NOBODY'S DOG by Trudie James

Today is the death day of nobody's dog
Nothing will mark it but a note in the log
I'm faceless and nameless and no tears will fall
For I know in your world I have no worth at all.

To you, my sweet someone, I am a friend and a dear
We ran the wind daily and you held me so near
But the gate was left open - I changed a walk on my own
I'd have cowered in fear if only I'd known.

I know how you cried on the night that I strayed
I know how you searched, I know how you prayed
But I went to a pound far far from our home
Where I crouched in despair in my kennel alone.

I know that you phoned for I heard your dear voice
And I hope you would hear me so I barked myself hoarse
Although I am a Lab cross with stockings all white
On their form I'm a Staff cross the description's not right.

So they said I' m not here and I sank to my bed
My kennel cough's worse and I can't raise my head
The rescue came yesterday but they hadn't a place
for a un-neutered cross breed with his mucus-streaked face.

You would have known me at once
You would have sensed I was near
You would have sorted my ills
You would have carried me home
And I promise our God no more would I roam.

Now my eyes plead for mercy for my seven days are done
And I am waiting with dread for the final vet run
No arms will caress me as they inject me to death
No words will comfort me as I take my last breath.

When the body man comes, it is fitting I'm found
In a bin bag in the freezer in the depths of the pound
Thrown away like the rubbish no respect and no shame
Denied even the time to find you again.

My loyalty and devotion they did cruelly betray
Without microchip or name tag I am just a dispensable stray
Once waggy-tailed, once proud, beloved and free
Oh Dad look with pain at what mankind's done to me!

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Fireworks frighten animals

Nowadays fireworks feature at all kind of celebration, not just bonfire night. Many people enjoy fireworks but many pets are frightened by them.
Do not ignore the problem, follow these simple tips or refer the problem to a professional animal behaviour counsellor if needed.

KEEPING CATS AND DOGS SAFE AND SECURE

During the fireworks season, at nightfall, close all windows and curtains and put on some music to mask and muffle the fireworks sounds.

If your dog or cat shows any sign of fear, try to ignore his/her behaviour unless there is imminent danger - for example, if he/she is likely to self-harm.

Never show anger to your dog or cat if she/he appears frightened - this will only convince your pet that there really is something to be afraid of!

Do not fuss over or try to reassure your pet when he/she is frightened.

Make sure your pet is kept in a safe and secure environment at all times, so that he/she can't bolt and escape in reaction to a sudden noise. If you have had your pet microchipped you will certainly improve the chances of a safe return if he/she does escape.

DOGS - BEFORE THE FIREWORKS START

A dog-appeasing pheromone diffuser that disperses calming chemicals into the room may be a good option. Your vet might even prescribe medication.

You can plan ahead a "doggy play area" in your house - choose one of the quieter rooms. Try to train your dog and let him associate the play area with a positive experience: play games with your dog in the play area, with a variety of toys. Put away toys when not in use so that your dog does not become bored with them.

Some dogs appreciate being able to withdraw when they are frightened, so the provision of a doggy den in the "doggy play area" may help them to cope. For example, this can be a wardrobe or a cupboard coved with his/her blanket.

WHEN THE FIREWORKS START

When the fireworks season begins, close any windows and black out the "doggy play area" to remove any additional problems caused by flashing lights.

Each evening before the fireworks begin, move your dog in the play area and provide toys and other things that she/he enjoys.

Do not leave the dog alone and set a good example: ignore the fireworks noise, play with a toy to see if he/she wants to join in, but don't force him/her to play.

You can also listen to some (classic) music together.

Do not walk your dog when the fireworks are about to begin.

CATS

If possible, keep your cat indoor when fireworks are likely to be set off - do not forget to lock the cat flap once he/she is indoors.

Make sure that your cat has somewhere to hide if she/he wants to - for example, under or on top of some furniture or inside a cupboard. Do not try to tempt him/her out, as this causes increased stress.

