Happy September ! Here a t Crookston Pet C l in ic , we

are cont inuing to serve our c l i ents and pat ients to

make sure they rece ive top of the l ine serv ice and

care dur ing these t ry ing t imes . While our off ice is

open, our lobby is c losed . Please cal l for curbside

assis tance .

This i s the 15 th ins ta l lment of our d ig i ta l

newsle t t er that we pub l i sh for our c l i ents and

communi ty on a monthly bas is . Our goa l i s to

provide you wi th re levant informat ion that wi l l

benef i t you and your pe ts . We a lso fea ture pe t

prof i l es , c l in ic updates , and o ther th ings you may

f ind he lpfu l and enter ta in ing .

I f you have any informat ion you 'd l ike to submit ,

or perhaps a top ic you 'd l ike to see ta lked about ,

p lease send i t to us v ia emai l a t

crookstonpetc l in ic@gmai l . com. We look forward to

hear ing from you and provid ing you wi th

informat ion that you WANT to know about ! So l e t ' s

ge t to i t !

Welcome!

PRAIRIE PAWPRINTS

Crookston Pet Clinic's Newsletter

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WHY DOGS NEED JOBS

GREAT DANES

LITTERBOX WOES

DR. LEAH'S CORNER

I N T H I S I S S U E

Helping others find balance

P H O T O B Y M A R T I N R . S M I T H

Halloween is definitely fun and it can be even

more fun to dress up your pets! But it's very

important to do this safely.

Make sure that your pet's costume fits properly and

is only worn while supervised.

Also, make sure to hide your candy and treats well!

Most candy does not do well in pet tummies, so

let's keep them safe by only allowing them access

to pet safe treats!

Dr. Leah has a few words of wisdom to share:

This month we'd like to introduce you to Luna! She is an almost 1yr oldcoonhound mix. She loves to go with her dad Alex on their farm

adventures. Her favorite thing is to make new friends and play with withthem.

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Did youknow?!

Dr. Leah's Corner

Adult lions pretend to behurt by the bite of their

young to encouragetheir strength.

Eve Dahl is a pretty 10-year-old with a bright smile, but she has a condition--osteogenesis imperfecta

or brittle bone disease--that made her feel uncomfortable going out in public.

That changed when Finnegan, Finn for short, came into her life in January 2017, says her

mother, Deborah Dahl.

Dahl says that Eve used to think that people were staring at her wheelchair. Now, Eve says that

they are "looking at my cool dog."

That "cool dog" is a black and white Great Dane, who, at 155 pounds, is more than four times

Eve's weight.

To outsiders, they may look like an odd couple, but they are a perfect fit. Finn is Eve's balance

buddy, a living, breathing, furry cane. With Finn by her side, Eve confidently takes swimming and

dance lessons, sells lemonade at a curbside stand, goes trick-or-treating, and participates in all kinds

of activities that put the joy in childhood.

He's with her, always, waiting poolside to give her a kiss after a swim, to help her with

rehabilitation after surgery, or to guide her when walking through a crowd.

"I feel like he's made me stronger, so I can do a lot more things," Eve told FD in a phone

interview.

Eve was about 6 months old when she was diagnosed with the condition. By her 10th birthday,

her mother estimates she had experienced roughly 100 bone breaks, although she admits she stopped

counting at 75. Eve has also endured a dozen surgeries.

Over the years, Dahl says she often considered a service dog, but none that she saw seemed right.

Then, in early 2016, Dahl was watching TV coverage of the AKC National Championship and a "light

bulb went off." There was a ceremoney for the 2015 Awards for Canine Excellence. The recipients in

the service-dog category were Bella Burton, 11, and George, a huge Great Dane. Bella has Morquio

syndrome which impedes growth and impairs mobility.

"I saw the videos of them walking, and I said to myself, 'Oh my gosh, she walks like Eve,'" Dahl

recalls. She quickly contacted the organization that paired Bella and George, the nonprofit Service

Dog Project (SDP), in Ispwich, Massachusetts (servicedogproject.org).

Grand, Goofy, or Both?

When Carlene White, 80, SDP founder, first proposed the idea of using Great Danes, she was met

with skepticism. The breed's popular image, created in part by cartoon characters like Brad

Anderson's Marmaduke, is of a sweet-tempered over-sized goof, perpetually knocking things down

with his basketball-star limbs and platter paws.

