Sam is still patiently looking for his forever home. Please share so Sam can get out of boarding and start his new life in a home and off the streets.https://www.azgrc.org/ourGoldens/available/available_1.html

Preparing for a Safe 4th of July

Hi, my name is Bobbie and I want to share some past memories of 4^th of July. As you can see by the picture above, I use to party in the bathtub. It was the place I go when anxious and upset. All that loud shooting and fireworks bother my sensitive ears. I also do not like cameras, flashing lights or ceiling fans, but that is another story.  It took me awhile, but I have finally trained my mom to help me during these trying times. Thunder shirts (http://www.thundershirt.com/) are really soothing. Rescue Remedy is really great!! She also keeps me inside and the curtains closed. Sometimes she turns up the volume on the TV or radio. I get to sit in her lap and get extra hugs.

Some other things you can do are:

·        Keep all your pets inside and make sure the doors and windows are closed.
·        All your furry friends should be micro-chipped and have the collar with ID on.
·        This might be a good time for a frosty treat or a kong treat to keep them        occupied…or even better a new toy!
·        You may check with your vet if these things do not work and there may be medication to help calm your furry friend during this time.

If your pet is already microchipped, double check that all of your contact information filed with the microchip registry is current.

• Keep an updated photo of your dog. 

 These are also good ideas for the Arizona monsoon season….lightning and thunder can also be very troubling. There are many lost and runaway dogs in the shelters the day after July 4th. Remember stay safe and beg for Frosty Paws!!  

Excessive Heat Warning

How to Keep Your Dog Cool in the Summer

By Colleen Oakley

WebMD Pet Health Feature Reviewed by Amy Flowers, DVM

Ready for a summertime game of catch with your favorite four-legged friend? Not so fast. If you're feeling the heat, you can bet your dog is, too. And for him, overheating can be dangerous. Follow these tips to keep him cool during the dog days of summer.

"Heatstroke is by far the greatest concern," says Andrea Hilden, DVM, a veterinarian with Animal Care Center of Green Valley in Arizona. A Hebrew University study found that 50% of dogs with heatstroke won't survive.

Also known as hyperthermia, heatstroke happens when a dog's body temperature rises above the average 102.5 F and can't be controlled by normal cooling processes, like panting. Warning signs include fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and, at the worst, confusion and seizures. Here's how to keep your dog cool and healthy all summer long (and even get in a few games of outdoor catch).

Follow Fido's lead. "The No. 1 sign that a dog's core temperature is getting too high is fatigue," Hilden says. "If you're out for a hike with your dog on a hot day and he's searching for every shady spot to lie down in, turn around and carry him home." If you’re worried that he’s overheated, you can use a rectal thermometer to check his temperature when you get home, she adds.

Don't let the temperature fool you. Dogs can get too hot in weather as low as 80 degrees. Add in humidity and exercise and it could be a recipe for disaster. "If you can't comfortably sit outside for an extended period of time, then don't let your dog do it, either," Hilden says.

Remember.....if it is too hot for you to be barefoot, it is too hot for your 4-legged friends. 

Warm Weather Worries

TICKS

HEARTWORMS

Sad news here!  Now is the time for ticks and mosquitoes. 

Tell your mom to check you for ticks. There is a bumper crop of ticks here in Arizona because of our warm climate. We never had many ticks before so not sure why mom is going crazy with tick search and destroy.  So what are ticks?

Ticks are parasitic arthropods that feed on the blood of their hosts. They are attracted to warmth and motion, often seeking out mammals – including dogs. Ticks tend to hide out in tall grass or plants in wooded areas waiting for prospective hosts. Once a host is found, the tick climbs on and attaches its mouthparts into the skin, beginning the blood meal. Once locked in place, the tick will not detach until its meal is complete. It may continue to feed for several hours to days, depending on the type of tick. On dogs, ticks often attach themselves in crevices and/or areas with little to no hair – typically in and around the ears, the areas where the insides of the legs meet the body, between the toes, and within skin folds. Most species of ticks go through four life stages - eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults. All stages beyond eggs will attach to a host for a blood meal (and must do so on order to mature). Depending on species, the life span of a tick can be several months to years, and female adults can lay hundreds to thousands of eggs at a time. 

HEARTWORMS

The dog is a natural host for heartworms, which means that heartworms that live inside the dog mature into adults, mate and produce offspring. If untreated, their numbers can increase, and dogs have been known to harbor several hundred worms in their bodies. Heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs and arteries, and can affect the dog’s health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone. For this reason, prevention is by far the best option, and treatment—when needed—should be administered as early in the course of the disease as possible. Call your vet today about prevention and yearly labs. 