SMALL ANIMALS

If your pets live outside, partly cover cages, pens and aviaries with blankets so that one area is well sound-proofed. Make sure that your pet is still able to look out.

Provide lots of extra bedding for your pets so that they have something to burrow in.

Prof. Daniel Mills MRCVS, University of Lincoln

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Your Pet and Anesthetics

Modern day anesthetics allow veterinarians to perform a vast amount of sophisticated medical procedures and surgeries with negligible consequences. Anesthesia is used for 2 main purposes. The first is to minimize anxiety. This can be very significant in a scared animal that is brought into a strange surrounding when it is not feeling well. The second is to eliminate pain and relax the muscles for surgical or invasive procedures. The anesthesia we use has been adapted from human medicine. As a matter of fact, in most cases, we use the exact same anesthetic agents and equipment. The main piece of equipment we use is a machine that allows us to administer anesthetic as a gas. This is a very safe and effective way to administer anesthesia, and is especially important for us doctors that work on exotic animals. New and safe injectable anesthetics are used more and more in dog and cat medicine because they have less impact on the environment. Preanesthetic preparation is one of the keys to safety. This involves an examination, blood sampling, and the use of intravenous fluids for older or riskier patients. Age is no limit to anesthesia as long as proper preanesthetic precautions are taken. Some people have an inordinate fear of anesthesia because they heard of some animal dying or had a bad experience years ago. It is rare to almost non-existent for an animal to die from anesthesia when routine precautions are taken, so this fear is unnecessary. It is common to have this fear when a pet is anesthetized for teeth cleaning. Dental disease is the most overlooked and serious problem of animals that are presented to our hospital. 

Anesthesia allows us to clean under the gumline with our ultrasonic scaler, care for infected or broken teeth, and polish the teeth to prevent the recurrence of gingivitis. 

The risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease causing illness in your pet is magnitudes higher than the risk of anesthesia. We have substantial information on our web site regarding anesthesia and even dental diseases. Please follow these links: Anesthesia- http://www.lbah.com/anes.htm Dental Disease- http://www.lbah.com/dent.htm From the doctors at the Long Beach Animal Hospital

3816 E. Anaheim St. Long Beach, CA 90804 USA

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Exotic Pets?

Over the last 20 years it has been quite trendy to own some of the more unusual pets like birds and reptiles. Even though many of them make great pets, they are not as domesticated as dogs and cats. This leads to a significant amount of frustrating problems for their owners and us veterinarians. You have a responsibility to educate yourself on the needs of these animals 

before you purchaseone of them. To think that you can take an animal from the wild and recreate a proper habitat for it in your house with little effort is sheer folly.

Many of these animals are exquisitely adapted to their particular niche and don't 

do well when taken out of this environment.

If you are not going to make their care a highpriority in you life then you don't

belong owning one of them. In many cases the nutritional requirements are not 

known. We have an idea of what they need to eat, and try to replicate the foods 

they eat in the wild, but it is only an educated guess. Nature is verycomplicated, 

and these nutritional needs are very specific. This is particularly important in reptiles 

since they are dependent on their environment to a much greater degree than 

most any other animal. Iguana's are probably the most common reptile presented to us, due mostly to their popularity and the medical problems that affect them. By the time an owner brings them in for medical care the disease process is well entrenched and difficult to correct. You can learn more about this Iguana disease by following this link on our web site: http://www.lbah.com/reptile/nshp.htm From the doctors at the Long Beach Animal Hospital WWW.LBAH.COM

3816 E. Anaheim St. Long Beach, CA 90804 USA

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Does your pet have heartworm?

