The Sou’Wester’

Newsletter of South Bay Kennel 5/1/2016 Edition 22 Volume 5 Club Inc.

MEETING REMINDER: THURSDAY, MAY 5TH AT 7:15 SHARP FOR

BOARD / 7:45 FOR GENERAL BUSINESS -UPCOMING SHOWS NAKAOKA CENTER, GARDENA    PROGRAM: DISCUSS UPCOMING SBKC Lake Mathews Kennel Club DOG SHOW AND FUTURE PROGRAMS 5/1/2016 Prado Regional Park PREZ SEZ Chino, CA …If you missed the meeting last month, you missed a very Rio Hondo Kennel Club informative and interesting evening. Dr. Chris White (our 5/7-8/2016 show vet), presented a program all about fleas and various Cal Poly University flea products and treatments that was most fascinating. I Pomona, CA learned a few things, and I am betting everyone else did as well! I didn’t realize that products that have expiration dates Mt Palomar Kennel Club have been FDA approved, whereas those that have no 5/21-22/2016 expiration date are actually considered pesticides! I was Bates Nut Farm already aware of the need to treat not only the animal, but its Valley Center, CA environment in the house and out of the house, but it was good to be reminded of that. I also didn’t realize that the Antelope Valley Kennel diatomaceous earth powder (you know, the stuff that is the Club consistency of ground up chalk), has to be very generously San Fernando Kennel Club applied and left on to really work, or that each stage of the life San Gabriel Valley Kennel cycle of a flea offers a different sort of hazard! Great Club Los Encinos Kennel Club information, indeed! Thank you Barbara Millman for 5/27-30/2016 arranging to have Chris attend. He was most generous with Los Angeles County his time. Fairgrounds Also, have to extend special thanks to Cheryl Head for Pomona, CA bringing an extra bunch of snacks and food for the meeting— we had an excellent turnout, again, thanks to Barbara Millman’s invites to the Obedience Clubs! Also, thanks to Tami and others who brought cookies and so forth. It was a very welcoming meeting, I think. Can we have a volunteer to bring snacks for this month’s meeting? As far as the show is concerned, we are moving forward at a hectic pace, which is usual for May. Our judging panel is complete and approved—trophies for this year are a new choice from Fantasy Glass, thanks to Marilyn Day….Marilyn is also working with the Hotel to get an agreement in place for rooms for the Judges in August. Still waiting for the signed contract from the school, but expect it will be shortly forthcoming. I will be sending out the 2016 Membership List and membership cards also. You should have them by the meeting—but if you’re someone who tends to attend the meetings, I may just hand it to you there! And finally, we have a scholarship recipient. There is a write up a little further along in this newsletter. The scholarship will be presented at North High’s annual awards program which will be held May 25th. See you at the meeting! Toni

Minutes from the South Bay Kennel Club Meeting 4/7/2016

Meeting called to order 7:25pm.

Members in attendance: Marilyn Day, Larry & Tami Kittiver, Barbara Millman, Cheryl Head, Tony and Jackie Zambrano, Michael Lekov, and Toni Woods.

Guests: DR White, Claudia Kirchner, Ethel Mercer, Lafayette McGowan and Kathy McCullough

Minutes from last month approved. Motioned: Cheryl Head, Second: Tony Zambrano.

 President’s and Show Chairman’s Report Talk to Larry about filing tax forms for non-profit. Cheryl to get with Larry for show food service. Application sent to North High. Marilyn to order trophies and get contract with hotel. Show catalogs will be $10.00 at the next show, not $5.00.

 Secretary’s Report Updated member list sent to Toni. She needs to distribute.

 Treasurer’s Report Larry provided update on financial status of club. Insurance paid.

 Committee’s Report Ring stewards need to contact Paul Garrity.

 Unfinished Business Decide on $1500.00 scholarship to North High.

 New Business None Meeting adjourned at 7:49 Motioned: Marilyn Day, Second: Tony Z.