Don't forget, "Ruh-Roh," the ultimate canine expression for "my bad," was first uttered by a Great

Dane-Astro, the pet of a space-age family on early 60's cartoon classic The Jetsons. The same voice

actor later introduced it to a new generation in Scooby-Doo.

White had been running an animal talent agency for more than three decades when she decided to

go in a new direction. Her father had had Parkinson's disease, and she had long thought about

Great Danes are helping all kinds ofpeople find their balance in life.

By Mara Bovsun

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Before

applying her training skills to service-dog work. She became an accredited memeber of Assistance

Dogs International and began building her program, consulting with an influential Great Dane breeder,

Laura Kiaulenas, of BMW Kennels, to establish a breeding line.

Since its founding in 2003, SDP has placed more than 165 Great Danes with children and adults

who have such mobility disorders as Parkinson's, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, paralysis,

Friedreich's ataxia, and other conditions that make it hard to get around.

The dogs cost about $20,000 to train, but they are provided free of charge to people who need and

qualify for them. SDP's round-the-clock puppy cams (https://tinyurl.com/y87erbtr) allow outsiders to

look in on how these budding helpers are raised.

From the Heights

In Germany, which is where they originated (not Denmark as the name would imply), the Great

Dane's main job was hunting savage European boar and other large game, work requiring size,

strength, and smarts. Fancier's developed a breed worthy of the nickname the "Apollo of dogs," huge

(males should be 32 inches or more at the shoulder), but balanced and agile, with a courageous and

dependable temperament.

In the modern world, these qualities have placed Great Danes among the most popular canine

companions (14th in the 2017 AKC breed rankings- despite the challenges posed by living with a dog

who is about the size of a pony. Good manners are essential, says breeder Cynthia Neet, who bred and

co-owns Zephyr, Best of Breed at the 2018 Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

"Since Great Danes are so giant, it is even more important that they are well-trained," she says.

She recommends a minimum of obedience classes that aim toward AKC Canine Good Citizen titles.

Neet also encourages her puppy buyers to enter a few dog shows.

"The dog show is a wonderful environment to train puppies and socialize puppies with people as

well as other dogs," she says. Vendors, spectators, noisy children, all kinds of breed, and dog-savvy

participants offer a kaleidoscope of intense, but controlled, stimuli.

"The puppies receive a positive human experience, every single time," Neet says. "This is very

important for a Great Dane puppy."

Danes are eager, and eye-catching competitors in other dog sports-obedience, agility, and even barn

hunt, which requires them to navigate through tunnels and hay bales. Their sensitivity makes them

wonderful therapy dogs and helps in their service-dog work.

"Mobility issues are one of the main reasons that people reach out for Great Danes as service

dogs," says neet. "They are big and can handle the weight of being leaned on."

For balance work, White says dogs need to be at least 45 percent of the height and 65 percent of

the weight of the person they will be assisting. The height of Bella Burton's George was one of the

first hings that struct Dahl when she saw the team on TV. In a flash, she understood why she never

envisioned other breeds working for her child. They were too short.

Eve needed something to help her stand upright, which neither smaller dogs nor conventional

mobility aids would do. When she used a walker, for example, she would lean forward onto her elbows,

because of her weak forearms. but with Finn, she rests her hand on his back, using her stronger upper

arms for support. Finn's height allows Eve to stand tall.

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P H O T O B Y M A R T I N R . S M I T H

Never Alone

The Great Dane's imposing appearance is another giant asset. "Great Danes are so noble (when not

sitting on your lap) and majestic. Very Impressive," says Neet. The breed's size alone can be enough to

deter a troublemaker. "I wanted a dog that when I walked alone on the beach at night, a bad person

would think twice before approaching me," says Neet, who has been showing and breeding Danes since

2000. "A Great Dane on high alert is not welcoming."

She got started in the breed when she went to college and had to downsize from her first love,

horses. Danes were the closet thing to a horse she could find.

Finn's size gives Eve confidence to go out into the world. She's so small that she could easily be

over-looked in a crowd. If someone jostled her by accident, she could fall and be seriously injured.

No one can miss her with Finn by her side. "I feel like I don't need my mom as much. I'm more

comfortable without my mom because I know Finn will protect me," Eve says.

