFOR0ETS Send items for the
Petpourri page to
(and a generally fun place to go for pets and their people) editor@petgazette.net
/FFERING#USTOMER3UPPORT'UIDANCE The Deadline is
the 12th of each month.
Rawdiets & Natural Pet Diets
Vitamin & Herbal Supplements
Pet Shampoo Fixing Fido
#OLLARSs,EASHESs4OYSs0ET"EDS
I
f destructive chewing, excessive bark- people and animals. Each chapter features quick
ing or other bad behavior has become guides with recaps of the key points and useful
4REATSTREATSANDMORETREATS a problem with pets at home, it may tips. “Breaking Bad Habits in Dogs” ($18.99 in
be time to turn to the experts.
#ANINE-ASSAGE4HERAPY Here is a look at two books that
promise solutions for many of
!LSOAVAILABLE&LOWER%SSENCE#ONSULTATIONSBY$IANE$EWBERRY these age-old issues:
4OWN,INE0LAZA2TE
7ASHINGTON3Ts0EMBROKE “Breaking Bad Habits recting Bad Habits in Dogs”
(781)826-9760 in Dogs” by Barron’s Edu-
cational Series Inc. promises
Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm / Saturday 9am-4pm owners will learn to gain their
dog’s obedience and trust by
understanding how it thinks
e ss i on and behaves. The slim but full
g I m pr ation volume would fit in well with
Ste rl inal Re habil it
a home library and, like other
Barron’s books, it offers tons
Ani m
of colorful photos and easy-to-follow informa-
tion.
The book is written by Colin Tennant, one
of Britain’s leading dog behavior and obedience
"Improved Function, training experts, and is split into 21 chapters.
Improved Quality First, Tennant talks about how dogs learn, dis-
of Life" cussing everything from voice tone to offering
rewards and punishments. He then discusses
Marjorie C. McMillan, DVM, DACVR, CCRP • Cathy Symons, CVT, CCRP training equipment before launching into a long
list of bad behaviors — their signs and solu-
At Sterling
COMPREHENSIVE PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAMS FOR tions — including: dominance, recall (dogs that
Impression Rehab Arthritis - Obesity - Amputation - Weight loss don’t come on command), separation anxiety,
means: Post-Surgical - Post-Trauma - Cancer excessive barking, excessive attention seek-
Recvory
INCLUDES ing, destructive behavior, play biting, jumping
Spa Pool - Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
Expertience Custom Orthotics - Home Therapy Plans
up, aggression, stealing food and scavenging,
sexual problems, toilet training, pulling, social-
Healing Underwater Treadmill
ization, phobias and fears, car sickness, digging
Ambulation ASK ABOUT OUT PRODUCTS FOR YOUR up the garden, eating animal feces and chasing
Better quality of life ELDERLY, DISABLED OR INJURED PET
To good health
A
Boots - Harnesses - Slings - Hot/Cold Packs - Low Calorie Treats
Sterling Impression Animal Rehabilitation Center of New England uthor Mark Povero-
mo’s dog, a choco-
1008 East Street, Walpole
late Labrador named
xän‡ÈÈn‡Ç™{ÈÊUÊÜÜÜ°ÃÌ>ÀVœ˜i°Vœ“
Drake, lived to be 17 years old.
While some may call it a fluke
for a dog to live so long, Pover-
KINGSTON ANIMAL HOSPITAL, INC. omo says it was the care he gave
heavy paperback) is available at
online or local bookstores or at
barronseduc.com.
The similarly titled “Cor-
published by TFH Publications
also offers colorful and easy-to-
read guides to curbing bad be-
havior, though the list of issues
discussed is somewhat smaller
than in Barron’s. The book is
written by Claire Arrowsmith,
principal consultant at The Pet
Behavior Center in The United
Kingdom, and addresses six common problem
behaviors: Pulling on the leash, not coming
when called, jumping up, chewing/destruction,
stealing and scavenging and excessive barking.
Its thick, sturdy pages open flat for easy refer-
ence and it also features a pull-out behavior
modification chart organized in three stages:
Problem management and prevention, intro-
ducing new commands and progressing to suc-
cess. The idea is to work a pet through the steps
in each stage, earning first a bronze star, then
silver, before advancing to gold-start level and
— ideally — stopping the bad habit for good.
The book comes with bronze, silver and gold
star stickers to mark a pup’s progress. Available
online at tfh.com or at bookstores, “Correcting
Bad Habits in Dogs” comes in spiral-bound
hardcover and sells for $17.95.
ing tips to improve it.
Illustrated with beautiful color
photos, the book may present a wakeup
call for people feeding their pets the
same-old product, walking readers
through the pros and cons of various
ingredients. In one chapter, “What Pro-
-AIN3TREETs+INGSTON-! Drake — particularly in the area
781-585-6525 of good nutrition — which led to
his long life. That care also led
Poveromo to a career in animal
nutrition; he founded Thomaston
Feed and Grain, one of the largest holistic pet
food stores in the northeast. In his new book,
“To Your Dog’s Health!,” Poveromo shares
what he has learned about animal health, offer-
cessed Dog Food Should You Use?,”
Poveromo recommends 14 “holistic”
pet food brands and explains why they
are good for pets. In another chapter,
the author offers pet food recipes us-
ing ingredients commonly found in the home.
“To Your Dog’s Health!” (paperback, $14.95)
is available at bookstores. Learn more about
Poveromo and his store at thomastonfeed.com.

Making a difference
W
Extended Hospital Hours
hen New York ing from a Small Pooch” (Double
Mon - Thurs 7 am - 9 pm Times editor Dana Day; November). When Jennings
Friday 7 am - 6 pm Jennings wrote on and his son were both seriously ill
Saturday 7 am - 5 pm the Times “Well” blog about how — Dana with prostate cancer and
much his beloved, aging dog Bi- his son with liver failure —  their
2AYMOND2USSO$6- jou’s presence meant to him while 12-year-old miniature poodle Bi-
-ARK%2USSO6-$!#6)- he was recovering from prostate jou became even more than a pet
0ATRICIA+(ESS6-$ cancer, the post received nearly and a teacher. She became a healing
3HARON$AVIS$6- 700 comments and remained on presence in their lives. Though it is
%MILY3#LAIR$6-$!"60 the Web site’s “most e-mailed” list chiefly about Bijou, the book speaks
!GATA$E-ARCO$6- for days. Clearly, Bijou’s story had to the joy all animals bring into their
-ICHELLE2UDIN$6- touched a nerve. Now, Jennings
has expanded his thoughts about
A half century of hospitality and caring for Bijou, as well as the many other animals he’s
known in his life, in “What a Difference a Dog
the pets of the South Shore Makes: Big Lessons on Life, Love, and Heal-
4
Pet Gazette
humans’ lives — especially when it
doesn’t seem like there’s much to be
joyful about. “What a Difference a Dog Makes”
(hardcover; $21) is available at doubleday.com
or at bookstores.
January 2011
 Battle the winter chill
I
n answer to customer requests, Ruff
Wear has developed two new pieces
of canine cold weather gear: the Polar
Trex Boots and the redesigned Cloud Chaser
soft-shell dog jacket. Polar Trex
is a cold-weather boot with winter
traction and insulation. The upper
material is a weather-resistant soft
shell fabric that is wind-resistant
and breathable. The boot’s rein-
forced gaiter extends up the leg of
the dog for added protection from
snow and ice, as well as sharp ski
edges, and withstands deep snow
post-holing. The boot sole features
a snow-gripping lug pattern that provides excel-
lent winter traction. Boots retail for $89.95 and
run in sizes from XXS-XL.
Designed for ultimate full-coverage weath-
er protection, the soft shell fabric on the Cloud
Chaser dog jacket has been updated. Ruff Wear
Math for mutts
T
hough at times they
seem like simple crea-
tures, other times dogs
appear to know exactly what
they’re doing. A humorous new
book published by Adams Media
proposes dogs do indeed have a
plan, whether it’s finding the quick-
est way to steal food undetected,
chase down a neighborhood squir-
rel or spread toilet paper around
the house. “Physics For Dogs: A
Crash Course in Catching Cats, Frisbees and
Cars,” by John-Andrew Sandbrook and Dara
Flynn, MS (paperback, $12.95) offers more
than 160 pages of carefully drawn diagrams
and actual mathematic formulas showing how
an educated dog might approach each task.
Though it would appeal more to the mathemati-
cally minded, the book’s clever illustrations are
entertaining for any reader, especially any dog
owner who has suspected their pet is smarter
Poetry in motion
P
oetic License, the
British-influenced
whimsical and
eclectic footwear brand,
recently launched Poetic
Paws, a line of novelty dog
accessories inspired by the
colorful and individual spirit of Poetic License
shoes.  The line is available to the public on
musthaveshoes.com and at high-end indepen-
dent retailers. Poetic Paws will partner with
Best Friends Animal Society and Bully Breed
Rescue to donate proceeds from the line to help
provide the organizations with funds needed to
help homeless dogs find loving forever homes.
 Poetic Licence will donate two dollars per
Through Poetic Paws, the brand is celebrat-
ing and supporting dogs with a focus on the
bully breeds by supporting Best Friends Animal
Society, which is striving to end animal eutha-
nasia in the United States and bring about a time
when there are no more homeless animals and
A
Clothes for dog and dog people
pparel company Barkey Barkerson hat. For dogs that love to accessorize, there is
Inc. has launched a new Barkey Gear
line, which includes Dig
Life, a new trademarked brand for
the company. Capitalizing on the
company’s Who’s Your Doggie?
trademarked brand, the new line
answers the question in cool
new T-shirts for men, women
and girls.  For those pet parents
whose pup sports attitude, there
is the “Leader of the Pack” se-
ries featuring the Barkey dog
in hip sunglasses and baseball
January 2011
Pet Photo of the
has taken advantage of the latest advancements
Month!
Do you have an intere
sting or funny picture
in windproof, waterproof and breathable fleece Submit it to us! Emai of your pet?
l lindsey@petgazette
fabric and has incorporated them into this rede- .net
signed coat. The new zipper style is easy to zip
up over dog’s fur and it stays
zipped. Ruff Wear also kept
all the features that custom-
ers have come to love about
this coat, such as reflective
trim, an integrated light loop
for easy safety beacon at-
tachment, and sizes to fit just
about every dog. The jacket
costs $74.95 and comes in
gray and red, in sizes from
XXS-XL.
Based in Bend, Ore., Ruff Wear sells their
products through specialty pet and outdoor re-
tailers as well as ruffwear.com. Find them on
Facebook, facebook.com/ruffwear and on their f r o m Hull,
Dog Blog, dogblog.ruffwear.net. colli e f my
o l d b order a picture o tin
ear- s is Kris
two-y is hat. Thi s owner
g e , a h i g.
Geor show off O R GE. H d fun lovin
t o   G E t an
than he lets on. likes collie ge as swee
r d e r r
Written like a primer for bo eo
ibes G
pups, the book shows dogs how descr
to: poop strategically by treat-
ing revenge like a variable-mass
system; open any trash can with
the correct angular momentum;
ambush a cat by accounting for
weight and air resistance; play
fetch by calculating trajectory;
and bring down the mailman
with the perfect ration of veloc-
ity and mass, among others. It also features a
helpful glossary in the back, including New-
ton’s three Laws of Canine Motion — number
one: “A dog at rest will stay at rest unless act-
ed upon by an external force of nature greater
than the force of laziness. A dog in motion will
stay in motion until he reaches the end of the
leash.” “Physics For Dogs” is available at most
bookstores or online at adamsmediastore.com/
category/pets.
Bully Breed Rescue, a
group dedicated to
rescuing and finding
homes for the pit bull
class of dogs.


