Best Pals Bella and Juno Need A Home

Juno

Bella

Best pals, Bella and Juno, found each other when they came to Siberian Husky Haven on L.A. They keep each other company, bunk together and play all day. They would love to find a forever home together. If you could open your heart to two lovable dogs, this is the pair to consider.  They have already bonded with each other, which will  help make the transition to a new home all the easier.   These two adorable dogs would be a perfect fit for a working family.  Huskies are cuddly, friendly dogs that are loving and affectionate with children.   For adoption information, please contact  HUSKY HAVEN of L.A.   

Husky Haven of LA:  661-266-9779   Email:  huskyhavenofla@hotmail.com

Shaving Double Coated Dogs: Reasons Why Not To Shave Your Dog

Sometimes pet owners may shave their dog in the summer thinking it will make them cooler.   Contrary to popular belief, dogs DO NOT have a large network of sweat glands designed to regulate the body temperature during hot weather (they only have them on the pads of their feet). Most of their cooling takes place through panting.  However, there may be serious consequences from shaving your dog.  Which dogs are most at risk for having problems with shaving? Double coated dogs.  A double coated dog is any dog with an outer coat and a soft undercoat.  The soft undercoat is what sheds.  These two coats grow independently of one another and to different lengths.  The outer coat is longer, and tends to grow slower.  The undercoat is shorter and grows faster, and also turns over, or sheds, twice a year.  Some examples of dogs with double coats are German Shepherds , Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Australian Shepherds, and Siberian Huskies.

You should consider not shaving these double coated dogs as they have sensitive skin.  Skin can become irritated from razor burn and it is much more likely to be sunburned.  The thick hair protects their skin from the sun and also bug bites. Also, the undercoat provides insulation in the winter and cools the dog in the summer.  Shaved dogs get more sun exposure and are more prone to getting skin cancer.  Also, if they have dry or skin issues already, you are just compounding the problem.

Shaving does NOT make dogs shed less. Your double coated dogs will shed their under coat twice a year, and shaving them does not prevent this from happening. It can also cause permanent damage to the dog's coat. There is no outer coat to protect the under coat and it will become brittle and break off. Also, the under coat is dull and dense and not visually appealing. Instead of having your dog shaved to get rid of unwanted hair, having the dog professionally groomed on a schedule will remove all the dead undercoat.  Use Amazing Omegas fish oil to reduce shedding. 

Times Have Changed for Veternarian Care

In previous times, a veterinarian was more or less expected to do it all. This still holds true in many areas where specialty care is not readily available. What has changed is the increased availability of specialists, more and more speciality clinics are opening and the Internet has given you a world of information and specialist at your fingertips. It is important to remember that you must do your due diligence and make sure your sources of help are of the highest quality. Don't just believe everything you read! 

There are so many great veterinarians and many may really be "good at it all", but most realize their strengths and weakness. Just as in human medicine, they understand when to allow a specialist to step in and help your pet. Respect and cooperation between referring veterinarian and specialist is key to the smooth and effective handling of your pet’s care. This is especially true since specialists are typically brought on to address only one area of concern, but will refer you back to your own veterinarian for routine care or when the situation is finally resolved.

We at AskAriel.com  specialize in Holistic Pet Care and Nutrition services. Our nutritionist, Susan Blake Davis, provides expert advice about how holistic pet care can improve the health of your pet and can be used successfully along with conventional veterinary care. Based in Orange County, California, Ask Ariel offers holistic pet care and veterinary services for dogs and cats, including natural pet supplements and pet nutritional counseling. Our holistic pet care advice is backed by scientific research and our natural pet medications and supplements are third-party tested to guarantee the purity and effectiveness of the ingredients.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)," a veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who has completed additional training in a specific area of veterinary medicine and has passed an examination that evaluates their knowledge and skills in that specialty area." The most common area of specialist veterinarian medicine include:

• Behavior: veterinarians with additional training in animal behavior 
• Dentistry: veterinarians who perform procedures on animals' teeth 
• Dermatology: veterinarians who study diseases and conditions of the skin 
• Emergency and Critical Care: the "ER docs" and intensive care specialists 
• Cardiology: the study of diseases and conditions of the heart and circulatory system 
• Neurology: the study of diseases of the brain, spinal cord and other parts of the nervous system Oncology: the study of tumors and cancer Microbiology: veterinarians who study viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc. 
• Holistic Care and Nutrition: veterinarians working to make sure that animals' diets meet their body's needs for nutrients 
• Oncology: specialist who deals with the treatment of cancer 
• Ophthalmology: veterinarians studying diseases and conditions of the eye 
• Radiology: veterinarians who focus on the study of x-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (often called CAT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other imaging procedures that allow us to see "inside" an animal's body 
• Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation: veterinarians who focus on returning animals to normal function after injury, lameness, illness or surgery 
• Orthopedics: these surgeons focus on bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, etc. of the body's skeletal system 

To find a specialist in your area visit myveterinarian.com

Pumpkin is a Miracle Food For Cats and Dogs

Pumpkin a Miracle Food

If your cat or dog has any type of digestive problems or has an occasional loose stool or constipation, a small amount of pure canned pumpkin (not raw or the sugary, spicy pie filling) mixed into the food can really help. Pumpkin is high in fiber and helps regulate the natural wave action of the intestinal tract. It is also a good source of natural Vitamin A and antioxidants.  Too much pumpkin can have a laxative effect,  but a couple of teaspoons a day for little pups, or a couple of tablespoons for big boys, should keep them right on track.