One incident drove home the change Finn had made in the lives of the Dahl family. About a year

ago, Eve's sister was in a cheerleading competition. At one point, Dahl, Eve, and Finn found

themselves in a packed hallway and were separated. Dahl could not see her daughter amid the flock of

cheerleaders. Before Eve got her service dog, an incident like this would have set both mother and

daughter into panic. but not this time.

"People had gotten between Eve an I, but she wasn't worried," says Dahl. "She had Finn.

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P H O T O B Y M A R T I N R . S M I T H

WHY YOUR DOG NEEDS A JOB

IS YOUR DOG BAD, OR IS HE JUST BORED?

When I met Sailor at 7 months of age, the golden retriever's

intelligence and enthusiasm for learning was evident. But his

owners saw him much differently than I did. To them, he was

a spiteful dog who'd damaged thousands of dollars worth of

their belongings when they left him alone. Their frustration

had led them to my training class, and they said if he didn't

improve, they were sending him back to the breeder. But

once I questioned the family further, it was clear to me that

Sailor was spending a lot of time in his crate and not getting

enough exercise. That had to change -- and once it did,

Sailor's behavior improved and he and the family were able

to bond. There are three things I recommend owners focus

on when their dogs are acting out:

Provide Entertainment

Do you remember the last time you were at a restaurant with

a young child who was bored? Fun, right? A dog chewing up

BY KATHY SANTO

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your couch or jumping onto tables and counters is the canine

equivalent of a child throwing objects, screaming, and

crawling under tables. That's why it's up to the owner to

create suitable entertainment. If you're leaving your dog at

home alone or otherwise not spending time with him, I

recommend offering a puzzle toy with food hidden in it, which

requires problem solving and manipulation to remove the

treat and is much more fun than a squeaky toy. Kong and Bob-

A-Lot toys are just a few of the many available.

Give them a job to do

Our canine companions were not meant to sit in a crate or on

a couch all day long. And although some breeds have more

drive to work than others, they all need a certain amount of

mental and physical stimulation. Understanding the breed

history of your dog will help you determine what type of

activity he needs to feel satisfied. For example, retrievers like

Sailor were bred to hunt in the field alongside humans. Events

like field trials allow dogs to satisfy those instincts, but if

Get the Equipment

You can work out your dog's brain and body without leaving the comfort of your living room. There is a multitude of

inflatable dog exercise equipment on the market (I have every piece of FitPaws equipment at my school). Many of my

students have recycled their human workout equipment (like that old step-aerobics platform and the oft-unused BOSU ball)

into fitness gear for their dogs.

Buy an activity collar

If your dog's walks are shared among members of the household or with a dog walker, it's difficult to know exactly how

much exercise he's getting. Some activity trackers available for dogs not only keep track of how many steps your dog takes,

but also the intensity of the walk based on heart rate and breathing. This way, you can identify if the dog walker is taking

some shortcuts and ask for changes to maximize your dog's exercise time.

Consider an activity

Canine sports offer a wonderful opportunity to bond with your dog while keeping him healthy and fit (and you'll see some of

those benefits, too). Go to akc.org/events to search the array of sports you can participate in, from agility (running through

an obstacle course) to dock diving (jumping into a pool after a toy) to flyball (a ball-fetching relay race), and more. Bonus,

you can win ribbons and even official titles for your dog at the same time.

you're not able to train in a sport, a boisterous game of fetch or Frisbee

will do, too. Hounds, who are especially scent driven, can partake in lure

coursing events and may benefit from the puzzle toys mentioned above.

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

If your dog is actively inclined, you need more than a quick stroll up the

block or around the backyard to provide daily exercise. They say "A tired

dog is a good dog" for a reason. Talk to your veterinarian about the

appropriate amount of activity your dog needs each day, and then hire a

dog walker, sign up for a dog sport, or join a walking group to get

yourself motivated.

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Tips to help your dog be more active:

Litterbox Woes Relieved

Prevent indoor cats from seeing outdoor cats. Clean the sprayed area thoroughly with a solution of onepart vinegar and three parts water or a manufacturedodor-control product.

