Vol. 2 No. 3 June July 2013. Meet Mild Mannered Millie Millie is one of the rescue dogs we have had at the kennel since May. We believe her to be about 3 years old and a mix of Border Collie and Aussie mix. The story of Millie s history is somewhat vague, but what little we know is heartbreaking. In her life she has known more neglect and abandonment than any living creature should endure. Millie came in with another rescue, a lab mix named Boomer. The two showed up originally at an animal shelter in the Colorado plains with home made barbed wire collars wrapped around their necks. Summit Dog Rescue found them there two months ago and have been working to find their forever homes. Boomer is now on the way to his. Millie is still waiting. She is such a lovable girl and is really deserving of finding someone to give that love back. She is the type of dog that will do well with an active and outdoorsy partner. She is also content just to nap on the couch all day if circumstances dictate. cottonwood tails By Shannon Lavery She would do well in a house with no cats or smaller dogs however, because she does have a bit of a prey drive. This is most likely a residual behavior from her previous life experience. She does well with larger breeds and during her time here at the kennel has become very bonded with a few in particular. She enjoys energetic play with her new friends. I took Millie home with me for a week and found her to be a very well mannered young lady. She got along well with my husky/lab mix Colby. We also went on some hikes where she did very well staying with me and enjoying the trek. Millie has stolen the hearts of the employees here at the kennel. We would all love to see her find that loving home she deserves. We here at the kennel love having the opportunity working with these little guys and gals who need someone to love them full time. To meet Millie, or any of the other rescues we have from time to time, just ask at the front desk or give us a call. Also see the www.summitdogrescue.org website. As summer looms ahead, we cannot emphasize enough the importance of protecting your pets from the heat. A Dog s body temperature is an average of 101.0 to102.5. Our body temperature is 98.6, so if you could imagine how a dog feels in the kind of heat we are experiencing. Dogs do not sweat through their skin like humans, they release their heat primarily by panting and they sweat through the foot pads and nose. If a dog cannot expel heat, the internal body temperature begins to rise, once a dogs body temp. reaches 106.0, damage to the body s cellular system and organ s could be irreversible. Sadly, many dogs do not survive heat stroke Sign s of heat stroke: * -Vigorous panting * -Dizziness or disorientation * -Lying down and unwilling to get up * -Dark red gums or pink membrane in the eye (turns dark red) * -Tacky or dry * -Thick saliva Beware HEAT STROKE By Rhonda Beitzel * -Collapsing and or loss of consciousness If you see any of these signs or you are not sure, get your dog to a cool spot. Use cool wet towels to cool them off. Then call or go to your veterinarian or emergency vet clinic and have them checked over. Remember, prompt action can make all the difference in the health of your pet.
Cottonwood Tails Page 2 June July 2013 This month I will tell you about my girl, my messy, messy girl, Neah. It is summer!! I know because Neah loves to swim. She is such a great companion and has a great life. She is allowed to go into the pasture and swim freely which is her favorite thing to do. She loves summer because she can swim, hike and camp. She is able to enjoy the season fully with me, and me with her. We have so much fun together. However, vaccines, topical treatments Neah and I have fun at Scott Carpenter Park during Dog Dayz 2012 and grooming need are always on my mind. I always make sure she is fully vaccinated for rabies, distemper, Bordatella and leptospirosis. She is also always on heartworm preventative year round. This also helps protect her from hookworms and whipworms. I also use topical treatments to shield her from fleas, ticks, lice and mites. Front Office Report By Rhonda Beitzel Kennel Manager I am a true believer that dirty dogs have more fun. This philosophy means I let Neah get wet and dirty on a daily basis. I love to see her smile. Neah is a mess after a swim in the pond, but she s one happy girl. Because of this, she smells like a foot...yuck, gross, yuck but I still love her. I have to take special care of her due to her freedom and fun. Grooming is a must. I clean her ears and feet daily. She is prone to infection in these areas because she is always wet. She gets matted within hours during her play which means I must brush her out daily. If the mats build up, we would be risking hot spots, bacterial infection and restrictions from swimming...which we cant have. She has regular grooming appointments with full baths, brush outs, nail clipping and anal gland expression, along with a good ear cleaning. I try to listen to my dog. She is usually right. Summer is here. If happiness means you smell like a dirty sock...you are truly happy. Play...Enjoy...Relax. What You Should Know About Bloat By Penny Vardell Bloat is an acute life threatening condition found in large deep chested dogs. It is very important that the owners of these types of dogs are aware of this condition and it s signs. Bloat occurs when the stomach fills with gas, food or water. Sometimes this happens on it s own, but more often happens when the stomach twists. Immediate medical attention and surgery is necessary when this happens to save the dogs life. The signs of bloat are a contradiction in themselves. Sometimes the dog may be agitated, pacing, lay down then get back up unable to get comfortable. They may try to vomit with nothing coming up or howling in pain. The distension of the stomach may or may not be visible. You may feel a round bubble in the stomach which is the beginning of the distension. Again, dogs may be quiet an just keep refusing food. Palpation of the stomach could be helpful. Bloat occurs very quickly which makes prompt medical attention mandatory. No one really knows why bloat occurs. Some theories are over eating, rapid eating, exercise after eating, high water intake, stress, delayed gastric emptying or plain old genetic disposition. Suggestions for minimizing the chance of bloat are smaller feedings 2 to 3 times per day. Rest before and after eating, limiting water in dogs that gulp, Keep feeding time regular and stress free. If you have a deep chested dog, discuss bloat with your veterinarian and design a management plan that will minimize your dogs chances of bloating. Remember, bloat, untreated is 100% fatal. But with the right knowledge and planning, along with quick action can save most pets from this terrible fate.
