Spay & Neuter Benefits Part I

Don't Litter - Spay Neuter

Guest Blogger Janet Gray, DVM shares insights on the topic of spaying and neutering dogs and cats. Dr. Gray is Lead Veterinarian for the Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project.

I received an urgent call one morning last week.  A cat had given birth to a single kitten 2 days prior, but had done nothing since: had not eaten, gone to the litter box, or moved around much.  An x-ray done at another veterinary clinic revealed a kitten stuck in the birth canal.  The cat was in bad shape.  Could we help?

I spend my days spaying and neutering cats.  “Spaying” is the common term for an ovariohysterectomy, the removal of the ovaries and uterus (the reproductive structures) of the female, and “neutering” refers to the removal of the testicles of a male.

Preventing problems during the birth of puppies or kittens is only one of the potential health benefits of spaying your pet.  I often hear clients who want their kids to experience the “miracle of birth.”  Today we have the luxury of YouTube and other video mediums which make it extremely easy for kids to “experience” that miracle at the computer screen without adding to the companion animal overpopulation problem.  Not many people think that their pet is going to have problems while having puppies or kittens, and even fewer are prepared for the costs associated with complications.  Still-births, dystocia (“difficult birth,” like what this cat experienced), and infections can affect the health, and even risk the life of your pet.

Pyometria is the term for an infected uterus (it means literally “pus in the uterus”).  It is not uncommon to find a pyometra in a cat that the owner thought was completely healthy.  Cats hide illness well.  Dogs usually give us a better signal that something is wrong, by not eating, moping around, and sometimes having discharge from their vulva.  Pyometras can be life threatening, and they usually occur after a heat cycle.  Spaying eliminates the risk entirely.

Contrary to often-held beliefs, females do not benefit from having a litter or even from going into heat, prior to being spayed.  Dogs spayed prior to their first heat cycle have very little risk of mammary cancer.  Dogs spayed later in life have a much higher risk of mammary tumors.  Female hormones can stimulate mammary cancer growth in dogs, similar to the link between estrogen and breast cancer in women.

Neutering also can diminish the risk of prostate disease and testicular cancer.  The first (and often only) treatment of enlarged prostate (which can result in painful or difficult urination) in unaltered males is to neuter them.  Once the hormonal stimulation is gone, the prostate shrinks.

There are still millions of dogs and cats being euthanized in shelters simply because there are not enough homes for them.  Please consider spaying and neutering your pets not only for their health, but for the prevention of litters of puppies and kittens.  Puppies and kittens are cute, and you may find homes for them, but that means those homes are no longer available for dogs and cats already in shelters.

So what happened to the cat with the kitten stuck in the birth canal?  The cat had surgery and the kitten was removed, no longer alive.  The mom cat was then spayed.  The baby born 2 days earlier did not survive either, likely because mom did not feel well enough to care for him the first 2 days of his life.  The owners were relieved that they did not lose their beloved “mom” cat.

The Feral Cat Project is responsible for altering nearly 75,000 Puget Sound area cats since1997!

I AM Secret Service for My Dog

During a holiday gathering, our new dog, Rowan, greeted my mother in the face with his muzzle…better known as a muzzle punch, which broke skin and drew blood. It happened during their first introduction to each other at the start of a family gathering. Needless to say, the ‘incident’ (as I refer to it) put quite a damper on our holiday weekend. 

Rowan was then a 7 month-old Border Collie mix we’d adopted from a local shelter six week earlier.  He was a stray that was picked up in Eastern Washington, then transferred from one shelter to another, ending up here.

Rebecca with Max and Rowan

Rowan was a shy and lacked confidence, but I didn’t notice anything that really concerned me...until then. During that time, our 12 year-old Golden Retriever, Max, was nearing the end of his life with cancer, so I was a bit preoccupied and perhaps wasn’t paying attention to the cues he offered.

No matter how experienced you are with other people’s dogs, it’s always different with your own. Things were not so clear.  But clear enough for me to know this was serious, and I wondered if we could get beyond it. Would I ever trust this dog again? Would I be able to keep him as part of our family? I knew we needed professional help – and quick.

Within days of the ‘incident’, I called a trainer friend of mine who is an expert in herding breeds. Joyce Biethan, of Joyce's Dogs, listened patiently to the details that led to the perfect storm in my laundry room. She explained that Border Collies are extremely space conscious, and that, along with my apparent lack of leadership, prompted Rowan to gain control of what he perceived as a stressful situation.


