Holiday Edition Indian Hills Drive Edwardsville, Illinois LABEST OF TIMES

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1 Page 1 Holiday Edition 4933 Indian Hills Drive Edwardsville, Illinois Volume 17 Issue 4 LABEST OF TIMES Dogs and Holidays American Kennel Club Because your dog is special to you, you want him to share all the special times in your life, including holidays. But to your dog, every day spent with you is a holiday, and he may not be able to appreciate or understand the strange people, noises, things and goings-on associated with holiday celebrations. Here are some ways to keep your dog safe and happy during those festive times. General Tips Stick as closely as possible to your normal routine. Try not to vary your dog's feeding, walking, and playtime schedule. Don't give your dog scraps from the picnic table or holiday buffet. Cookies and pies, macaroni salads and stuffing, potato chips and fancy hors d'oeuvres, are inappropriate foods for dogs and may make them sick. If you host a party, remember that some guests may be uncomfortable around dogs. Your dog may, in turn, be uncomfortable or frightened around a large group of unfamiliar people. You may want to confine him in a crate or a room that will not be used by guests. Otherwise, keep him by your side, or with another family member, to keep him from getting into trouble or underfoot. No matter how fun the party gets, never ever give your dog alcohol. Thanksgiving Turkey bones can pose a choking hazard for dogs. Do not give turkey bones to your dog. Keep an eye on the holiday table and secure leftovers and garbage to prevent your dog from foraging among the holiday foods. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Winter is Coming 2 The Raw Food Diet 3 Winter is Coming Contin- ued. The Raw Food Diet 5 LaBest Academy of 6 LaBest Mobile Grooming 7 4 Christmas Holly, mistletoe and poinsettia plants are poisonous to dogs. Make sure they are kept in places your dog cannot reach. Do not put lights on the lower branches of your tree. They may get very hot and burn your dog. Watch out for electrical cords. Pets often try to chew them and get badly shocked or electrocuted. Place them out of reach. Avoid glass ornaments, which break easily and may cut a dog's feet or mouth. Do not use edible ornaments, or cranberry or popcorn strings. Your dog may knock the tree over in an attempt to reach them. Keep other ornaments off the lower branches; if your dog chews or eats an ornament, he can be made sick by the materials or paint. Both live and artificial tree needles are sharp and indigestible. Keep your tree blocked off (with a playpen or other "fence") or in a room that is not accessible to your dog. Tinsel can be dangerous for dogs. It may obstruct circulation and, if swallowed, block the intestines. Keep burning candles on high tables or mantels, out of the way of your

2 Page 2 Winter is Coming... General Concerns Winter's cold air brings many concerns for responsible dog owners. Keep the following precautions in mind: Don't leave your dog outside in the cold for long periods of time. Wind chill makes days colder than actual temperature readings. Be attentive to your dog's body temperature, and limit its time outdoors. Adequate shelter is a necessity. Keep your dog warm, dry and away from drafts. Tiles and uncarpeted areas may become extremely cold, so make sure to place blankets and pads on floors in these areas. Be extra careful when walking or playing with your dog near frozen lakes, rivers or ponds. Your dog could slip or jump in and get seriously injured. Groom your dog regularly. Your dog needs a well-groomed coat to keep properly insulated. Short- or coarse-haired dogs may get extra cold, so consider a sweater or coat. Long-haired dogs should have excess hair around the toes and foot pads trimmed to ease snow removal and cleaning. If you do the trimming, take care not to cut the pads or other delicate area of the foot. Feed your dog additional calories if it spends a lot of time outdoors or is a working animal. It takes more energy in the winter to keep body temperature regulated, so additional calories are necessary. Towel or blow-dry your dog if it gets wet from rain or snow. It is important to dry and clean its paws, too. This helps avoid tiny cuts and cracked pads. A little petroleum jelly may soften the pads and prevent further cracking. Don't leave your dog alone in a car without proper precautions. If the car engine is left on, the carbon monoxide will endanger your dog's life. If the engine is off, the temperature in the car will get too cold. Continued on page 4 Holiday Closings November 28th December 24th December 25th December 31st Closing at 1pm Januarty 1st For Sale! Can be customized and personalized. Pick the color and add your dogs name!