Best Friends works throughout the
country to help restore the image of dogs
identified as pit bulls and other bully breeds to
put an end to breed discrimination and breed
exterminating legislation.  The organization is
continually educating the public that these dogs
are gentle, loving, and loyal and most, if not for
the stigma, would be considered good candi-
dates for adoption and make great family pets.


sale of Poetic Paws collars, which retail for
$19.95, with one dollar going to Best Friends
Animal Society and one dollar going to Bully
Breed Rescue. 
For more information, visit poeticpaws.
com.
“Barkanista,” represented by the Barkey mas-
cot in a pink tutu and sunglasses.  The
line also introduces T-shirts for dogs,
a new product area for the company.
The new launch also includes Dig Life,
the sister brand of Who’s Your Dog-
gie?.  Dig Life celebrates the spirit of
dogs — carefree, happy, good-humored,
comfortable and always the eternal op-
timist. Dogs expect good things to hap-
pen, and Dig Life embodies that feeling.
The entire Barkey Gear line can
be found at barkeybarkerson.com.
Pet Gazette 5

By Danielle Hennessey
Pet Gazette Contributor
W
hy did you de-
cide to become
a veterinar-
ian? I loved animals as a child
and enjoyed my science cours-
es the most in school. I worked
for my first veterinarian at age
16 and knew I would never
leave the field since then.
For those readers who
are considering working in
the veterinary field, what
advice would you share with
them? Work hard in school
vet of the
month
The bohon File
Veterinary Degree: NCSU 1991
Years in field: 32
Pets you own: 3 Labradors, 1
Miniature Pinscher , 4 cats, 1 pony, 1
horse, 2 chinchillas, 1 rabbit, And
Bob the fish
Practice: Animal Hospital of Orleans
Phone: 508-255-1194
Web site: animalhospitaloforleans.
vetsuite.com
MARSHFIELD
ANIMAL
HOSPITAL
(781) 837-5005
6
Spotlight on Veterinarians
and get as much experience
Dr. Karen Bohon
in the field as possible. Also,
Tufts University Veterinary
School offers several intro-
ductory programs for people
interested in pursuing a career
in the veterinary field.
Most pet owners are
aware of the dangers that
the heat of summer months
pose to our animals, but is
there anything we should
look out for in the cold win-
ter months? Be sure animals
housed outdoors have access
to unfrozen water. Be aware
that animals are susceptible to
frostbite and provide shelter
from the wind and cold when
necessary. Indoor pets should
be limited to short outings
whenever the temperature is
below freezing.
Something that would
surprise readers about you
is.... I showed Morgan horses
at the national level and won
the Jr. Exhibitor Park Harness
Championship in 1978.
Do you have a favorite
new product on the market?
We are very excited about our
new Companion Animal Laser
Therapy System.
We are now able to pro-
vide drug-free pain control in
pets.
What do you love about
being a veterinarian? I still
truly look forward to my job
A full-service hospital caring for the needs
of your four-legged family members.
WELLNESS FOR ALL AGES
• Internal Medicine
• Dental Services
Jeffrey M. Barrow, D.V.M.
Sarah E. Lafaver, D.V.M.
www.marshfieldvet.com
490 PLAIN STREET, ROUTE 139
(NEAR HIGH SCHOOL), MARSHFIELD, MA 02050
every day! I find working with
people and their pets both re-
warding and challenging.
What misconception do
many pet owners have about
veterinarians that you would
like to help dispel? I think
many people don’t realize that
• General Surgery
• Oncology Services
Jennifer A. Johnson, D.V.M.
Karen E. Ravanesi, D.V.M.
Pet Gazette
ties every day.
If you could own any
type of animal you haven’t so
far, what animal would you
choose? I’ve always thought it
would be fun to have a cow.
What is a common mis-
conception that patients’
owners make? Owners of
dogs that are coughing always
believe the dog has something
stuck in its throat — this is
rarely the case.
What is it that makes the
Animal Hospital of Orleans
so special? Everyone who
works here truly enjoys their
job. This makes providing
quality healthcare for people’s
pets both easy and fun.
I noticed that you and
your health care team cre-
ated the Santana Fund. Can
you explain what this is and
what drove you to create it?
The Santana Fund was created
to provide financial assistance
for the proper and necessary
medical care of sick patients or
strayed Cape Cod animals. In
veterinarians receive the same memory of my first dog, San-
intensive training as physi- tana, the fund exists to provide
cians, including eight years of an alternative to euthanasia
higher education. and preserve the importance
of the human-animal bond. All
Who is someone you ad- donations are matched dollar
mire who works with/for ani- for dollar by the animal hospi-
mals? My support staff at The tal. Santana’s story is available
Animal Hospital of Orleans is on our Web site.
awesome. I admire their abili-
Brick by brick
T
he Mashpee Dog Park Committee is selling per-
sonalized bricks that will be used in construction
of the new Mashpee Dog Park on Cape Cod. Each
brick measures 4-by-8 inches and can be engraved with a per-
sonal message or name, with up to three lines of text. Many
people choose to use the bricks to honor a current or beloved
pet. The bricks cost $100 each, and all of the proceeds will
support the park, which is slated to open next spring or sum-
mer once enough funds have been raised.  The town has des-
ignated 1.5 acres of land on Ashumet Road for the park. 
“The bricks are a great way to show your support for
the dog park and to create a permanent tribute for a beloved
pet,” said Nicole Merriman, Mashpee Dog Park Committee
President and owner of Hot Diggity in Mashpee Commons. 
“They’re also a great way for local companies to support the
initiative.  And for anyone who wants to give a brick as a gift,
we’ll gladly provide a certificate which can be wrapped up.”
To order a brick, call Hot Diggity at 508-477-BONE or e-
mail woof@hotdiggityonline.com. For more information on
the Mashpee Dog Park, visit mashpeedogpark.com or face-
book.com/mashpeedogpark.
Dr. Debra M. Tranberg
Chiropractic
Care
For Your Large, Small
and Exotic Pets
Visit our website for
PO Box 542
Bryantville, MA 02327 detailed descriptions of
all our Pet Health services.
(781) 789-5999 Dr. Tranberg is a certified
member of the American
drt@drtranberg.com Veterinarian Chiropractic
Association.
www.drtranberg.com
January 2011
 By the Breed: Soft coated wheaten terrier
Meet Finn
L Speaking of running, jumping and play- 1962.
ing, I am great with kids; my kids Syd- I weigh 38 pounds and am a very sturdy, medi-
ney and Samantha love to run and jump um-built dog. I am 16 months old. When wheatens
and play with me. My favorite game is are born, we are a rusty brown or mahogany color
tug-of-war. I will take a break and watch as we grow, our coats become the blonder, wheaten
TV with Syd and Sam but I really love to color. We are very intelligent, despite our light-heart-
run and jump and play. ed puppy ways. My dad says on a scale of one to 10,
I am also good with other 10 being easy to train, I was a seven. If you make
dogs, but my natural instincts training a reward-based, fun game, I will stay more
can kick in with smaller focused and pay attention better. I still do have some
animals and we of those famous terrier traits, like stubbornness and
may mis- stamina, so I do require a firm handler for training.
take a One health issue we have is that we are very allergic
small pet to fleas, even one bite can cause a serious allergic
such as reaction — so preventative precautions are a must.
a guinea Well. it’s time for me to either run, jump or play, not
pig as sure which I’m going to do first. If you are looking
prey. We were known as “the poor for a dog that closely bonds to your family and gives
man’s dog” in my native Ireland, where we nothing but love and affection, you should consider a
have been a popular breed for more than 200 soft coated wheaten terrier. And did I mention I love
By Diane Donovan years. The farmers were not allowed to keep to run and jump and play?!
Pet Gazette Contributor hounds and we were not popular with the upper
class (probably because they didn’t
run, jump and play), so we became a Keep your dog
favorite of the farmers. We were an all-

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Finn, the soft coated wheaten terrier. I have so much ry of a Spanish armada that was sink-
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This sets us apart from an original member of the Soft Coated Wheaten that’s where
other terriers, as we are Terrier Club of America that was founded on St. we get our
not so tenacious and de-
termined in our work-
Patrick’s Day in 1962. jumping in-
stincts. We are
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January 2011
Pet Gazette 7