HARBOR PINES VETERINARY CENTER & DR. WHITE'S MOBILE VETERINARY SERVICES (CHRIS WHITE, DVM CA.12846) 26640 WESTERN AVE. SUITE C HARBOR CITY, CA, 90710 310-517-1832 310-517-1863 (FAX) TYPICAL PROTOCOL FOR FLEA CONTROL/MANAGEMENT 1) The nature of the Flea a) More active in warmer temperatures b) Can fast w/o meal for weeks to months c) Very elusive/ fast moving insect d) Female flea can lay 40-50 eggs a day e) They can go from egg to adult in 2 to 4 weeks f) <5% fleas in environment are adults, >90% are eggs, larva, pupae g) Can transmit diseases h) Can cause severe skin allergies in dogs, cats, people i) How do I know my pet has fleas? i) The best wav to check for fleas is with a flea comb. ii) Flea dropping may be seen as well anywhere the pet goes: looks like black dirt (i) If you're not sure, take the dirt and place into a white, wet paper towel, if it turns red/orange it flea feces (regular dirt typically stays brown/black when wet) (2) Treat the primary animal affected j) Topicals (a) Traditionally applied monthly v (b) Examples: (i) Revolution. Vectra (fleas), (ii) Vectra 3d (fleas/ticks), (iii) Frontline (fleas/ticks), (iv) Advantage (fleas) (v) Advantix (fleas/ticks/mosquitos) (c) Positive aspect (i) No expiration date (unless FDA products like Revolution) (ii) Quick acting (iii) Cost k) Generic Brands are now available with products like Frontline (a) Longer effect/ more effective than flea powder, shampoos, collar l) Negative aspects i) Can be messy ii) Might not get entire dose onto skin (goes into fur, your hand, etc.) iii) Effectiveness could be waning: old products might not be as effective as fleas have become resistant to product (grasshoppers w/ DDT) iv) Could be made less effective with animals requiring bathing (concurrent skin problem, etc.) 2) Oral medication a) Given orally on a monthly basis b) Examples: i) Comfortis (fleas), ii) Trifexis (fleas, intestinal worms, heartworms), iii) Bravecto (3-month flea/ tick control) iv) Program (fleas; only sterilizes the fleas. Doesn't kill them) c) Positive Aspect i) Can bathe dog w/o losing potential ii) Some products (|jke Comfortis) can be used in dogs and cats iii) Typically FDA approved iv) No mess like a topical v) Detailed research on medication (actions, side effects, affectivity, etc.) d) Negative aspects i) Some animals having sensitive constitution (vomiting, lethargy, etc.) (1) These signs typically transient (2) Some animals aren't good pill takers (3) Some can't be used in pets with neurologic disease history (seizures) like Comfortis/ Trifexis e) Treat other pets in the home: i) Dog ii) Cat (1) Treat the bedding of pet (a) Washing (b) Vacuuming (c) Treat with safe pesticide first, then wash, clean, dry (option to consider) (2) Treat the environment (a) Indoors (i) Flea Bombs (ii) Focal Treatment i. Sprays, etc. (iii) Mopping, Sweeping, Vacuuming post flea treatment (iv) Should contain an IGR (insect growth regulator): Methoprene, etc. i. Insect growth regulators prevent the immature fleas to metamorphose into adults (Up to 90% of the fleas are immature ones) (b) Outdoors (i) Treat grass, concrete, hard dirt areas (ii) Read instructions prior to use (iii) Should contain IGRs (Insect Growth Regulator)

Freaky Flea Facts 1) Fleas are wingless insects that get onto hosts by jumping. 2) Fleas have been on this planet for approximately 100 million years. 3) There are over 2,000 species and subspecies of fleas (that we know of). 4) In almost all species of fleas, the females are larger than the males. 5) In the continental United States, the Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is responsible for nearly all of the fleas found on both cats and dogs. 6) If you find a flea on your cat or dog, there could be an infestation on your pets and around your home. Adult fleas are only a small percentage of the total population of a given infestation. 7) A female flea can consume 15 times its body weight (in blood) on a daily basis. 8) 8. A female flea lays eggs within 35 to 48 hours of its first blood meal. 9) 9. Flea eggs are usually laid directly on a host, often falling off the host's body and spreading the infestation to the surrounding environment. 10) A female flea can lay about 2,000 eggs over the course of its life, but is incapable of laying eggs until after its first meal. Fleas have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, biting adult. 11) Once adult fleas emerge from their pupae, they have approximately 7 days to find a blood meal or they die. 12) Your average flea will have a 2 to 3 month lifespan. 13) 13. If it doesn't have to move around much, a flea can live anywhere between 2 months and 100 days between meals. 14) If they were human sized athletes participating in the long jump in the Olympics, certain fleas could break the current world record by approximately 970 feet. 15) Pets with fleas may develop anemia, tapeworms or intense bouts of itching (pruritus).