I confessed the incident to another friend, and local trainer, Dianna Young, of Camano Island Kennels. Dianna put things into perspective: It was my job to be Rowan’s Secret Service Agent, and until he believed that I was, he would continue to take matters into his own hands. Thankfully, Dianna thought Rowan was still young enough that we had a good chance of turning things around. She explained that since Rowan was under-socialized, he resorted fear-based thinking and behavior when he was unsure. And that, my friends, is DANGEROUS.

The job of the Secret Service is to be aware of potential threats to the person they are assigned to protect. The President of the United States, for example, is surrounded at all times by agents who are scanning for threats and are ready to act. They do their job so he can relax and focus on his.

Dianna explained it was my job to be Rowan’s Secret Service. Without this belief, he would continue to take matters of protection into his own hands, and that’s when people get hurt…and pets die.

Understanding the urgency of the situation, Dianna, Rowan, and I embarked on a training program that took advantage of local public venues exposing Rowan to all kinds of potentially ‘scary’ and unfamiliar things. The intense work convinced Rowan that when he perceives something as a threat, he could rely on me to protect him.

Today, when Rowan is unsure or concerned, he comes to my side, sits down and looks up at me. He trusts I’ll handle things. But here’s the best part: because he trusts me, I can now trust him..

I am Secret Service for my dog.  And it’s wonderful.

Watch Rowan Today. Once afraid of so many things (including cameras)
he's now happy and FULL of confidence!

Rowan's mom, also known as Rebecca Murray, is a Senior Pet Consultant & Trainer for  Invisible Fence Northwest.

When the Human's away, will the Cat play?

Guest Blogger Janet Gray, DVM, provides cat parenting tips for enriching your cat's indoor world.

When you are gone from the house all day, what is your indoor cat doing?

If you can tell what your cat is doing, it is probably not a good thing.  When cats leave clues to what they been up to they are often what we consider “bad” things, such as litter box messes, torn up draperies, clean laundry urinated on, and foot prints on the kitchen cabinets.  By the time you get home, you can not “punish” the cat for what he has done.  The cat will not understand the relationship between what you found and his behavior 4 hours ago.

So, how do you keep a house cat from getting into trouble?

Prevention is the key.  Cats may not be “in your face” as much as dogs are, but they need things to do.  They need physical activity and mental stimulation.

Getting a cat exercise is not as hard as it sounds.  Most cats will respond to interactive toys, such as laser pointers and “fishing pole” style toys.  It can be quite entertaining to see your cat chase a dot on the floor, doing crazy acrobatics as the laser light flies up a wall.  Engaging your cat when you are home will release some of the cats energy so they won’t be looking for trouble when you are absent (I have heard lots of trainers say “a good dog is a tired dog”, and I would extend that to cats as well).  Fishing style toys also require time and effort on your part, but giving your cat a chance to practice his predation skills will go a long way to a satisfied cat.

Providing hiding places in different spaces will encourage activity.  An overturned laundry basket in the bedroom is a good hide-away.  A perch in the living room, or several at various heights, will give your cat options for places to explore.  Occasionally offering new hiding spaces, as cheep and simple as an empty box with a hold cut in it, will keep your cat interested.

Especially important to cats is vertical space.  Cats love to be up high, where they can survey their vast kingdom.  Jumping and climbing provides them with physical activity, and height provides a sense of safety and security to them.  Most people are familiar with cat trees with high perches, but many cat enthusiasts also provide elevated ramps around the house for their cat’s entertainment.

Some of the activity that provides physical stimulation is also produces mental stimulation, such as interactive play and hiding places.  But other things can be done to stimulate your cats mind.  There are wildlife videos made just for cats.  But you don’t have to be that high-tech.  Simply provide a perch in front of a window that has a lot of activity outside of it.  Bird and squirrel feeders, butterfly gardens, and bird baths can provide hours of entertainment for a cat.

Treat dispensing toys are a great way to provide mental and physical stimulation for cats...as long as the treats are healthy-ish (or at least not terrible for the cat), and don't make up a huge part of the diet.  For super playful cats, treat dispensers might be used to feed kibble for meals.  That would be a great way to provide activity for a kitty.

Not all cats will respond to catnip, but some will go pretty crazy with it.  Again, I think if it is used as a "treat", and the cat seems to like it, it is OK to give.

Cat grass is another good treat, in moderation, but make sure it's safe, with no pesticides used (It'd be nice to think that someone growing cat grass wouldn't use pesticides, but I wouldn't assume anything).  Cats seem to like to "graze" on grass, even though they are true carnivores.  One word: don't make grass available at all times as some cats will eat too much and vomit as a result of the stomach irritation.

In summary, you think your cat is happy “doing nothing”, think again!  Try some of these simple things to keep your cat happy and out of trouble.

