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Available pets at the Lincoln County Shelter, video by Lee Arnot.
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I love our work here at The Animal House and with Woofstock. The rewards from these are gratification enough to keep me going indefinitely. This year we were blessed with DownEast Magazine award for best pet food store in Maine, and it was about that time that we launched our web presence to the world. Overnight the online store took off and has been steam rolling every since. With online you never you see anyone face to face, and often you wonder if your service is appreciated or even thought fondly of.
We recently just received national recognition from a pet industry association Pet Product News as the best online presence for a pet retail store in the nation. I am extremely over joyed at the award because we didn’t hire an agency to do our web stuff… it was 100% me. If that wasn’t enough our recently launched Kitty Cam was listed as one of the top ten cams in the world right now, by the largest webcam directory online, EarthCam!
If that wasn’t enough I was picking up my call in order at Sarah’s Cafe in Wiscasset, when I was checking out the Maine Illustrated Map marking all the tourist destinations and landmarks around the state of Maine. I gazed upon the Damariscotta area of the map where there was an illustrated dog with word Woofstock above the dog! Simply amazing that a charity event we have put together shows up on a map. I am overjoyed at the recognition have received so far this year. -
Dear Abby,
I actually have a real question…this totally grosses me out but I’m sure there’s an explanation for why it happens.We have two male labs…Sam (yellow, 10) and Kernel (black, 8). I keep the yard picked up regularly (daily, if not more), but without fail Sam finds pleasure in eating Kernel’s poo. Why does he do this? Other than standing immediately behind them while they’re doing their business (which is not always possible anyways), what can I do to prevent this? It even happens right after they eat a meal. YUCK!
Thanks Doc
-AaronDear Aaron-
I am sorry to hear about Sam’s offensive taste buds. Coprophagia is a fairly common problem in dogs, and can be caused by a variety of conditions including a behavioral issue, poor digestion, or an underlying medical problem.If you would like to try training Sam to not eat Kernel’s feces there is a really good training exercise explained on the website www.veterinarypartner.com. A simple ‘poop eating’ search will get you into the canine behavior series on the website.
There are food additives that make the feces taste unpleasant. You can feed Kernel SEP (Stop Eating Poop – Solid Gold) or Coprophagia Deterrent (NaturVet).
Sometimes a change in diet can help, and based on Sam’s current issues I would suggest considering switching him to a grain-free food. Aubrey, Dan, and their fine employees at The Animal House can help you pick out an over-the-counter brand that Sam & Kernel would enjoy.
Lastly, I would recommend a good check up with your vet including a senior blood panel and a fecal sample to rule out intestinal parasites, hypothyroidism, and other internal medical conditions that can cause dogs to seek more calories – no matter how repulsive we may find their snacking habits.
Best of luck, Aaron!
-Abby Strobbe, DVM
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Introducing the rescue powered Kitty Cam at The Animal House. Many of you have heard me talking about this feature for a month now, and after waiting for a special extension chord it is finally launched.
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Dear Abby,
I have a garden that I can’t keep my dog out of. I am worried that he may get sick eating the wrong thing. Is there anything I shouldn’t have growing in the garden or should be concerned about ?Sincerely,
G.A. Newcastle, MEDear G.A.,
My husband and I run a small farm, and your question today is right up my alley. There are many myths and misconceptions about which plants are harmful to pets. The ASPCA website (www.aspca.org) has a list of toxic plants. A sample of plants (and potential symptoms) to look for around the yard & in the garden are:
-American Bittersweet- vomiting & diarrhea
-Begonia – oral irritation
-Clematis- salivation, vomiting & diarrhea
-Foxglove – arrhythmias, vomiting & diarrhea, weakness
-Grapes (the fruit portion) – kidney failure
-Hosta – vomiting, diarrhea, depression
-Morning Glory – vomiting, diarrhea, agitation, disorientation
-Onion- vomiting, diarrhea, anemia
-Rhubarb (leaves) – salivation, kidney failure, tremors
-Tomato Plant (leaves) – increased salivation, weakness, vomiting & diarrhea
-Yarrow – vomiting, diarrhea, depressionPlease keep in mind that each plant listed can cause signs, but the amount that needs to be ingested before causing signs varries greatly. If you have any question about symptoms you are seeing in your pet that may be related to ingestion of a toxic plant please contact your veterinarian or the animal poison control center (1-888-426-4435) immediately.
On a lighter note, G.A., you may want to plant a few things that your animals may graze if they need to. The book by Juliette de Bairachli Levy titled The Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog and Cat would be a good start to researching plants your dog would be allowed to nibble on if he had the urge.
-Abby Strobbe, DVM
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