WHY DOGS EAT POOP AND HOW TO STOP IT Mara Bovsun, AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB July 01, 2015 Of all the repulsive habits our canine companions have—drinking from the toilet, rolling in swamp muck, licking their butts—nothing tops the disgusting practice of eating poop. Their motivation may not be to gross us humans out, but it certainly does. So much so, in fact, that poop eating is often a reason people try to rehome a dog or even opt for euthanasia. There's a scientific name for this habit—coprophagia (kop-ruh-fey-jee-uh)—and also both behavioral and physiologic reasons why some dogs view dung as a delicacy. ADVERTISING If you have a poop eater, don't despair. There are ways to discourage the habit. Although not deeply probed by science—there are few studies on it—poop eating is a relatively common phenomenon. In a 2012 study presented at the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior annual conference, researchers led by Dr. Benjamin Hart, from the University of California, Davis, found that:  16 percent (one in six) of dogs are classified as "serious" stool eaters, which means that they were caught in the act five times.

 24 percent of the dogs in the study (one in four) were observed eating feces at least once. Hart wrote, "Our conclusion is that eating of fresh stools is a reflection of an innate predisposition of ancestral canids living in nature that protects pack members from intestinal parasites present in feces that could occasionally be dropped in the den/rest area." His study consisted of two separate surveys sent to about 3,000 dog owners. While it is repulsive to human sensibilities, it's not really all that bad from a canine point of view. Dogs evolved as scavengers, eating whatever they found on the ground or in the trash heap, so their ideas of haute cuisine is somewhat different from ours. In his Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training, animal behaviorist Steven R. Lindsay says, that coprophagia "may be one of several appetitive survival behaviors that have evolved to cope with the periodic adversity of starvation." In other words, when food is scarce, you can't be picky. POOP EATING IS NORMAL FOR MOTHERS AND PUPS For some species, such as rabbits, eating fecal droppings is a totally normal way of obtaining key nutrients. In fact, if you prevent rabbits from doing this, they will develop health problems, and young ones will fail to thrive. Fortunately, dogs do not need to get nutrients in this manner. It is, however, a normal, natural behavior at some canine life stages. Mother dogs will lick their puppies to urge them to eliminate, and clean their feces, for about the first three weeks. Puppies will also naturally engage in this behavior, eating both their own fecal droppings (known as autocoprophagia), and those of other dogs (allocoprophagia), as well as cats and other animals. Some dogs find horse manure and goose droppings particularly appealing. Eating their own poop is harmless, but consuming that of other animals may cause health problems if the stool is contaminated with parasites, viruses, or toxins. In most cases, this behavior will fade before the puppy is about nine months old. SOME FACTS ABOUT DOGS WHO EAT POOP When it occurs in puppies, coprophagia is generally considered part of the process of exploring the world around them. Most will be satisfied with a sniff, but a few will want, like human children, to put everything in their mouths. One bizarre fact: Dogs will rarely eat soft, poorly formed stools or diarrhea. They appear to be attracted most to hard stools. Frozen ones, in particular, are gulped down with relish. There is a reason why dog owners have coined the term, "poopsicle." In his study, Hart made some other observations about why dogs eat poop:

 Coprophagia was more common in multi-dog households. In single-dog homes, only 20 percent of dogs had the habit, while in homes with three dogs, that rose to 33 percent.  Poop eaters are no harder to house train than any other dogs.

 Females are more likely to eat poop, and intact males were least likely.

 92 percent of poop eaters want fresh stuff, only one to two days old.