Recurring litterbox problems can try the patience of eventhe most loving and responsible guardian. "We get quite afew cats with litterbox problems," said Tine Elliot, managerof the National Cat Protection Society, a cat and kittenshelter in Newport Beach, Calif. "We'll only take a cat if theproblem is fairly recent, though. If it's had a litterboxproblem for years, we won't take it because it's too hard toretrain it. But with some research, time and effort, it is possible forguardians to get rid of the problem without getting rid ofthe cat. The problem most pet parents face is a cat's refusal orinability to urinate (or defecate) inside the litterbox. Beforeattempting to solve a litterbox problem, determine whetherthe cat is actually urinating outside the litterbox or spraying.When spraying, a cat usually backs up to a vertical targetand releases a stream of urine onto it, whereas a cat that isurinating outside the litterbox will leave telltale puddles onthe floor or carpet.

SPRAY MARKING Cats spray to mark territory. Male cats are notorious forspraying, but female cats will exhibit this behavior as well.For spraying problems:

B Y B E T H K R I P P N E R

Ensure each cat in the household as plenty of room. Try calming agents (including pheromone diffusers) todeter spraying behavior.

start with a small box with low sides for easy access.Don't rub a kitten's nose in a mess outside the box. Place kitten in the box to help it get started. Offer praisewhen he or she deposits in the litter. If problems continue, check with a vet.

Take your cat to the veterinarian to determine if theproblem is health-related. Use shredded newspaper as litter for a couple of weeksfollowing a cat's declawing surgery. Once the wounds havehealed, you can go back to litter. Make sure the litterbox is conveniently located for an aging

LITTERBOX AVERSION First, determine the reason why kitty doesn't go in the rightplace. Check with a veterinarian initially to make sure a medicalcondition isn't the cause of the problem.

Young Age If you have a kitten, welcome to potty training.

Infirmity and Illness If a cat normally uses the litterbox faithfully but thensuddenly begins to avoid it, the cat may have a medicalproblem such as urinary tract infection, kidney disease, ordiabetes. Recently declawed cats may also exhibit litterboxaversion. "Declawing can sometimes make a cat's pawstender," Elliot said, "causing the cat not to want to use thelitterbox because the litter irritates its paws." An aging orarthritic cat may simply need a little help into the litterbox to"do the right thing."

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Do not place litterboxes near washing machines or televisions, or in heavily traveled areas. Avoid placing the box near food and water bowls. Scoop waste daily. Clean the litterbox at least once a week. Make sure each cat in the household has its own box. Add more boxes for each story in the house. Try different litters until you find one that your cat prefers. Experiment with the amount of litter that is too deep or not deep enough.

Play games with the cat during a quiet time of the day. Administer a kitty massage. Always speak gently to the cat. Try calming formulas or pheromone diffusers. Consult a veterinary behaviorist.

Clean the litterbox more frequently. Scoop the contents at least once a day and clean out the entire box, refilling withfresh liter, weekly. Use a liner to keep liquids from sticking to the bottom of the box. Experiment with different types of litter. Use baking soda to soak up extra moisture and other pet-safe, commercially available odor eliminating products. Switch to a self-cleaning or washing litterbox. These automatically clean the mess within minutes of the cat using the box.

or arthritic cat. They may need lower sides or a small ramp to make entry and exit easier.

Location or Surface Preference Some cats find the location of their litterbox too noisy or public, preferring more peaceful, private spots to eliminate.

Stress Cats prefer predictability; while some cope well with change, most do not easily tolerate significant changes to theirroutines or environment. A change in food or feeding schedule, a new litterbox, new home or new medication may cause a cata great deal of stress. Similarly, the addition or absence of an animal or human in the household, strange-smelling anddisruptive home improvements (new paint or carpet) or the experience of being adopted can bring on feline anxiety. As if thisweren't enough, some cats even pick up on their family's stress.

STINKY BOXES Sometimes the greatest litterbox woe comes from the odor eliminating from a cat's box. No one wants their home to smelllike a litterbox, so take steps to get the stink out.

A change in litterbox routine usually means your cat is trying to tell you something. Listen closely and watch for changes inits health, behavior, and environment. Always check with your vet first to make sure that a medical problem isn't causing theaccidents. Respond with love, and your cat will most likely reward you in return.

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Our office will be closed thefollowing dates:

Monday October 19thThursday November 19thThursday November 26th

Friday November 27th

CLINIC INFORMATION

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Crookston Pet Clinic

214 South Main Street

Crookston, MN 56716

Phone: (218) 281-4231

Fax: (218) 281-4233

Email: crookstonpetclinic@gmail.com

Upcoming ClosureDates