COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL April 8, 2015
7A
Vets: Two exams
a year ideal for
older pets
Dog Runs Straight
To His Destiny
“
When our family’s ‘fi rst ever’
and much loved Malamute
died,” said Sue, “we all knew that she
was not going to be our last. That
special dog taught us many things
about Malamutes and life in general!
The Alaskan Malamute Help League
(AMHL — our adoption agency),
was aware of our loss and knew we
were anxious to adopt again.
Kabluk, a male Malamute, had
been in their custody for months
after he was found wandering the
streets of Victoria, Vancouver Island,
B.C. and taken to the humane soci-
Courtesy Photo
ety. The AMHL learned that his stay
Kabuluk
has
the
heart
of
a
kitten
even
though
he
weighs
85
was to be “short lived” as he was on
their ‘to euthanize’ list. Fortunately pounds. Here he is cat-napping with his two new kittens, Dolly
for Kabluk, the AMHL placed him in riding horseback and Molly nestled beside him.
a wonderful foster home with young
children (his favorite) and other mal- Malamute, Jura, waiting for us. We gentle with them. We had had a cat
were concerned if she would share previously, so he knew about them.
amute playmates.
The rescue group knew that Kab- her space? We took Kabluk for a He was generous with his big bed
luk (his name derives from an Es- long walk on a country road and he and the kittens used to love to sleep
kimo, Inuit word) was a good fi t for quickly assured us that he was all on it and him! Nowadays, he loves
our family because I am a runner, that we thought on fi rst sight. What cat treats, sometimes more than dog
and he craves running. I was pre- a great dog! It would be crazy not to treats!
Malamutes are known for vocaliz-
pared to make sure he had a daily adopt him.
Jura
insisted
on
teaching
Kabluk
ing,
and Kabluk ‘talks’ a blue streak.
run! Labrador dogs have one thing
on their mind ‘water’! Their one the house rules and initiating him His top two favorite activities are
thought is ‘count me in!’ Retrievers into the ‘Malamute code of ethics’. running along mountain trails and
are often seen ‘retrieving’ and have We followed Jura’s lead and with hanging out with his family.
For the last two years, he has
sticks, toys and balls in their mouth. lots of running, walking, obedience
Huskies have a one-track mind; their and loving, we were soon bonded as been involved in a special assign-
ment. Once a week, we visit seniors
brain screams ‘Gotta run!’ This may a family.
In
the
nine
years
since
his
adop-
in a care facility. His presence and
be why Huskies are amongst the top
tion,
Kabluk
has
proven
himself
time
huge Husky smile brings joy to their
two dogs turned into humane societ-
ies along with the other dog born to and again to be a special being. He hearts. They are pre-warned that we
loves children. He can’t wait to greet are arriving because as we enter the
run, the Dalmatian.
The moment we met Kabluk, it them on their way to and from school building Kabluk announces us in
was love at fi rst sight! He was ‘the or when we come upon them on our his loud continuous ‘woo woo’ dog-
one’: big, tall, unmannerly, out-of- walks. He is a child magnet. They talk. The male residents especially
control, handsome and most of all, love him. When he sees children he like his tall size and refer to him as
immediately lowers his huge-fl uffy a ‘real dog’! Most visiting dogs tend
gentle and loveable!
The visit was eye-opening as this frame onto the ground, inviting them to be small, so his beautiful breed
crazy, big, energetic dog greeted us. over to pile on him like a pack of pup- and personality make him a huge hit.
Last year, at their annual dog show
We loved him but wondered if we pies. They love this cuddly goof.
A
year
ago
we
adopted
two
fl
uffy
he won the best ‘DOG-anality’ prize.
could handle such a handful? At
kittens.
Kabluk
was
curious
and
Also, during exam week, to help re-
home, we had our very alpha senior
duce students’ tensions, Kabluk was
invited to visit several university and
college campuses.