 85 percent of poop eaters will not eat their own feces, only that of other dogs.

 Greedy eaters—dogs who steal food off tables—tend to also be poop eaters. WHY DO DOGS EAT POOP? If your adult dog starts to dine on dung, you should consult with your vet to rule out such health problems as:

 parasites

 diets deficient in nutrients and calories

 malabsorption syndromes

 diabetes, Cushing's, thyroid disease, and other conditions that might cause an increase in appetite

 drugs, such as steroids In many cases, dogs start to eat their own poop because of some kind of environmental stress or behavioral triggers, including:

 Isolation: Studies have shown that dogs who are kept alone in kennels or basements are more likely to eat poop than those dogs who live close to their people.

 Restrictive confinement: Spending too much time confined in a small spaces can cause the problem. It's not unusual to see coprophagia in dogs rescued from crowded shelters.

 Anxiety, often a result of a person using punishment or harsh methods during housetraining. According to this theory, dogs may eliminate and then eat their own poop to get rid of the evidence, but then they are punished more. It becomes a vicious cycle.

 Attention-seeking: Dogs eat their own poop to get a reaction from their humans, which they inevitably will. So if you see your dog doing this, don't overreact.

 Inappropriate association with real food: Dogs who are fed in close proximity to their feces may make a connection between the odors of food and those of poop and will be unable to tell the difference.

 Scenting it on their mothers. Lindsay writes that in some cases, puppies will get confused by sniffing fecal odors on their mother's breath after she has cleaned them. Also, sometimes mothers may regurgitate food that is mixed with puppy fecal matter. He calls this an "appetitive inoculation," which may set a puppy up to develop this bad habit.  Living with a sick or elderly dog. Sometimes a healthy dog will consume stools from a weaker canine member of the household, especially in cases of fecal incontinence. Scientists hypothesize that this may be related to the instinct to protect the pack from predators. HOW TO STOP YOUR DOG FROM EATING POOP Veterinarians and dog owners have seen improvements with a handful of strategies, including:

 Vitamin supplementation. There's been a long-standing theory that dogs eat feces because they are missing something in their diets. Vitamin-B deficiency, in particular, has been a prime suspect, and studies have backed this up. In 1981, scientists showed fecal microbial activity synthesized thiamine, a B-vitamin. Other research found other missing nutrients.

 Enzyme supplementation. The modern canine diet is higher in carbohydrates and lower in meat-based proteins and fats than the canine ancestral diet. Some people have had success with a meat tenderizer that contains papain, an enzyme.

 Taste-aversion products. The theory is that certain tastes and smells are as disgusting to dogs as the idea of stool eating is to us and that spraying certain substances on poop will make it less appealing. Many of these products contain monosodium glutamate, chamomile, pepper-plant derivatives, yucca, garlic, and parsley. Perhaps the best way to stop the problem is through training and environmental management methods, including:

 Keep the dog's living area clean, including the yard, so there will be no poops for him to pick up.

 Cat owners should keep that litter box clean or out of the dog's reach.

 Supervise your dog on walks, and pick up after him immediately.

 Training. Work hard on the commands "leave it" and "come." One simple exercise, suggested by Debra Horwitz, DVM, Diplomate ACVB and Gary Landsberg, DVM, Diplomate ACVB, is to teach your dog to come to you for a food treat as soon as he has eliminated. That way, the dog will develop a habit to run to you for a tasty tidbit, instead of reaching for the revolting recyclable on the the ground. Sources: Applied Dog Behavior and Training, by Steven R. Lindsay; "Coprophagia in Dogs— Behavior," VCA Animal Hospitals fact sheet; "Coprophagia: The Scoop on Poop Eating in Dogs," Dr. Sophia Yin fact sheet

2015 LIST OF OFFICERS & DIRECTORS President: Toni Woods Vice President: Mike Lekov Secretary: Marilyn Day Treasurer: Larry Kittiver Show Chairman: Toni Woods Assist. Show Chairman for Performance Events: Barbara Millman

Directors: Cheryl Head, Tami Kittiver, Janet Lekov, John Sidney and Lynn Brown

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