By Lindsey Gardner
Pet Gazette Editor
T
om Fleming is the
owner of Land of
Pawz.
How did Land of Pawz
come to be? Tell us about
yourself. I had worked for
the Deptartment of Social
Services as an investigator of
child abuse for 20 years, and
Business of
the month
Land of pawz
ADDRESS: 204 Bridge Street, North
Weymouth
PHONE NUMBER: 781-335-4960
WEB SITE ADDRESS: landofpawz.com
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Mon-Fri 6 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Sat-Sun-Holidays 6 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Open 365 days a year
in 1997, it was time for a sig-
nificant change in my life. I
wasn’t really sure what I was
going to do, but I knew once
I made the move things would
fall in place as they were sup-
posed to.
8
BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
Land of Pawz
Daycare clients love the idea of their dogs learning positive socialization skills from trained
professionals on a daily basis along with having a ball. It reduces owners’ guilty feelings of
leaving their dogs home alone while they work, and they love coming back at the end of the day
to a very tired and happy pooch.
I was offered a challenge
to initiate a boarding facility
from the ground up and with
the financial backing of the
owner and tremendous dog
management behavior skills
taught to me by Jim Agan of
Canine Training Association
the foundation for my future/
present career was laid.
During the course of this
employ, I learned about the
concept of “doggie daycare”
from the MSPCA in Califor-
nia. Excited about the oppor-
tunities it would present for
our dogs here, I introduced
that concept.
In summer of 2001, I left
that position and opened The
Land of Pawz.
What kind of services
does Land of Pawz offer?
We offer Boarding- Daycare-
Grooming along with a won-
derful selection of quality dog
food (Wysong, Taste of the
Wild, Orijen, Evo, Solid Gold,
etc.) and Jim Agan, Canine
Training Assoc. handles all
our customer’s training needs.
Pet Gazette
What is the most com-
mon question you get from
clients? Probably the most
common question we get is
“Do the dogs ever fight?”
I explain to them that al-
though there is never a 100
percent guarantee that it will
never happen as dogs are
animals and animals are un-
predictable at times, we have
extremely progressive screen-
ing process in place and all
employees are trained in pack
management skills based on
the teachings of some of the
best positive trainers in the
industry such as Ian Dunbar,
Patricia McConnell, Sarah
Kalnajs, Karen Pryor, etc.
What is your most popu-
lar service? It’s really difficult
to determine which service is
our most popular as they each
have their own tremendous
following in their own right.
Boarding customers love that
The Land of Pawz offers their
doggies the least restrictive,
most “home like” environ-
ment possible along with the
fact that their dogs are out in
play groups all day as opposed
to traditional kennels.
Daycare clients love the
idea of their dogs learning
positive socialization skills
from trained professionals on
a daily basis along with hav-
ing a ball. It reduces owners’
guilty feelings of leaving their
dogs home alone while they
work, and they love coming
back at the end of the day to a
very tired and happy pooch.
And as for grooming, all I
can say is that for years now,
people have traveled miles,
to have our very talented and
experienced groomer, Dawn
Gallo, work wonders on their
dogs. Dawn often has wait-
ing lists, especially around the
holidays, for people who want
Dawn to groom their dogs.
What is the toughest
part of your job? I would
say the absolute hardest part
of this job, is having to say
“Goodbye” to any of our dog-
gie friends whose time here is
up. You become so attached
to these dogs; they really do
become an extended part of
your family. It’s heartbreaking
when this does happen, as in
most recently we lost “Max,”
a big lovable Great Pyrenees.
We made a donation in his
memory to the Oncology
Deptartment of Tufts Veteri-
nary Research Hospital, as we
do for all our pals who cross
over the Rainbow Bridge.
Is there anything you
would like to add? In closing,
I’d love to extend the offer for
all dog lovers to come by for a
tour to experience The Land of
Pawz. We are a very transpar-
ent facility with tours seven
days a week from 10 a.m.- 2
p.m., no appointment needed.
We also have live Web cams
so owners can see their pups
while they are away. Our goal
is to exceed a dog owner’s ex-
pectations 100 percent of the
time, and I truly believe we do
just that.
Want your
business featured?
For more info.,
e-mail lindsey@
petgazette.net
January 2011
 Tropical fish headlines of 2010
By George Sommers
Pet Gazette Columnist
F
lorida’s tropical
fish farm industry
takes a hit from
unusually strong January ’10
cold snap, causing large loss-
es of guppies, danios, African
cichlids, mollies, others.
Aquarium hobby hurt
by recession and computers/
electronics boom.
New at the fish market:
livebearer color varieties in-
cluding bumblebee platies
(yellow and black striping)
and koi swordtails, with a
creamsicle-like blend of or-
ange and white.
Bright orange, 30
pound. feral koi carp reeled
in by French fisherman –
resembles humongous comet
goldfish.
New England Aquarium
opens facility in Quincy, close
to Boston and harbor. It will
not be publicly accessible, but
rather act as a holding place.
Sea turtles with hypothermia
January 2011
rescued from Cape Cod will
be treated there, and cow
nosed rays will have a tem-
porary home there until
NEAQ builds its shark
and ray tank, scheduled
for 2011.
National African
Clawed Frog Re-
search Center de-
buts at Wood’s
Hole. The
amphibian
is popu-
lar as a
“guinea
pig” for
research
on birth
defects,
organ
regen-
eration and
more. It’s
popular among
hobbyists as well
for its all-aquatic lifestyle –
Internal Medicine
Michael Bernstein, DVM, DACVIM,
Medical Director
Angelyn Cornetta, DVM, DACVIM,
Intern Director
Alice Hadden, DVM, DACVIM
Susan Morrison, DVM, DACVIM
Jerry Perry, DVM
Bruce Walker, DVM
Cardiology
Susan Morrison, DVM, DACVIM
(Internal Medicine)
Bradley L. Moses, DVM,
DACVIM (Cardiology)
Neurology
Stephanie Kube, DVM, DACVIM
(Neurology)
Dermatology
Klaus Earl Loft, DVM
Emergency/Critical Care
Angelyn Cornetta, DVM, DACVIM
Angela Girello, DVM
Alison R. Gaynor, DVM, DACVIM,
DACVECC
Cindy Lopes, DVM
Ophthalmology
Bill Greentree, DVM, DACVO
Surgery
David Diamond, VMD, DACVS
Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging
Lori Hartzband, DVM, DACVR
Diana Rosenstein, DVM, DACVR
Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine
Stephen Dyer, DVM, DABVP (Avian)
although it will eat any fish containing the national flag of
it can catch and stuff into its the projected winners. (Sadly,
mouth! The zebra danio, also the octopus died later in the
a popular research animal, al- year.)
ready has a center in Oregon. Certain species of anach-
Fourteen-inch long fan- aris banned in Massachu-
tail cited “World’s Biggest setts due to its potential as a
Goldfish” by Guinness Book lake-choking exotic invasive.
of World Records. Popularly used as an “oxygen-
Turning to the sports pag- ator” in goldfish/koi ponds its
es: many aliases include Elodea,
Florida Marlins’ new South American waterweed
baseball field to include 2 and bunch plant.
saltwater fish tanks, on both Freshwater jellyfish mys-
sides of homeplate. Manu- teriously appear in Walden
facturer claims fiberglass Pond. The dime-sized Chi-
construction and stronger nese natives are thought to
than bullet proof acrylic will have hitched a ride on water-
prevent damage from the oc- lilies used in fishponds.
casional stray baseball. The In other exotic invasive
stadium is slated to open in news, bighead carp captured
2012. six miles from Lake Michi-
Octopus in a German gan, bypassing electric bar-
aquarium predicts World riers meant to keep them out
Cup soccer outcomes with of Great Lakes. Like its rela-
uncanny accuracy. The tives, koi and goldfish it’s na-
multi-armed mollusk would tive to Asia and highly adapt-
wrap a tentacle around a box able. Commercial fishermen
VCA South Shore
(Weymouth)
Animal Hospital
595 Columbian Street
South Weymouth, MA 02190
(781) 337-6622
• Full Service Veterinary Hospital
• 24 Hour Emergency Service
• Appointments Available Seven
Days a Week
Dedicated team of 29 doctors on staff –
including Board Certified specialists in
Surgery, Internal Medicine, Neurology,
Emergency/Critical Care, Radiology,
Ophthalmology, and Avian Practice
The Best of Quality Care for
Every Stage of Your Pet’s Life!
Pet Gazette
are concerned about the carps’
potential impact on the $7 bil-
lion industry.
Three-foot alligator
strolls across Brockton
street; another ‘gator found
by kayaker in Charles River
in Dedham. Likely scenario
is that owners dumped them
when the reptiles (illegal to
own in Massachusetts) be-
came too large to care for.
“ S p o n g e B o b
Squarepants” this year’s
pop culture contribution to
aquarium ornaments, in-
cluding replicas of the Krusty
Krab Restaurant and Squid-
ward’s Tiki head house as well
as figurines of Bikini Bottom
residents.
A happy and prosperous
new year to our readers!
Photo: Gazing into her
crystal ball? Young girl and
her betta at the 2010 Kingston
Public Library Pet Show.
9
 Chronic renal failure:
A dog owner’s guide
By Christelle L. Del Prete
W
hen my veterinarian called me half an
hour after I left her office with my dog,
Dutchess, I knew the news was bad. I
had just pulled into the garage, and the car was still
running. Alarmed, I looked over at Dutchie and took
the call. Her kidney levels had risen precipitously.
Chronic renal disease had escalated into full-blown
renal failure.
The news was both devastating and familiar.
Seven months earlier, my husband and I lost our
beloved 17-year-old dachshund, Simon, to chronic
renal failure (CRF). Shortly after Simon died, we de-
cided to adopt another rescue dog, a dachshund mix
with a sunny disposition and a dark history. Dutchess
had suffered permanent kidney damage as a result of
severe abuse. Because she was young, and otherwise
healthy, we were optimistic about her future. But
as she leapt out of the car that day, I knew we were
Cartoon of the month
smallandbig.blogspot.com ©2011 P.L. Frederick
10
starting down a road that no pet owner should
travel alone.
Dealing with CRF can be extremely frustrat-
ing and heartbreaking. And because renal dis-
ease is progressive and irreversible, I shouldn’t
have been surprised by that phone call. While it
occurs more frequently in aging pets, young-
er dogs, due to illness, abuse or genetic
predisposition, are susceptible to CRF.
But, like many dogs, Dutchess showed
few symptoms until her kidneys were
so impaired that they were unable to
filter her blood properly, allowing tox-
ins to build up in her body.
Treatment options for dogs with
CRF are limited. While human kidney
transplants have become routine, and
veterinarians have had some success
with the procedure in cats, canine
kidney transplantation is extremely
risky and cost prohibitive. Dialysis is not
widely available, and it is mainly used to
mitigate sudden trauma to the kidneys.
Although CRF is a terminal disease,
there are simple steps that you can take to
improve your dog's prognosis and quality
of life:
Be proactive. If you notice increased
thirst and/or urination, loss of appetite and/
or vomiting, bring your dog to the vet. It may
not be renal failure, but these are some of the
telltale symptoms of CRF.
Find a good veterinarian. Ideally, this
should be done before your pet becomes sick.
Because your dog’s quality of life can decline rap-
idly once she is in renal failure, you’ll need some-
one whose medical advice and instincts you trust.
The ideal veterinarian is one who takes a proactive
approach to your dog’s care and communicates the
specifics of her condition honestly and compassion-
ately.
Educate yourself. Your vet can explain renal
failure in more detail and teach you how to care for
your pet. There is also valuable information on the
internet. Online groups, such as Yahoo’s Canine-
Cushings-AutoimmuneCare, can offer support and
information.
Watch the numbers. Renal failure can be di-
agnosed and monitored with a blood test that mea-
sures BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) and Creatinine.
The normal range for BUN is 7-27 mg/dL, and for
Creatinine 0.4-1.8 mg/dL. Higher numbers indicate
Dr. Rachel Francis
Now Offering:
Grooming,
Acupuncture and
Herbal Alternatives,
Ultrasounds
Pet Gazette
weaker kidneys and may necessitate more aggressive
treatment.
Screen for an underlying cause. If BUN and
Creatinine levels are elevated, ask your vet to screen
for underlying causes of kidney distress. Illnesses
such as Lyme disease, Leptospirosis, and urinary
tract or bladder infections can damage the kidneys.
Treating these ailments may stop or slow the pro-
gression of kidney disease.
Figure out what to feed your dog.Your veteri-
narian will likely prescribe a low-protein, low-phos-
phorus diet to reduce the kidneys’ workload and al-
leviate symptoms of CRF. Hill’s, Royal Canin and
Purina all make prescription formulas for renal dis-
ease; you may have to experiment to see which one
your dog finds the most palatable.
In advanced stages of CRF, your dog may refuse
to eat because the toxins in her blood make her nau-
seous. Ulceration of the stomach lining and/or throat
may make eating painful. Prescription medications
can ease these symptoms and stimulate your dog’s
appetite. You can enhance the flavor of the food by
mixing in some boiled or scrambled eggs, sardines (in
water) or low-sodium chicken broth. If this doesn’t
work, you may have to temp your dog with some
lean chicken or turkey, or a meat-based baby food. (If
all else fails, try some deli-cut roast beef.)
Encourage your dog to drink. Providing con-
stant access to fresh water is a no-brainer, but a dog
in renal failure may drink much more than usual. Fil-
tered water is best, as it contains fewer impurities.
You might also consider purchasing a fountain-type
water bowl that filters the water as it flows.
Provide fluid therapy. Fluids can be given either
subcutaneously or intravenously. Administering flu-
ids under the skin (subcutaneously) is fairly simple
and can be done at home. Intravenous fluids must be
administered by your vet; the advantage of the latter
is that a higher volume of fluids can be given in the
course of a day. If your dog's kidney values spike,
your vet may want to try an intravenous "flush" to get
them back down.
While some dogs with CRF do well for months,
even years, others decline more quickly. Ultimately,
it falls on us, the caretakers, to decide what consti-
tutes an acceptable quality of life for our dogs and to
determine when they have had enough.
It is difficult to know how much time Dutchess
has left, but my dogs — Dutchess and Simon — have
taught me how to fully appreciate the good days and
how to handle the bad ones with dignity and grace.
Photo: Del Prete’s dog, Dutchess.
Dr. Kimberly Suh
Dr. Nicole Cummings
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508-748-1203
www.marionanimalhospital.com
January 2011
 Emergency and critical care
medicine in veterinary practice
Placing an animal on a ventilator is
occasionally necessary for patients
with severe respiratory disease or
diseases of the brain, spinal cord,
or nerves. Examples of patients
that may benefit from mechani-
cal ventilation include those with
severe pneumonia, heart disease
with congestive heart failure,
prolonged seizures, strangulation
injury with noncardiogenic pulmo-
nary edema and thoracic trauma
that has resulted in severe bruising
of the lungs. Patients that require
this type of critical care support
can be maintained on a ventila-
tor for several days, or even
for a month or longer.
Adequate nutrition is a
Amanda Duffy, DVM, DACVECC
Special to the Pet Gazette very important
aspect of criti-
diseases and toxins that affect the kidneys, and can
often can be life-saving. Dialysis treatments may be
continuous over several days, or intermittent over a
longer period of time.
Many critically ill patients that have had surgery
require post-operative monitoring in intensive care,
as well as intravenous fluid therapy and pain medi-
cation; pain management is a very important part of
critical care medicine. Some surgical patients also
have urinary catheters in place that need to be moni-
tored.
In summary, there are many patients with diseas-
es and conditions that require critical care support.
Around-the-clock nursing will help to provide the
continuous care and monitoring necessary for opti-
mal management of the seriously ill veterinary pa-
tient, helping to ensure the best possible outcome for
those pets requiring treatment that is over and above
what is considered to be routine.

