August 2015 Renaissance Poodles The Newsletter of Poodle Rescue of New England Welcome Note... by Mahala Beams We all know how much our beloved dogs enrich our lives. (Just read about Addie!) We know too the important roles that service dogs play in the lives of the handicapped. Therapy dogs comfort those who are ill or aid in physical therapy for those recovering from injuries or such debilitating events as strokes. And of course, therapy dogs bring great joy to elderly residents in assisted living facilities (Read Serena s story!), nursing homes, hospices or in facilities for Alzheimer patients. But did you know that rescue dogs, including poodles, can aid in the rehabilitation of prison inmates? A recent article in the Boston Globe ( A Friend Indeed by Peter Schworm, May 5, 2015) details the healing and restorative powers of dogs in the lives of inmates in a Worcester County Jail training program. There rescue Continued on page 2 Addie... by France and Jim Roy Addie Addie - it was love at first sight for this poodle mix, a tiny bundle with tons of personality, love and joy. She is such a pleasure to have in our home. In just two months we have seen her become more confident in her new surroundings as we bring her to new places and she meets new people. Her favorite things are belly rubs, running in her back yard trying to catch an occasional bird or squirrel, chasing her ball, playing with toys, and I cannot forget to mention snuggling in the big human bed. Sometimes she forgets the pillows are not big stuffed toys, but she's quickly learning the difference. The Insignia of Michigan Standard Poodle Rescue Continued on page 2 In this issue: Welcome Note... page 1 Long-term Use of NSAIDS...page 6 Addie. page 1 Mailboxpage 9 Serena... page 3 The PRNE/PETCOConnectionpage 10 PRNE Barbecue 2015.. page 4 Summer Gallery...page 11 Book Nook page 5 Upcoming Events...page 13
Welcome Note... continued from page 1 Addie... continued from page 1 dogs and inmates come together for their mutual benefit. The dogs come from a facility in East Brookfield and the inmates who work with them are low-risk offenders in the work-release program, nearing the end of their sentences. Michigan Standard Poodle Rescue has placed standard poodles for over six years in a similar facility in their program MIPAWS (Michigan Inmates Providing Assistance, Work and Service) at The Michigan Department of Corrections in Ionia. (Read about Michigan Standard Poodle Rescue and their MIPAWS program at: http://www.michiganstandardpoodlerescue.com/) In both facilities, an experienced dog trainer oversees and advises on training methods. In these programs and in similar ones, helping to rehabilitate, train and ready the dogs for adoption gives the inmates a sense of purpose and responsibility and improves morale tremendously. One inmate from Worcester reports, The responsibility - it changes people. It s good for this place. In Michigan, the objective is that each rescue poodle be capable of passing the AKC Canine Good Citizenship exam at the end of eight to ten weeks. In both programs, the rescue dogs have flourished, overcoming initial behavioral problems, and in some cases, becoming ready for adoption sooner than expected. What a good solution for both inmates and rescue dogs. Through fostering, the inmates learn responsibility and patience, at the same time experiencing the joys of bonding with and helping their canine charges. The rescue dogs in turn leave ready for bright new lives. Adorable Addie Addie just started a basic obedience class and is quite the charmer. I think she's not quite sure why she's having to do sits, downs and stays instead of playing with her classmates, but she's catching on to the cookie rewards really quickly. I believe she will be a Canine Good Citizen in no time. We are so thankful to her foster family for making the transition to our home go so smoothly and are very grateful to PRNE and all foster parents for all they do to find homes for all the dogs in need. Having Addie become part of our family was perfect for us; we could not be happier. 2