Here is a link for more information on heartworm:

https://www.heartwormsociety.org/heartworms-in-dogs

Here is a link to how to find and remove a tick:

http://dogs.about.com/od/dogandpuppyhealth/a/Tick-Removal-And-Prevention-For-Dogs.htm

Here is a link to more information on tick prevention:

http://dogs.about.com/od/caninediseases/tp/5-Things-Dog-Owners-Should-Know-About-Ticks.htm

Please check with your vet about prevention medication. They know what medication your dog is on and what will be safe to use on your pet.

Our mom uses diatomaceous earth (food grade) and it works well for us. You can find it at your favorite pet store or feed shop.

Bobbie, Julee, and Welsie

Facebook Event to help Butters

On March 15th, we received a call from Dr. Grant

at VETMED Consultants.  Butters, a 10-week-old Golden Retriever,

had been brought in because he had Parvo.  His family was heartbroken. 

They could not afford the potentially very expensive treatment to

save Butters’ life so they made the selfless decision to surrender

him to Arizona Golden Retriever Connection.  Since then,

Butters has been receiving 24-hour care by the wonderful staff at VETMED.

Starting April 1st and continuing through April 15th, we’re having an online fundraiser and Facebook party with Origami Owl to raise money to cover Butters’ medical expenses.  AZGRC will receive 30% of sales (before taxes and shipping); at the same time, you can buy jewelry for Mother’s Day, Graduation, or a birthday.  To shop for the fundraiser, click on the Shopping Link below; it is not necessary to have a Facebook account to participate in the fundraiser. 

If you haven’t checked out Origami Owl recently, there are many new items such as:  college logo charms, specific dog breed charms, Major League Baseball team charms, Swarovski crystals, and a bridal collection.

Throughout the Facebook event we will play games, learn about the jewelry, and information will be provided on how to build lockets.  You will have the opportunity to win free jewelry, during the first week of the Facebook event, by participating in the games; the person with the most points gets a prize.  There will also be other prizes during the games such as free charms or dangles. 

If sales reach $1,000, a raffle will be held for a special hostess exclusive. Keep an eye on Facebook because the raffle will be held there!  The person with the highest bid will win the hostess exclusive.

CLICK HERE to read an update on Butters or to donate. 

SHOPPING LINK for fundraiser:  https://coralis.origamiowl.com/shop/party/268826

CLICK HERE to participate in games / the Facebook party:  https://www.facebook.com/events/476367635896382/?__mref=message_bubble

                                                            

SHIPPING:  Available only to United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

          Thank you very much for your support.

PUT YOUR PET'S SMILE IN THE AZGRC'S 2018 CALENDAR

AZGRC 2018 CALENDAR

SHOWCASE YOUR PET'S SMILE IN AZGRC'S 2018 CALENDAR

Arizona Golden Retriever Connection’s (AZGRC) annual calendar project is one of our most popular and successful revenue-generating endeavors.  Thanks to the generous support of our page, production and printing sponsors, along with our veterinary supporters and our Golden Friends,Arizona Golden Retriever Connection is able to directly allocate more than 98% of all calendar sales to pay for medical expenses associated with rescuing our Goldens. On an average it costs Arizona Golden Retriever Connection approximately $1,500 to rescue one of our Goldens.  This includes complete medical examinations at the time of rescue, vaccinations, micro-chips, spaying/neutering surgeries as well as more specialized care for some of our seriously ill rescues.   Very soon Arizona Golden Retriever Connection’s talented, all-volunteer calendar team will begin work on our 2018 calendar.  You can be a part of this special endeavor by becoming a “Golden for Golden” Friend of AZGRC.  For each $25 donation, one space in the Golden Friends section of the calendar will be reserved for a snapshot of your pet.  Of course, you can reserve as many spots as you would like!  Pets of all kinds and from all backgrounds are most welcome.  We want to light up our 2018 calendar with as many Golden smiles as possible! For a $25 donation, you can be a part of this great fundraiser and showcase your Golden in a snapshot (photo requirements below) on our 2018 Golden Friends pages.   Reserve your pet's spot on our Golden Friends pages today! DEADLINE - MAY 1, 2017 Please note: ONLY ONE DOG PER $25 DONATION.  PHOTOS WILL NOT BE RETURNED. PHOTO GUIDELINES: Golden Friends photos will be sized to approximately 1’x1/25” in a vertical format.  Please send the full format photo,DO NOT CROP PHOTOGRAPH.  Photos will be cropped by AZGRC to focus on your pet’s head.  It is recommended that your photo clearly show your pet’s face in a forward-facing pose. (See Examples)  If you are sponsoring more than one pet, please copy the Sponsorship Form and complete a form for each pet.  Photos should be taken at the highest resolution your camera will permit. Digital photos must be a minimum of 3x5 and saved as a .jpg or .png, 300 dpi resolution. Glossy or matte finish color photographs should be submitted in a standard 3x5 or 4x6 size.  Note, photos will not be returned.  Clearly print your name, telephone number and your pet’s name on a post-it-note and attach to the back of your photo.  DO NOT WRITE on the back of the photograph. TWO WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR PET'S PHOTO EMAIL CLICK THE DONATE BUTTON BELOW MAKE YOUR DONATION VIA PAYPAL.   SEND EMAIL TO WEBMASTER@AZGRC.ORG AND INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: Your name (As you’d like it to appear in the calendar)    Example: John and Joy Smith, John Smith and Joy Evans Your dog’s name  Is your dog an AZGRC Rescue? Your address  Contact email address Attach the image file of your pet to your  email TO:  webmaster@azgrc.org MAILComplete the 2018 GOLDEN FRIENDS SPONSORSHIP FORM   CLICK HERE to download and print the form. Mail your completed form, donation and pet's photo to:AZGRC 2018 GOLDEN FRIENDS SPONSORSHIP P.O. BOX 26678 SCOTTSDALE, AZ  85255 You may also fax the form back to us at 480-563-9154.