With Spring soon upon us its time to start preparing for the upcoming heartworm season. Heartworm is caused by a parasite called dirofiliaria immitis. It is spread to dogs, and recently cats, by a mosquito. The mosquito is a necessary part of the life cycle. Traditionally this disease only occurred in hot and humid states that were essential to mosquito breeding. The disease occurs throughout our country now, although heatworm preventive medications have had a significant effect in lowering the incidence of heartworms.
Dogs and cats of any breed can be infected, although we tend to see it more in large male dogs. Since it takes at least 6 months from the time a mosquito injects microfilaria into a dog until these microfilaria become adult heartworms, puppies must be at least 6 months of age before adult heartworms are present. Most dogs are diagnosed at middle age.Many dogs do not have any symptoms until heart failure progresses. This emphasizes the need for yearly testing. Many products are available to prevent heartworm (some of them also treat intestinal worms so they can be of great value). These products are inexpensive, easy to use, and effective. They should not be used routinely unless your dog has a yearly heartworm test to make sure it is negative. Heartworm infestation can lead to heart failure. Treatment can be hard on a dog, so it is of utmost importance to plan on preventing the problem with the low cost and readily available medications used for prevention, as opposed to taking a chance and treating only if the problem occurs. We have detailed information on Heartworm Disease on our web site at www.lbah.com Follow the drop down menu to Heart Disease, and click on the Heartworm links. From the doctors at the Long Beach Animal Hospital

3816 E. Anaheim St. Long Beach, CA 90804 USA

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Pet skin allergies

Skin allergy, also know as atopy or allergic inhalant dermatitis, is the most common medical condition at our hospital. In most cases it becomes a lifetime problem that causes significant frustration for you and your pet. The most common causes are grasses, trees, and shrubs in the outdoors, and bed bugs, molds, and mites indoors. In addition to atopy, fleas are a significant cause of skin allergy, and even foods can be a source of the allergy problem. Many treatments are commonly used to minimize itching and scratching due to atopy: Avoidance - Minimizing exposure to grasses, trees, and shrubs when possible - High quality room purifiers in sleeping area Topicals - Water- Cool water baths soothe skin and rinse away allergens - Colloidal oatmeal shampoo and rinse - Antihistamines and anti-inflammatories spray on affected areas Dietary - Low allergen food- Hills Z/D, venison, potato, lamb - Essential fatty acids- EFA-Z or Derm Caps Immunotherapy - Allergy testing and allergy injections Cyclosporine - Anti-rejection medication that also has a powerful effect on itching Antihistamines - Decrease scratching with minimal side effects Antibiotics - Used for at least 3 weeks to control infection and decrease itching Glucocorticoids - Strong anti-itching properties and safe when used at low doses intermittently Our web site at WWW.LBAH.COM has detailed information on the cause, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease for your complete understanding. From the drop down menu on the home page click on the Allergy link, or go right to this page at:

http://www.lbah.com/allergy.htm From the doctors at the Long Beach Animal Hospital WWW.LBAH.COM

3816 E. Anaheim St. Long Beach, CA 90804 USA

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Balanced Medical Approach

In the last decade there have been great advances in the medical treatment of animals. We now have at our disposal drugs to treat chronic diseases that previously caused unnecessary discomfort and pain. In addition to these drugs, there have been significant advances in the treatment of animals using a more natural approach. This involves stimulating the body's own immune and nervous system. These advances now allow us to utilize a balanced approach to disease treatment and prevention, utilizing medications as needed, while simultaneously stimulating the body to heal itself. We are now able successfully manage chronic diseases involving the heart, thyroid, kidney, urinary bladder, liver, and musculoskeletal system. The natural approach utilizes diet and medications called nutraceuticals, along with compounds that occur naturally in our environment. A recent advance in the natural approach has been our ability to stimulate the nervous system to increase blood flow to diseased organs and correct imbalances that have been present for a significant period of time. A major advantage to this approach is the fact that no anesthesia, injections, or drugs are used. You can learn more about this in our VOM page at http://www.lbah.com/vom.htm From the doctors at the Long Beach Animal Hospital WWW.LBAH.COM

3816 E. Anaheim St. Long Beach, CA 90804 USA

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