Newsletter of PRNE August 2015 Serena Serena visits at Bayberry Serena... by Sharon Sullivan I adopted Serena, a 14 year old Maltese mix on January 22, 2015, and we are in love. She is my shadow and I can t imagine life without her. She is the sweetest little old lady! I have always had large dogs and it has been an adjustment, but a good one. I bring her with me whenever I can. My 95 year old father lives in an assisted living community. I visit him several times a week. Serena knows when I m heading there, and she is always ready to go! She brings so many smiles to the residents. They love to pat and hold her and she is always ready to please. Serena was brought in to be put down by her owner because she had several tumors and because of her advanced age. The veterinarian saw so much life left in her that they called the Poodle Rescue New England. They vetted her out and thankfully none of the tumors were cancerous. I have a large family, a husband, four children and two cats; now Serena too has truly become part of our family. When I return after being gone for even very short periods of time, I am greeted by this bundle of joy that runs around like a puppy and plays keep away with her favorite toy. Thank you so much Poodle Rescue of New England for giving me this wonderful gift. Serena 3
PRNE s Annual Grill & Chill BBQ 2015 On a lovely Saturday afternoon in early August, many PRNE friends and pooches gathered at the Maspenock Club in Milford, MA, for a fabulous afternoon of good food, conversation, games, a raffle, silent auction and many doggy interactions. Music by Mike and Missy Unplugged from the Missy Maxfield Project added to the festive atmosphere. All proceeds from the event, PRNE s primary fundraiser of the year, go to PRNE s rescues and foster dogs. Pooches and their people had a wonderful time thanks to the fine planning and contributions of PRNE volunteers. Many thanks to all who participated. 4
Book Nook... by Mahala Beams For those of you dog-lovers who would like a good read for the end of the summer, A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron should serve you well. Perhaps you have already read it since it was published back in 2010 and spent some time on the New York Times bestseller list. I saw it on the shelves a while back, but somehow didn't get around to picking it up until just a couple of weeks ago. Initially I was a little put off by the premise: that one dog's spirit is reborn again and again, living out several lives in succession, each time as a different dog, but retaining and building on lessons learned during each previous lifespan. It also struck me at first that this dog, who narrates the book, sounded, well, all too human. However, as I read further, I began to accept the premise and the voice of the narrator and to enjoy the book more and more. The canine narrator ultimately discovers a sense of purpose after experiences first as a stray, then as the beloved dog of a young boy, then as a member of a canine search and rescue team and finally... well, I'll let you discover what happens in the end and what the dog's purpose turns out to be. Suffice it to say that it is a lovely book that will offer a comforting dream for all of us who have cherished and lost beloved dogs and who nonetheless are compelled to repeat the cycle of love and loss with new dogs over and over. Focused on the important roles dogs play in our lives and that we play in their lives, the book is funny, sad, tender, uplifting and ultimately affirming. I would recommend it highly to any dog lover. For poodle lovers (and wildlife lovers) who don t want to use dangerous chemicals in their yards to get rid of those pesky weeds, here is a great solution! 5
Long-Term Use of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Medication for Treatment of Canine Arthritis by Nancy Kay, DVM (July 20, 2015) Dr. Kay, author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life and of Your Dog s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect of Your Vet has graciously granted permission for PRNE to reprint one of her informative articles in each issue of Renaissance Poodles. Dr. Kay s extensive credentials follow: Dr. Kay Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine; Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award; Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award; Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog; Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award; Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award. For more information, visit her website: http:// www.speakingforspot.com. Just like people, many dogs develop age-related arthritis. Symptoms are far more common in larger breeds. Not only are the big dogs more predisposed to arthritis, their joint pain is intensified because of the extra weight they carry. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) As their name implies, NSAIDs are non-cortisone containing drugs. They have both anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain fighting) properties that produce greater ease of movement resulting in muscle strengthening and decreased strain on affected joints. Back in the 80 s when I was just a pup, the only NSAID available for dogs with arthritis was aspirin. While this drug did do a pretty good job alleviating arthritis pain, it also caused plenty of gastrointestinal side effects. Fast-forward to 2015 and several big-name pharmaceutical companies have their own NSAID brand approved for the treatment of canine arthritis. Within the United States there s Rimadyl, Deramaxx, Previcox, and Metacam, all of which are quite effective and associated with far fewer side effects than aspirin. Just as in people, the specific NSAID brand that most effectively treats arthritis pain in dogs varies from individual to individual. Most veterinarians have their first choice recommendation, but certainly try other NSAIDs should the first choice fail to create significant improvement. Potential side effects As is true for most any drug, negative side effects can occur with NSAID use in dogs. While the actual incidence of side effects is not known, it is thought to be low. When dosed appropriately, the vast majority of dogs tolerate NSAID therapy very well. There tends to be an unsubstantiated fear that the longer NSAIDs are used, the greater the risk of associated problems. Dr. B. Duncan Lascelles, a professor of surgery and pain management atnorth Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine dispels this notion in a paper titled, Risk-Benefit Decision Making in the Long-Term Use of NSAIDs for Canine Osteoarthritis. Lascelles states: We found that this was not true, there was no association between the longer you give a non-steroidal and the risk of side effects. As far as we can tell, we don t find any relationship between those two things- length of nonsteroidal use and incidence of side effects. Often, the clinical approach to a young or middle-aged dog with osteoarthritis associated pain is to avoid the use of NSAIDs. The rationale often quoted for this approach is that the practitioner wants to leave the use of NSAIDs for later, and not have a dog on NSAIDs for the whole of its life. This is a flawed and rather naïve approach. Continued on page 7 6
Long-Term Use of NSAIDS... continued from page 6 Lascelles goes on to say that, when NSAID side effects do occur, they are most likely to appear within the first two to four weeks after beginning therapy. Furthermore, when side effects do occur, they vary from dog to dog. Gastrointestinal upset, gastrointestinal ulcers, liver toxicity, and kidney toxicity are all possible NSAID associated problems. Symptoms may include: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, and increased thirst. Proper screening of the dog by a veterinarian prior to starting NSAID therapy as well as appropriate follow up after medication has started lessens the potential for adverse reactions. For example, an older arthritic dog discovered to have kidney failure would be ruled out as a good candidate for NSAID therapy. Observation of any side effects warrants immediate discontinuation of the NSAID and discussion with the prescribing veterinarian. NSAIDs: One of several treatment options While NSAIDs work well in many dogs, they are not the end-all and be-all treatment for arthritis. As a stand-alone therapy, they are inadequate for some dogs with chronic arthritis pain. Such animals are more likely to benefit from multimodal therapy in which an NSAID is combined with one or more of the following: Weight management Exercise modification Physical rehabilitation passive stretching range of motion exercises swimming under water treadmill therapy Supplements/nutraceuticals omega-3 fatty acids glucosamine hyaluronic acid chondroitin sulfate polysulfated glycosaminoglycans Acupuncture Massage therapy Stem cell therapy Surgery, such as a total hip replacement Pain medications tramadol gabapentin narcotics Steroids Don t skimp on therapy Arthritis pain robs dogs of their ability to do many of the things they most love in life such as going for walks, wrestling with their favorite dog park buddy, going hunting, or playing a good game of fetch. Think about the exuberant Labrador who loves nothing more than chasing tennis balls and eating. Add arthritis to the mix and the game of chase must be curtailed. This means fewer calories burned which translates into fewer treats and smaller meals. What a drag for everyone involved! In order to prevent arthritis from negatively impacting a dog s quality of life, it is important to treat this disease aggressively. This means treating daily rather than just on the day after a vigorous hike or when severe symptoms become apparent. Treatment should be started well before indicators of advanced arthritis pain such as limping or whining are observed. Continued on page 8 7