Dr. Janet Gray is the Lead Veterinarian for the Feral Cat Spay Neuter Project a local organization whose mission is to save the lives of homeless cats by providing access to high volume spay/neuter surgery in a safe and humane environment, collaborating with others and mentoring like-minded organizations to increase spay/neuter in their regions.

Socialization -- the most valuable gift you can give your dog

Guest Blogger: Dianna Young of  Camano Island Kennels

Years ago I attended a school for dog trainers in West Virginia. I'll never forget the day a call came in from an official at a nearby county jail. A felon had escaped, and our help was needed to round up the escapee.

Residing at the school was, Floyd, one of the most talented bloodhounds in that entire section of the Appalachians, and it was this dog’s help that the caller really sought. As Floyd's chosen handler, we set out together and I soon found myself huffing and puffing up a steep ridge behind that amazing dog. The way he was snuffling his hound-dog heart out, I figured it was only a matter of minutes until we had this guy up a tree.

But as we crested the ridge, that old boy stopped dead in his tracks. Floyd melted into what we call “passive immobility,” and refused to take another step. Forget about the prisoner’s trail. We had lost him for good.

The reason? A herd of harmless cows that stood gazing dully at us from just over the brow of the hill. This phenomenal bloodhound never had seen cows before, certainly not an entire herd, and his first encounter with them had just overwhelmed him.

This is a great example of why it’s so important to socialize your pup properly to as many things as possible while you have the chance. A cow can be a scary thing if your dog's never seen one before!

Socialization is the act of introducing your pup to situations and experiences, and teaching him or her to deal with them in a calm and confident manner. It is the foundation for any dog’s life, whether he’s a service dog, a hunting dog or a companion animal. Socialization is the imprinting on his mind of resource material that he will use throughout his life.

You won’t have long to do the job right, either. The critical socialization period for any dog is the 63 days of its life between seven weeks and 16 weeks of age. This is the period when socialization will leave the strongest imprint. The window starts to close rapidly after 16 weeks, and although your pup still will be able to receive information, it will not do so as readily or as effectively.

What are the things to which you want to introduce your dog during this impressionable period? Everything you can think of. Introduce him to people, to other dogs, to farm animals and wildlife, to noise and confusion.

Dogs that aren’t properly socialized to people, for example, often grow up to be biters. They may be accepting of members of their human family but at the same time react to people outside their own pack with aggression that’s based in fear. To avert this, take him where people gather. Visit parks and street fairs. See that he’s exposed to different kinds of people; women and men, children of various ages, various ethnic groups. Children are a particularly important category, especially running, shouting children. If you have none of your own, borrow some. Utilize nieces and nephews, or introduce your pup to neighborhood kids or to the Little League team that plays on Saturdays in the local park.

Your pup doesn’t have to actually meet the people you expose him to. He just needs to know that they are out there; that there are lots of people besides the handful who exist inside the security of his own four walls, and that they don’t pose a threat to him.

If you enjoy riding in your car with your dog, start your pup early. Some dogs get to ride in a car only once a year, to go to the vet’s office for booster shots. That can be quite an ordeal for all involved.

Introduce your pup to loud noises. Take him down to the station to watch the Amtrak come through. And if you’re rearing a future gun dog, you’ll want to expose him to the sound of gunshots, of course.

How should you conduct your dog’s exposure to new things? First, put a collar on your pup and attach it to a six-foot leather leash. This puts your pup into a controlled environment, and puts you in control of the environment. Then, think about your own behavior. This is absolutely critical, because you will tell your animal how to feel about what he’s experiencing, whether it’s fireworks, gunfire or a screaming ambulance. He will look to you for leadership, and will take his cue from your demeanor.

When you take him down to see the Amtrak train come by, for example, it’s important that your pup see that its noise doesn’t alarm you or repel you. Don’t pick him up at a critical moment; your dog has to experience life on his own four feet, whether he’s four pounds or 150 pounds. Your goal, however, is to redirect his mind while he’s experiencing something new.

Since a dog can focus on only one task at a time, give his mind something to work on while he’s undergoing the new experience. If your dog has had obedience training, this could be as simple as holding him in a “sit” position. If he’s busy holding a “sit,” he doesn’t have the ability to focus on a train that may make him feel insecure. If he’s not that far advanced, you can distract him by attempting to show him how to sit, or by directing his attention to a treat in your pocket or to a toy.

The hours that you invest in proper socialization when your pup is in the open-window period will pay off in many years of rewarding companionship with a stable, dependable, enjoyable canine companion.