Two Reasons to Add Pumpkin to Your Pet's Diet

1.  Digestive Health: It can  help dogs and cats with indigestion or upset stomachs and can aid dogs and cats with both constipation and diarrhea as it helps to promote the natural wave action of the intestines.
2. Weight Loss:  Due to the high fiber content, their tummy will feel full longer, and they might even thank you for the additional flavor.

Donations Desperately Needed For Rescue Dog

Rescue Dog Needs Your Help

This is Kiara, a senior dog that never managed to get a stable home---in/out of shelters her whole life.  Rhonda Hallden of Husky Haven of LA www.huskyhavenofla.org rescued her from euthanasia at a high kill shelter in the hopes of finding someone who might adopt this senior girl. Well....Kiara finally had her chance but the woman decided within a few hours that it wasn't a "good fit" AFTER she managed to accidentally step on Kiara's tail causing the poor dog to fall down a flight of stairs.  She  immediately returned an injured Kiara the following day.  Rhonda fortunately found a sweet elderly couple Janet and Mac,  (who have a tripod special needs dog Maddie adopted from Rhonda) who offered to nurse Kiara back to health temporarily.  Ask Ariel provided supplements and we got acuscope treatments (a wonderful physical therapy---please see picture of Kiara with Gina Goulde giving her acuscope therapy) which helped her immensely.  

Then, Janet  fell and broke her hip......but in spite of it all, the elderly couple were determined to continue to foster Kiara because she and Maddie (their tripod dog) were becoming good companions.   By the time Janet was able to get home and walk again, Kiara's health declined considerably.  Kiara was no longer able to walk and could not get up on her own (had to use a towel to help her stand).   Mac uses a walker and is unable to walk either of the dogs although both Janet and Mac sure do shower them with love and attention.

It has taken a "village" (volunteers, donations, time and energy) to get Kiara up and walking, but thanks to diet, acuscope therapy and a few supplements such as  Special SAMe,  Kiara has made a big comeback.  She is going on slow walks and gaining mobility. But donations are desperately needed to continue her special care.   

Please donate
This is a very tough situation and Husky Haven really needs donations. A donation in any amount will help!   Husky Haven of LA is a 501 (c)(3) public charity and donations can be made directly on the website www.huskyhavenofla.org or mailed to: AskAriel P.O. Box 723 Dana Point, CA 92629 (and we will forward to Husky Haven).  Husky Haven of LA's founder is Rhonda Hallden who has dedicated her life to serving animals and the community.

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The Important Role of Service Dogs

The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.  Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform for him or herself. You may initially think of people with a vision or hearing impairment, but it can also include,  seizure alert, psychiatric disorders support, retrieving objects, closing doors, turning light switches off and on, and barking to indicate that help is needed.  Another type of service dog are those used by the military, local police, fire departments, and federal and state law enforcement agencies for functions such as bomb sniffing, drug enforcement, search and rescue, and fire investigation.

Many programs will use Golden Retrievers and Labradors for services dogs. They have many of the characteristics that make for a good service dog, but many other breeds have unique characteristics that can be helpful to the needs of their owner or handler. The dog will undergo very extensive training in the desired area of expertise before being placed with an owner. Although the bond between the owner and dog will be very strong, it is important to realize that these dogs are doing a job.  Our hope is that when they are not working, they also are a "pet". We are so lucky o have these wonderful dogs give such a beautiful gift to people who desperately need and rely on them for their day to day activities.  For many disabled people, their service dog may be their closest partner and friend.

The Stray Dogs of Sochi

The Russian city of Sochi has a big problem with stray dogs, and leading up to the Olympics, the government instructed them to be moved or exterminated.  Shelter coordinator, Olga Melnikova, last week told the New York Times: “We were told, ‘Either you take all the dogs from the Olympic Village or we will shoot them’ Thankfully, with people like USA Olympic skier, Gus Kenworthy, and the Russian billionaire, Oleg Deripaska some of the homeless dogs will be spared.

Oleg Deripaska, stepped in and saved the stray dogs by setting up a shelter in the mountainside.  They are working with the Humane Society International to try and find new homes for the strays.  For more information, here is the link to their website http://www.hsi.org/issues/street_dog/factsheets/adopting-transporting-pets-internationally.html

The Olympic silver medalist, Gus Kenworthy, found a mother and  four pups in the Olympic Village and vowed to save them before their extermination.  He tweeted on February 12th "Also, for the people wondering, I've lined up kennels 4 the pups & made vaccination appointments. Doing all I can to bring them home w/ me!"  Keeping his promise, he even delayed his return to Colorado to await clearance to bring the family of dogs home.

However, homeless pets are not only a problem in Sochi, but here at home in the USA as well.  Many pets are sitting in shelters and being fostered by worthy rescues, awaiting a forever home.  We at AskAriel.com have partnered with Husky Haven of LA to try to place homeless Huskies in the Los Angeles area. We would also encourage you to visit your local shelters or visit petfinder.com. 

For articles and information about pet nutrition and holistic pet care, please visit www.AskAriel.com