Notes From Small Dog Playgroup By Pilar Heffelfinger Playgroup Captain Cottonwood Tails Page 3 June July 2013 Co onwood Kennels Notes from Large Dog Playgroup By Peter Keeler Playgroup Captain Memorial Day kicked off summer season and it s time to barbeque or go to the pool to cool off. Here at the kennel we also have pools to cool your munchkins off. We also have water hoses and large water buckets to help in the job of keeping the little guys cool. We enjoy joining in on the water activities and the pups get so excited playing with us and getting wet. What can we say..we are hands on. We weren t actually sure that summer was coming with the snow lingering so long, but now that it s here, the little guys are happily having fun in the sun. As always, we are thrilled to welcome all our new clients to playtime. We are also happy to see some faces we haven t seen in a while returning to play with us, and we love all of our regulars of course. * Heat reminders for your pooch. It takes less than 10 minutes for your car to heat up an additional 20 degrees. A dogs body temperature ranges from 100.5 to 102.5 degrees. If your dog overheats, cool them down by putting them in a bath tub or baby pool with cool water. A common mistake is to use ice. Also, you can use wet towels wrapped around their body. If you think your dog is overheating, do the above and call your veterinarian immediately. It is also good to know where the closest emergency pet clinic is located in your area. Pet Product Center Co onwood Kennels carries a large supply of pet toys, bed- ding, food and treats for your pets. All at reasonable prices. So shop around next me you re in our lobby. Trained or not, he'll always be his own dog to a degree. Carol Lea Benjamin With the first day of summer behind us, everyone at Cottonwood Kennels is ready - for the season. Summer is a very important time for us at the kennel, and we are ready to go. To prepare for the longer days and more intense sun, we put up shade screens over the yards to provide that relief from the much hotter mid day sun. We also have 4 very large shade trees over the big dog play yard that provides shade throughout the long summer days. We have our pools spread out and filled with water for the dogs to play in, and they do. We also use our water hoses to wet the guys down and keep them cool. An early summer day in Large Dog Play Group It is extremely important to us to keep your pets as comfortable as possible. We pay close attention to how individual dogs are reacting to the heat so that we can make sure they are handling the day OK. If the dogs look like they are getting too hot, even with all the shade and water, we send them inside to the air conditioned kennel area and give them a rest and water break. Dogs bodies naturally run hotter than a humans and they can t remove their coats. So, what might feel OK to us can quickly become too much for our dogs.
Cottonwood Tails Page 4 June July 2013 Meet the Cottonwood Family By Penny Vardell I would like to introduce you this month to Shannon Lavery. Shannon has worked at Cottonwood for over a year now and has learned every aspect of the business. Shannon completed her associate degree in graphic design at Community College of Vermont in 2010 and went on to Burlington Institute to study design and illustration. After completion of these courses she went to work for the Okemo Mountain Ski Resort in Ludlow, Vermont. Around the kennel, Shannon can be seen everywhere from the front desk all the way out to playgroup. She excels at whatever she is assigned for the day and always does it with her trademark smile. Shannon has also been working in the technical department at the kennel, taking photos and helping your furry little friends compose emails to parents who are away. Shannon came to Colorado from Vermont because of her love for snowboarding, camping and hiking. Shannon has a husky and lab mix named Colby who loves the outdoors. They love camping and hiking together and spend as much time as possible together. Another of Shannon s hobbies is stained glass. Shannon hopes someday to show her work at a gallery. We love Shannon here at the kennel and all the wonderful qualities she brings with her. Purrs from the Cattery By Connie Duras Jake s first stay at Cottonwood was at the age of nine month old. He enjoyed playing with toys and rolling on cat nip. He had a great time laughing at the squirrels as they raced through the trees. Jake s coloring is called Tuxedo. His body is black w i t h white chest and feet. He is always dressed for a formal affair. His coat is classed as Domestic Medium Hair (DMH). He has a fluffy tail with a small amount of long hair on legs and tummy. Jake is a very sweet and happy kitty cat. ************************************ "After scolding one's cat, one looks into its face and is seized by the ugly suspicion that it understood every word. And filed it for reference."- Charlotte Gray ************************************ Mikes Canine Culinary Corner Quickie Treat Cookies For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients. 1½ lb. ground meat (boiled in water) (80/20 lean/fat works the best) 1 cup Flour 1 cup Flax seed 1 cup Quaker oats 2 lg carrots grated (1 cup) 1 tsp. baking soda By Mike Thorpe Combine the baking soda, flour, flax seed and Quaker oats in a bowl Boil the meat until it is starting to brown and mix it well with the other ingredients. *Note: Too much flour will make them sticky and hard for smaller breeds to eat) Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray and spread the ingredients evenly into the pan about 1 thick. Preheat oven to 350 degrees then bake for 20 minutes or until brown. Let cool, then cut into appropriate size squares for your pet. Place them in a Ziploc and store in the fridge. They also freeze well if you want to make a larger supply. To make more, just double or triple your ingredients. Bone Appetit!