Dianna Young is a certified, professional dog trainer and canine behaviorist who operates Camano Island Kennels Dog Boarding, Grooming and Training Facility and Stella Ruffington’s Doggy Playcare in West Seattle. She can be reached at http://www.camanoislandkennels.com/ or http://www.stellaruffington.com/.

Save the Kitchen Scraps!

Initially I was thinking this super-cool kitchen/garden product had NOTHING to do with pets. Rather, it was about converting smelly kitchen scraps to high quality plant food in days (similar to the pet waste recycler product I wrote about last April...which uses the same hungry micro-organisms to convert pet waste into nutrients for your ornamental gardens).

But I've changed my mind.

The kitchen waste recycler IS pet-friendly. Here's why:

• Kitchen scraps will no longer lure your pets to the garbage can
• Kitchen scraps won't be rotting in the outdoor garbage either, so won't attract the neighbor's pets or wild animals
• You'll be able to make and use pet-safe, organic, odor & chemical-free nutrients in your garden

And it's people-friendly too:

• No more rotting kitchen scrap odors!
• Prevent a bill from the plumber because you put something down the disposal that didn't "dispose"
• Don't need to buy plant fertilizers because you make your own
• Send less waste to land-fills...reduce your garbage bill
• Economical. You'll spend a few buck a month on microbe flakes
• Healthier soil allows for better water retention and healthier, disease-resistant plants 

For the pet-owner/gardener/budget-conscious/semi-conservationist, this product is a missing link.

I met with the inventor, Larry Green MD PhD, recently on his way back from Canada. He told me the Canadian waste management folks are very interested in his invention. So much so, they're considering giving one to each household to reduce landfill waste.

The trick will be getting people to use it...sort of like recycling. It can take awhile for some folks to jump on board. But once it catches on, it will save the municipalities a TON...not to mention being good for the earth vs. a being a burden on it. In fact, used regularly, the Bokashi system will lessen the weight of your garbage by 20 - 30%.

The word Bokashi is Japanese for fermentation and has been practiced there for hundreds of years. The method,  when done properly, breaks down scrap material with natural micro-organisms until it's safe to put in the ground where soil microbes complete the work. The micro-organisms are so safe you can eat them (I am told). And in the right conditions (dark, temperate, moist) they do their job in days vs. weeks or months as would be the case with even the best composting methods...and with a LOT less work.

AND, here's the "cool" part: You can ferment practically anything - even left-over meat and fish. This is the kind of stuff our pets LOVE to get into. And it's the kind of stuff that starts to reek after a day or so...especially in warm weather.

The process is so EASY, even someone as lazy as me can do it.

The kit comes with two very well-constructed receptacles. When you add your kitchen waste, sprinkle the microbe flakes on top, put the ceramic plate on top (to keep air out), then screw the lid back on. Once full, let sit for seven days while you use the second container. When the second one is full, dump the first one in the ground to complete the fermentation process, and now you start over.

Notice the spigot on the side. That is to drain off nutritious microbe "garden tea". Your plants will go crazy for this stuff. Off the shelf, garden tea is very expensive. Now you can make your own.  

We are selling the kitchen and pet waste recyclers at the Flower and Garden Show this weekend. If you swing by our booth # 953, you'll be able to carry one home for only $119.00 plus tax and save on shipping.

If you'd rather have one show up on your door step in a couple days, click here to order one through our store. It'll cost $10 - $15.00 for shipping/handling.

Check out these videos to watch the simple process.

Guest Interview: Reading with Rover Founder, Becky Bishop

Becky Bishop, well-known for her success as co-owner of Puppy Manners, a premier training and boarding facility in Woodinville, shares the challenges, successes, history, and future goals of her 10 year-old foundation, Reading with Rover. You can also learn about Reading with Rover when featured on King 5's Evening Magazine on Wednesday February 23rd.

What inspired you to create Reading with Rover?  I would love to say that I created RwR for children but truth be told, I did it for my dog, Boomer. I was volunteering at the time at hospice with Boomer a very calm, sweet, chocolate Lab. But I could tell working with the terminally ill was not Boomer's calling. He would get depressed with all the sadness surrounding him. But when children  visited, he would light up, wag his tail, and the expression on his face changed. 

Boomer reads a book.

So when Mei Mei WU, a librarian in Bothell, asked if I could help start a program where kids read to dogs, I jumped on it because I knew that it would be something that Boomer would really enjoy. Of course, I love it as well and RwR is for the kids, we just let Boomer think it was for him.

How did you come up with the name?  I wanted it to be something fun and not formal or scary like "Canine Reading Program." I have to give Mei Mei Wu, credit here. She came up with Reading with Rover and I love it! 