T
cal care medi-
here are many things that can be done in cine, and can be provided in several differ-
the realm of emergency and critical care ent ways. If a critically ill pet is unwilling
medicine to optimize the treatment of se- or unable to eat, a gastrointestinal feeding
riously ill pets. Critical care is necessary for many tube can be placed so that enteral nutrition
different types of patients, and veterinarians have the can be administered to the patient while
ability to treat pets with in the hospital as
many of the same modali- well as at home.
ties that are available for A feeding tube
critically ill humans. For can be placed
example, a pet that has surgically, or by
been hit by a car may be using an endo-
bleeding into its abdomen scope. Nutrition
and require a blood trans- can also be pro-
fusion, or it may have a vided to hospital-
pneumothorax (collapsed ized patients by
lungs) and need to have utilizing what is
chest tubes placed. Head called parenteral
trauma also commonly nutrition; this in-
occurs secondary to being volves placing a
hit by a car and can have central intrave-
extremely detrimental ef- nous catheter and
fects if not appropriately meeting the pa-
managed; these patients tient’s nutritional
often need to be treated requirements by
with oxygen therapy as providing nutri-
well as medications to ents directly into
reduce swelling of the the bloodstream.
brain. Diabetic patients Patients with
may develop severe elec- acute and/or
trolyte and acid base dis- Amanda Duffy, DVM, DACVECC, is a member of the chronic severe
turbances (ketoacidosis); veterinary staff at VCA South Shore Animal Hospital in kidney disease
these patients are often South Weymouth, where she works as a member of the can be treated
very ill and require intra- emergency service and oversees the intensive care with dialysis.
venous fluids and critical unit. This is a method
care support for a number of clearing the
of days to replace their bloodstream of
fluid deficits and correct their electrolyte abnormali- toxins and waste products that are nor-
ties. mally excreted by the kidneys. Dialysis
can be very useful treating infectious Cassandra Kelley, D.V.M.
We are open and here for Full Service Feline Only Veterinary Hospital
our patients • Preventive Care Programs
• Senior Wellness
Please call
508-428-6393 to schedule or reschedule
• Dental Health
Monday - Saturday 8-5 • Complete Medical &
Cape Cod Animal Hospital has been in
Surgical Care
Complete
continuous operation since 1930 and will be
rebuilt. The hospital will continue to serve “Special Care For Your Cat”
this wonderful community.
Medical Care
Scott E. Munson, VMD 508-746-8580
Heidi A. McMorrow, DVM 80 Sandwich St., (Rte. 3A) Plymouth
1411 Osterville Road West Barnstable www.catclinicplymouth.com
January 2011
Pet Gazette 11
 W
By Pet Gazette Staff

hen planning this year’s resolution,

don’t forget about your four-legged
friends. Obesity in pets is on the rise.
Statistics show that almost a quarter of dogs in the U.S.
are obese. Poor nutrition, overfeeding and lack of exer-
cise can cause serious health problems such as arthritis,
joint and hip pain and other life-shortening chronic con-
ditions. Unhealthy eating habits can also lead to diabetes,
heart disease and glaucoma. Whether your pet is pleas-
ingly pudgy or seriously overweight, now is the time to
act. Follow these suggestions to put your pet on a healthy
track for 2011. You’ll feel better and your pet will thank
you the only way he or she can –– with lots of love.

Canine obesity: be denial or the difficulty own-

Just how bad is it?
Canine obesity is an im-
portant and very common
medical condition with seri-
ous health implications. The
American Veterinary Medi-
cal Association (AVMA) has
estimated that there are 41.2
million pet dogs in the United
States. Other sources estimate
40 percent of those dogs, ap-
proximately 17 million, are
overweight or obese. A study
conducted by Pfizer Animal
Health found that veterinar-
ians consider 47 percent of
their patients overweight or
obese, but only 17 percent of
dog owners think the same.
Why the difference? It could
Canine obesity is an important and very common medical con- set hounds, dachshunds and
dition with serious health implications.
ers have in recognizing when
their dogs are overweight.
Feeding Habits: Much of
the rise in canine obesity can
be blamed on feeding hab-
its – namely giving your dog
access to a bowl of dog food
24/7. Especially around din-
ner time, pet owners want to Especially around dinner time, pet owners want to toss their dog a piece of food off their plate.
toss their dog a piece of food Table food is not necessarily bad for your dog; it just depends on what you are feeding it.
off their plate. Table food is
not necessarily bad for your
dog; it just depends on what
is harder for them to digest.
you are feeding. Carrot sticks
Overfeeding at select meal
and vegetables are accept- times can be just as bad. High-
able foods for your dog to eat,
calorie treats and table snacks
but they should not be eating
only add to the problem.
large amounts of breads and Lack of Exercise: The for-
carbohydrates because thesemula for eating vs. exercise is
pretty straightforward: When
your furry friend takes in more
calories than he expends, he is
going to put on weight. Many
dogs simply aren’t getting
enough exercise to compen-
sate for how much they eat
Neutering: Being
neutered lowers the
metabolic rate in
dogs, which can
lead to extra weight
gain if feeding is not
adjusted. Even so,
the health benefits of
spaying or neutering,
as well as eliminating
behavior disorders re-
lated to the mating instinct
and unwanted litters, far out-
weigh the risk of a slower me-
tabolism and potential weight
gain. A balanced diet and ex-
ercise can help keep your neu-
tered dog from gaining weight.
Slow Metabolism: Just like
you, your dog’s metabolism
slows with age. Most dogs start
to show that middle age spread
by age five or six. (Any dog
overweight at two years of age
is a sign of real trouble ahead.)
Breed: Genetics play a
role, too. Certain breeds are
simply more prone to weight
gain, notably beagles, cocker
spaniels, collies, shelties, bas-
Labrador/golden retrievers.
Hormonal Disorders:
A wide array of hormonal
disorders and other ail-
ments also lead to or com-
plicate canine obesity. They
range from hypothyroid-
ism to Cushing’s disease.
Health Problems: “So,”
you tell yourself. “He likes
to eat. What’s the big deal?”
Plenty. Next time he flash-
es those big brown “I’m soooo
hungry” puppy dog eyes at
you, consider that a fat dog
faces an array of health prob-
lems. He's more likely to be at
a greater risk for developing or
exacerbating:
• Osteoarthritis
• Cardiac disease
• Respiratory conditions
• Heat or exercise intolerance
• Dermatological problems af-
fecting skin, hair and coat
•  Compromised immune
function
• Increased surgical and anes-
thetic risks
• Cruciate/intervertebral disk
rupture
Any of these problems
may add up to a shorter life.
An independent study by Puri-
na demonstrated that dogs that
had their food intake restrict-
ed and were kept at an ideal
weight throughout their lives
had a median lifespan 15 per-
cent greater than those dogs
fed free choice.
Is your dog
overweight?
It’s easy to tell
when you add a few
pounds. That favor-
ite pair of jeans gets
just a bit too snug.
Unfortunately, it’s not
so obvious with your
favorite friend.
Most owners don’t
even know when their
dogs are overweight. You
should be able to see a “waist”
on your dog. Look at him (or
her) from above. There should
be a visible indent at the hips.
Place your hands on the sides
of your dog; you should be
able to easily feel ribs.
The healthy path
to weight loss
If your veterinarian deter-
mines that your dog should lose
weight, it’s important to take a
slow and steady approach to-
ward making a change, for the
sake of safety and long-term
results. Here are some canine
weight-loss guidelines to con-
sider and discuss with your
veterinarian.

