Summer Edition Indian Hills Drive Edwardsville, Illinois LABEST OF TIMES

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1 Page 1 Summer Edition 4933 Indian Hills Drive Edwardsville, Illinois Volume 17 Issue 2 LABEST OF TIMES Heat Stroke in Dogs Jenna Stregowski, RVT Hyperthermia is a term describing an elevation in body temperature. This increase typically occurs as a response to a trigger, such as inflammation in the body or a hot environment. When a dog is exposed to high temperatures, heat stroke or heat exhaustion can result. Heat stroke is a very serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Once the signs of heat stroke are detected, there is precious little time before serious damage - or even death - can occur. Dogs do not sweat through their skin like humans - they release heat primarily by panting and they sweat through the foot pads and nose. If a dog cannot effectively expel heat, the internal body temperature begins to rise. Once the dog's temperature reaches 106, damage to the body's cellular system and organs may become irreversible. Unfortunately, too many dogs succumb to heat stroke when it could have been avoided. Learn how to recognize the signs of heat stroke and prevent it from happening to your dog. Signs of Heat Stroke The following signs may indicate heat stroke in a dog: Increased rectal temperature (over 104 requires action, over 106 is a dire emergency) Vigorous panting Dark red gums Tacky or dry mucus membranes (specifically the gums) Lying down and unwilling (or unable) to get up Collapse and/or loss of consciousness Thick saliva Dizziness or disorientation What to do if You Suspect Heat Stroke INSIDE THIS ISSUE: How can I tell if my Pet has Fleas Heartworms in Dogs 3 Heat Stroke... Continued Training Class and Customer of the Month Heartworms Continued 5 LaBest Academy of Animal Arts: LaBest Mobile Grooming 7 If you have even the slightest suspicion that your dog is suffering from heat stroke, you must take immediate action. 1. First, move your dog out of the heat and away from the sun right away. 2. Begin cooling your dog with cool water. You may place wet rags or washcloths on the foot pads and around the head, but replace them frequently as they warm up. Avoid covering the body with wet towels, as it may trap in heat. 3. DO NOT use ice or very cold water! Extreme cold can cause the blood vessels to constrict, preventing the body's core from cooling and actually causing the internal temperature to further rise. In addition, over-cooling can cause hypothermia, introducing a host of new problems. When the body temperature reaches F, stop cooling. At this point, your dog's body should continue cooling on its own. 4. Offer your dog cool water, but do not force water into your dog's mouth. Try not to let your dog drink large amounts of water Continued on page

2 Page 2 How Can I Tell If My Pet Has Fleas? Written by Dr. Jeff Feinman General Flea Information General Flea Information Fleas are small, brown or black, wingless insects with flattened bodies. Several types of fleas infest the hair coats of animals, and some may occasionally feed on people. These blood-sucking insects cause considerable irritation and distress to infested pets. Severe infestations may lead to anemia from blood loss. Fleas spread the common dog and cat tapeworm, and carry several viral and bacterial diseases. Flea bites also cause skin allergies, rashes and sores on both pets and their owners. The best places to look for fleas on your pet are the hindquarters, base of the tail, stomach and groin regions. Sometimes no fleas are found but only tiny, black granules that resemble black pepper. This material is flea feces and consists of digested blood ("flea dirt"). To distinguish this material from dirt, smudge it on white paper or add a drop of water to it. If you see a reddish-brown colour, your pet has fleas, even if you can find none. After taking a blood meal, fleas drop off the animal and deposit their eggs in cracks, crevices and carpeting. A single breeding pair of fleas may produce 20,000 fleas in 3 months. Eggs hatch after 2-12 days into larvae that feed in the environment. Larvae molt 2 times within days and the older larvae spin a cocoon in which they remain for 1 week to 1 year. The long period during which the larvae remain in the cocoon explains why fleas are difficult to eradicate from the environment. A hungry adult flea emerges from the cocoon. Doggie Humor A man says to a trainer Every time a bell rings, my dog goes into a corner. The trainer replies, That s okay, he s a boxer!

3 Page 3 Heartworms in Dogs: Facts and Myths By Sandy Eckstein WebMD Pet Health Feature Heartworms in dogs are easy to prevent, but difficult and costly to cure. We asked Sheldon Rubin, president of the American Heartworm Society, to separate facts from the myths about heartworm infestations in dogs. Q: How do dogs get heartworms? A: Only by the bite of an infected mosquito. There s no other way dogs get heartworms. And there s no way to tell if a mosquito is infected. That s why prevention is so important. Heartworm disease has been reported in all 50 states. And the bite of just one mosquito infected with the heartworm larvae will give your dog heartworm disease. Heartworm disease has not only spread throughout the United States, but it s also now found in areas where veterinarians used to say Oh, we don t have heartworm disease. Areas like Oregon, California, Arizona, and desert areas -- where irrigation and building are allowing mosquitoes to survive. And if you have mosquitoes and you have animals, you re going to have heartworms. It s just that simple. It takes about seven months, once a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito, for the larvae to mature into adult heartworms. They then lodge in the heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels and begin reproducing. Adult worms can grow up to 12 inches in length, can live 5-7 years, and a dog can have as many as 250 worms in its system. Q: Can people get heartworms from their dogs? A: It can only be passed on by mosquitoes. It s a specific parasite that only affects dogs and cats and ferrets and other mammals. In rare cases, heartworms have infected people, but it does not complete its life cycle. The heartworm will migrate to the lung and cause a round lesion that looks like a tumor. But these are very rare cases. Continued on page 5