Give a lab a book!

What was your vision when the program started?  My initial vision was for all libraries in King County to have a RwR program. But that changed just after we set up our second library on Mercer Island. I received  a call informing me that the King County Library System dismissed our program as well as others and implemented a strict no dog policy. Overnight we were gone. Everyone, including the librarians were in tears.

After a week of sulking, I decided to take RwR to schools and bookstores and offer it, instead, as a program for children with reading challenges. My goal changed and I was re-inspired  to work with children with special learning needs within the school districts.

Has your vision changed as the program has developed?  Our dogs now  help kids with autism, cerebral palsy and other learning and physical challenges. We have branched out from dogs that lay there and listen to children read to dogs that inspire kids to walk and talk. We became a non profit in 2004 and have donated thousands of dollars to children of lower income families to help with educational needs. We also purchase books for the schools where we volunteer. These are books the school could otherwise not afford. 

What are your goals for the future? We would love to have more sponsors or more corporate sponsors like Invisible Fence Northwest that could help take us to a higher level. We want to make a RwR DVD and have those available everywhere in the Seattle area so more people can be aware of who we, what we are, and how they can become involved with their dog.

What has been the biggest challenge in managing this program? Fundraising as well as finding RwR teams and the time to test them is our biggest challenge. I work full-time with my company, Puppy Manners®, and also invest 20 hours a week into RwR as Executive Director. We have a list of schools that want a therapy dog program. Although we have many volunteers, we don’t have enough teams (a handler and a dog) to fulfill that need.

Please describe one of your most memorable RWR stories/moments. I was at Rose Hill Elementary school where I do my weekly reads with my black lab, Bloo. A little boy came in to read to him. The boy had thick black rim glasses, socks that did not match, his hair not combed, and basically unkempt. He sat down and after a long silent petting session, followed up by a hug, he whispered , "I love you Bloo."   I asked him why he loved Bloo so much and he said, "Because he never makes fun of me." That memory, even now, causes me to tear up. The thought that my dog could offer a child a moment of freedom from any pain was more than I ever thought possible.

How can pet owners support Reading with Rover? We would love to have people consider donating to RwR. We are a non- profit and rely on donations. We do not charge for our reading programs. Money we collect goes to help educate people and their dogs as well as to provide educational material for children of a lesser means. 

Also just spread the "Woof" about the program!  If you have a nice dog or your neighbor has a nice dog, consider volunteering with that dog. We also help homeless dogs achieve goals no one ever thought possible and we need volunteers to help us train them. Please contact us if you'd like to join in the fun!

Check out the a Reading with Rover video here!

Ode to Andee the Wonder Dog

I knew when I awoke today that I'd be saying good-bye to my dear companion and work partner, Andee. When Andee was diagnosed with cancer the afternoon of June 5th, I was told he wouldn't have much time. But I was given a gift. Seven months...almost to the minute. When Andee didn't eat yesterday, and barely the day before, I knew the end would be this week.

Over these seven months, Andee had good days and bad. On the bad I'd wonder if the end was coming. Then another good day would follow. Animals are very clear about the end. I knew there would be no question when the time came. This morning Andee made it clear.

I talked to our vet a month ago about options. I had promised myself that when the time came, I'd have my vet come to my home rather than bring Andee to the clinic. I called this morning and arranged for him to come at 2:20 PM. But an emergency C-section pushed our appointment to 5:00.

Andee was ready. He could not get comfortable, seemed confused, and was having difficulty breathing. I found myself wishing for the end to come as soon as possible. I kept looking at the clock wanting it to say 5:00 and was pained by the thought of Andee having to wait for three long hours. Then, sometime between 2:00 and 2:30, Andee passed.

Andee's first portrait

Andee came into our lives 8 years ago. A neighbor found him wondering the neighborhood and spent all afternoon driving around asking people if they recognized him. No luck. I was walking Molly and it was dark already when she drove up to me with Andee in her back seat and asked me about him. She told me she couldn't take him home and I knew the shelter was closed.

I offered to take the dog for the night...which after doing my legal duty to find his previous owner, he became part of our family...and my new work partner.

Andee learns his job 2003

As annoying as Andee could be, he managed to charm dogs and people alike. Customers would say, "Just drop him off when you're in the area," "I wish I could bottle him up," and "Andee's invited to come by any time." Notice it was not ME getting the invitation. But as Andee's mom, I was proud of his popularity and grateful for the experiences we shared as work partners.

Andee Summer 2010

Years ago a co-worker gave Andee the title "The Wonder Dog".

But it is no wonder to me why he'll be missed by so many.