12
Pet Gazette January 2011
Running your dog too much can hurt its joints and muscles and
can cause permanent damage. Start with a 10-minute daily
walk, gradually increasing the amount of time you are walking
with your dog over several weeks.
Establishing a well-man-
aged diet and exercise regi-
men is the number one priority
in achieving and maintaining
a healthy weight for your dog.
Crash diets are not the answer.
The Safe Way: The safest
rate of weight loss for any dog
(or mammal for that matter) is
generally considered to be be-
tween one and two percent of
total body weight per week.
Losing weight at this rate
is safer and more effective for
establishing new healthy hab-
its.
Inducing weight loss at a
rate faster than two percent of
Establishing a well-managed diet and exercise regimen is the number one priority in achieving and maintaining a healthy
weight for your dog. Crash diets are not the answer.
January 2011
total body weight per week is
more likely to reduce lean tis-
sue (muscle) and result in a
weight gain rebound.
Any weight loss program
that you and your veterinar-
ian plan should be customized
to fit your dog — based on
starting weight, with regular
adjustments as body mass is
reduced.
Exercise is Key: Aside
from proper nutrition, the best
way to keep your pet healthy
is maintaining proper exercise
regiments.
Finding a local dog park is
one way to keep your pet from
It is still important to consult your veterinarian before implementing a new exercise regimenor
introducing a new food. Getting your dog back on track the healthy way will not show instant
results.
sitting on the floor all day long.
Meeting other dogs who are
energetic will help your dog
to get up, move around and
socialize. However, if your
dog is not currently active it is
important to start an exercise
regimen gradually.
Running your dog too
much can hurt its joints and
muscles and can cause per-
manent damage. Start with a
10-minute daily walk, gradu-
ally increasing the amount
Pet Gazette
of time you are walking with
your dog over several weeks.
Dogs were designed to
run, and leash laws restrict a
dog’s ability to get the work-
out it deserves. Bringing a
flexible frisbee or tennis ball
to the park or beach can keep
your dog entertained and get-
ting the proper exercise.
Be patient: Prepare for
the long haul. You are train-
ing your dog to eat less and
exercise more. This is just as
difficult for dogs as it is for
humans. Make your end goal
a healthy lifestyle for your dog
and you will have a much bet-
ter chance of success.
If Fido is packing ex-
tra pounds, realize that dogs
haven't figured out how to
open the refrigerator (yet) so
the reason he's too fat is be-
cause you fed him too much
or didn't give him enough
exercise. Or both! The only
way to reverse the trend is to
feed him less and exercise him
more. You also might want to
pay attention to where Fido’s
food is coming from. If he’s
scoring extra calories from
treats, doggie biscuits, the cat’s
food bowl and the tidbits the
kids give him under the dinner
table, you’ll need to nix these
food sources.
Talk to your Vet: It is
still important to consult your
veterinarian before imple-
menting a new exercise regi-
ment or introduce a new food.
Getting your dog back on
track the healthy way will not
show instant results. The best
way to keep your pet healthy
is to maintain proper nutri-
tion and exercise regimens.
Don’t give up on getting your
pet healthy. You might find
that all that walking to the
dog park and running down
the beach with your dog has
shed a few pounds on yourself
and get you working toward
your New Year’s resolution.
13
 there was no benefit. When we ask about the
risks and benefits, we are asking, “What are
the good things that could happen from the
treatment and what are the bad things that
could happen?” This doesn’t mean that we

Quality of life:
shouldn’t choose the treatment, we just
have to be responsible pet owners and to
understand there can be bad outcomes.
BooBoo got to a point where
she had to have daily sub-

A perspective
efits of the different options.
Step 2. Ask quality-of-life questions to under-
cutaneous injections, I
had to pill her five times
a day and her quality of life
had deteriorated. The doctor
told me that he could put in
a feeding tube and I could
put all her fluids and medi-
cations down the tube so her
quality of life would improve.
No more shoving pills down her mouth or sticking

I
By Viki Kind, MA
think for most pet owners, there are days
when we wish we could know what our pet
was thinking. This is especially true when
it comes to medical decision making. We adopt our
pets when they are young and healthy and it doesn’t
cross our mind that some day, they might get sick or
die. The same thing is true for humans. We want to
pretend that we will all live forever.
In my work as a clinical bioethicist, I help fam-
ilies who are struggling to make the right medical
and end-of-life decisions for their seriously ill loved
ones. I never imagined that I would be having these
conversations about my beloved kitty, BooBoo. Boo-
Boo had been living with chronic renal failure for
over nine years. She had outlived every expectation
and broken all the records for survival at the vet clin-
ic. This sense of my cat being unstoppable and able
to overcome every challenge blinded me to the real-
ity that even a cat who was a medical miracle could
die.
As her health began to change, certain decisions
had to change. I was lucky because I know how to
use one of the tools from my work called the Best
Interest Standard. Here is how it works.
Step 1. Ask plenty of questions regarding your
pet’s medical condition, treatment options including
the option of doing nothing, and the risks and ben-
stand how your decision will be experienced by your
pet.
Step 3. After the decision is made, keep checking
in to see how your choice is working. If the decision
is not working out, then re-evaluate the situation and
make a new decision.
The second step is the step that is often missed.
When we ask quality-of-life questions, we are asking
what it will feel like for our pet. If your beloved pet
has to have surgery, what kind of pain will she be in
after the surgery? How long will your pet be in pain?
What can be done to make the process easier on your
pet?
Here is an example of how I made sure I kept
BooBoo’s experience in mind:
The vet said that he could run a special thyroid
test to see if she was deficient. It was a simple blood
test but before I agreed, I asked, “If she does have a
problem with her thyroid, what will you do about it?”
The doctor said, “I won’t be able to do anything about
it because the medicine that would help her thyroid
would harm her kidneys.” So I asked him, “Why put
her through the needle stick if it won’t help?” He re-
plied, “Some people just want to know.”
Here is where I had to remind myself that what
I might want may not be what is best for my kitty.
Sure I would like to know, but I didn’t want to put
her through the stress of one more blood test when
her with a needle. It sounded like a perfect solution.
Even though I knew it might not make her live any
longer, it would sure improve the quality of her re-
maining days. So I agreed. Unfortunately, BooBoo
had a stroke after the procedure and died a few days
later.
Did I make the right decision?
I think I did. I asked lots of questions, thought
through my choices and did the best I could. Even
though it didn’t turn out right, I have peace of mind
knowing I gave her the best quality of life possible.
Even when I knew she was dying, instead of leav-
ing her at the vets, I brought her home for the last
two days of her life so she could have quality time
with me. These were precious moments for both of
us. When the end was very near, I returned to the vets
so she could have a peaceful end. In life and in death,
I did right by her by thinking about her needs first.
Viki Kind is a clinical bioethicist, medical edu-
cator and hospice volunteer. Her book, “The Care-
giver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making:
Making Choices for Those Who Can’t,” guides fami-
lies and healthcare professionals through the difficult
process of making decisions for those who have lost
capacity.
For a list of questions you can use when making
medical decisions for your pets or your humans, visit
the resource page on TheCaregiversPath.com.

Does your child

love to draw
animals?
Draw a picture of
your family pet that
shows how he/she is
special to you!
Mail entries to: PET GAZETTE,
PO BOX 1656, DUXBURY, MA 02331
Guidelines
Open to children 14 and under. Work
should be on a 8.5 x 11 sheet of white
paper with no lines. Please use colored
pencils or crayons. Entries must include
the name and age of child, parent’s
name and contact information, includ-
ing phone. Please include a brief de-
scription including your pet’s name.

14
Pet Gazette January 2011
 Your saddle may WE ARE HERE WHEN
YOU NEED US!
be the problem The gullet of most saddles needs to fit your
Veterinarians and technicians on site 24 hours a day.
Locally owned and operated since 1975.

IN AN EMERGENCY
horse in a particular way. The gullet width 508-580-2515
should clear the spine and the muscles immedi- 24 hour care for sick or injured pets. Chief of Staff
ately next to the spine. A simple way to measure Board Certified in Emergency and Critical Care.
this width is to put your fingers on the center of
the spine around the mid saddle area of your WHEN YOU NEED A SPECIALIST
horse’s back and slowly spread your fingers 508-587-2700
outward until you feel your fingertips slide off Board certified veterinarians in internal
the muscle on either side of the spine. Measure medicine, surgery, and cardiology.
the width between your fingers with your other
hand by placing either three, four or five fin- YOUR FAMILY VETERINARIAN
gers between this width. If, for instance, it is 508-584-1600
four fingers wide, then take your hand Full service veterinary practice including vaccinations,
and run those four fingers dentistry, surgery and preventative medicine.
down the gullet from the
pommel to the cantel. If
your fingers do not
get pinched then
New England
the gullet width
on your saddle is
Animal Medical Center
595 W. Center St., W. Bridgewater
correct. When the Routes 106 and 24 (Exit 16B from 24)
gullet pinches your
horse’s spine it will www.neamc.com
create muscle spasm
and pressure points
similar to when you
have knots in your
muscles. When I
adjust the withers
Good Faith Farm
(as in the picture)
this helps the horse
By Dr. Bruce Indek along with some
Pet Gazette Columnist
muscle work and,

H
of course, changing
aving a saddle that doesn’t fit cor- the saddle.
rectly is similar to wearing a pair Gel pads in theory sound good but you need
of shoes that are too small. Many to be aware of the potential for the fluid in the
times, people just put more padding on to cor- gel pad to gravitate away from areas of pres-
rect the problem. That’s equal to putting on an sure and create new pockets of pressure. Where
extra pair of socks in those tight shoes. Owners the gel accumulates, this in turn will create fur-
call me and tell me their horse is girthy or just ther problems and pain.
Saddle fit in general should be done once “Horse boarding for the discerning adult owner”
bucks when they see the saddle — well how
would you like to be made to wear those tight every six months because a horse’s dimensions
shoes and socks every day? change with the season and age. • Quiet private setting with trails
• Unique co-op board structure creates
The Pet Gazette is looking for affordability for most budgets
freelance contributors • 150x72 indoor ring with Perma-Flex footing
We are seeking pet fans who can offer some expertise in a • Large stonedust/sand outdoor ring
particular aspect of the pet industry, such as a doctor or vet-
erinarian who can inform our readers about pet health or a • All new stalls under construction
r s
r ite wildlife expert who can write about non-traditional pets and
W ted animals. We cannot offer compensation, but we do offer rec- • 25 years professional experience in the
n
Wa ognition and advertising for your business or organization. If hunter/jumper industry – lessons available
interested, please e-mail Lindsey Gardner at lindsey@petga-
zette.net with writing samples, column ideas and/or back-
ground materials.

CARING + EXPERIENCED STAFF /
Ê8‡,
9ÊUÊ1/,
-"1 

FULL-SERVICE VETERINARY HOSPITAL "-ÊUÊ

/-ÊUÊ ,-ÊUÊ 8"/
-

- ,Ê-1, ,9ÊUÊ-1, ,9 COMPLETE DENTAL SERVICES

781-340-0800
1389 Main Street
(Route 18 South)
Weymouth, MA 02190

“Our most valued asset is our client’s trust”

,

Ê-/,
 ]Ê6ÊUÊ",Ê
,6 9]Ê6 Sarah Mellin – 11 Wenham RD
<Ê
<
*
]Ê6ÊUÊ

Ê

, ]Ê6 -"1/
"
-/

°
" Carver (508) 866-4803
January 2011
Pet Gazette 15
 By Rick Larsen
Polar horses
her to move her hind feet thereby keeping her head build strength. If you “overexpose” the muscle, then