Cottonwood Kennels Page 5 June July 2013 Your Pets Horoscope Meet our Barnyard Friends By Madame Neah Our wild friends are just as much a part of kennel life as anything. On arrival you, and especially your little four legged friends will see a variety of wildlife around the front areas. Birds and squirrels abound, and we take care of them as if they were family. We supply the corn and seed that keeps them going all year round and they let us enjoy their frolicking and acrobatics. Besides all the squirrels we see, we have a plethora of birds who wing in to take advantage of the feeders everyday. They include Black capped Chickadees, Song Sparrows, Barn Swallows, Downy Woodpeckers and many more. We also have a Blue Heron and several wild ducks who frequent the pond out in the pasture. The dogs are often quite interested in all the activity as well and will often give their partners a little, or big, tug in the direction of all the action, so hold on tight. Aries (3/21-4/19) You want to feed into temptation. Be careful, it could lead to extra pounds or worse when you let a tormenting squirrel get to you. Taurus (4/20-5/20) It is only the beginning of summer, don t over do it. Longer days mean shorter nights. Enjoy the opportunity to relax. Gemini (5/21-6/20) You need space! You want to get out and run around. You also want a variety of people and friends around you to enjoy the outdoors. Just remember who holds the leash and don t get to stubborn or bossy. Cancer (6/21 7/22) You have a lot of inner strength and determination. You seem to get what you want. Whether it be a treat or game of fetch, or even a long walk. Remember to play with those around you. Leo (7/23 8/22) Your goal this season is to find many new adventure for your exuberant nature. You are constantly looking for new environments. Use caution and intelligence not to stray too far from home. Virgo (8/23 9/22) You have been cooped up for too long. You are ready for new activities of any kind. Try a new trail, a new swimming hole, new toys or. agility exercises. Your summer season will be filled with new experiences Libra (9/23 10/22) You always go at top speed! Try to restrain some of that energy. Don t lick the dinner plates before they reach the dishwasher. You will be rewarded generously. Scorpio (10/23-11/21) You have a lot of travel in your future. It could be to summer camp to meet new friends, a camping trip with a number of new smells, or it could just be a car ride with your head out the window to get some ice cream. Sagittarius (11/22-12/21) You are very alert and constantly taking in your environment.birds, critters and new friends are always on your radar. Don t let new opportunities pass you by. Join in the fun. Capricorn (12/22 1/19) The season has brought sunshine and rain. This will bring out your playful side. Stop and smell the flowers, chase a butterfly and definitely sing in the rain. Aquarius (1/20-2/18) It will be a busy season for you. Remember to take care of yourself. Because of your excitement, remember to eat slowly. Look both ways when crossing the street and don t try eating those bees!! Pisces (2/19 3/20) You are feeling mischievous. You will figure out new ways to get the attention you want. Be sure it is the positive attention you deserve. Co onwood Kennels Play and Stay for Pets Open 7 Days A Week 7:30am un l 6:00 pm Remember us for all your boarding, day-care and grooming needs.
Cottonwood Tails Page 6 June Jule 2013 Cottonwood s Let s Summer Party Though there s lots of it, it s not all work at the kennel. The kennel crew kicked off it s summer season having fun at our annual Beach Party down at the pond. The rest of the night was a little calmer with everyone relaxing around the pit and enjoying each others company. The favorite topic was, of course, dogs. Dogs we know, dogs we have known and all the dogs to come. Get together on the coast. Our dogs all got to get in on the fun too and the swim sign was put on open for the four legged guys who took full advantage. Roasted hot dogs were on the menu and the pit stayed busy. Smores were also a big item for the night First we had to spin around with our head on a plastic bat facing the ground. Then move water from one bucket to another, when that task was complete, we had to solve a questionnaire about kennel knowledge. Then it was off to the next clue, which led to another clue which led to our final task. Making 3 leashes, fancy ones with charms, and walking our fellow team members across the finish line. Yes, it was a tie. Enjoying a lovely Colorado night. The beautiful Colorado night ended about midnight as crew members began to drift off and get ready for the busy times ahead. One thing was certain at the end of the party, Cottonwood Kennels has a great team of people to take care of your little ones. They love what they do and show it not only when at work, but when at play too. Penny shows how it s done.. Leslie and Jon strumming a tune. Also on the night, Rhonda, our office manager cooked up another great party game complete with action, thinking, more action and finishing with creativity and yes, more action. The leash is on the other foot now We hope you all have a great summer and we want you to know we are here ready to take care of your little guys when you need us.