Long-Term Use of NSAIDS... continued from page 7 Dr. Jennifer Johnson, owner of Stoney Creek Veterinary Hospital in Morton, Pennsylvania states, From a pain-management perspective, I believe that my patients that are on chronic, daily NSAID use fare much better than the patients whose owners try to chase pain by giving NSAIDs as needed, or on tough days. It s difficult for clients to judge definitively how much pain their pet is in, which makes it impossible to accurately dose the pain with an NSAID as needed. In summary, maximizing the benefit of long-term NSAID use for treatment of canine arthritis requires the following: 1. Early treatment: use NSAIDs early on in the disease process. Once arthritis pain is ramped up it becomes much more difficult to control. 2. Multimodal therapy: use NSAIDs in combination with other therapies 3. Long-term therapy: use NSAIDs consistently for a period of time rather than on an as needed basis. Questions for your veterinarian Are my dog s symptoms caused by arthritis? Is my dog a suitable candidate for NSAID therapy? What other treatments for arthritis should we be considering? When should my dog be reevaluated? Do you have a pain prevention strategy for your pets? If you would like to respond publicly, please visit: http://www.speakingforspot.com/blog/?p=4864. PRNE rescue Lucy (right) playing in her new home 8
Mail Box Dear PRNE, Thank you from both of us for Phoebe s gifts! As you can see, she loves the stuffed animal. Phoebe is a fun, resilient dog. She's definitely an extrovert and every dog she meets is her newest BFF. We've been doing clicker training and she's a natural. She's on track to be a canine good citizen. (She has a long way to go!) She's by my side almost all the time and comes to work with me. Everyone wants her! She is mischievous and funny, keeping me on my toes. She knows she's in her forever home! She's a terrific pal! Maggie Phoebe Snugglers Maggie and Phoebe Sleepy Phoebe Continued on page 10 9
Mail Box... continued from page 9 Dear PRNE, Lulu says thanks for the gifts. She especially likes the stuffed animal. She has learned to play fetch and loves it when we throw one of her animals for her to chase. Lulu has settled in and is in total command of the house and its other occupant. She loves to sit on my lap or any place else she chooses. She sleeps in the big bed. She is paper trained but will do her business out side. She loves hanging out in the yard and chasing whatever moves. She is still having difficulty with her barking, but she is learning to stop when asked and given a treat. I can't imagine life without her! Lisa Dear PRNE, Ori and I have just returned from seeing Dr. Williams, one of the ophthalmologists at the vet referral facility in Woburn, MA. She did as thorough an exam as possible with Mr. Wiggles although he had to be muzzled because he nipped the vet tech who was holding him. Oh well, I am sure that they consider nipping part of their jobs. The long and the short of it is that Ori was indeed born blind. He has no optic nerves. Other than that his eyes are very healthy. This information has saddened me somewhat, because I was hoping that there would be something that could be done to help him. At least now we know and he is doing quite well with his lack of sight. Tomorrow I have a trainer coming to the house to begin helping me with Sophie and Ori s training. I am happy to say that I have them both pretty much house trained now. Ori has an occasional accident, but he is doing so much better. Sophie adapted very quickly. They both seem to be rather adaptable and bright. Carol and I hope that you are both well and happy. I shall keep you informed of their progress. Best regards, Bill Lulu The PRNE/PETCO CONNECTION CONTINUES Dallas helps out at PETCO in Needham on August 15. What a terrific representative for PRNE s work! Dallas and PRNE thank PETCO for their ongoing generosity. 10
S U M M E R Lilah and her new family G A L L E R Y Marvin Bella Baby Suzie Sadie with Ashley Trinket 11
SUMMER GALLERY... continued from p. 11 Mario and Bella Cosmo-Kitty and Bella checking out the birds Marvin Benji, ready for fun in the sun Tony, hanging with the girls Lulu 12
Upcoming Events PET ROCK FEST! September 13, 2015 Becker College in Leicester, MA Volunteers Needed to Represent PRNE at this fun event! For more information, check Pet Rock Festʼs website: http://petrockfest.org/events/event/pet-rock-festival-2014/ Petunia, Pebbles, Trinket and Harley WHO WE ARE Newsletter: Mahala Beams, editing and layout; and Amanda Lion Board of Directors: Merrilea Agostino, Anne Aronson, Amanda Lion, Amy Moore, and Gayle Morelli For more information on Poodle Rescue of New England, please visit our website: www.poodlerescuenewengland.org 13