W
Pet Gazette Columnist
orking with a young horse last week-
end, I found myself trying to describe
the yin and yang that comprises what
I call the core polar behaviors of horses. There are
two extremes that I honor when I interact with hors-
es. One extreme is called the “flight response.” The
other extreme I call “hardwired insatiable curiosity
and a desire to get along.”
One way of schooling horses is to think in terms
of these two extremes that govern how a horse per-
ceives and responds to its world. As a
flight animal, a horse is wired to flee
from something that causes it to be con-
cerned. This flight response manifests as
the brilliance, beauty and aliveness that
people associate with the wild side of
horses. So many paintings depict the round
eyes, flared nostrils and flowing mane as the
essence of the horse. And on a very primal
level, it is.
But equally compelling is the gentle na-
ture and unfettered inquisitiveness that drives
a horse to explore his surroundings from the
moment of his grand entrance into this world.
A confident horse is quick to turn and explore
something that scares him, mere seconds after
he has recovered from the initial insult. I believe
ahorse that is allowed these two extremes in his
life is a horse that is truly alive. I respect these
elements in a horse. When I try to educate a horse,
I think of it as a juggling act between these two mo-
dalities.
For example, last weekend, I was putting a saddle
pad on the back of a horse. Although she had previ-
ously been saddled, she was not familiar with this
pad, this environment or my particular movements as
I lifted the pad gently above her and onto her back.
She scooted away. I made every effort to keep slack
in the lead rope so that she wasn’t punished for her
actions. If she was going to move away, I encouraged
near to me. She settled immediately, once she knew
that she had the option to move away.
I stilled my body, took a deep breath, exhaled
softly, and held the pad loosely in front of me. She im-
mediately turned to explore this curious pad that sec-
onds ago had caused her great concern. She sniffed it.
Satisfied with the smell, she averted her eyes but left
her near ear cocked my way to see what the
pad would do next. The pad
in my hand
moved smoothly
to her shoulder. She tensed but she
didn’t leave. She was what some people call “on the
teeter.” She was teetering between the curiosity and
the fear. I wanted to keep her on the curiosity side of
the teeter. I gently brushed the pad on her shoulder
and moved it away before she had to leave. If she had
left, I would have overexposed her to the scary ob-
ject. Then I would have had to slow down my presen-
tation and support her concern. But she stayed. Her
curiosity/courage was encouraged by my removal of
the pad and a few moments of peacefulness.
I liken it to stressing a muscle through exercise to
it breaks down or fails. But if you gently stress the
muscle, then it grows in strength and endurance. By
the same token, if you overexpose a horse’s emotions
too often, the fear will win out, or the horse will break
down or as some call it, “shut down.” Conversely,
if you challenge the horse to overcome his fear by
gently stressing his “emotional” muscles, within his
abilities, his fortitude will grow and he will be a hap-
pier horse overall.
Some people would say I am describing a process
that is called “sacking out,” or desensitising. This is
not that. That is a whole different approach that treats
the horse as an object to be conquered or subdued.
The last thing I want is an insensitive horse. Nor do
I want an insensitive spouse, boss, child or neighbor.
But I especially don’t want a 1,000 pound insensi-
tive animal on four legs that could flatten me when
he eventually does panic and run.
Outwardly, it would seem that this “confidence
building” exercise and what people call a “sack-
ing out” session appear very similar. But the at-
titude of the human, which defines the difference
between the two approaches, means everything
to the horse. Sacking out, or desensitising, is a
dominance game. Confidence building is akin
to coaching an athlete to succeed. Instead of
forcing a horse to surrender to the presence of a
scary object, I want to encourage a horse to become
“accustom” to new and unusual things in his world.
When a horse is able to overcome a flight response
with curiosity, this builds his confidence and fosters
more curiosity. I think the best path to build this con-
fidence is by gently challenging this flight response
and setting up the horse to always be the winner.
If you choose to experiment with this approach,
or if you are already using this approach, I would love
to hear about your experiences. Please write to me at
rick@ricklarsen.net and tell me how you are doing.
I would enjoy sharing highlights with other Pet Ga-
zette readers if you give me permission to do so.

Call Robin at
horse farm directory 781-934-2811
for more info

Stonecroft Farm Furnace Brook Farm

W. Bridgewater, MA
Erin Collins Van Steenburgh
Briggs Stable 508-588-5576 Licensed Instructor

Horse back Tack Shop & Trailer Sales

riding
lessons
Give Us a Call!
Barn: 781-585-1940
Residence: 781-585-6258

(SPWF
4U
t
,JOHTUPO
623 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
(781) 826-3191
fax (781) 829-0091
Instruction • Training
Boarding • Sales
Full Service Tack Shop
Kingston Trailer Sales
Boarding/Training
Huntseat, Dressage
Talk to the guy that actually does the work
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL
Join our !SPHALTs2OLLs7OOD
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Middle/High
School Riding Lessons: beginner to
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7INDOWSs'UTTERS
Team horsemanship camps, &2%%%34)-!4%3
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ages 6 and up.
Year round lesson programs (Local)781.293.1911
ages 4 and up
Marshfield, MA (Toll Free) 800.617.9677
Indoor & Outdoor Ring www.ridgebros.com
Small, friendly atmosphere! (781) 837-2495

Mare Willow Farm

All around Training for the With a new Indoor Arena,
Complete Equestrian Offering Lessons
Boarding~Lessons~Sales~Leasing beginner-advanced,
Equine Massage Therapy Training and Reschooling,
School Vacation Programs Horse showing, Ponies for
April, July, and August! lease and for sale.
Welcoming two www.peakequestrian.com
1089 Main Street • Marshfield
Geraldine Burnet
271 Main Street Plympton, Ma.
new instructors 781-834-6166 (781) 585-0295

Megan Means Black feather horse rescue

Jocelyn Maniglia
508-951-4685 - www.blackfeatherhorserescue.org

Cinnamon is a small mare in her early teens.

168 Beaver Dam Road

Cinnamon gets her name from the unique color of
her coat which is Chestnut but is a much brighter
color that almost resembles cinnamon. Cinnamon

Plymouth, MA 02360
is approximately 14.3 hands.

Barn 508-224-9559
Sassy is an older Bay Thoroughbred Mare, approxi-
mately 15 hands. She is well schooled and possesses
the kindest brown eyes. She came from an unfortu-

Boarding & Lessons nate situation, but she has now put on some weight
and is coming along nicely!

16
Pet Gazette January 2011
 By Greg Mertz, DVM
Veterinarian stories
V
Pet Gazette Contributor
eterinarians, like most other people,
gather stories. They give us a perspec-
tive on the human race if not the whole
living ball of wax. Things that make you wonder.
If you were to ask a group of veterinarians to
tell you their most entertaining veterinary stories, I
think you would discover a treasure trove of oddi-
ties. There are some whoppers. My favorite is a
recently circulated photograph on the Web of an
x-ray of a pine snake that had swallowed two light
bulbs, whole. Try searching “scienceray.com” and
add “gulp swallowed” to the category and you will
see the web site page for this x-ray and lots of other
swallowed items.
They break into three categories: 1) medical sto-
ries, 2) people stories, and 3) animal stories.
Medical stories are often technical. How could
a fox with a packed cell volume of seven survive?
How do reptile mites survive on hamsters? These
types of stories don’t get much traction except when
two veterinarians get together and start gossiping.
In the people stories category, there is the lady
who casually took off her blouse in the exam room
to have me look at a scratch inflicted by her cat in
the middle of her back (no bra, no camisole). There
are stories of big, macho, tattooed biker guys re-
duced to tears over the death of their pet hamster or
mouse, and stories of people who have taken in wild
pigeons. One lived in the kitchen free to fly wherever A guinea pig who crawled into a tube and then couldn’t get out again.
he wanted for 13 years. One client is homeless and
the pigeon goes with her wherever she goes. There Boas, and all snakes, are strict carnivores and rectly and urgently to get his underwear back.
is the lady who had more than 40 pet rats who all underwear just doesn’t seem like meat. Boas like Another incident that stands out in my memory
lived free and un-caged in her apartment. There is the their food to be warm and slightly larger than their involves a bird and an elderly woman’s hair. I am
guy who ate his pet snapping turtle, and the couple head. Boas, and all snakes, eat their food in one bite. guessing that she was in her 70s and had hair that
who have raised the world’s largest snapping turtle: Once they begin to eat something they only have two was normally tucked up in a bun, but on this occa-
69 pounds. There is the lady who brought in a crow sion it was dropped almost to the floor. She came into
with a broken wing who told us we needed to do the exam room empty-handed. My client said, “Can
Once a young man brought me a two-and-a-
everything we could to save him because this was half-foot-long Boa constrictor. Everything about you help me untangle Pippy my parakeet?” And, sure
her husband. enough, there was Pippy suspended halfway down
this snake was normal except about 1/3 of the her back completely entangled in her hair. I extricat-
Animal stories are fun. I remember a ring-billed way down the snake, there was a tremendous
gull that presented with a broken wing and, once we ed Pippy by giving my client a bad and limited hair
examined him closely, we realized that he had no
bulge about the size of a soft ball. The snake’s cut. It took me another one-half hour to cut and untie
feet. He had been living outdoors, wild and success- normal diameter was that of a garden hose. the hair that had enmeshed Pippy’s legs, wings and
ful, for at least several months if not years, by the Right off the bat the client said, straight neck. It is not the act of the bird that caught my atten-
looks of the scars, on just peg legs. He could run faced, “He swallowed my underwear.” tion but the grace and the compassion with which the
well, click, click, click, down the exam room floor, woman presented her prized hair for cutting.
but how did he swim? He was fat and sassy. Every day a new story comes through the door.
I remember an alligator that had eaten the heat- Some are dramatic, some are usual. Earlier this morn-
ing element off his aquarium including the glass en- choices: to swallow the whole thing or to spit it out. ing, a guinea pig who crawled into a tube and then
casement, the dial, the rubber suction cups and the Boas have approximately 60 teeth in their mouth, couldn’t get out again presented for carpentry. It is
wire and plug. He presented because he had stopped and the taller outer ones are curved backwards to- quite a girdle, and until we saw the tube in half he is
eating. ward the back of the throat, so once snagged the today’s story. People and animals.
Once a young man brought me a two-and-a- snake was obligated to swallow mouse and
half foot-long boa constrictor. Everything about this underwear.
snake was normal except, about 1/3 of the way down We did surgery and removed the un-
the snake, there was a tremendous bulge about the derwear through two incisions: one in the
size of a soft ball. The snake’s normal diameter was body wall and the other in the intestinal
that of a garden hose. Right off the bat the client said, tract. The thing that keeps this story fresh
straight faced, “He swallowed my underwear.” in my repertoire is that the client asked di-

Rescue Groups

Forever Home Rescue

New England
TOUGH
BEGINNINGS.

HAPPY
ENDINGS.

We are a 501c3 all-breed rescue group

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south and in New England. Please
check out our available dogs at
www.foreverhomerescue.org

January 2011
Pet Gazette 17
 Pet Sitting Pet Sitting
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Martha Corcoran DOGGIE DAY CARE & VACATION STAYS
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Serving Scituate & Cohasset since 2001 thehappyhound1@verizon.net

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GRACE STRAKE, DVM
LORI HARVEY, DVM
We also have office hours
at 27 Robert J Way LIZ CZAPLICKI, DVM
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(Route 18 South)

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516 Washington St., Hanover, MA
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$70

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of Veterinary
Care”
781-826-2306 • www.VCARoberts.com

Sterling
ANIMAL HEALTH CLINIC
Impression Animal
Rehabilitation Center
of New England
Dr. William Fall
1008 East Street,Walpole, MA 02081
508.668.7946 (SWIM) • fax 508.668.7973
Marjorie C. McMillan, DVM, DACVR, CCRP
Cathy Symons, CVT, CCRP
(508) 759-5810
What we do…
Pre-op conditioning – Post-op rehabilitation – Orthotics –
Therapy groups
82 Trowbridge Road, Bourne, MA 02532
Weight Management – Conditioning

18
Pet Gazette January 2011
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55 Jonathan Bourne Dr. U-4
Pocasset, MA 02559
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Josephsdogtraining.com
Classes Available
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19
 Boarding Boarding Boarding

An Ad in The Pet Gazette Directory - Your Sign of Success!

NAME ____________________________________________________ Get Results...