Parvovirus in Dogs

Canine Parvovirus Infection in Dogs

The canine parvovirus (CPV) infection is a highly contagious viral illness that affects dogs. The virus manifests itself in two different forms. The more common form is the intestinal form, which is characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and lack of appetite. The less common form is the cardiac form, which attacks the heart muscles of very young puppies, often leading to death. The majority of cases are seen in puppies that are between six weeks and six months old. The incidence of canine parvovirus infections has been reduced radically by early vaccination in young puppies.

Symptoms and Types

The major symptoms associated with the intestinal form of a canine parvovirus infection include severe, bloody diarrhea, lethargy, anorexia, fever, vomiting, and severe weight loss. The intestinal form of CPV affects the body's ability to absorb nutrients, and an affected animal will quickly become dehydrated and weak from lack of protein and fluid absorption. The wet tissue of the mouth and eyes may become noticeably red and the heart may beat too rapidly. When your veterinarian examines your dog’s abdominal area, your dog may respond with pain or discomfort. Dogs that have contracted CPV may also have a low body temperature, rather than a fever.

Causes

There are a variety of risk factors that can increase a dog’s susceptibility to the disease, but mainly, the virus is transmitted either by direct contact with an infected dog, or indirectly, by the fecal-oral route. Heavy concentrations of the virus are found in an infected dog’s stool, so when a healthy dog sniffs an infected dog’s stool, it will contract the disease. The virus can also be brought into a dog's environment by way of shoes that have come into contact with infected feces. There is evidence that the virus can live in ground soil for up to a year. It is resistant to most cleaning products, or even to weather changes. If you suspect that you have come into contact with feces at all, you will need to wash the affected area with household bleach, the only disinfectant known to kill the virus. Puppies are like babies, you need to protect them from the environment until their immunity is strong. So do not take them to dog stores, parks, or out in public with other dog areas until they have full immunity. Ask your vet for advice. 

Improper vaccination protocol and vaccination failure can also lead to a parvo infection. Breeding kennels and dog shelters that hold a large number of inadequately vaccinated puppies are particularly hazardous places. For unknown reasons, certain dog breeds, such as Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bulls,Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, English Springer Spaniels, and Alaskan sled dogs, are particularly vulnerable to the disease. Diseases or drug therapies that suppress the normal response of the immune system may also increase the likelihood of infection.

Living and Management

Even after your dog has recovered from a parvo infection, it will still have a weakened immune system, and will be susceptible to other illnesses. Talk to your veterinarian about ways by which you can boost your dog's immune system, and otherwise protect your dog from situations that may make it ill. A diet that is easily digested will be best for your dog while it is recovering.

Your dog will also continue to be a contagion risk to other dogs for at least two months after the initial recovery. You will need to isolate your dog from other dogs for a period of time, and you may want to tell neighbors who have dogs that they will need to have their own pets tested. Wash all of the objects your dog uses (e.g., dishes, crate, kennel, toys) with non-toxic cleaners. Recovery comes with long-term immunity against the parvovirus, but it is no guarantee that your pet will not be infected with the virus again.

Prevention

The best prevention you can take against parvo infection is to follow the correct protocol for vaccination. Young puppies should be vaccinated at six, nine, and twelve weeks, and should not be socialized with outside dogs until at least two weeks after their last vaccinations. High-risk breeds may require a longer initial vaccination period of up to 22 weeks.

For further information, ask your vet. They are the best source of information. 

Information obtained from http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_dg_canine_parvovirus_infection?page=2#