4 Page 4 Continued from Page 1 5. Call or visit your vet right away - even if your dog seems better. Internal damage might not be obvious to the naked eye, so an exam is necessary (and further testing may be recommended). Preventing Heat Stroke There are ways you can prevent heat stroke from happening in the first place. 1. NEVER leave your dog alone in the car on a warm day, regardless of whether the windows are open. Even if the weather outside is not extremely hot, the inside of the car acts like an oven - temperatures can rise to dangerously high levels in a matter of minutes. 2. Avoid vigorous exercise on warm days. When outside, opt for shady areas. 3. Keep fresh cool water available at all times. 4. Certain types of dogs are more sensitive to heat - especially obese dogs and brachycephalic (shortnosed) breeds, like Pugs and Bulldogs. Use extreme caution when these dogs are exposed to heat. Some dogs can recover fully from heat stroke if it is caught early enough. Others suffer permanent organ damage and require lifelong treatment. Sadly, many dogs do not survive heat stroke. Prevention is the key to keeping your dog safe during warmer weather. It s almost back-to-school season! Time to train your puppy or teach an old dog new tricks! Training Classes Customer of the Month Puppy Class/Behavioral Tuesday September 10, 2013 Tuesday October 22, 2013 Novice I (Performance On Lead) Tuesday September 10, 2013 Tuesday October 22, 2013 Novice II (Performance Off Lead) Wednesday September 11, 2013 Wednesday October 23, 2013 Agility (Beginners) Wednesday September 11, 2013 Wednesday October 23, :30 PM 7:30 PM 6:30 PM 7:30 PM April: Sunny H. May: Paris K. June: Watson E.

5 Page 5 Continued from Page 3 Q: If one of my dogs has heartworms, can he give it to my other dogs? A: No. Again, the only way heartworms are transmitted is through the bite of an infected mosquito. And even if an uninfected mosquito bit your infected dog, and then bit your uninfected dog the same night, he wouldn t transmit the parasite from one dog to the other. That s because when a mosquito bites an infected animal, the heartworm needs to undergo an incubation period in the mosquito before the mosquito can infect other animals. Q: Is it OK to adopt a dog with heartworms? A: It s a very common problem in animal shelters today, and public shelters rarely have the money to treat heartworm disease. It s perfectly acceptable to adopt a dog with heartworms, but you have to be dedicated to having the disease treated appropriately, because it s a horrible disease that can lead to a dog s death if left untreated. 10% off Any Shampoo Excludes Clearance Items Must Present Coupon Valid 7/1/13-9/30/13 Buy 2 Get 1 Free Any Toy Excludes Clearance Items Must Present Coupon Valid 7/1/13-9/30/13 Flea Treatments: A Blog By Deb Walker The height of the flea season normally occurs from about August through the fall season, although fleas can be present year-round in the right atmosphere. Fleas may cause your pets to scratch, dig or chew at themselves. This might lead to skin irritation, sores, bumps on skin surface, lesions, loss of hair, dull coat and, if the pet swallows a flea, this may lead to tape worms. There is a reason why we do not dip pets. Dips are toxic and harmful to our pets. We flea treat pets with a natural organic product that can be used more frequently if necessary. We do not flea treat unless your pet has fleas. If fleas are present, your pet will be flea treated for an additional charge. We suggest following up with a product such as Frontline to protect your pet from fleas. We also offer therapeutic treatments that help promote healthy skin and coat and we recommend Water Soaks and Hot Oil Treatments with the flea treatment. The flea product can dry out skin cells and hair shafts and the Water Soaks and Hot Oil Treatment will help replenish the skin.

6 Page 6 Next Enrollment Date: August 19, 2013 Call Today to Take A Tour of the School and Learn More!! Tired of your current job? Become a pet stylist. Classes start soon so call today for more information Student Housing and financing is available for all students. Please call for details. W.I.A. APPROVED Look How Far Our Students Have Come! Lacy Robin Kelsie

7 Page 7 LaBest Inc. is Proud to Present LaBest Mobile Grooming Now Servicing Illinois and Missouri! Appointments are booking quickly!! Call today! Why Choose Mobile Grooming? Why stress out about transporting your pet when we can come to you! No need to worry about your not-so-clean pet in your car We have a trained staff to handle all size pets and behavior issues Flexible Hours Bonded and Insured Never worry about missing your next appointment! DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS!! By Appointment Only Please Many Services Available: Including but not limited to: Indian Hills Drive Edwardsville, Illinois Bath and Brush Basic Complete (Bath, nails, ears, minimal trim) Complete Groom (Basic complete & hair cut) Teeth Brushing (with a product to remove tarter) Teeth Brushing Massage Therapy Ear Flush Handstrip/Carding Skin Treatments