3 Page 3 The Raw Food Diet for Pets By A raw dog food diet is designed to mimic a dog s natural ancestral menu. The whole concept of raw feeding is based upon a dog s instinctive carnivorous bias a built-in desire to capture (or find) and eat another animal. As unsavory as it may seem, it is completely natural for a wolf to consume the entire animal. Meat, bones, organs and all. As direct descendants of wolves, dogs are simply not genetically optimized to consume the 50% carbohydrate content of today s commercial kibbles. So, how do these diets compare? The Ancestral Diet No one can argue the dry baked pellets we call dog food aren t convenient. Yet the nutrient profile of a dry kibble is nowhere near the nutrient content of a dog s ancestral diet. Notice the higher carbohydrate content of the kibble compared to the dog s natural ancestral diet. Or how about the dramatically lower protein and fat levels? Continued on page 5 Doggie Humor What did the clean dog say to the insect? Long time no flea! Six Legged Fun Day/Walk Oct. 6 11:30 am Blackburn Park, Webster Groves Saint Louis, MO Dog Friendly Events Animal Protective Associations 23rd Annual Carnival Oct. 6-11:00 am Tilles Parks Saint Louis, MO

4 Page 4 Continued from Page 2 Winter is Coming Dogs cannot talk to us when they are sick. As a responsible dog owner, it is important to pay special attention to your dog's well-being during the winter season. Remember the following health concerns: Antifreeze, which often collects on driveways and roadways, is highly poisonous. Although it smells and tastes good to your dog, it can be lethal. Rock salt, used to melt ice on sidewalks, may irritate footpads. Be sure to rinse and dry your dog's feet after a walk. Provide plenty of fresh water. Your dog is just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer. Snow is not a satisfactory substitute for water. Frostbite is your dog's winter hazard. To prevent frostbite on its ears, tail and feet, don't leave your dog outdoors for too long. Be very careful of supplemental heat sources. Fireplaces and portable heaters can severely burn your dog. Make sure all fireplaces have screens, and keep portable heaters out of reach. Like people, dogs seem to be more susceptible to illness in the winter. Take your dog to a veterinarian if you see any suspicious symptoms. Don't use over-the-counter medications on your dog without consulting a veterinarian. Training Classes Puppy Class/Behavioral Tuesday January 7, 2013 Novice I (Performance On Lead) Tuesday January 7, 2013 Novice II (Performance Off Lead) Wednesday, January 8, 2013 Agility (Beginners) Wednesday, January 8, :30 PM 7:30 PM 6:30 PM 7:30 PM Customer of the Month July: Gus C. August: Butterscotch S. September: Trixie S. Private and Home Sessions are Available upon Request

5 Page 5 Continued from Page 3 The Benefits of a Raw Diet Feeding a raw dog food diet has many notable benefits Firmer stools Improved digestion Healthier skin and coat Reduced allergy symptoms Better weight management There have been many reports of improved health when chronically ill pets were switched from a commercial product to a raw dog food. The Downside of a Raw Dog Food Diet A raw dog food diet can t touch the convenience of a kibble. Just measure and pour. It just doesn t get any easier. Yet besides the lack of convenience, there s another critical issue. Bacterial contamination. Salmonella and E. coli germs can always be a potential problem with raw meats. Yet the risk of food-borne disease is actually quite low. That is, low risk for dogs. But not for humans. That s because a dog s digestive system is shorter and more acidic, which makes canine infections like these fairly rare. The real risk of food-borne disease is actually greater for a dog s human caretakers not the dog. Yet with proper care and handling, this risk can be dramatically reduced. Check out our Coupons and Save! Board with us for 5 nights or more in October and get 10% off your bill. Only good in October Get one Teeth Scaling with a Tarter Removing Product at original price and get your second pet at $50.00 Good Oct. 1 Dec. 31 Must be on Oxyfresh for 2 weeks Buy 2 Get 1 Free Any Toy Excludes Clearance Items Must Present Coupon Not valid with any other offers October 1 December 31

6 Page 6 Next Enrollment Date: February 3,2013 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 Deb s Blog Massage Therapy Here at LaBest we offer a wide variety of services and one service that I m very excited to share with you is massage therapy. You know how much better you feel after you get a nice massage, it s the same with your four-legged friends. Massage is an effective way to release toxins from the joints, it promotes blood circulation, and it relaxes muscles and improves flexibility. From dogs that haven t been able to jump in the car for years and now can, to ones that could not hold their bladder when sleeping and were told they had no hope, and can now sleep without any issues. We even have had dogs that lost the ability to move their back legs and could only crawl with their front legs running on all 4's within weeks of therapy. Each dog is a special case and every story has been amazing. Massage is not just for dogs; cats, too, have benefits from therapy. We ve had a cat that lost feeling in his tail and within 4 weeks of massage therapy his tail came back to life and so did he. So don't let your pet spend another day in discomfort when there is a solution to their pain.

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