{"id":111,"date":"2016-08-13T21:13:51","date_gmt":"2016-08-13T21:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/?p=111"},"modified":"2016-08-13T21:16:34","modified_gmt":"2016-08-13T21:16:34","slug":"august-2016-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/august-2016-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"August 2016 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Does Your Dog Have What it Takes to Be An Assitance Dog?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have you ever thought your own dog would make a great assistance dog? That crosses many of our minds. Although you may have an amazing dog, not every dog makes the cut or is right for the task.
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From August 7-13, we celebrate International Assistance Dog Week (IADW), which \u201cwas created to recognize of all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability-related limitations,\u201d according to the IADW website<\/a>. These amazing dogs help \u201ctransform the lives of their human partners with debilitating physical and mental disabilities by serving as their companion, helper, aide, best friend and close member of their family.<\/p>\n

There are some things to take into consideration
\nwhen deciding whether your dog should become an assistance dog. According to Assistance Dogs International<\/a>, a variety of dog breeds can be good service dogs, even though many programs use Golden Retrievers and Labradors. The website said, \u201cA good service dog is not protective, is people orientated, not overly active, confident but not dominant or submissive. Service dogs should not require complex grooming as this could be a problem for their owner.\u201d<\/p>\n

When it comes to what makes a good hearing dog, there are programs that have used shelter dogs that are mixed breeds, and therefore of various sizes and shapes. Requirements include a good temperament and personality as well as energetic and \u201cready to work in an instant when a sound occurs,\u201d the website said. \u201cThey must be friendly and people oriented.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is very important to note that assistance dogs are not for protection. Their job \u201cis to make a disabled individual more able,\u201d the website said. \u201cThe dog\u2019s presence is a natural deterrent. Because disabled people take their Assistance Dogs into public places and many are not able to physically restrain their dogs, the Assistance Dog must be safe for the public.\u201d<\/p>\n

Monsoon Season Is Here! Be Aware of Valley Fever and Your Dog<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here in Arizona, we have many things of which to be aware and watchful. Along with excessive heat and scorpions and snakes, Valley Fever can be cause for concern in humans and pets.<\/p>\n

Valley Fever is common to Arizona and \u201cis a disease caused by a\u00a0fungus<\/a>\u00a0that gets into your body through your\u00a0lungs,\u201d according to WebMD<\/a>. It is contracted by breathing \u201cin the fungus (Coccidioides immitis<\/em>) that causes the disease.\u201d Since it is found in the soil, it is easily contracted when the soil is disturbed, such as by dust storms and during monsoon season.<\/p>\n

Although cats can contract Valley Fever, dogs in Arizona are more susceptible, especially those dogs who spend much of their time outdoors<\/a> in dusty and dirt-filled areas, according to PetMD. The condition can go from mild to severe and be extremely costly for pet owners. \u201cIt is estimated that valley fever costs all Arizona dog owners at least $60 million per year,\u201d according to The University of Arizona, Valley Fever Center for Excellence<\/a>.\"ff896351-f297-422d-a1e2-664f9a99d638\"<\/p>\n

According to PetMD some of the symptoms include, fever, lethargy, lameness, coughing and difficulty breathing. Because Valley Fever can be very serious, it is important to have your dog (or cat) under your veterinarian\u2019s care. \u201cYour veterinarian will want to monitor antibodies every three to four months, or until they are in a range that can be considered normal,\u201d according to PetMD.<\/p>\n

It is also important to keep your pets indoors, especially during dust storms and monsoon season, and, of course, when it is very hot<\/p>\n

FIV in Felines: What It Is And What You Should Know<\/strong><\/p>\n

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) \u201cis a lentivirus, the same class of virus as HIV,\u201d according to Best Friends<\/a>. It lives in various tissues in the body and weakens a cat\u2019s immune system, the website said.
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However, it is not necessarily a death sentence. Cats who have the disease can live long, productive lives if under the care of a vet and living in a safe, clean, indoor environment.<\/p>\n

According to the ASPCA<\/a>, symptoms may not show in cats for many years, but once they do progress, it is important for your cat to be under a veterinarian\u2019s care. Some of the symptoms include:<\/p>\n