Company_________________________________________________ NOW!!!
ADDRESS ________________________________________________ Single Block
(2’’ x 2.3’’ wide)
CITY ______________________ STATE ________ ZIP _____________ 6 month package
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20
Pet Gazette January 2011
 • Easy access to Rte. 3 and on Rte. 53!! • Full Grooming Service DOGS &
• Convienent daycare drop off and • Indoor/Outdoor Runs CATS
pick up hours! 7-9 am & 5-7 pm. • Large private boarding facilities • Large Play Area
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Cat Boarding also available. • Free nail and wing clipping available
120 West Center St. (781) 834-7675

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1187 Main St. (Rte 3A), Marshfield, MA 02050

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Boarding 6 AM-9 PM Cageless Boarding 1014 Pearl St.
Brockton, MA
THECat Boarding Kennels Just Minutes
Bette 508.588.5661
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inspection welcome • Cats Only! 781-585-2150
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www.pamperedcats.com
43 Winnetuxet Rd. Plympton, MA 02367
catscradleplympton.com
Where your pet is part of our family
DOGGIE DAYCARE & BOARDING Our facility is designed to make your dog think he is staying at
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Over 3,500 SF of indoor play space
improved since I started Supervised Natural Play Area
Huge outside playground
working with her! • Cageless/Homestyle Boarding for -Hingham, Cohasset, Abington, Milton
6 AM-9 PM 7 Days a Week!
friendly, temperament tested dogs & Brookline
• In-Home Boarding for special needs Private Lessons - Board & Train
HOTEL STYLE LUXURYdogsSUITES
or the truly spoiled Programs

A Country Kennel with Resident Your choice of accomomdations

• Dog Day Care for day trippers or
when you're at work
Owners and Caring Staff Luxury Kitty Condos for• Dog
felines
Training Group Classes
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us at GROOMING
happydogtraining.com SALONpet
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Greengate Kennel is truly unique! It is family owned by longtime breeders Your Pet's GonnaBy Love
Appointment 781-857-1239
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of world renowned Braeside Golden Retrievers and English Cockers. We Grooming & haircuts available 7 days
have been providing personal, loving care for visiting pets for 35 years. Great prices & frequent customer specials
– Individual climate controlled indoor/outdoor runs
All breeds of Dogs & Cats
– Large play yard for individual play orForfamily
OBEDIENCE TRAINING
Board at Best Friends Love, groups
Fun and Bedtime Stories! All Breeds ~ All Sizes ~ All Ages
– Individual nature walks10 around our beautiful
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150 Boston Post Road
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Complete Line of Holistic,
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of engaging doggy activities!
Toys, Treats, Grooming Products,
781-837-5125 www.greengatekennel.com Pet Beds & Much More
Our experienced staff can help youThe Pet Gazette, June 2006 21
choose the right food based on your
pet's individual needs

grooming

GROOMING ALL DOGS,

BIG AND SMALL
10 years experience
Geriatric Dogs a Specialty
HOURS: Tues. 800 - 530
Lea Donovan - Owner/Groomer

43 Schoosett Street
Pembroke

s&ULL'ROOMING3ERVICE 781-826-7008
s$OGGIE$AYCARE
s)NDOOR/UTDOOR2UNS
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s(EATED!#

January 2011
Pet Gazette 21
 Adoption Center
Made possible by the generosity of Mary Lou’s News
all paws rescue
781-749-0968 | www.allpawsrescue.org
Guinness is a gorgeous white and orange male with an amaz-
ingly sweet disposition. Both he and his brother Bailey are neutered.
Guinness loves to snuggle. He and his siblings have spent over a
month in a foster home and have received and given tons of love.
Guinness and Bailey would love to go together to a forever home but can go alone
as long as there is lots of love waiting for them in their new home.
Bailey came to us when he was about eight weeks old and was
part of a litter born under a porch.  As scared as he may have been,
he came up to his foster mom his first day to vocally express his
opinions, and the next day he was in her lap and purring. Bailey is an
adorable cream puff.
Tara is a sweet and lovable black female who nuzzles anyone’s
legs who happens to be walking by — or standing still.  She is vocal
and loves a good session of ear scratching.  Tara’s littermates have
all found forever homes, and Tara is patiently waiting for hers.  with her deferential temperament and soulful eyes, has a way of touching each
Dixie is a spayed female, almost two-years-old, and has been with
All Paws Rescue since shortly after her birth. Sadly, she has watched
her four littermates find their forever homes. Dixie is shy and needs a
quiet home with no small children, but she gets along great with other
cats and kittens. She also plays a mean game of laser tag. In the right
home, Dixie will do fine, but it will take some time for her to adjust.
Quincy animal shelter
617-376-1349 | www.quincyanimalshelter.org
SASSY:   She’s six years old and a sweetheart!  She loves to play
with her squeaky toys, go on walks and learn new tricks.  Sassy
also likes junk food, so watch your french fries! She’d prefer to
have a home without young kids. And no cats!  She might get along
with another dog, but she probably would prefer being your only
pet.  Sassy is a pit bull mix.  Please don’t let that stop you from
meeting and loving a really nice dog.
FATIMA:  She’s four years old and mostly white (with just a bit of
black).  Left homeless after the wife decided she didn’t want the
mother-in-law’s cat, Fatima has patiently waited for a new family.  508-436-6446 | www.bluedogshelter.com
This feline gets along with kids and other cats.  Playful and affec-
tionate, she would be a lovely addition to your life.  Bella is a beautiful young American Bulldog female who needs
taunton animal shelter
508-822-1463
My name is Annie, and I am a female Calico DSH. Are you looking
for a special buddy, a companion to spend the cold winter nights
with. Then look no more and come to meet me. I am looking for a
person of my own, a home filled with laughter and love. A person for
whom I will be special. I am a sweet calico, three years old and ready
to take the trip home. Please come soon.
Joey is a male Portuguese hunting dog, about one year old. Joey is
adorable! He is a bundle of love and energy from his head to his toes.
He would be best suited for an active person/family who will include
him in lots of activities. Joey could benefit from obedience training and
would excel at agility training. We have found that Joey can climb
chain link fences and, therefore, could not be left unattended in a chain link fenced
yard or kennel without a secured top. Even a tarp on our kennels has not always kept
this “magician” in his kennel. We have turned around and found him outside his
kennel — “smiling” and wagging his tail in happiness.
Pet Gazette Adoption
Center Guidelines
• Adoption notices
are published free of
charge for all area
animal shelters.
• The deadline for sub-
mitting pets is the 15th of
the month. Space will be given out on
a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Please send a photo and brief write-up
for each pet seeking adoption to adopt@
petgazette.net
• You may send four pets per month.
All types of dogs, cats and other
domestic pets are welcome.
•  We encourage shelters to send news
of successful adoptions.
22
Pet Gazette
german shepherd rescue of ne
978-443-2202 | www.gsrne.org
Lady is gentle and quiet in her foster home. With exceptional man-
ners, she is also attentive and affectionate.  Her foster dad says that
she quickly learned to respond to requests to sit and go outside to take
care of business. Lady loves affection and nudges your arm up for a
pat and shows her pleasure on her face as you pet her.  Lady walks in
a tight circle so you can alternately pet her head and rub the special
spot directly above her tail.  At the end of a long day, Lady is your enthusiastic
greeter when you return from work.
Izzy is a medium-sized black and tan GSD with unusual white
speckling on her head, getting a second-chance on life. Izzy was
discovered  trapped on a construction site.  She seems to have had 
previous litters of puppies, and had sought shelter under the equip-
ment.  When  captured by a ACO, she had mange, parasites, diarrhea
and was  emaciated. At the shelter, Izzy seemed overwhelmed, a
sweet, terrified girl with great potential, and the shelter staff confirmed that Izzy,
person she comes into contact with.  
Loden is a large black GSD with some of the softest ears you will
ever feel. He  was surrendered  after the owner’s schedule became
too busy and resulted in him being tied outside for long period of time.
Loden is a social dog who bonds very strongly with people who care
for him. He  loves chasing a big ball outside and would happily retrieve
a ball for hours, if allowed. He has good manners in the house. He has
been known to bring his family’s personal items back into his bed, not to chew on,
but simply to keep the scent of his “people” near.
SAMPSON The  ideal home for  six-year-old Sampson would be one
where he could be with his people throughout the day. Daily walks along
with playing would be on the agenda because he loves his soccer ball.
Sampson would need someone who could say “OK, that’s enough soc-
cer for today!  Let’s take it easy on that leg.”  An easy-going canine
sibling would be the frosting on the cake.  Sampson loves his GSD fos-
ter sibling, enjoys children and older people, plus he loves his foster family’s cat.   
brockton blue dog shelter
a new home. She is a high energy, playful girl who loves people
and other dogs. Bella needs a family that can match her energy
level and give her lots of exercise. She likes to play with toys and
has had some obedience training. Because of her size and energy
level, Bella needs a family that has experience with dogs and no
small children. Bella would love to live with a dog who can play
hard and long with her.
Buddy is a 7 year old Jack Russell Terrier who came to us as
a victim of the economy. He is almost completely blind because
of cataracts that he has had for several years but otherwise is
healthy. He uses his nose and ears to find his way around and will
need a patient family that can help him adapt to a new home.
Buddy lived with a female Jack Russell for his whole life but does
not always get along with other dogs. Buddy would like a quiet adult home where
he can be loved, taken for walks, and enjoy his “retirement years”. Please consider
adopting a senior citizen! Buddy is available to meet families during any regular
shelter hours. Buddy’s Adoption Donation is $150.
Coco is an energetic young dog who would love to live with an
active family. She is about one year old, weighs about 45 pounds and
has beautiful coloring. Coco loves to play with other dogs and makes
friends with people quickly. We do not know if she has ever been
around cats. Coco does have a high energy level and she will need
lots of exercise every day. We think Coco will do best with a family
with previous dog experience and she is probably too high energy for
small children. If you are looking for a lively companion, please come to meet Coco
during any regular shelter hours. Coco’s adoption donation is $425.
Gunther came to us as a stray whose owner could not be
found. He is a big boy at 79 pounds and we think he is 4-5 years
old, he is also neutered. Gunther is a friendly dog who will need
a fair amount of exercise. He gets along well with other dogs; we
do not know if he has ever been around cats. Due to his large
size, we would not recommend that he live with small children
or first-time dog owners. If you have the room in your home
and your heart for a big dog, please come to meet Gunther during regular shelter
hours. His adoption donation is $300.
January 2011
 Adoption Center
Made possible by the generosity of Mary Lou’s News
Mass Humane
781-335-1300 | www.masshumane.org
Hi my name is ShanE. I am a 2.5-year-old male neutered chihua-
hua, brown, black and white with happy ears and I am a good lis-
tener. I am a small guy, about 12 pounds, UTD on rabies and distem-
per, HW negative, de flea, de worm and micro chipped. I love to be
with you and I am a bundle of joy, plus I like to be picked up too. I
would do best as the only pet with all the attention; cats OK, no small young kids,
older kids 18 years and up are OK. I love to go for walks, but I do need a harness.
Why? I become Houdini, and the harness has kept me from the spotlight. I love to
ride in the car and will go where ever you go. I was surrendered because of a
divorce case, so I had to go. MHS took me in and now I am ready to find my loving
caring responsible home that will keep me for good this time.
 Hi my name is Chino, I am a six-year-old neutered male AST,
reddish in color, UTD on shots, HW and Lyme negative, de worm,
de flea, weight is about 60 pounds. I am a lover of a dog. I am a
happy guy with a good disposition and have manners. I love to go
for walks, play and run around and rides in the car. I should do
OK with dogs; at the shelter kennel there are all kinds of dogs and
I am OK with that. I would do best as the only pet, but I am a social guy that wants
to get out there and meet and greet. No cats or small toddlers, but older adult kids
are fine. I was dumped — abandoned at the MHS shelter. I did nothing wrong to
be forgotten and dumped. I am now looking for a loving, caring family that will
keep me for good this time. Come and see me at the mhs shelter.
hilltop humane society
781-963-7289 | www.hilltophumane.org
AUTUMN: This adorable four-month-old girl with the sweet face
and white and gray tabby markings was recently spayed and has
been vaccinated, checked out by the vet, and tests negative for FIV/
FELV.   Very affectionate with adults and children, Autumn enjoys
running and playing with other cats.
ROSE: A friendly, pretty calico mix, under a year.  She was found
with her two kittens in a box thrown out of a car window onto a
highway.  Although very young herself, she was a great mother.  potato, but loves to go on daily walks too.
She has been vet checked, tested for FIV/FELV, vaccinated, and
spayed.  She loves attention and will follow you around.
PEBBLES: A small, big-eyed seven-month-old female with a lot of
white, combined with gray tabby markings on her back and tail.  Shy
at first, she loves to be petted when she gets to know you.  With a
little time to adapt, she should do very well in a home and will get
along well with other cats.  Pebbles is healthy, spayed, tested and vaccinated.
GRACIE: Her foster mom says Gracie is a love and an “attention
hog.”  She is about 1-1/2 years old with distinctive darker gray mark-
ings on her face, back, and tail and white on the rest of her body.  She
was rescued in Rockland and will fit in very well in any home.  She
has been examined by a vet, vaccinated, spayed and FIV/FELV tested.
Milton animal league
617-698-0413 | www.miltonanimalleague.org
Hildy has been waiting for so long for someone to come in and
meet her that her stress level is through the roof. She stands in
her kennel with her feet dancing a mile a minute, just waiting. She
is a classic “difficult placement” due to her stress, her waiting and
her needs. But if you are willing to give to her, you will get aces in
return. Hildy is a one-and-a-half-year-old pit bull who, when
relaxed, is a clown of a dog. We have discovered that she loves water, and even will
lay in the empty kiddie pool pleading for water to be added. She makes us all laugh
with her antics, especially out playing in the yard. Inside the shelter, in her kennel,
however, Hildy is very stressed, sad and nervous. She shows anxiousness around
other dogs, so she should be the only dog in the home; Hildy does not like cats.
Sweet Caroline is a six-month-old spayed female domestic short-
hair. Sweet Caroline has been overlooked by people seeking kittens, yet
she has the best of everything. She’s still young and playful, but old
enough that her true delightful personality has developed. Sweet
Caroline is a real doll who will bring years of joy to her new family.
Robin is an eight-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair. She
was abandoned at the side of a highway. Robin is a mellow, unde-
manding cat. She likes to sit on the windowsill and perch on high
shelves to watch the world go by.
January 2011
Pet Gazette
a helping paw
508-291-PAWS | www.ahelpingpaw.org
CASH Look for a best buddy? This little guy is certain to
become your best friend. He likes a lot of one-on-one ­— full of
energy — great for an active person but also super smart.
You’ll have great fun teaching him new tricks. If you are look-
ing for a truly interactive dog, he’s for you.
GiGi is begging for a home, she turns on the charm for everyone
who visits, but no takers yet. Won’t you fill this sweet girls dream.
Handsome, young adult male orange tabby, Kermit, though
shy in new places, loves to welcome everyone and if you aren’t
careful might even jump on your back. He likes to get close and
offer you his purrs.
Daisy is an older kitten growing up very quickly. She’s a gor-
geous white with calico markings and fur like a bunny. Due to
mild eye issues, she’s been overlooked by most. Don’t overlook
this sweetie ­— she’s full of personality.
Adopt a pit bull rescue
adoptabullrescue1122@hotmail.com
Athena is a five-year-old pitbull mix who has been through a
lot in her life time. She is up-to-date on all of her shots and she
is spayed. Sadly she was used for breeding purposes for the
first three years of her life, and then when they were done with
her they left her tied outside with no food or water. She was
saved but a wonderful person who couldn’t stand seeing her
like this. Sadly that person couldn’t keep her forever, so he signed her over to our
rescue organization about a year ago. She is quite large and scary looking, but she
is a total sweetheart. She gives the saying “You can’t judge a book by its cover” a
real meaning. She does ok with older children, but we don’t think she should go to
a home with young kids because of her size. One lick would knock them right over.
She is basically a perfect dog. She knows obedience commands and she is crate
trained. She walks very well on leash and loves to cuddle. She is a total couch
Baby is a three-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier who is up-
to-date on all of her shots and is spayed. A lot of people and
other rescues try to classify pitbulls as “Staffordshires,” but
Baby is a genuine staff bull. She was saved from a high kill
shelter in Connecticut just in the nick of time, before they
euthanized her to make room for more dogs coming off the
streets. She was abused, bred and  neglected. Her body is cov-
ered in scars and she was completely emaciated when she came into our care. Her
previous owner was actually trying to get her back from the pound, but he couldn’t
“make bail” for her. That’s when our rescue stepped in before she was put down to
make more room. She loves people and kids of all ages, shapes, sizes and races and
would really enjoy sitting on the couch with you all day cuddling. She does well with
most male dogs, but she doesn’t do well with other females, but it really depends on
the dog. She isn’t the biggest fan of energetic little puppies, or overly hyper or
dominant adult dogs. She enjoys a nice stroll around the block and loves being
scratched all over. She makes silly snorting and grunting noises and snores a little
when she is sleeping. We think she would make an amazing therapy dog because of
the love she possesses for people.
animal protection center of se ma
508-586-2053 | www.apcsm.org
Bailey is a two-year-old neutered male terrier mix. His owner
no longer had time for him, so this sweet dog is in need of a new
home. He is very friendly and gets along well with other dogs.
Bailey has a great personality and will fit in well with a family.
Manchi is a one-year-old spayed female. She gets along well with
other cats and is quite playful. She’s a very sweet kitty looking for a
loving home.
Cheyenne is a five-year-old spayed and declawed Siamese. This
beautiful cat has the sweetest personality — she loves to be pet
and is super affectionate. Please consider giving her the forever
home she deserves.
Nugget is a three-year-old spayed female English spot rabbit.
She is a mellow bunny looking for a loving home that will give her
the attention she deserves. She is very social and friendly.
23
 1014 Pearl Street Phone:508.588.5661
Brockton, MA www.jmpetresort.com

