Northwest Animal Hospital - State of the Art. State of the Heart.

The following document has been developed via consultation among the American Veterinary Medical Association, the University of Florida, Cornell University, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is advisory in nature. It is intended to answer common questions and to provide guidance on managing affected dogs and for persons working with or handling affected dogs. This document reflects what is known as of October 17, 2005, and may be updated as more information becomes available.

What is canine influenza?
Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection of dogs that is caused by a virus. The canine influenza virus is closely related to the virus that causes equine influenza and it is thought that the equine influenza virus mutated to produce the canine influenza virus.

Welcome to our exciting Puppy Kindergarten --- an innovative program flexible enough to fit any family schedule! Our new Puppy Kindergarten provides the best in training with scheduling that honors the busy lives of the modern family.

You begin with your own 30 minute home training visit. Teacher Rachel Green will customize the basics of house-training, crating, socialization, sit, down and come to your puppy’s level. Be warned --- you will get fun homework and games to further these skills.

Now you are ready to participate in the four one-hour classes or modules that round out your education, while advancing your puppy’s social skills and basic commands. The modules can be taken in any order, at their allotted times, over an 8 week period.

But, you’re not done! You choose two bonus puppy play periods, including training games and teacher supervision.

When you complete all your modules and play periods, you and your teacher will have a personalized phone wrap-up discussion. This opportunity reviews what you and your puppy have done and considers what future training is most helpful for you to reach your goals.

Creator of this flexible approach to Puppy Kindergarten is Rachel Green. Rachel prefers to call herself a family coach in dog training, rather than a dog trainer. Her desire is to reach puppies in that critical period of life … when good training ensures that they will never become a “rescue” dog.

“Dogs are my passion,” Rachel happily proclaims. Rescue work at Columbus Dog Connection was the start of her dog training. Besides adopting one of her first fosters, Raven, a Border Collie mix, she provides help to foster families adjusting to the special needs of the rescued dog.

Recent attendance at the Karen Pryor's 2007 Clicker Exposition, with details on the newest methods in puppy training, inspired Rachel to revamp the Puppy Kindergarten curriculum. She integrates the ideas and techniques of noted trainers Ian Dunbar, Karen Pryor, Jean Donaldson, Terry Ryan, and Kathy Sdoa, to name a few.

Rachel launched her own training business, Woof, Woof: Training In Your Dog’s Language. You can contact her for personal training at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

LATEST ON PET FOOD RECALL

PET FOOD RECALL

Information on the Menu Foods pet food recall is changing constantly. Diets affected by the recall are canned and pouched foods only --- meat chunks in a gravy. Kidney failure is brought on by a rat poison (illegal in this country) that contaminated ingredients from a supplier originating in China.

If your pet has consumed any of the foods listed for recall, your pet is at risk for acute renal failure. Time is of the essence if a pet becomes sick. Signs of this type of kidney disease include increased drinking and urinating, lethargy, and poor appetite. Laboratory testing can quickly confirm the presence or absence of kidney disease. Early intervention can help. Please call the hospital if your pet is showing any of these signs.

Visit the American Veterinary Medical Association web-page for detailed and up-to-date information on this alert www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/default.asp
A variety of links, including to the list of foods, can be located there.