We were recently accepted for
another special pet assignment. Our
hospice and palliative care program
has dogs visit patients. Kabluk’s
huge brown eyes, smile, and willing-
ness to make others smile lightens
many hearts. For a rescued dog, one
on the road to be euthanized, he has
a very important destiny and role to
play in this world.
His presence and personality helps
us make friends wherever he goes.
He is my constant companion and
hero. I was not surprised when Mary
Ellen drove by us in a rainstorm,
stopped and came over to interview
us. Her reaction to know more about
this magnifi cent and handsome dog
is the same for everyone who walks
by us, rain or shine!
Thanks for stopping us, Mary El-
len. By sharing Kabluk’s informa-
tion, you’ve made me look at Kabluk
in a new light. Our meeting must
have been written in the stars.”
TIPS
Giving a pet your time, healthy
food, and exercise makes it a happier
and healthier pet, so your family can
love it longer.
Share your pet tips and tales.
angelscribe@msn.com
“LIKE” Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales
https://www.facebook.com/Pet-
TipsandTales
Adopt Loving Pets
www.PetFinder.com
Humane Society for Neuter/Spay
Assistance Program. (541) 942-
2789
O
regon veterinarians recommend that
senior pets have veterinary exams
twice a year to help detect and treat illness
or disease as early as possible in order to
maintain their quality of life.
Generally speaking, most cats and dogs
are considered to be seniors around age
seven, although large-breed dogs may expe-
rience age-related health issues earlier than
that. Your veterinarian can tell you at what
age your pet is considered to be a senior.
Health issues common in senior pets
As they age, pets may develop some of the
same health concerns seen in aging humans,
such as:
Diabetes
Arthritis
Heart disease
Cancer
Kidney or liver disease
Thyroid issues
Behavior changes (senility)
Semi-annual veterinary care is recom-
mended.
“A veterinary exam twice per year, along
with lab work, will enable your veterinarian
to diagnose and treat disease as early as pos-
sible in order to maintain your pet’s quality
of life. Your veterinarian can recommend
the appropriate diet for your senior pet’s nu-
tritional needs as well as discuss behavior
and mobility issues,” says Marla McGeorge
DVM of The Cat Doctor, a feline veterinary
clinic in Portland.
What to watch for in senior pets
Your senior pet should be seen by its vet-
erinarian if it shows any of these symptoms,
as they can be indicators of illness or dis-
ease:
Increased or decreased appetite
Weight gain or loss
Urination issues, such as accidents in the
house
Vomiting
Changes in grooming habits or behavior,
such as disorientation
New “lumps or bumps” that persist or grow
Sores that do not heal
Lameness or stiffness
T RIPPER
Continued from page 6A
cess, daddy was going to have to
put her on the fi sh. The pressure
mounted as I yanked back a bit
too early on a nibbly trout, then
pulled the hook from out of the
mouth of another fi sh.
It was about this time that
my childhood memories began
to fl esh themselves out more
completely — where I fi rst re-
called only the gratifi cation of
a fi sh well caught, I now began
to recollect what seemed like
the interminable hours between
bites, the struggle to stay in-
terested when things got slow
and the strain in my parents’
voices as they tried to simulta-
neously catch fi sh and keep me
from tumbling headlong into
the pond. Looking back, it’s a
wonder we caught many fi sh at
all back then, an even greater
miracle that mom and dad kept
bringing us back to the pond
each spring and summer. (Next
time I talk to them, I’m going to
have to thank them for their Job-
like patience.)
There was little time for rev-
erie on Saturday (as is pretty
common these days), and as the
kiddo hightailed it to wherever
she’d decided to run, I quickly
reeled in and abandoned the
notion of a trout dinner, then
rushed off to catch up with her.
It wasn’t the fi rst time we’ve
been skunked, and it surely
won’t be the last — the promise
of a new day on the water will
keep us coming back time and
again, and I hope to fi sh with
my family until I’m too old to
watch a bobber disappear.
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