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Minutes from Rt. 24 6 AM - 9 PM

Where Your Pet Is a Part Of Our Family

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training needs at affordable prices.
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24
Pet Gazette January 2011

Internal Medicine
Michael Bernstein, DVM,
DACVIM, Medical Director
Angelyn Cornetta, DVM,
DACVIM, Intern Director
Alice Hadden, DVM,
DACVIM
Susan Morrison, DVM,
DACVIM
Jerry Perry, DVM
Bruce Walker, DVM
Cardiology
Susan Morrison, DVM,
DACVIM
(Internal Medicine)
Bradley L. Moses, DVM,
DACVIM (Cardiology)
Neurology
Stephanie Kube, DVM,
DACVIM (Neurology)
Dermatology
Klaus Earl Loft, DVM
Emergency/Critical Care
Angelyn Cornetta, DVM,
DACVIM
Angela Girello, DVM
Alison R. Gaynor, DVM,
DACVIM, DACVECC
Cindy Lopes, DVM
Ophthalmology
Bill Greentree, DVM, DACVO
Surgery
David Diamond, VMD,
DACVS
Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging
Lori Hartzband, DVM,
DACVR
Diana Rosenstein, DVM,
DACVR
Avian and Exotic Animal
Medicine
Stephen Dyer, DVM,
DABVP (Avian)
Dentistry
Michelle Politano, DVM
Sheri Procious, DVM
January 2011
VCA South Shore
(Weymouth) Animal Hospital
595 Columbian St., South Weymouth, MA 02190
(781) 337-6622
www.vcasouthshore.com
Dermatology
Chronic Ear Disease In
Dogs & Cats
If your dog has had two or more ear infections in his or her life, you might have been told that
“all dogs gets ear infections,” or “it is normal for dogs with long, hanging ears to get ear infec-
tions,” or “all dogs that swim get ear infections,” or even that “it is because your dog is digging
in the dirt that he gets ear infections.” These are common misconceptions that Dr. Klaus Earl
Loft, who runs the Dermatology Service at VCA South Shore Animal Hospital in South
Weymouth, MA, has heard from owners who bring him their pets with chronic ear problems.
In reality, a dog that suffers from recurrent ear infections may actually have an underlying
allergic skin condition that, if diagnosed and treated properly, could eliminate or reduce the
incidence of future ear infections.
If your dog has had ear problems that began when he or she was younger than 3 to 4 years of
age, it is likely that the ear problem is secondary to allergies. Older animals that develop their
first ear infection later in life may have problems other than allergies that are the cause for the
ear infection.
In veterinary medicine, it is often the dermatologist who deals with chronic ear diseases in
dogs and cats. This is very understandable, since the ear and the skin are one and the same
organ, and clinical signs associated with the ears are often part of a generalized dermatologic
condition. Some dogs that present with an ear infection will have other clinical symptoms that
are suggestive of allergies, such as foot licking and chewing, itchy skin, reoccurring skin infec-
tions in the groin or elbow area, greasy and scaly hair coat, and/or patchy hair loss. These
symptoms can seriously affect the quality of life in these pets, and managing patients afflicted
with chronic allergic ear disease has become a passion for Dr. Loft. Using the videotoscope at
VCA South Shore for both the diagnosis and treatment of these frustrating chronic ear prob-
lems has increased Dr. Loft’s ability to determine the best therapeutic options for these
patients, and to help deal with the often severe discomfort associated with ear infections.
If Dr. Loft suspects that allergies are the underlying cause for a patient’s chronic skin or ear
issues, he can offer either intradermal or serologic testing for both cats and dogs. Once a spe-
cific allergic cause is identified, he will treat the patient with Allergen Specific Immunotherapy
(commonly known as “allergy shots”). This hypo-sensitization is very similar to what is offered
to humans with atopic dermatitis.
If your dog or cat suffers from reoccurring ear problems or other chronic skin conditions, ask
your regular veterinarian for a referral, or feel free to call VCA South Shore Animal Hospital,
to schedule a consultation with Dr. Loft. In Dr. Loft’s opinion, “Until proven otherwise, a
pet with chronic ear disease is an allergic pet.”
• Full Service Veterinary Hospital
• 24 Hour Emergency Service
• Appointments Available Seven Days a Week
Dedicated team of 29 doctors on staff – including Board
Certified specialists in Cardiology, Internal Medicine,
Neurology, Ophthalmology, Radiology, Surgery,
Avian Practice, and Emergency/Critical Care.
The Best of Quality Care for
Every Stage of Your Pet’s Life!
Pet Gazette 25